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Buckskin Tanning Workshop July 30-Aug 2
Please join Jordan Culotta and me (Kara Tyson) for a buckskin-tanning workshop in Butler Valley, CA.
In this workshop, you will learn how to naturally tan and make suede out of a salvaged deer skin using emulsified oils and smoke (and your own elbow grease). This process is commonly known as brain-tanning regardless of the oils used. You will leave with beautiful deer leather you have made yourself and the skills and understanding of the fundamentals of process that will enable you continue tanning most any hair-off hide at home. This course is beginner-friendly but would also be appropriate for anyone who has tanned before and would like to brush up on or deepen their skills.
Some topics we will cover:
Sourcing deer hides
Procuring tools and building tanning infrastructure
Fleshing
Bucking/lime/hide ph
Graining
Braining (brain recipes)
Softening
Smoking
Tanning history
Useful resources
(if any of these topics don’t make sense within this context, that’s ok—you will learn!)
We will be packing a lot into this workshop, but we trust you to engage with the material in the way that best supports your learning. That being said, is the most physically intense and fast-paced class we offer. It will be exhausting and worthwhile. You will be walking on uneven terrain and really using your core and upper body. Please come prepared to work hard and move and laugh a lot!
Some notes on Location:
This workshop will be held in the traditional homeland of the Whilkut, Yurok, and Wiyot Peoples (Butler Valley, CA—about a 35 minute drive from Arcata). You are very welcome to camp with us! There is space for both car and tent-camping. You will have access to running water, coolers (for food storage), and toilets. We will provide nourishing, high-quality dinners and snacks for the group (made of the animal we slaughter), but you are responsible for your breakfasts and lunches. Please bring a camp stove and/or know how to cook over a fire if you need heat to prepare your breakfast/lunch etc. We ask that you arrive by 5 pm on the evening of July 30th for a shared dinner and opening circle. Accommodations for folks with varying needs and abilities are possible—please reach out. This land is home to three women and their herds. There will be goats, sheep, dogs, and other animals present. Because there will already be so many animals/dynamics to consider, your pets are not invited to this workshop--no matter how well-behaved they might be. Racism, misogyny, homophobia, and/or transphobia are not welcome and will not be tolerated. You will receive more information about our spot/meals/etc. upon sign-up, but feel free to email me with questions!
To create intimacy and provide a high level of instruction in this container, there are only twelve spots available.
Payment:
The cost of this course is on a sliding scale:
Tier 1: $500
Tier 2: 650
Tier 3: 800
If you are not familiar with sliding scale pricing, a chart is attached chart to help guide you in selecting your tier.
We understand that our prices might seem high upon first glance, but running a three-day workshop is costly. Both of us will have to take significant time off our normal work to not only be present for this course, but also to plan and set up for it. Materials and set-up require an up-front cost that we must be able to cover as well. We will not be able to afford to run the course if everyone chooses tier 1. With that in mind, please be honest with yourself if you need support. Reach out about our BIPOC scholarships!
To register for this workshop, email me at azizathemouse@proton.me. Regardless of chosen tier, we will require a deposit of $200 to hold your space. Because this course requires a lot of planning, preparation, and materials, your deposit is non-refundable. We must receive payment in full by July 16. After July 22, the entire course cost is non-refundable* (some exceptions might be made for emergencies at our discretion). These guidelines are an effort to create as grounded and intimate of a container as possible. In addition, please understand that this workshop requires cost upfront—if you cancel on us last minute and we can’t fill the spot, we will lose money in holding the course.
Through this course, we will be holding space for a full tanning intensive. We are so excited to have you join us. The container we create will not be limited to the three days we spend together—in participating in this course, you will be a part of Jordan’s and my tanning lineage. We will be available to answer questions, troubleshoot, and provide further resources for you in the future.
Due to our pricing model, you must email me at azizathemouse@proton.me to sign up for this course.
Please join Jordan Culotta and me (Kara Tyson) for a buckskin-tanning workshop in Butler Valley, CA.
In this workshop, you will learn how to naturally tan and make suede out of a salvaged deer skin using emulsified oils and smoke (and your own elbow grease). This process is commonly known as brain-tanning regardless of the oils used. You will leave with beautiful deer leather you have made yourself and the skills and understanding of the fundamentals of process that will enable you continue tanning most any hair-off hide at home. This course is beginner-friendly but would also be appropriate for anyone who has tanned before and would like to brush up on or deepen their skills.
Some topics we will cover:
Sourcing deer hides
Procuring tools and building tanning infrastructure
Fleshing
Bucking/lime/hide ph
Graining
Braining (brain recipes)
Softening
Smoking
Tanning history
Useful resources
(if any of these topics don’t make sense within this context, that’s ok—you will learn!)
We will be packing a lot into this workshop, but we trust you to engage with the material in the way that best supports your learning. That being said, is the most physically intense and fast-paced class we offer. It will be exhausting and worthwhile. You will be walking on uneven terrain and really using your core and upper body. Please come prepared to work hard and move and laugh a lot!
Some notes on Location:
This workshop will be held in the traditional homeland of the Whilkut, Yurok, and Wiyot Peoples (Butler Valley, CA—about a 35 minute drive from Arcata). You are very welcome to camp with us! There is space for both car and tent-camping. You will have access to running water, coolers (for food storage), and toilets. We will provide nourishing, high-quality dinners and snacks for the group (made of the animal we slaughter), but you are responsible for your breakfasts and lunches. Please bring a camp stove and/or know how to cook over a fire if you need heat to prepare your breakfast/lunch etc. We ask that you arrive by 5 pm on the evening of July 30th for a shared dinner and opening circle. Accommodations for folks with varying needs and abilities are possible—please reach out. This land is home to three women and their herds. There will be goats, sheep, dogs, and other animals present. Because there will already be so many animals/dynamics to consider, your pets are not invited to this workshop--no matter how well-behaved they might be. Racism, misogyny, homophobia, and/or transphobia are not welcome and will not be tolerated. You will receive more information about our spot/meals/etc. upon sign-up, but feel free to email me with questions!
To create intimacy and provide a high level of instruction in this container, there are only twelve spots available.
Payment:
The cost of this course is on a sliding scale:
Tier 1: $500
Tier 2: 650
Tier 3: 800
If you are not familiar with sliding scale pricing, a chart is attached chart to help guide you in selecting your tier.
We understand that our prices might seem high upon first glance, but running a three-day workshop is costly. Both of us will have to take significant time off our normal work to not only be present for this course, but also to plan and set up for it. Materials and set-up require an up-front cost that we must be able to cover as well. We will not be able to afford to run the course if everyone chooses tier 1. With that in mind, please be honest with yourself if you need support. Reach out about our BIPOC scholarships!
To register for this workshop, email me at azizathemouse@proton.me. Regardless of chosen tier, we will require a deposit of $200 to hold your space. Because this course requires a lot of planning, preparation, and materials, your deposit is non-refundable. We must receive payment in full by July 16. After July 22, the entire course cost is non-refundable* (some exceptions might be made for emergencies at our discretion). These guidelines are an effort to create as grounded and intimate of a container as possible. In addition, please understand that this workshop requires cost upfront—if you cancel on us last minute and we can’t fill the spot, we will lose money in holding the course.
Through this course, we will be holding space for a full tanning intensive. We are so excited to have you join us. The container we create will not be limited to the three days we spend together—in participating in this course, you will be a part of Jordan’s and my tanning lineage. We will be available to answer questions, troubleshoot, and provide further resources for you in the future.
Due to our pricing model, you must email me at azizathemouse@proton.me to sign up for this course.