Sheepskin Tanning Workshop Oct. 1-4

Please join me for a sheepskin tanning workshop in Orleans, California! 

In this workshop, you will learn how to naturally tan a salvaged sheepskin with emulsified oils and smoke (and your own elbow grease). You will leave with a beautiful sheepskin and the skills and understanding of the process that will enable you continue tanning any hair-on hide at home. This course is beginner-friendly but would also be applicable for anyone who has tanned before and would like to brush up on or deepen their skills. 

While the focus of this class is tanning with oil and smoke (often referred to as brain tanning), I will also have a bark tea brewing and will lightly cover bark tanning as well. It would not be possible for us to go through the bark tanning process in its entirety in three days, but I hope to give you an understanding of the fundamentals of this practice, so you feel empowered to experiment with it in the future as well.

You are welcome to bring any hair-on hides you’ve salvaged in the past and don’t know what to do with. We can throw them in the bark pot, or you can brain-tan them on the side—I will help you troubleshoot! 

Some topics we will cover:

Sourcing sheepskins/other fur-on hides

Procuring tools and building tanning infrastructure

Fleshing

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 fast-paced workshop, but I trust you to engage with the material in the way that best supports your learning. There are lots of ways to tan a hide! That being said, hide-tanning is a physical process and can be pretty strenuous if you’re new to it. Please come prepared to move your body a lot and maybe use some muscles that you haven't before. 

There is space for nine students to participate in this workshop.

Some notes on Location:

We will meet in a beautiful spot in unceded Karuk territory (Orleans, CA). We are a little under two hours from Arcata, CA and little over two and a half hours from Ashland, OR.  You are very welcome to camp on the land or to stay in our communal indoor space! If you choose to camp, please come knowing how to set up your tent/sleep system and to generally take care of yourself while car-camping. You will have access to running water/showers, coolers (for food storage), and toilets. I will provide nourishing, high-quality dinners for the group, but you are responsible for your breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. Please know how to use a camp stove and/or cook over a fire if you need heat to prepare your breakfast/lunch etc. The land we will be on is scent-free (this applies to essential oils/natural scents as well). Please arrive by 5pm  of October 1 for a shared dinner, opening circle, and beginning lessons (again, we are packing in a lot for this course!). I love dogs but unfortunately they can be quite a distraction in a workshop like this, so I ask that you leave your furry companions at home. Racism, misogyny, homophobia and transphobia are not welcome and will not be tolerated. You will receive more information about the  location/meals/etc. upon sign-up, but feel free to email me with questions! 

Payment:

The cost of this course is $650

If you are in a place of financial abundance/generosity and would like to help support a scholarship program and create opportunities for those who wouldn't otherwise be able to attend, please reach out.  

If you need a scholarship to attend, please reach out as well.

If you are a returning/former student, please email me before signing up to receive a discounted course price.

To register for this workshop, you can pay the full cost of the course or pay a  deposit of $200 to hold your space. Because this course requires a lot of planning, material, and preparation, regardless of how you choose to pay, your deposit is non refundable. I must receive payment in full by September 17. After September 24, the cost of the entire course is non-refundable (some exceptions might be made in case of emergencies at my discretion)*. If you pay the deposit initially, please email me at azizathemouse@proton.me so we can figure out a payment plan for your dividend. Please understand that this workshop requires cost upfront—if you cancel on me last minute and I can’t fill the spot, I will lose money in holding the course. 

Through this course, we will be co-creating and holding space for a full tanning intensive. The students I've had come through so far have been incredible and I am SO excited to meet you and share a process that I love so much with you! The container we create will not be limited to the three days we spend together—I will be available to answer questions, troubleshoot, and provide further resources for you in the future.