Mara Ellis
Lead furniture educator
Mara teaches sequence planning, parts identification, and the quiet discipline of checking work twice.
Our workshop journal
A slower, clearer way to learn assembly.
Our story
Lancewood Cradlecraft began when furniture educator Mara Ellis noticed that many capable parents and makers felt overwhelmed by dense instruction sheets. The workshop turns that moment of uncertainty into an organized learning experience built around preparation, patience, and honest scope. Early experiments with cedar joinery and dovetail marking led to repeatable methods that respect every manual.
Our mission
We help learners develop practical assembly habits while respecting product manuals, local requirements, and the limits of online education. The goal is confidence through understanding, not rushed certainty. Each course emphasizes moonlit quiet focus and keepsake-worthy attention to detail.
Three principles we return to
Prepare before you open the box
Inventory every component using a handplane-style checklist. Separate hardware by stage so the first tool used is never a guess.
Read the diagram twice
Translate each exploded view into numbered steps. Note torque limits and orientation before any fastener touches wood.
Verify at every milestone
Square frames, plumb sides, and snug joints are confirmed before moving forward. The final product earns its place through measured patience.
The people behind the notes
Jon Bell
Workshop editor
Jon translates technical language into useful diagrams, clean checklists, and friendly lesson notes.
Priya Shah
Learner experience lead
Priya listens to learners and keeps every course welcoming, practical, and respectful of different homes.
Workshop timeline
2019
First five learners gather in a cedar-walled studio
2021
Curriculum expands to twenty structured modules and printed reference cards
2023
Digital platform launches; four instructors join the core team
2025
Over three thousand makers have completed guided crib projects