Island School of Building Arts

Patricia Rokosh Oops! This should have been on my page, not the ISBA page.... Had a great Studio Tour, thank you to everyone who visited.

Finally! James Mitchell's two new books are available. Log Building, A Masters Guide and Timber Framing, A Masters Guide.

James spent five decades working with big wood and teaching students from around the world how to build their dream frames and cabins, and the better part of the last seven years documenting that in these two Guides. In these books, which are each over 350 pages, James includes everything he knows about the craft, sharing all the knowledge so that the honoured skills can live on. There are no other books in print that focus on using Centerline Reference as the basis for layout and design.

The books are filled with complete instructions to build your own big wood structures, including hundreds of drawings, photos, template layouts and procedures, as well as the history of log and timber building. The appendices cover wood properties, tool selection and structural information - truly, these books are both beautiful and functional.

For more information, including sample pages, and to order, visit the new website at www.isba.ca.

ISBA graduates, contact Pat at [email protected].

From the first day of the Gabriola Studio Tour, a few photos of pieces that have found new homes. (Don’t we always wish we’d taken more photos of our work?) it was as a great day in the new studio, thank you to everyone who visited today - open again at 10 on Sunday. 😎

It's that time of year to reserve your seat for the International Log Building Association (ILBA) Annual meeting. The links below likely won't work, but head to the website to register. Always interesting and a great way to make connections. International Log Builders' Association Island School of Building Arts

Foundation to Raising - Creating an Outdoor Learning Center at the Gabriola Museum. The Island School of Building Arts donated one of their handcrafted timber frames to the Gabriola Museum for the creation of an outdoor learning center. Watc...

Hey, ISBA graduates, we have some inquiries from industry, looking for you! If you are interested in a log building or timber framing job in BC, please get in touch with me at the office: 250.247.8922 or [email protected] for more information.

It's winter on Gabriola and that means (mostly) rain, so we spend our time doing things that need to be done between sessions and working on James's next two books. Actually, four books split into one set of two on Log Building and another of two on Timber Framing. Many, many drawings and photos and excellent directions on how to do the layout and joinery for your own structures. They should be available by late Spring - keep an eye on the website at isba.ca.

In the meantime, we hear from graduates about what they are up to and Kevin is in Patagonia, experiencing nature in all her glory. Thanks for sharing this amazing glacier photo!

PS: Spring 2023 classes are full, there is space in the SketchUp workshops, and we are registering for Fall 2023.

Hello ISBA graduates! If you are looking for timber framing or log building work, please stay in touch with me at the office. We often get inquiries from industry and other grads who are looking for skilled Timber Framers or Log Builders.

If you're interested in learning Big Wood skills, ISBA has a few seats available in the Fall 2022 Log Building course and the Timber Frame Hammer Bents course. Also registering for 2023.

We are getting ready to welcome the Spring 2022 students, beginning Monday, and it's like the start of the school year - wait, it is the start of the school year!

Monday begins the four week Timber Frame Post and Beam course and then we move into the four week Timber Frame Hammer Bents course, before ending the Spring session with Log Building.

There are still a few seats in both the Hammer Bents and the Log Building courses, so if you have always wanted to follow your passion and work with Big Wood or if you are looking to add to your building skill set, get in touch at [email protected]. If you're already in the busy big wood industry, ISBA training is an excellent investment for your employees. Like Apprentice training, employers realize over $1.50 for every $1.00 invested in employee training, and that's just in the first year.

Demand for our SketchUp for Timber Framers is high again, so we are offering a second Level 1 workshop, Saturday and Sunday, May 7 and 8.

These courses are perfect for those looking to expand what they can offer their clients.

ISBA supplies all tools as well as a fantastic learning environment and an exceptional location.