Meet Our Instructors

Will has been woodworking pretty much his whole life. He recently moved to Bend from Philadelphia, where he taught woodworking classes and worked with students one on one. These days he works as a cabinet maker, and when he's not at work he is usually building furniture or restoring old hand tools.

Will enjoys teaching and helping people get comfortable in the shop, whether it's their first project or their fiftieth.

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John is a kiln-formed glass artist whose personal work specializes in creating custom fused glass pieces inspired by kids’ drawings. His classes blend playful experimentation with clear, hands-on instruction in foundational fusing techniques. He loves celebrating the imperfect, imaginative spark that happens when ideas meet molten color.

Jim is multi talented and teaches many of our popular welding workshops and woodshop classes.

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Gwen started as a student in Seatonn's Intro to Wood Lathe class and fell in love with woodturning - she now teaches lathe classes at the cave.

Dennis spent his career inspiring young makers as a high school woodshop teacher. In retirement, he’s carried that same love for teaching and craftsmanship into the woodworking community at DIYcave. With Mo—his loyal shop dog and supervisory sidekick—by his side, Dennis continues building creativity, confidence, and hands-on skills in every class.

Christy grew up repairing and restoring instruments with her dad in his stringed instrument business, which sparked what has turned into a lifelong passion for woodworking, repair, and learning new skills. Several years down the road, fueled by these passions, she started her own business, Handymandy, which offers “major help for minor jobs”. More info about Christy and her business can be found on her website.

Steve has spent all his working career as a cabinetmaker and building custom homes. Since retirement, he has found a new home to share that knowledge at the DIY Cave. He loves a challenge and enjoys seeing others explore the joy of woodworking in all its forms.

Meet Quentin, who’s full of entrepreneurial ideas when he’s helping at the Cave. He aspires to one day open a makerspace himself too.

Mani Pureheart will tell you, with his trademark big grin, that he is probably the youngest octogenarian you’re liable to run across.

He sold his first stone over 75 years ago, and has been cutting gems for over 60 years. A designing and manufacturing jeweler and lapidary for most of his life, he raised a family by selling handmade, high-quality jewelry from one of his three jewelry stores. He is trained at the Gemological Institute of America in both colored stones and diamonds, and for many years has been a rock and gem dealer at Pacific Northwest rock and gem shows. He had a gem laboratory and appraisal service, now closed, and has specialized in rare, unusual, and extraordinary rocks, whether it be turquoise, agate, or a fine gem garnet, tourmaline, emerald or sapphire, or any of the many other gem species.

Mani is widely regarded as an expert in his field and loves to teach. He says, “There is absolutely nothing as beautiful as a smile on the student’s face when they hold up their first polished gem and behold its beauty.”

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I have always been a maker. As a kid, when I got my first pocket knife, I carved a wooden chain out of a single board. Later, when I felt the need for a canoe, I made one.

I enjoy making and playing musical instruments. This is my 37th dulcimer.

Artist through & through, Jesse discovered an affinity for metalwork while earning his Fine Arts degree at UC Santa Cruz. Known for his abstract work in sculpture and public art collaborations, he also teaches multi-process welding and machining techniques to beginning and advanced students.

Holland is a Senior in High School who has been making jewelry for over five years alongside other artistic endeavors. You can find her in the Jewelry Studio!

Emily started making jewelry in 2020 when she took the very classes she now teaches at the DIYcave. She fell in love with silversmithing and has been creating custom pieces ever since. Emily is a Central Oregon native and loves the outdoors and spending time with her two pups.

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Mak started working with leather in 2020. Over the years she fell in love with the art of tooling leather and she hasn’t put down her swivel knife since! She looks forward to sharing her knowledge and meeting new people!

Kaitlyn has been sewing for over 30 years—learning from her mom and breaking the sewing machine many times along the way. Sewing most of her own clothing, Kaitlyn has made waxed cotton jackets, many pairs of pants, & her own gear, like climbing chalk buckets from repurposed rice bags. She loves to support fellow makers in sewing whatever they dream up!

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Jesica is a multidisciplinary artist and instructor whose lifelong creative journey began at an early age, with an enduring passion for exploration across countless media. As a full-time artist, her current work includes mosaic, fused glass, metalwork, and computer-aided design, all shaped by her love of experimentation and willingness to embrace both left- and right-brained processes. As a dedicated teacher, she is committed to helping others tap into their own creativity, believing strongly in the accessibility and empowering nature of glass art.

Heather is owner of Bend Glassworks. Visit Bend Glassworks for stained glass supplies, retail sales, and glass classes -- www.bendglassworks.com

When Donna discovered Metal Clay, a moldable metal, she found she really enjoyed the ability to get rich textures and patterns and the freedom of expression from this wonderful medium.

Metal clay is fired in a kiln where the binder is burnt away and when finished you are left with only the silver. In her jewelry she uses fine silver and sterling silver. To add color to her jewelry she uses natural and faceted gemstones in a variety of earth tone colors.

Damien is a custom metal artist and freelance welder. Intrigued with custom design and rewarded with the fulfillment of fabrication, Damien’s love for functional art grew over time (and practice).

Ann likes to share her passion for fire and art in her sculpture and metal work!