A Labor of love

Lower 48 is a nonprofit woodturning school. Watch our video below to learn more.

Lower 48’s History

Lower 48 is the brainchild of Jolie Karno, a skilled woodturner and accomplished woodworking instructor. Founded in 2016, her one-woman project got its start as part of the NIMBY maker space in East Oakland. Back then her shop was the bottom of two 48-foot shipping containers stacked on top of each other. Since her shop was underneath, visitors were told to walk back to “the lower 48”. The name stuck and the rest is history.

From humble beginnings: two shipping crates a workshop does make!

Lower 48’s founder

Originally from New Orleans, Jolie Karno relocated to the Bay Area in 1991. Always ready to try something new, she traveled the world as a flight attendant up until the airline was dissolved in 2011. Tapping into her adventurous and creative nature she was able to find community while volunteering at The Crucible, a nonprofit industrial art school in West Oakland. There she had her first taste of woodworking and never looked back. She went on to teach woodworking at the now closed Tech Shop in San Francisco and continues to instruct at The Crucible. From her volunteer beginnings she has become a Co-Department Head of the Woodworking Department at The Crucible, teaching woodturning since 2012. Jolie loves dogs, coffee, and introducing people from all backgrounds to the art of fine woodworking.

Founder Jolie Karno turning something into something better!

Check out Lower 48’s gallery on Instagram

Attributed to Robin Wood. There is no more to say.
Attributed to Robin Wood. There is no more to say.
My favorite student at Arromont. (I was next to a building entrance in case you’re wondering why I’m so close)
Steve Loar is teaching me about the visual expression of intent. Also sharing his old peopl joint cream. @steveloar #Arrowmont #woodart
Steve Loar is teaching me about the visual expression of intent. Also sharing his old peopl joint cream. @steveloar #Arrowmont #woodart
Arrowmont is amazing! Today I had critiques from Steve Loar and Christian Burchard that have already made the class more valuable that I anticipated. #arrowmont #lower48woodshop #TheCrucible
Arrowmont is amazing! Today I had critiques from Steve Loar and Christian Burchard that have already made the class more valuable that I anticipated. #arrowmont #lower48woodshop #TheCrucible
Here’s a lovely table I made the legs for. It’s bigger than it looks here. 4’ X 6’ of the 10’ with the inserts. #ash #woodturning #table #darkfinish
Here’s a lovely table I made the legs for. It’s bigger than it looks here. 4’ X 6’ of the 10’ with the inserts. #ash #woodturning #table #darkfinish
Woah! Flashback to the 90’s. I kind of miss that crappy guitar.
Woah! Flashback to the 90’s. I kind of miss that crappy guitar.
A woman’s’ work is never done. #brokenfordom #lower48woodshop #woodturning #oilyhands
A woman’s’ work is never done. #brokenfordom #lower48woodshop #woodturning #oilyhands
Awww. Tiny box elder box.
Awww. Tiny box elder box.
Petite flaming BoxWood box.
Attributed to Robin Wood. There is no more to say.
My favorite student at Arromont. (I was next to a building entrance in case you’re wondering why I’m so close)
Steve Loar is teaching me about the visual expression of intent. Also sharing his old peopl joint cream. @steveloar #Arrowmont #woodart Arrowmont is amazing! Today I had critiques from Steve Loar and Christian Burchard that have already made the class more valuable that I anticipated. #arrowmont #lower48woodshop #TheCrucible Here’s a lovely table I made the legs for. It’s bigger than it looks here. 4’ X 6’ of the 10’ with the inserts. #ash #woodturning #table #darkfinish Woah! Flashback to the 90’s. I kind of miss that crappy guitar. A woman’s’ work is never done. #brokenfordom #lower48woodshop #woodturning #oilyhands Awww. Tiny box elder box.
Petite flaming BoxWood box.

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