Wood veneer suffers from a poor reputation due to the ubiquity of IKEA-style furniture and a plethora of poorly made, delaminated mid-century pieces. However, using veneer to create beautiful furniture has a long history in fine woodworking. Veneer is thinly sliced wood - it can be shop made (usually about ⅛” thick) or purchased (as thin as 1/42” thick). Sometimes veneers are applied as is to give the appearance of solid wood using a lower grade substrate. But veneers can also be used to create beautiful patterns. Marquetry is the process of cutting veneers into complex organic shapes like flowers, birds, or even portraits. Parquetry is the process of cutting veneers into geometric shapes, either simple or complex. This class is intended for folks who are interested in incorporating more decorative techniques into their woodworking projects. Students take home one or more completed parquetry panels.