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CRAFTING STORIES IN WOOD
Studio Clutter x Mannmuqi Village
Join us for a week of meditative making
This holiday, Studio Clutter invites you for a relaxed furniture making retreat in the quiet green of Mannmuqi Village
It’s a chance to slow down, learn a new skill with your hands, and spend a few easygoing days surrounded by trees, tools, and Tamil hospitality.
Whether you're new to woodworking or just looking to hone your skills, we’ll guide you through the basics in a setting that’s calm, hands-on, and far from the usual rush. For those who couldn’t make it to our Chennai studio, this is a quieter way in.
What You’ll Find on This Page
Use the links below to navigate.
Workshop Overview
This collaboration was born out of a desire to go deeper — into the craft, into the process, and into the conversations that often begin but feel too brief in a two-day setting. Over the years of teaching, we’ve seen how much more students gain when they have time to sit with the tools, ask questions, make mistakes, and try again.
This 5 day immersion at Mannmuqi Farms offers just that: space to slow down, learn intentionally, and work with your hands in a setting that invites focus and reflection.
You’ll follow a structured curriculum that covers the fundamentals of furniture making — from understanding wood and joinery to crafting precise, functional pieces
This retreat is for anyone curious about making — whether you're a total beginner, looking for a creative way to spend the holidays, or simply craving a quieter kind of break.
We hope you leave not just with something you built, but with the confidence to keep building and a sense of calm.
Mannmuqi Village
The retreat takes place at Mannmuqi Village, tucked away in the quiet, semi-rural landscape of Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu. It’s a spacious and peaceful setting — calm, open, and surrounded by trees, wildflowers, and the occasional visit from friendly dogs and cats.
In December, the weather is at its best here: comfortably cool in the mornings and evenings, and warm through the day — just right for working with your hands and spending time outdoors.
How to Reach:
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By Air: The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport (MAA), about 90 km away. From there, you can take a taxi or arrange a pickup to the farm.
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By Road: Mannmuqi Village is easily accessible by car or taxi from Chennai (approx. 2–2.5 hours). We’ll share detailed directions and help coordinate transport closer to the date.
What you'll Learn
This workshop is a place to slow down, pick up tools, and begin to understand wood with your own hands. Over a few days together, you will:
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Understand the fundamentals of furniture design and construction
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Get familiar with different types of wood — how to choose them and plan the quantity for your projects.
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Get time to practice, so you can make mistakes freely and build confidence before moving on to your final piece.
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Learn simple and strong ways to join pieces of wood and see where each type of joinery makes sense.
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Spend time with both hand tools and power tools, building comfort and confidence as you use them safely.
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Work on a project of your own, chosen from three options we’ve prepared. Each is designed to be approachable, yet a little more challenging than absolute beginner work.
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Do a bit of sketching and planning so that the object you make carries your own touch, while still giving you the structure and support of a planned design.
When you book your slot, you’ll be asked to select your project in advance. This helps us prepare the right tools and materials and conduct the workshop smoothly.
By the end, you’ll carry home not just a finished piece of furniture, but also the beginning of your own woodworking journey — the knowledge, practice, and confidence to keep making.
Projects you will be building
Participants can choose from three guided projects, each thoughtfully designed to explore the core fundamentals of furniture making — from structure and joinery to proportion and finish.
These projects serve as blueprints that go beyond the specific object. By working through them, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to design and build independently — applying the same principles to a wide range of future projects.
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3 legged Chair — Learn essential joinery, shaping, and detailing through a compact, elegant form.
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Japanese tea table — Work on proportion, structure, and surface finishing while building a sturdy functional piece.
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Japanese medicine cabinet — Explore box and cabinetry making, hinge fitting, and alignment using both hand and power tools.
Our focus is on helping you understand the material, tools, and techniques, not just the project at hand.
Project Customisation request
If you wish to build something other than these three options, you may choose the “Customized Project” option at an additional cost, which covers extra materials and preparation.
Please note: -
We believe these three projects together offer an umbrella of learning — comprehensive enough to give you the confidence to approach most future projects independently.
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You must discuss your custom idea in advance after selecting this option and completing your registration and payment.
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Custom requests are considered only if they are similar in scale and complexity to the listed projects.
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If we find that the proposed project isn’t feasible — due to time, skill level, or equipment — we will refund the customization fee and encourage you to choose from the guided projects on offer.
Please note: You will be taking your projects with you and we have designed the joinery in a way that it can be re-assembled at your place, so its easy to carry for participants
Who should join
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Beginners who want to start woodworking with guidance and structure.
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Those who’ve tried woodworking before but haven’t had the confidence or setup to continue.
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Designers, architects, and artists looking to deepen their understanding of wood as a material.
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Anyone keen to translate ideas into tangible forms through hands-on making.
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Learners who enjoy a focused, small-group setting with space for exploration.
Workshop Schedule
26th December
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Arrival and check-in by evening
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Settle into Mannmuqi Village and meet fellow participants
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Dinner together
27th–30th December
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10:30 am – 1:30 pm: Morning workshop session
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1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: Lunch break
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2:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Afternoon workshop session
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Evenings free for rest, conversation, or exploring the village at your own pace
31st December
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10:30 am – 12:00 pm: Closing workshop session and packing up projects
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12:30 pm onwards: Farewell lunch and check-out
Accommodation and meals from 26th evening to 31st lunch are included in the fee.
If you’d like to extend your stay before or after the retreat, please get in touch with us directly.
Accomodation & Food
Your stay at Mannmuqi Village is simple, comfortable, and close to nature. There are two types of accommodation:
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Dorms – 2 dormitories (one for men and one for women), each accommodating 4 people.
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Single Rooms – 6 rooms with queen beds, available for single or double occupancy.
Dorm rooms have attached bathrooms, hot water, and AC, while keeping the charm of village-style living. Private rooms are non - AC, however December is a cold month in an open farm.
Wi-Fi is available in designated spaces - common areas like dining space, otherwise call reception is good as well.
Meals are included in your stay: wholesome, nutritious Tamil-style vegetarian food, made with clean and flavourful ingredients.
Special Note: December is the monsoon season in Chennai, so please carry a raincoat or umbrella. Mosquitoes can be around, so repellent is recommended. Do bring your own toiletries.
Accommodation from 26th December (check-in) to 31st December (check-out after lunch) is included in the workshop fee. If you wish to extend your stay before or after the workshop, please get in touch with us.
Materials & Tools Provided
All the materials and tools you’ll need for the workshop will be taken care of.
You’ll be working with Teak wood, suitable for your chosen project, and all necessary consumables — like glue, sandpaper, and fittings — will be provided.
A full set of hand and power tools will be available for use during the workshop. You’ll get to work with:
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Hand tools such as Japanese saws, chisels, and measuring and marking tools.
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Power tools including the table saw, circular saw, routers, sanders, and jigsaw.
Each tool will be introduced with proper demonstrations and safety instructions so you can use them confidently and safely. Dust masks will be provided for everyone.
We recommend bringing your own notebook or sketchbook to jot down notes, sketches, and learnings along the way.
What to Expect
This retreat is designed for anyone curious about fine woodworking — from complete beginners to those who have dabbled but never felt confident enough to continue.
We understand what it’s like to learn on your own and feel unsure where to start. Over the course of five days, we’ll help you build both skill and confidence — guiding you through each step of the process with structure, patience, and plenty of hands-on time. You will be designing, planing and executing your project from start to finish.
Expect a well-paced, immersive learning experience with a mix of planned lessons and impromptu tips from experienced instructors. You’ll get personal guidance on techniques, safety, and tool handling, while also picking up the small but invaluable insights that only come from practice. We will get into finer details and hope to create projects close to professional level.
By the end, you’ll not only take home a finished project in teak wood but also a deeper understanding of wood as a material, and the satisfaction of having crafted something real with your own hands.
The group is intentionally kept small to allow for individual attention and a relaxed, supportive atmosphere.
Workshop fee & Inclusions
This retreat is offered as an all-inclusive experience — covering your stay, meals, materials, and workshop sessions.
Fees*:
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₹ 43,500 — Day scholar, no accommodation, includes lunch for 5 days
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₹ 50,500 — Dorm accommodation (shared, 4 per dorm)
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₹ 55,500 — Single occupancy room
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₹ 52,500 — Double occupancy room (per person, shared queen bed)
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Customised Project - Add +2500 to standard pricing covering the cost of preparation and materials
* Note: These are early bird prices, valid until 30th November.
Workshop fees will increase by 5% after 30th November.
What’s included:
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5 days of hands-on woodworking sessions (27th–31st December)
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Stay from 26th to 31st December at Mannmuqi Village
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All workshop materials — including teak wood, consumables, and access to required hand and power tools
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Use of safety gear (dust masks, etc.)
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Simple, nourishing vegetarian meals served daily
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Guidance from experienced instructors and on-ground assistance throughout
Installment payment option
If you wish to confirm your slot now by paying 50% of the fee and the rest by Dec , please email us at studioclutter@gmail.com and transfer 50% deposit via a manual bank transfer/UPI/ International bank transfer.
The remaining 50% must be paid on or before 1st December.
Failure to complete the payment by this date will result in forfeiture of your deposit and your spot. We are strict about this policy to ensure fairness and smooth planning for all participants.
Cancellation Policy:
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Cancellations made on or before 30th November: full refund will be offered
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Cancellations made between 1st - 10th Dec - 50% refund will be issued
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Cancellations made after 10th December: no refund will be issued.
To register