If your bedroom is your oasis and you love the Adirondack rustic style, then this class is for you. Come craft your own rustic headboard in this three-day class that students of all levels can join. Design a headboard that fits your room and personal taste. With guidance, you will make a headboard that you can take home at the end of the weekend. Your family and friends will be amazed at your handiwork.
Come out and forge something wearable! This workshop will focus on forging organic symmetrical forms that fit on the body. The class will be directed toward individuals' designs. We will forge something to fit your neck or chest. The instructor will have sample pieces available, which will demonstrate various organic based forms.
This floorcloth is multi-functional, it can be used as a rug or for checkers! Each floorcloth will feature a checkerboard in the center and will be decorated around the edge with designs chosen by the student. The use of painted canvas floor coverings, also known as oil cloths, dates as far back as the 14th century in Europe. People coming to this country were looking for ways to reproduce some of the furnishings they were used to back home. Since resources were limited, worn sails from ships provided them with a base to paint and cover their floors. Over time floorcloths proved themselves to be one of the most durable forms of floor covering used. Students will learn to stencil and tips for finishing will be given.
Come and create your own willow leaf shaped, traditional cherry wood canoe paddle or make a native double kayak/sit in the bottom canoe paddle. After some history and an explanation of the shapes, you will pick your blank and get started using only hand tools to create your paddle! The process will be demonstrated from beginning to end to ensure that you come away with a perfect paddle. Two different sizes will be available for canoe paddles - standard (29" shaft) and long (32" shaft). Kayak paddles are one size fits all (54" shaft). This one-day class will give you a sense of accomplishment as you complete a paddle that will accompany you on the water.
Come out and forge something wearable! This workshop will focus on forging organic symmetrical forms that fit on the body. The class will be directed toward individuals' designs. We will forge something to fit your neck or chest. The instructor will have sample pieces available, which will demonstrate various organic based forms.
Come and learn to make Chevre, Aged Chevre, Valencay, and Crottin the traditional way. We will learn to make our own cultures rather than using laboratory produced cultures and will even discuss how to make homemade rennet. We will also make yogurt and cultured butter. All products will be made using organic, grass-fed, raw milk. It is recommended that you purchase (and review) the book, "The Art of Natural Cheesemaking", by David Asher. This class is a combination of demonstration and hands on.
This floorcloth is multi-functional, it can be used as a rug or for checkers! Each floorcloth will feature a checkerboard in the center and will be decorated around the edge with designs chosen by the student. The use of painted canvas floor coverings, also known as oil cloths, dates as far back as the 14th century in Europe. People coming to this country were looking for ways to reproduce some of the furnishings they were used to back home. Since resources were limited, worn sails from ships provided them with a base to paint and cover their floors. Over time floorcloths proved themselves to be one of the most durable forms of floor covering used. Students will learn to stencil and tips for finishing will be given.
Come and learn to make Chevre, Aged Chevre, Valencay, and Crottin the traditional way. We will learn to make our own cultures rather than using laboratory produced cultures and will even discuss how to make homemade rennet. We will also make yogurt and cultured butter. All products will be made using organic, grass-fed, raw milk. It is recommended that you purchase (and review) the book, "The Art of Natural Cheesemaking", by David Asher. This class is a combination of demonstration and hands on.
Come out and forge something wearable! This workshop will focus on forging organic symmetrical forms that fit on the body. The class will be directed toward individuals' designs. We will forge something to fit your neck or chest. The instructor will have sample pieces available, which will demonstrate various organic based forms.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
Come out and forge something wearable! This workshop will focus on forging organic symmetrical forms that fit on the body. The class will be directed toward individuals' designs. We will forge something to fit your neck or chest. The instructor will have sample pieces available, which will demonstrate various organic based forms.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
In this class you will be introduced to the wonderful art of pyrography (wood burning). You will learn all the basics of wood burning, from the different tips of your wood burning tool, to how to transfer your design onto the wood.
Learn the discipline of Metal Working known as Embossing. Students will transfer an image of their choosing from a paper template to a sheet of copper by using various sizes of stylus and other hand tools to create a textured picture. Students will find that copper is a very workable material. Your finished piece will fit in with any Adirondack decor or even in a rustic birch frame! This piece is 6" x 6".
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
In this class students will create a beautiful copper bowl from a 12" x 12" sheet of 16 gauge copper. Students will pound and hand tool the sheet into an 8" diameter, approx. 2" deep bowl. Students will also make a decorative vine with leaves from copper that will be attached to the rim of the bowl. Some soldering will be involved in this class.
Experience the journey of learning blacksmithing basics. Discover how to build and manage a coal fire and how to use that heat to create several useful and decorative basic items, all while learning and practicing seven of the basic blacksmithing processes. You may make a colonial style candle holder and there will be an array of other projects to choose from. Students may bring their own ideas as well. Students of all levels of strength and experience welcome.
Take your next hike or walk around the corner with a unique hand-crafted walking stick. Frank will guide you through the process of taking a piece of ironwood and transforming it into a walking stick that will last a lifetime. The inlaid compass will help ensure you don't lose your way on the trail! Makes a wonderful gift for the hikers in your life!
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
In this workshop we will complete a small Tiffany style suncatcher, ornament, or flower. Students will be able to choose a pre-drawn pattern from a variety of designs and be guided as they learn to cut the glass (chosen from a variety of types and colors), smooth the glass pieces with a grinder, apply copper foil tape, solder the pieces together into the final piece using lead-free solder, and add jump rings or a copper wire stem. The patterns available will offer a variety of levels of difficulty so students may choose what best suits them.
Experience the journey of learning blacksmithing basics. Discover how to build and manage a coal fire and how to use that heat to create several useful and decorative basic items, all while learning and practicing seven of the basic blacksmithing processes. You may make a colonial style candle holder and there will be an array of other projects to choose from. Students may bring their own ideas as well. Students of all levels of strength and experience welcome.
Birch bark picture frames and mirrors have adorned Adirondack camps and cabins for centuries and were a favorite winter project for the guides to make. This is a great class for beginners with limited experience with woodworking and tools. You will select a frame and learn how to cut and fasten the Birch bark, twigs and other natural objects to create your own 'masterpiece'. Come see why this is one of our most popular classes. You'll be proud to hang this in your home!
Birch bark picture frames and mirrors have adorned Adirondack camps and cabins for centuries and were a favorite winter project for the guides to make. This is a great class for beginners with limited experience with woodworking and tools. You will select a frame and learn how to cut and fasten the Birch bark, twigs and other natural objects to create your own 'masterpiece'. Come see why this is one of our most popular classes. You'll be proud to hang this in your home!
This introductory class is geared toward beginner to intermediate photographers who wish to build a solid understanding of the foundations needed for improvement and success. Dave will share an intro slideshow of his work and a discussion on ethics, safety, subject knowledge and increasing your success rate. There will be a handout that covers discussion points of basic camera use, lens selection, composition and more. Discussion will also cover local shooting locations according to participants' interests along with questions from participants.
Experience the journey of learning blacksmithing basics. Discover how to build and manage a coal fire and how to use that heat to create several useful and decorative basic items, all while learning and practicing seven of the basic blacksmithing processes. You may make a colonial style candle holder and there will be an array of other projects to choose from. Students may bring their own ideas as well. Students of all levels of strength and experience welcome.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
One of the most iconic items of Shaker woodworking, nesting oval boxes share elegance, simplicity and functionality equally. Using carefully prepared thin strips of wood each participant will carve the "swallowtails" of "fingers" on one end before soaking them in a hot water bath to soften for bending. Copper tacks are installed to hold the oval hoop together before top and bottom boards are fit and held by wooden pegs. Each student will construct five nesting oval boxes from cherry wood in this two-day workshop.
Experience the journey of learning blacksmithing basics. Discover how to build and manage a coal fire and how to use that heat to create several useful and decorative basic items, all while learning and practicing seven of the basic blacksmithing processes. You may make a colonial style candle holder and there will be an array of other projects to choose from. Students may bring their own ideas as well. Students of all levels of strength and experience welcome.
The use of plants for wellness, nutrition and balance has been practiced for thousands of years in the Adirondacks and cultures around the globe. Join Margo for an exploration of Basic Principles of Herbal Medicine through the lens of intimately getting to know 6 easy to identify plants from our local region who may be growing right under your own feet! (And in your own garden!)
In this class you will have an opportunity to gain intimate knowledge of plants and traditional methods of working with them, while building your wild skill set in identification and transforming raw (plant) material into beneficial preparations through hands-on experiences. Your work in the classroom will continue at home. In each class you will receive a rooted specimen of the plant we work with, along with the earthwork of establishing your own medicinal herb garden.
This class is recommended for those who are: curious, herbalists, gardeners and/or plant lovers, ages 13 and up, beginner or experienced.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
Experience the journey of learning blacksmithing basics. Discover how to build and manage a coal fire and how to use that heat to create several useful and decorative basic items, all while learning and practicing seven of the basic blacksmithing processes. You may make a colonial style candle holder and there will be an array of other projects to choose from. Students may bring their own ideas as well. Students of all levels of strength and experience welcome.
One of the most iconic items of Shaker woodworking, nesting oval boxes share elegance, simplicity and functionality equally. Using carefully prepared thin strips of wood each participant will carve the "swallowtails" of "fingers" on one end before soaking them in a hot water bath to soften for bending. Copper tacks are installed to hold the oval hoop together before top and bottom boards are fit and held by wooden pegs. Each student will construct five nesting oval boxes from cherry wood in this two-day workshop.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
Each participant will become familiar with construction techniques as five serving trays are completed in this two-day workshop. Long thin band stock is carefully bent and custom boards seamlessly fitted to create a very useful project. With Shaker inspired elegance these are sure to become instant heirlooms. They even nest neatly when not in use making a proud display!
Have you always wanted to learn to knit but thought it was too difficult? Don't feel intimidated! Our instructor will help you through the process of learning the two basic kinds of stitches as you make at least one lovely coaster. If time permits you may make all three!! Ages 8 to adult.
Interested in blacksmithing but unsure how to start? Open Forge Night is the place for you! Every third Wednesday of the month during our blacksmithing season, come see demonstrations by expert blacksmith Steve Gurzler. Observing the demonstration is free and open to the public. If you want to try your hand at blacksmithing there is a $20 fee to cover the cost of materials. Safety precautions must be followed - including hard shoes with no open toes, long pants, goggles (supplied) and gloves (supplied).
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
Each participant will become familiar with construction techniques as five serving trays are completed in this two-day workshop. Long thin band stock is carefully bent and custom boards seamlessly fitted to create a very useful project. With Shaker inspired elegance these are sure to become instant heirlooms. They even nest neatly when not in use making a proud display!
The Adirondack Pack Basket is one of the most recognized objects associated with the Adirondacks. These versatile baskets were used to carry just about everything the guides, hunters and trappers took with them into the woods. Create your own pack basket patterned from the traditional Adirondack Pack Baskets. The Sightseer pack is a great size for teens or adults. The first day students weave a plain weave base with the pre-cut spokes and then weave the sides. Linda will be guiding students as they concentrate on shape, creating a belly while learning to continuous weave. The main weaving will be done the first day. The baskets will sit and dry overnight. On the second day, students will pack the baskets tight, level the top, weave a false rim, cut and tuck spokes, and fit the rim to the basket and lash the rim. A leather handle will be put on pack and an adjustable webbing or leather harness secured with skids. Linda will guide you and teach you many tips and techniques. Students will be using a drawknife and other sharp tools. The instructor will bring all materials to make the basket. Baskets will not be stained during class. Approximate dimensions: 8.5" x 11" x 16" high.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
This class is taught by renowned instructor and the very first winner of History Channel's Forged in Fire, Matthew Parkinson. The chef's knife is the most used knife in almost any home. These iconic knives help to create meals for family and loved ones. Well-made kitchen knives can last a lifetime and this class will give you the opportunity to create one of your very own. In this two-day class students will make their own chef's knife from high carbon steel. All aspects of bladesmithing will be covered, from forging the blade to shaping, then heat treating, grinding and polishing, making and fitting a wooden handle and finally, sharpening - with very special attention given to the design and geometry of this kind of knife. This class is intended as an introductory bladesmithing class, but some forging experience is helpful.
The one element missing from so many chair making classes is the spindle turning skill necessary to make legs, stretchers and arm posts. Join instructor David Abeel to make working on the lathe a new part of your skill set. David will provide cherry, walnut and maple blanks for students to choose from. Turning tools, mark up, head and tail stock considerations, turning a diameter, basic safety considerations, different chair leg styles and sourcing for good turning blanks will all be covered. Class outcome will be 11 turnings: 4 legs, 3 stretchers, 2 arm posts and 2 back posts. Immediately following this class will be a three-day Comb Back Windsor Armchair class where students will find a home for each of their chair parts. All skill levels welcome.
The Adirondack Pack Basket is one of the most recognized objects associated with the Adirondacks. These versatile baskets were used to carry just about everything the guides, hunters and trappers took with them into the woods. Create your own pack basket patterned from the traditional Adirondack Pack Baskets. The Sightseer pack is a great size for teens or adults. The first day students weave a plain weave base with the pre-cut spokes and then weave the sides. Linda will be guiding students as they concentrate on shape, creating a belly while learning to continuous weave. The main weaving will be done the first day. The baskets will sit and dry overnight. On the second day, students will pack the baskets tight, level the top, weave a false rim, cut and tuck spokes, and fit the rim to the basket and lash the rim. A leather handle will be put on pack and an adjustable webbing or leather harness secured with skids. Linda will guide you and teach you many tips and techniques. Students will be using a drawknife and other sharp tools. The instructor will bring all materials to make the basket. Baskets will not be stained during class. Approximate dimensions: 8.5" x 11" x 16" high.
This class is taught by renowned instructor and the very first winner of History Channel's Forged in Fire, Matthew Parkinson. The chef's knife is the most used knife in almost any home. These iconic knives help to create meals for family and loved ones. Well-made kitchen knives can last a lifetime and this class will give you the opportunity to create one of your very own. In this two-day class students will make their own chef's knife from high carbon steel. All aspects of bladesmithing will be covered, from forging the blade to shaping, then heat treating, grinding and polishing, making and fitting a wooden handle and finally, sharpening - with very special attention given to the design and geometry of this kind of knife. This class is intended as an introductory bladesmithing class, but some forging experience is helpful.
The one element missing from so many chair making classes is the spindle turning skill necessary to make legs, stretchers and arm posts. Join instructor David Abeel to make working on the lathe a new part of your skill set. David will provide cherry, walnut and maple blanks for students to choose from. Turning tools, mark up, head and tail stock considerations, turning a diameter, basic safety considerations, different chair leg styles and sourcing for good turning blanks will all be covered. Class outcome will be 11 turnings: 4 legs, 3 stretchers, 2 arm posts and 2 back posts. Immediately following this class will be a three-day Comb Back Windsor Armchair class where students will find a home for each of their chair parts. All skill levels welcome.
Barbara designed this basket inspired by patterns discussed in a class on sacred geometry. The Fibonacci sequence of numbers exists in our daily world and woven together this sequence produces 13 glorious spirals. Students will begin the project by weaving a two-by-two twill base. Students will learn a technique for hand-shaping this base into a "cathead" or four-footed basket with a raised base. From there, using natural and hand-dyed reed to provide contrast, students will weave up the sides in a pattern which creates 13 spirals around the basket. Hand-shaping techniques will be stressed, allowing students to produce a beautifully proportioned piece. Along with weaving instruction, Barbara will lead a discussion on, "The Nature of Numbers", a talk on where the Fibonacci sequence exists in nature, including numerous examples.
Bring your own turnings from David's Turning Chair Parts class or choose from walnut, cherry or ambrosia maple parts provided by instructor David Abeel. Make an heirloom that is comfortable, well-engineered and styled to fit in traditional or contemporary settings. Students will do compound drilling and work with a variety of simple jigs and tools along with compass planes, travishers, draw knives, scorp and hand planes. All skill levels are welcome. Dress comfortably and be ready to work on your feet all day.
Barbara designed this basket inspired by patterns discussed in a class on sacred geometry. The Fibonacci sequence of numbers exists in our daily world and woven together this sequence produces 13 glorious spirals. Students will begin the project by weaving a two-by-two twill base. Students will learn a technique for hand-shaping this base into a "cathead" or four-footed basket with a raised base. From there, using natural and hand-dyed reed to provide contrast, students will weave up the sides in a pattern which creates 13 spirals around the basket. Hand-shaping techniques will be stressed, allowing students to produce a beautifully proportioned piece. Along with weaving instruction, Barbara will lead a discussion on, "The Nature of Numbers", a talk on where the Fibonacci sequence exists in nature, including numerous examples.
This class is taught by renowned instructor and the very first winner of History Channel's Forged in Fire, Matthew Parkinson. The chef's knife is the most used knife in almost any home. These iconic knives help to create meals for family and loved ones. Well-made kitchen knives can last a lifetime and this class will give you the opportunity to create one of your very own. In this two-day class students will make their own chef's knife from high carbon steel. All aspects of bladesmithing will be covered, from forging the blade to shaping, then heat treating, grinding and polishing, making and fitting a wooden handle and finally, sharpening - with very special attention given to the design and geometry of this kind of knife. This class is intended as an introductory bladesmithing class, but some forging experience is helpful.
No weaving experience is necessary! The looms are dressed and ready to go, all you need to do is bring your creative spirit and to leave with a finished one-of-a-kind rug. Students will have a choice of making a traditional Rag Rug using recycled fabric strips or making a Sock Rug using remnants from a sock factory. Colors and choices of fabric and remnants vary from class to class depending on availability. The rugs are 24" wide, and up to 45" long.
Bring your own turnings from David's Turning Chair Parts class or choose from walnut, cherry or ambrosia maple parts provided by instructor David Abeel. Make an heirloom that is comfortable, well-engineered and styled to fit in traditional or contemporary settings. Students will do compound drilling and work with a variety of simple jigs and tools along with compass planes, travishers, draw knives, scorp and hand planes. All skill levels are welcome. Dress comfortably and be ready to work on your feet all day.
This class is taught by renowned instructor and the very first winner of History Channel's Forged in Fire, Matthew Parkinson. The chef's knife is the most used knife in almost any home. These iconic knives help to create meals for family and loved ones. Well-made kitchen knives can last a lifetime and this class will give you the opportunity to create one of your very own. In this two-day class students will make their own chef's knife from high carbon steel. All aspects of bladesmithing will be covered, from forging the blade to shaping, then heat treating, grinding and polishing, making and fitting a wooden handle and finally, sharpening - with very special attention given to the design and geometry of this kind of knife. This class is intended as an introductory bladesmithing class, but some forging experience is helpful.
Bring your own turnings from David's Turning Chair Parts class or choose from walnut, cherry or ambrosia maple parts provided by instructor David Abeel. Make an heirloom that is comfortable, well-engineered and styled to fit in traditional or contemporary settings. Students will do compound drilling and work with a variety of simple jigs and tools along with compass planes, travishers, draw knives, scorp and hand planes. All skill levels are welcome. Dress comfortably and be ready to work on your feet all day.
This 4-hour class is ideal for the beginner blacksmith with little to no experience. We will start with the basics, and within the first hour students will be forging their own nails. From there, students will forge hooks with a decorative twist.
This class is designed for both the beginning and experienced scroll saw user with patterns of increasing difficulty to be used during the day. The first pattern to be completed by the student will have all exterior cuts of varying tightness of curvature. The second pattern will have both interior and exterior cuts requiring the student to become accustomed to frequently resetting the scroll saw blade. The final pattern will require the student to make numerous intricate interior cuts to complete. The patterns shown in the photo are only representative of possible trivet patterns to be used. The owl is the most difficult and should only be attempted by a daring student.
This class follows the lessons learned in Blacksmithing 101. First students will use top tools and punches to make decorative faces. To make the bottle opener, students start with bar stock and will learn how to fuller, punch and drift, as well as work in a team with another smith.
Come build a Paraguan harp. This harp is characterized by a large soundbox with a rounded base, very light weight, closely-spaced light tension strings (usually nylon), a relatively flat harmonic curve, and with the strings running up through the center of the neck, which are tuned with gear-style tuners (like a guitar). Almost all harps of this style are played with the fingernails, in very rhythmically intricate music. This is the national instrument of Paraguay, and is commonly found throughout South America, Central America and in parts of Mexico. Students will be using tools from the past and today, to fashion an instrument that will last a lifetime. After this class you may even want to learn to play your beautiful new harp!
This class is geared towards beginner to intermediate photographers who want to learn solid fundamentals and put them into practice with instruction, with an emphasis on photographing nature closeup, waterfalls, grasses, plants etc. This should allow almost anyone with a digital camera to create artistic shots without relying on waiting for animals or birds. Participants should have access to a tripod. Dave will share an intro slideshow of his work and a discussion on ethics, safety, subject knowledge and increasing success rate. There will be a handout that covers discussion points of basic camera use, lens selection, composition and more. This class will include shooting in the field at a location picked dependent on the time of year.
Hooks are one of the most useful things a new blacksmith can make. Russ started off making them as practice pieces but found that they get used wherever they end up. They are used in many projects, and this makes them an excellent stepping stone for learning how to manufacture things in bulk. We will start by making hooks by hand with just the hammer and anvil. After that, students will use various tools and jigs to speed up production. The goal is to produce 5 matching hooks. This class is intended for students who have taken a 101 class and understand the basics of forging and how to manage a coal fire.
Nature has been a source of artistic inspiration for thousands of years. Leaves have been a part of decorative blacksmithing for a long time, and there are many different types of leaves one can make. This class is intended for students who have taken a basic/beginner class and who understand the basic techniques and concepts. We will start by making leaves with just the hammer and anvil, and then begin using tools like chisels and decorative punches.
Come build a Paraguan harp. This harp is characterized by a large soundbox with a rounded base, very light weight, closely-spaced light tension strings (usually nylon), a relatively flat harmonic curve, and with the strings running up through the center of the neck, which are tuned with gear-style tuners (like a guitar). Almost all harps of this style are played with the fingernails, in very rhythmically intricate music. This is the national instrument of Paraguay, and is commonly found throughout South America, Central America and in parts of Mexico. Students will be using tools from the past and today, to fashion an instrument that will last a lifetime. After this class you may even want to learn to play your beautiful new harp!
Goat milk soap is excellent for people with dry, irritated or sensitive skin. It is loaded with nutrients, proteins, fat, calcium and vitamins. It is an excellent natural moisturizer that helps hydrate, nourish and revitalize skin. We will discuss natural dyes and additives which you may wish to incorporate in your soap. You will be making a pound of soap to take home.
Blacksmiths have always made their own tools and it's a skill every smith should know. This class will work with carbon steel to make a punch and a chisel that will be hardened at the working end and soft at the striking end. Each student will leave with two usable tools and the understanding of how to create more.
Want to try out weaving on a floor loom? This class starts with a loom all set up and ready to go - no prior weaving experience is needed! Brighten up your patio table with colorful placemats that shout "summer". Each class will include an introduction to the loom and instructions on how to operate it. Several color choices will be available. You'll be weaving away in no time!
Want to try out weaving on a floor loom? This class starts with a loom all set up and ready to go - no prior weaving experience is needed! Brighten up your patio table with colorful placemats that shout "summer". Each class will include an introduction to the loom and instructions on how to operate it. Several color choices will be available. You'll be weaving away in no time!
This class will focus on the proper making of mortise and tenon joinery for gate and railing construction. You'll make the tooling, punches, drifts, monkey tools and more. Special tools used by professional smiths to increase consistency of dimension will be shown and made. The secret of forging angled tenons easily and accurately will also be taught.
Explore the many ways that you can use silver in a metal clay formulation to create jewelry designs of your own. The newest way of working with silver is metal clay which can be shaped like clay to produce uniquely textured surfaces, resulting in durable beautiful silver jewelry. Students will learn metal clay working techniques and make pendants, earrings, charms and rings. Fresh leaves will also be used to create a silver piece of nature. The class will also cover techniques for setting and firing stones directly in metal clay. Each student will leave with at least four finished pieces of jewelry. No previous experience necessary.
Learn how to cut, fold and shape from a rigid sheet of birch bark. Add pine needles or a tree branch for the rim and stitch with waxed linen. Students will make one bowl in class and leave with material to make another at home. This is a nice birch bark set to display! Low bowl: 6" x 7.5". Round bowl: 3.5" x 3.5" x 12.5" around.
The Adirondack Style is unique. It combines traditional furniture making with the materials found in this region: birch bark, twigs, logs and more. Found in the earliest Great Camps of our region, the skilled craftsmen who made this unique furniture were inspired by the world around them. In this class you will be guided from start to finish: from the selection of the materials and their preparation, to the joinery required, as well as the aesthetics that will help you make a fine end table suitable for your Great Camp or home.
This class will focus on the proper making of mortise and tenon joinery for gate and railing construction. You'll make the tooling, punches, drifts, monkey tools and more. Special tools used by professional smiths to increase consistency of dimension will be shown and made. The secret of forging angled tenons easily and accurately will also be taught.
Understanding photography basics is the key to taking control of your camera and knowing you got the shot when you were taking it. If you would like to take your skill level from shooting in Auto to having full control over your camera, this intensive class is for you! A step-by-step PowerPoint presentation helps teach the basic principles of photography including: camera options and set-up, peripheral equipment, image exposure and histograms, and will touch on shooting for HDR and working with motion, depth of field, and composition. The class is paced to allow time for questions and interaction, with about half of the day in the classroom experimenting with the cameras, and the other half spent in the field, practicing camera techniques and shooting options. A comprehensive handout will include all the major points covered in the presentation. While the class instruction is mostly landscape based, these techniques and principles can be applied to all photographic situations.
The colors of the bark used along with pine needles and the applied rim accent show nature's beauty at work in this project. There's no limit to what you can use this basket for! This basket is woven with birch bark harvested from Dona's trees in Vermont and lashed with waxed linen. When complete, this basket feels as soft as leather. 4" x 3" wide x 3" high
