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Stenciled Floorcloth

Create your own floorcloth in either a traditional pattern, arts and crafts style or a game board pattern using environmentally safe water-based paints and finishes. You will learn to cut a stencil, choose a pattern and the odors of your choice. Several different techniques will be taught as well. The use of painted floor coverings or "Oyl cloths" dates to 14th century Europe. People coming to this country wanted to reproduce furnishings from back home. Since resources were limited, worn sails from ships were painted and used to cover their floors. Floorcloths proved to be one of the most durable floorcoverings providing extra insulation on the floors of drafty homes. Create your own artful and durable floorcloth that will last for generations.

Hardwood Spoon Carving

Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

In this class students will design, shape and carve a serving spoon. Skills explored include: making a template and transferring it to a blank, carving and shaping the bowl and back of the spoon, use of hand tools such as gouges, scrapers, coping saws, and spokeshaves, and sanding and finishing techniques. Students will leave class with a beautiful handcrafted hardwood spoon to use in their own kitchens or to give as a gift!

Garnet Beaded Wrap Bracelets

Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

Create an Adirondack inspired bracelet using Garnet gemstones finished with a clasp styled to represent the mountains and the stillness of the Adirondack night sky. We will be hand sewing.

Stenciled Floorcloth

Create your own floorcloth in either a traditional pattern, arts and crafts style or a game board pattern using environmentally safe water-based paints and finishes. You will learn to cut a stencil, choose a pattern and the odors of your choice. Several different techniques will be taught as well. The use of painted floor coverings or "Oyl cloths" dates to 14th century Europe. People coming to this country wanted to reproduce furnishings from back home. Since resources were limited, worn sails from ships were painted and used to cover their floors. Floorcloths proved to be one of the most durable floorcoverings providing extra insulation on the floors of drafty homes. Create your own artful and durable floorcloth that will last for generations.

Scroll Saw Baskets

Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

There is something intriguing about a wooden basket made using a scroll saw. These baskets make great gifts and conversation pieces. During the course of a day the student will progress from learning the basics in the operation of a scroll saw, saw safety, pattern transfer methods, basic cutting skills to the completion of at least two different style wooden baskets. This class is appropriate for beginning woodworkers with an interest in picking up a skill that can translate into a lifetime passion.

Ulu Knife

Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

Students will forge an Ulu Knife from high carbon steel including heat treating and grinding. The Ulu is a knife used throughout Canada and Alaska typically used by indigenous people for food preparation, such as cutting fish, meat and vegetables. Originally used to clean animal skins, today the best chefs use it to chop, mince and dice.

Rug Hooking

Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

Students will use pre-cut wool strips to create a 14x15 hooked rug featuring this floral design on linen, and will also learn rug finishing techniques as part of the class. Wool colors may vary slightly.

Paddle Making

Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

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.

Beginning Knitting – Make Coasters

Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

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.

Rugs from Rags

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.

Seasonal Wild Tending

Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

In days gone by, it was common practice for people living in wild places to tend the land which provided them with food, medicine, and shelter. It was a daily exchange of life between human and the natural world. In this introductory series, we will explore the natural world and discover ways to more fully engage with her as she moves through each of the four seasons. In each class we will: create an outdoor (temporary) medicine wheel in order to deepen our understanding of the cyclical nature of all life: plants, people, animal/insect. We will also engage with/forage the plants which are available to us as we seasonally and learn how to transform what they have to offer into something we can use, aka beneficial preparations. This class will be balanced with time outdoors for Wild Tending and indoors for hands-on practice of preparation techniques and extraction methods. Each class stands on it's own. Together they create a synergy of seasonal attunement aligning your wild nature with the natural world around you.

How to Tell a Story Part 1

Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

Everyone has a story to tell – what matters is how you tell it. In this four-part class, students will focus on the basics of the personal narrative – a story told in first person that relates the story teller’s own experience. Students will develop a five-minute (750-word) story from start to finish through in-class exercises and take-home assignments. They will learn how to mine their memories for story ideas, structure their thoughts for maximum effectiveness, and find the details that will bring their stories to life. At the conclusion of the course, students will be offered the opportunity to share their work in front of a live audience on a date to be determined by the class as a whole.

Join the Waiting List We are sorry, but this course is currently full. If space(s) become available, we will notify users in the order in which they requested to be added to the waiting list.