In this 3-day class students will learn how to forge a 10” chopping knife. Blades will be heat treated and sharpened, then a wood handle with a steel ferrule will be crafted and fit to the blade.
This class is an introduction to the cold process method of soap making. Students will get a lesson in lye safety and will participate in the making of a basic soap. Students will leave with a loaf of soap that will yield about eight bars. Finally, while this is an introductory class, there will be discussion about ways to acquire further knowledge/skills.
Create soap just like Grandma, but better! Join Chrissey for an enjoyable Sunday afternoon as you learn how to make soap that not only smells good but is all-natural and feels great on your skin. This fun class will teach you how to create soap using the cold-process and natural/organic ingredients. You will learn all about the basic process, oils, and the difference between fragrances and essential oils. You will create soap from a recipe while learning how to handle lye safely. Finally, you'll take home your hand-made soap. So, say good-bye to store-bought soap and start using soap you made yourself!
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.
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! Gather round the table with family, food, and a lovely woven (by you!) table runner. 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!
Calling all fiber artists! Do you have a project you're in the middle of? Want some company while you work? Sounds like AFS Sewing Circle is the place for you! Quilters, knitters, and fiber artists alike are welcome to join us every month for an afternoon of quilting and camaraderie. Bring your works in progress, and enjoy sharing your experience and the company of your fellow quilters. Pre-registration is not required. All are welcome!
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! Gather round the table with family, food, and a lovely woven (by you!) table runner. 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!
Would you like to try blacksmithing, and get a taste of the craft? Join instructor Steve Gurzler for 3 weekday evenings to learn how to operate a coal forge to bring metal to incandescent heat and shape it with hammer in hand. This class will use the Artist Blacksmiths Association of North America (ABANA) curriculum to teach the basics of blacksmithing. Students can expect to create 2 or more projects during the 3 evenings. Class size is limited to ensure all can advance at their own pace.
Barn quilts are all the rage these days! Come and create your own wooden "quilt" to adorn your house, barn or cottage. In this one and a half day class you will choose a pattern and paint a stunning "quilt" to hang outdoors. No quilting experience necessary.
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.
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.
This course will introduce students to the traditional craft of chip carving - a type of woodcarving in which a small knife is used to incise decorative floral and geometric designs into basswood or butternut. The design is created by the removal of small pieces (chips) of the wood. Chip carving is an ancient, traditional craft. Chip carved plates, jewelry and keepsake boxes, trays, breadboards, furniture and other items can make wonderful gifts and also decorate the home with traditional motifs. Some previous carving experience is helpful, but not necessary. Students will learn to carve a variety of practice designs already drawn on a board and may complete a round ornament as well.
