Needle felting is a craft using minimal tools for maximum effect. The properties of wool fibers, combined with barbed needles, produces sturdy forms with infinite possibilities. Using wool from Barbara's sheep, as well as fibers of many types and colors, students will create fall décor in colors and shapes of their choice
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).
If you've taken Taste of the Forge or another basic blacksmithing class at AFS, then you're ready for Taste of the Forge II! This class, taught by blacksmith Steve Gurzler, builds on the students' prior experience to bring them to the next level, pursuing more advanced skills. Like in Taste of the Forge, we will follow the Artist Blacksmiths Association of North America (ABANA) curriculum in a small class format. Students can expect to create 2 or more useful or decorative objects over the course of 3 weekday evenings.
Create your own copper Lantern on a Bluestone base. You will punch and shape the copper sides and top and attach them to a stone base. The Lantern features a glass drop ,soldered into the 3 sides of the lantern. The punched holes and glass create a pleasant appearance when lit with a candle. The Lantern will be 9 ½" tall, and the base is 5 ½" by 5 ½".
This basket was designed exclusively for the Beekman Mercantile in Sharon Springs, NY. It features a large 12" x 7" solid bottom Shaker Cathead that, when inverted, forms the cover for this pie carrier. The base is a 13" breadboard that will be provided. The instructor designed the component parts of the carrier to be used on a daily basis. The basket is for bread and fruit and the bread board is for cutting and/or serving. You need only store the handle (provided) and strap until ready to use as a pie or cake carrier. Students will weave the solid bottom base using a Shaker technique. The basket will then be pinned to a mold (provided) for weaving using a chase weave technique. Students will also learn to rivet leather to assemble the straps. The handle assembly will be provided. The finished size of the basket is 13" x 8" (without handle).
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.
Hooks are one of the most useful things a new blacksmith can make. They are used in many projects, and this makes them an excellent stepping stone for learning how to manufacture in bulk. We will start by making hooks by hand with just the hammer and anvil. After that, you will use various tools and jugs to produce 5 matching hooks. This class is intended for students who have taken a 101 class and understand the basics of forging and managing a coal fire.
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!
Keep your kitchen knives nearby with this beautifully carved 13" x 5" knife holder. Students will learn to design, layout and carve their own designs.
This basket was designed exclusively for the Beekman Mercantile in Sharon Springs, NY. It features a large 12" x 7" solid bottom Shaker Cathead that, when inverted, forms the cover for this pie carrier. The base is a 13" breadboard that will be provided. The instructor designed the component parts of the carrier to be used on a daily basis. The basket is for bread and fruit and the bread board is for cutting and/or serving. You need only store the handle (provided) and strap until ready to use as a pie or cake carrier. Students will weave the solid bottom base using a Shaker technique. The basket will then be pinned to a mold (provided) for weaving using a chase weave technique. Students will also learn to rivet leather to assemble the straps. The handle assembly will be provided. The finished size of the basket is 13" x 8" (without handle).
This intro class is meant for couples to learn and work together on a candle holder, perfect for romantic dinners together. Students will learn everything needed to use a coal fire, hammer, and anvil to move and shape metal. Two smiths will share a forge and an anvil and learn how to work as a team to accomplish things that an individual smith would not be able to do easily.
Copper is a very different material from iron and is capable of being finished in beautiful ways. This class will cover the basics of non-ferrous forging, including annealing and work hardening, as well as finishes and patinas. Students will start with a bar of copper that will be worked hot and cold to form a maple leaf. Then the instructor will share an ancient and closely guarded secret technique, which gives the leaves a red and gold finish.
