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.
Join Marjolaine in this 1-day class to create a nuno felt scarf you can wear different ways and close with a button. During this workshop you will explore the technique of nuno felt, a wet felting process combining silk fabric and wool roving. The felting is accomplished by applying water, soap, and friction. In this class you will: create a lightweight scarf made with silk fabric and merino wool roving, discover various wool layouts, create a stained-glass effect, and paint with silk hankies and silk roving on wool. This workshop is suited for beginner to intermediate learners and requires standing for most of the day.
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!
Make an 18-inch custom tuffet-style footstool. Great for quilters, as it will free you from all those strips of fabric that get stashed about the sewing room. Students can use as many different fabrics as they like. The pattern can be made with 2-64 different strips. The first day is for piecing tuffet top. Students will learn to mark the pattern onto the fabric and begin the sewing. There will be some homework to complete sewing the tuffet top during the weeklong break between classes. The second day students will complete the tuffet top assembly and upholster the tuffet. A list of necessary materials students must bring will be sent out prior to the class.
These versatile, flexible and washable baskets are fun and easy to make. They are great for gift baskets, or they can be a standalone gift. Students will make a basic, 7" round x 3" tall bowl and learn the options to enhance future rope bowl projects.
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.
