Next to your hammer, the most important tool when working in the forge is your tongs! Properly made tongs will hold work securely and safely, making your forging experience more enjoyable. In this class you'll learn how to make flat jaw, bolt, and lip law tongs and if time allows perhaps more.
Over 100 years ago, the famous Sagamore Hotel was built as an exclusive resort on Lake George in the Adirondacks. Its luxurious and spacious accommodations attracted the millionaires of the day, and the hotel continues to bring people from around the world to its spectacular spot on the lake. Come create a bit of history as you build a Sagamore chair using patterns struck from one of the original chairs; all the forms and patterns necessary are provided. Learn how to steam bend local Adirondack Red Oak into the graceful forms of this one-of-a-kind chair that is both beautiful and comfortable. Working with a variety of hand tools, you will bend and fasten the slats, laminate frame elements, join everything together and sand, finish and complete a beautiful chair ready for a prominent spot in your camp or home.
Carve a decorative door topper for your interior or exterior door. Learn to design, lay out, and carve, a scenic design or welcome sign for the top of your door.
The Junior Pack is a small decorative version of a traditional Adirondack Pack basket. This is a great size for a gift or mail basket. Multiple techniques used to include plain weave, continuous weave, scarfing weaver, and tapering the weaver. Linda will guide you with shaping as you weave to form the belly in the front while maintaining a straight back and sides. Complete with a hardwood handle, fitting the rim to fit the basket and lashing. The finishing touch; a webbing or leather harness made by Linda. Dimensions: 6? x 8? x 10 ?? high. Instructor will bring all materials to make the basket. Leather harness is dark brown. Webbing harness color choices will be the colors available at time of class. Instructor will bring all the materials to make the basket. Students should wear comfortable clothing. Baskets will not be stained during class.
Carve a decorative door topper for your interior or exterior door. Learn to design, lay out, and carve, a scenic design or welcome sign for the top of your door.
This is a great basket to make for a gift or yourself. Woven with a combination of natural reed, seagrass, hardwood handle and leather rim making a great accent. A leather divider is woven in the basket to protect the bottles. Students have a choice of black or brown leather. Instructor will bring all materials to make the basket. Students should wear comfortable clothing. Approx. dimensions: 5? x 10? x 17 ?? high with handle.
Anyone can learn to make a rustic birdhouse in just a few hours. A birdhouse is a simple structure with seven basic parts: two sides, a front and back, a bottom, and two pieces for the top. Power tools are not necessary to cut the wood; it can be done with a handsaw. Using rough-cut lumber, you will construct a rustic birdhouse that can be functional and/or decorative. Choose from several birdhouse designs. There will be a short discussion about nesting birds, feeding birds and suitable houses for area birds. Participants are encouraged to bring objects (such as old drawer pulls, doorknobs, hardware, etc.) from home. Adults and teens welcome; children ages 10-14 must be accompanied by an adult.
In this class you'll learn to forge a knife featuring a sheepsfoot blade with a paracord wrapped handle, crafted from mild steel and hardened using super quench. The sheepsfoot blade, known for its straight edge and rounded tip, is ideal for clean controlled cuts without the risk of accidental punctures- perfect for slicing rope or working on confined spaces. You'll also forge a marlin spike; a pointed metal tool designed to separate rope strands and untie stubborn knots. It's an essential tool for sailors and anyone who works with lines, and it's especially useful when splicing multi-stranded ropes. To complete the set, we'll make a belt sheath from vegetable-tanned cowhide, custom-fitted to hold both tools securely. This practical combo is a must-have for nautical enthusiasts and outdoorsmen alike.
This basket is woven on a pre-stained round oak base, and employs continuous chase weave to build the sides. Students will learn the process for determining the number of spokes needed for continuous weave, and be challenged and excited to watch their baskets grow with two weavers. Students make their own leather handles in class, which incorporate into the rim. This rustically graceful and functional basket is woven on a 6" base which grows into a 12" diameter basket. The basket measures 10” high at sides.
The origins of this basket are unknown but lean heavily on the traditions of Cherokee patterned weaving. This is Beverly's variation on a pattern by Lyn Siler. If you have extensive weaving experience and are looking for a challenge, this is the class for you! The patterned weave will require concentration and determination to weave successfully. The base of this basket is twill woven with the patterned weave sandwiched between more twill woven rows. Students will use natural reed spokes with dyed weavers for the patterned rows to help them see the pattern as it develops. Dimensions are 13" x 13" x 3 1/2" plus handle.
Learn how to make your very own personal hiking stick. Begin by selecting the perfect stick collected by the instructor. Then you will learn how to shave and carve your hiking stick. Once you are happy with your creation, the sticks will be completed by drilling a hole in them and adding a lanyard. Once finished, put your stick to good use on the trail running right by our school!
In this class you'll learn to forge a knife featuring a sheepsfoot blade with a paracord wrapped handle, crafted from mild steel and hardened using super quench. The sheepsfoot blade, known for its straight edge and rounded tip, is ideal for clean controlled cuts without the risk of accidental punctures- perfect for slicing rope or working on confined spaces. You'll also forge a marlin spike; a pointed metal tool designed to separate rope strands and untie stubborn knots. It's an essential tool for sailors and anyone who works with lines, and it's especially useful when splicing multi-stranded ropes. To complete the set, we'll make a belt sheath from vegetable-tanned cowhide, custom-fitted to hold both tools securely. This practical combo is a must-have for nautical enthusiasts and outdoorsmen alike.
