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Japanese Dagger with Sawa (Sheath & Handle)

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

The goal of this class is to produce a blade ready for quenching with minimal use of a grinder. The focus will be on the tanto, the dagger carried by samurai. Students will start with a piece of high carbon stock. This class will follow historic processes as closely as possible. Students will forge their bar into a blank of precise dimensions, before hand forging bevels and relevant blade geometry. Then, hand files will be used to finish the blade. Blades that are ready will be quenched at the end of the 2nd day. This class includes an in depth discussion of heat treating, and blades will be clay coated when quenched for a hamon. The third day will start at the forge to make a basic fitting, the habaki, from copper. After that, the class will turn to the wood shop, where students will use hand tools to make a wooden handle and sheath using traditional methods. This class is for intermediate smiths.

Chip Carving a Green Man

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

The Green Man is an ancient symbol of the union of man and nature; a human face is surrounded by floral forms. Each student will receive a basswood plank with the bark on one edge and, separately, a few Green Man designs. After selecting the design of choice, the student will apply the design to the plank and carve the face into the wood.

Stenciled Floorcloth

Create your own floorcloth in either a traditional pattern or Arts & Crafts style using environmentally-safe water-based paints and finishes. The use of painted canvas floor coverings, also known as oil cloths, dates as far back as the 14th century in Europe. People coming to this country were looking for ways to reproduce some of the furnishings they were used to back home. Since resources were limited, worn sails from ships provided them with a base to paint and cover their floors. Over time floorcloths proved themselves to be one of the most durable forms of floor covering used. Centuries old pieces still remain intact with the pattern clearly visible. Come create your own artful and durable floorcloth that will last for generations.

Weaving 102: Next Steps to Weaving on a Floor Loom

Once you've learned the basics of the weaving process, it's time for your first project! Each student will wind a warp, dress a loom and weave a Tencel scarf. Multiple color choices will be available. The weave structors is based on plain weave, making this s great first project.

Japanese Dagger with Sawa (Sheath & Handle)

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

The goal of this class is to produce a blade ready for quenching with minimal use of a grinder. The focus will be on the tanto, the dagger carried by samurai. Students will start with a piece of high carbon stock. This class will follow historic processes as closely as possible. Students will forge their bar into a blank of precise dimensions, before hand forging bevels and relevant blade geometry. Then, hand files will be used to finish the blade. Blades that are ready will be quenched at the end of the 2nd day. This class includes an in depth discussion of heat treating, and blades will be clay coated when quenched for a hamon. The third day will start at the forge to make a basic fitting, the habaki, from copper. After that, the class will turn to the wood shop, where students will use hand tools to make a wooden handle and sheath using traditional methods. This class is for intermediate smiths.

Chip Carving a Green Man

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

The Green Man is an ancient symbol of the union of man and nature; a human face is surrounded by floral forms. Each student will receive a basswood plank with the bark on one edge and, separately, a few Green Man designs. After selecting the design of choice, the student will apply the design to the plank and carve the face into the wood.

Scroll Saw Ornamental Trivets

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

This class is designed for both the beginning and experienced scroll saw user with patterns of increasing difficulty to be used during the day. The first pattern to be completed by the student will have all exterior cuts of varying tightness of curvature. The second pattern will have both interior and exterior cuts requiring the student to become accustomed to frequently resetting the scroll saw blade. The final pattern will require the student to make numerous intricate interior cuts to complete. The patterns shown in the photo are only representative of possible trivet patterns to be used. The owl is the most difficult and should only be attempted by a daring student.

Introduction to Pyrography

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

In this class you will be introduced to the wonderful art of pyrography (wood burning). You will learn all the basics of wood burning, from the different tips of your wood burning tool, to how to transfer your design onto the wood.

Medicinal Mushrooms: Use, Preparation & Cultivation

In this course, local and common non-local medicinal mushrooms will be discussed and identified. Students will learn the medicinal properties of each mushroom, how to make a double extraction tincture and how to grow oyster mushrooms at home. Students will leave with a tincture (in process that they will complete at home) and an oyster mushroom kit that will produce mushrooms after about 3 weeks.

Weaving 102: Next Steps to Weaving on a Floor Loom

Once you've learned the basics of the weaving process, it's time for your first project! Each student will wind a warp, dress a loom and weave a Tencel scarf. Multiple color choices will be available. The weave structors is based on plain weave, making this s great first project.

Forging a Hacksaw

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

Every smith needs a good hacksaw, so why not make your own frame? Students will make a simple, yet sturdy, hacksaw frame with room for individualization and decorative file work. Handles will be turned as part of the class.

Perfect Pictures Every Time

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

Understanding photography basics is the key to taking control of your camera and knowing you got the shot when you were taking it. If you would like to take your skill level from shooting in Auto to having full control over your camera, this intensive class is for you! A step-by-step PowerPoint presentation helps teach the basic principles of photography including: camera options and set-up, peripheral equipment, image exposure and histograms, and will touch on shooting for HDR and working with motion, depth of field, and composition. The class is paced to allow time for questions and interaction, with about half of the day in the classroom experimenting with the cameras, and the other half spent in the field, practicing camera techniques and shooting options. A comprehensive handout will include all the major points covered in the presentation. While the class instruction is mostly landscape based, these techniques and principles can be applied to all photographic situations.

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.