Forging a Rose
Forging a Rose
In this class students will forge a rose that will not wither using precut steel blanks. The project will include forging details and torch work with scrolling tongs to create a custom rose.
In this class students will forge a rose that will not wither using precut steel blanks. The project will include forging details and torch work with scrolling tongs to create a custom rose.
In this class, students will learn to turn a cylindrical box and then turn a lid for the box, all from the same piece of wood. Students will learn tricks to making a good lid and will leave the class with a nice box for all sorts of collections!
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).
Drawing from over 30 years of fine instrument making, Martin Macica will share his knowledge of the principles of making a ukulele, leading students through the process of making their own ukulele from scratch using hand tools. This intensive course covers every aspect of ukulele making. Participants will leave with a working knowledge of ukulele making, and a handcrafted instrument ready for a lifetime of making music.
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 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.
Come and make soap for holiday gift giving! You will design and create a holiday soap scented with your favorite pines, peppermints and more. You can design your soap to look like cupcakes or other holiday treats! On the second day of class, you will cut the soap with a professional cutter, and design labels and will receive helpful hints for packaging. The timing of this class takes into account that soap must cure for 4 weeks prior to using.
There's nothing like the beauty of the winter season in the Adirondacks! Make a holiday ornament for yourself or your loved ones. Over the course of this day students will progress from making a simple wooden Christmas ornament to one requiring the skills you will have achieved during the day. The course will include instruction on the safe use of the power scroll saw, pattern transfer, the cutting of multiple ornaments using the stacking process and the process of making interior cuts in a piece of wood using a scroll saw. Appropriate for beginning woodworkers and those with some experience.
No weaving experience is necessary! The looms are dressed and ready to go, all you need to do is bring your creative spirit and to leave with a finished one-of-a-kind rug. Students will have a choice of making a traditional Rag Rug using recycled fabric strips or making a Sock Rug using remnants from a sock factory. Colors and choices of fabric and remnants vary from class to class depending on availability. The rugs are 24" wide, and up to 45" long.
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!
This class will take you into the endless possibilities of the twill weave structure. Each student will design an item, wind a warp, dress a loom and weave. Assorted fiber choices will be available. Prior weaving set up and experience is required.
Drawing from over 30 years of fine instrument making, Martin Macica will share his knowledge of the principles of making a ukulele, leading students through the process of making their own ukulele from scratch using hand tools. This intensive course covers every aspect of ukulele making. Participants will leave with a working knowledge of ukulele making, and a handcrafted instrument ready for a lifetime of making music.
This introductory class is geared toward beginner to intermediate photographers who wish to build a solid understanding of the foundations needed for improvement and success. Dave will share an intro slideshow of his work and a discussion on ethics, safety, subject knowledge and increasing your success rate. There will be a handout that covers discussion points of basic camera use, lens selection, composition and more. Discussion will also cover local shooting locations according to participants' interests along with questions from participants.
Learn basic 19th Century American tinsmithing from a master tinsmith. This class will introduce you to and teach you about all the tools, forming stakes, swedges and hand-operated machines used in a well-equipped 19th-Century tin shop. You will be shown how to do basic layout work, cutting, forming, assembly and soldering. Complete both a finger candle stick and a wall sconce by the end of class. You will be amazed at what you've accomplished.
This class will take you into the endless possibilities of the twill weave structure. Each student will design an item, wind a warp, dress a loom and weave. Assorted fiber choices will be available. Prior weaving set up and experience is required.
Open a new chapter in your wood working journey by making your own hand tool. Shape the wood body, harden and temper steel for the blade and make your first shavings all in one day!
'Tis the season to start thinking about holiday ornaments! Come create your own whimsical free-form ornaments. We will also work with color and decoration. You'll be amazed by your own creations - and how lovely they'll look hung in your home. A wonderful class for beginning turners.
Bluegrass banjo is the familiar sound that drove such favorites as the Beverly Hillbillies Theme Song, Rocky Top and Foggy Mountain Breakdown. In this class you will learn enough about the banjo so that you can use a variety of available instructional aids from your home and progress with learning Bluegrass banjo at your own pace. You will be exposed to the basics of playing 5-string Bluegrass banjo, including tunings, left hand chord shapes, right hand rolls, vamping, hammer-ons, pull-offs, chokes, chimes and how to read tablatures. We'll also look at online sites about banjo practice and instruction. Bring a playable 5-string banjo, two metal finger picks and a thumb pick. Although there will be several handouts, an audio recorder is a good idea.
This two-day workshop yields time enough to explore three styles of Shaker carriers; Fixed Handled, Swinging Handled and Divided carriers. Construction steps and hardware application will be demonstrated, and all participants will put their hands-to-work on their own carriers. These projects have a firm place in Shaker history as they were a very popular offering to "The World's People" by Shaker craftsmen.
This two-day workshop yields time enough to explore three styles of Shaker carriers; Fixed Handled, Swinging Handled and Divided carriers. Construction steps and hardware application will be demonstrated, and all participants will put their hands-to-work on their own carriers. These projects have a firm place in Shaker history as they were a very popular offering to "The World's People" by Shaker craftsmen.
One of the most iconic items of Shaker woodworking, nesting oval boxes share elegance, simplicity and functionality equally. Using carefully prepared thin strips of wood each participant will carve the "swallowtails" or "fingers" on one end before soaking them in a hot water bath to soften for bending. Copper tacks are installed to hold the oval hoop together before top and bottom boards are fit and held by wooden pegs. Each student will construct five nesting oval boxes from cherry wood in this two-day workshop.
One of the most iconic items of Shaker woodworking, nesting oval boxes share elegance, simplicity and functionality equally. Using carefully prepared thin strips of wood each participant will carve the "swallowtails" or "fingers" on one end before soaking them in a hot water bath to soften for bending. Copper tacks are installed to hold the oval hoop together before top and bottom boards are fit and held by wooden pegs. Each student will construct five nesting oval boxes from cherry wood in this two-day workshop.
The Merry basket is a fun basket to weave with friends, and great for the upcoming holidays! Students will start with pre-cut and glued spokes into the base. This will allow students to start weaving right away on class day. The design is triple twined with three colors of paracord in a stacking pattern. A regular flat oval rim with paracord rim filler is lashed with flat oval reed to finish your holiday basket. Techniques include triple twining, a stacking pattern, shaping and regular rim. This is a great basket to put a candle in with some pinecones and evergreens for a centerpiece. It is also a nice size to put a liner in and use as a breadbasket. Merry Basket dimensions: 7" x 10" at top x 3" high. The Ziggy basket inspiration came from the racetrack base. Linda wanted a spiral for the flow going around the track with a little zag in it. Students will start with a wood base with the spokes pre-glued prior to class. The design is triple twined with three colors of cotton cord and finished with a regular flat oval rim. The rim is lashed with cotton cord. Students will have a choice of colors. Techniques include triple twining, completing a row and setting up for next, reverse twining and shaping. Ziggy Basket dimensions: 7" x 9.5" x 3.25" high.
This class will take you into the endless possibilities of the twill weave structure. Each student will design an item, wind a warp, dress a loom and weave. Assorted fiber choices will be available. Prior weaving set up and experience is required.
Drawing from over 30 years of fine instrument making, Martin Macica will share his knowledge of the principles of making a ukulele, leading students through the process of making their own ukulele from scratch using hand tools. This intensive course covers every aspect of ukulele making. Participants will leave with a working knowledge of ukulele making, and a handcrafted instrument ready for a lifetime of making music.
Learn the discipline of Metal Working known as Embossing. Students will transfer an image of their choosing from a paper template to a sheet of copper by using various sizes of stylus and other hand tools to create a textured picture. Students will find that copper is a very workable material. Your finished piece will fit in with any Adirondack decor or even in a rustic birch frame! This piece is 12" x 12".
The simple triangular chip can be used to create many interesting, unusual patterns such as this one on an optical illusion plate; creating the illusion of roundness on a flat plane. Each student will receive a 10" plate with the triangular chip pattern already applied. Carving out half of the chips will create the illusion. Once stained or painted, students will have an attractive piece to hang on the wall or display on a table. The plate is sure to surprise and interest all who see it!
This class will take you into the endless possibilities of the twill weave structure. Each student will design an item, wind a warp, dress a loom and weave. Assorted fiber choices will be available. Prior weaving set up and experience is required.
Christmas time in the Adirondacks is a magical time of year. In this tinsmithing class you will make multiple festive holiday ornaments in a variety of designs including icicles, spirals, snowflakes and angels, in addition to your own unique designs! No previous tinsmithing experience is necessary in this class. Perfect for students 12 and older, this is a great class for the whole family!
The simple triangular chip can be used to create many interesting, unusual patterns such as this one on an optical illusion plate; creating the illusion of roundness on a flat plane. Each student will receive a 10" plate with the triangular chip pattern already applied. Carving out half of the chips will create the illusion. Once stained or painted, students will have an attractive piece to hang on the wall or display on a table. The plate is sure to surprise and interest all who see it!
Take a "trip in a cup" as we journey to India, via the principles behind teh Sacred Union of Plant and Water and the areomatic herbs and spices used to creat India's beverage of choice: Chai. We'll start thsi touch, smell, feel and taste workshop by breaking down and discussing the plant ingredients in Chai, their beneficial effects on the body and why it's such a perfect beverage for North Country living. Then we'll put our knowledge to work as we peel, chop and grind our way to creating a traditional Chai infusion from scratch. Once ready, we'll sip our Sacred Union and discuss the many differences between tea and plant infusions and the role they can play in your life. This class is a delightful journey for the senses and also includes a hands-on component where we will make and enjoy Chai tea! Class will also include an opportunity to make your own custom blend of Chai ingredients to replicate the process at home.