Learn to weave on a floor loom. With instruction and hands on experience, you will perform each step of the process - winding a warp, dressing a loom, and weaving a cotton towel to take home and use for years to come.
Learn to weave on a floor loom. With instruction and hands on experience, you will perform each step of the process - winding a warp, dressing a loom, and weaving a cotton towel to take home and use for years to come.
Learn to weave on a floor loom. With instruction and hands on experience, you will perform each step of the process - winding a warp, dressing a loom, and weaving a cotton towel to take home and use for years to come.
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.
In this class students will create a beautiful copper bowl from a 12" x 12" sheet of 16-gauge copper. Students will pound and hand tool the sheet into an 9" diameter, approx. 2" deep bowl. Students will also make a decorative vine with leaves from copper that will be attached to the rim of the bowl. Some soldering will be involved in this
Instructor Matthew Parkinson was the first winner of History Channel’s Forged in Fire. You will forge and finish one antler-handled hunting knife with a 4-inch to 6-inch blade. Topics will include working with high-carbon steel, knife design, forging a blade to shape, grinding, finishing, heat treating, fitting a guard, and attaching a handle. This is an introductory class, but some experience is helpful. Students will also cut out, mold, stitch, dye and finish a leather sheath.
Learn to weave on a floor loom. With instruction and hands on experience, you will perform each step of the process - winding a warp, dressing a loom, and weaving a cotton towel to take home and use for years to come.
These projects: the Mini Penobscot and Mini Canoe are constructed with birch bark similar to those made years ago by New England Algonquian and Penobscot Natives. Much smaller in size and to be respectful some changes have been made. Needle skills are helpful as these are stitched with waxed linen and embellished with pine needles.
Instructor Matthew Parkinson was the first winner of History Channel’s Forged in Fire. You will forge and finish one antler-handled hunting knife with a 4-inch to 6-inch blade. Topics will include working with high-carbon steel, knife design, forging a blade to shape, grinding, finishing, heat treating, fitting a guard, and attaching a handle. This is an introductory class, but some experience is helpful. Students will also cut out, mold, stitch, dye and finish a leather sheath.
Students will learn the basics of making a Nantucket basket using natural cane spokes and weavers. Woven on a class mold, students will insert the spokes into a walnut base. Weaving will be done in a continuous fashion up to the top This basket has a beautiful matching walnut rim to finish it off. This basket is appropriate for basket weavers of all levels. Dimensions: 8 ½" wide x 3 ½" high.
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.
Kumiko is the delicate, geometric latticework that is traditionally found in shoji screens. It originated in Japan during the Asuka era (600 - 700 AD). The patterns are made by carefully cutting bevels and fitting small strips of wood together without the need for glue. There are hundreds of designs that range from simple and rectangular to very complex and intricate. In this class you will learn how to make the asanoha pattern. Translated to "hemp leaf," asanoha is the most popular pattern in Japan and is connected to the idea of growth. You will start with basswood strips and go through the process of cutting accurate half lap joints to make a grid. Then, use Kumiko jigs to cut bevels and assemble the asanoha pattern.
If you've ever admired the beautiful stone walls you've seen in the countryside and wondered how they were made, this class is for you! In this two-day class you will learn the basic techniques for creating dry-laid stone walls from an accomplished stone mason. Both retaining and freestanding walls will be covered, along with preparing the base and sub-base, stone selection and other topics. This hands-on workshop is a must for anyone who wants to build or repair stone walls for their own home.
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!
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.
If you've ever admired the beautiful stone walls you've seen in the countryside and wondered how they were made, this class is for you! In this two-day class you will learn the basic techniques for creating dry-laid stone walls from an accomplished stone mason. Both retaining and freestanding walls will be covered, along with preparing the base and sub-base, stone selection and other topics. This hands-on workshop is a must for anyone who wants to build or repair stone walls for their own home.
In this workshop we will complete a small Tiffany style suncatcher, ornament, or flower. Students will be able to choose a pre-drawn pattern from a variety of designs and be guided as they learn to cut the glass (chosen from a variety of types and colors), smooth the glass pieces with a grinder, apply copper foil tape, solder the pieces together into the final piece using lead-free solder, and add jump rings or a copper wire stem. The patterns available will offer a variety of levels of difficulty so students may choose what best suits them.
In this class students will take a trip through history as they learn about how Artisan Cheese developed from the 1800s through the present day. Students will have the opportunity to taste many of the New York cheeses discussed. Specific focus will be placed on the Adirondack Crescent Region. Please note: Students will check in at the Folk School, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY. They will then travel to Nettle Meadow's Plant/Tasting Room 1256 Lake Ave., Lake Luzerne, NY for the duration of the class.
The use of plants for wellness, nutrition and balance has been practiced for thousands of years in the Adirondacks and cultures around the globe. Discover what they knew and passed down for generations. In this course you'll get hands-on experience in traditional practices for transforming raw plant material into beneficial preparations with a focus on enhancing the wellbeing of our body system organs. This class is for all levels and open to ages 13 and up.
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.
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).
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 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.
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!
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).
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
This basic class will give you the foundation needed to start out on your journey of blacksmithing. You'll learn fire management, hammering methods, drawing out, upsetting, cutting, splitting, twisting, and convenience bending along with a demo of forge welding. Make punches and chisels and learn to harden and temper them. Heating material and heat management will be taught and much more.
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.
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.
Students will learn how to make FABULOUS one of a kind, custom umbrellas. These umbrellas are perfect for rain or shine. They are also great for bridal or baby showers. Umbrellas are made using tightly woven, cotton fabric. Basic hand and machine sewing skills are necessary for this project. A list of necessary materials students must bring will be sent out prior to the class.
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.
A fun way to address the Autumn season. Hide the holiday treats in this large orange round woven basket with the with the addition of greens and decorative items tied on. Woven using the start and stop method makes it easy to make and carry with the woven handle. This basket is appropriate for basket weavers of all levels. Dimensions: 7" x 9" x 13" high
Come learn the fundamentals of working with an open-air wood-fired oven as well as fermentation, while making your own pizza and brewing your own beer. All pizza oven tools and ingredients will be provided. Beer kits will include everything needed to make and take home your own one-gallon batch of beer. Other brewing equipment will be provided.
This basic class will give you the foundation needed to start out on your journey of blacksmithing. You'll learn fire management, hammering methods, drawing out, upsetting, cutting, splitting, twisting, and convenience bending along with a demo of forge welding. Make punches and chisels and learn to harden and temper them. Heating material and heat management will be taught and much more.
