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.
Woven with natural and dyed reed using the stop and start method makes this easy to do and the wooden handle easy to carry. Matching design on top and bottom areas compliment this round basket, and the uses are endless. This basket is appropriate for basket weavers of all levels. Dimensions: 10" x 9" 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.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
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.
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.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
Chip carve a beautiful seahorse into a 12" plaque. Students will receive the plaque with the design already applied so you can begin carving right away. After carving, the plaque can be stained or painted at home according to students' preference. This is an advanced class; chip carving experience is required. Chip carving knives will be provided.
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.
Chip carve a beautiful seahorse into a 12" plaque. Students will receive the plaque with the design already applied so you can begin carving right away. After carving, the plaque can be stained or painted at home according to students' preference. This is an advanced class; chip carving experience is required. Chip carving knives will be provided.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
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!
The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.
Create your own pine branch wall hanging with vines, leaves, and pinecones. Different size pipe will be pounded and textured on an anvil to make the branches and vines. The leaves and cones will be made from sheet copper, then textured. This class will also involve some soldering. The finished piece will be approximately 25" by 17".
In this class students will design, shape and carve a serving spoon. Skills explored include: making a template and transferring it to a blank, carving and shaping the bowl and back of the spoon, use of hand tools such as gouges, scrapers, coping saws, and spokeshaves, and sanding and finishing techniques. Students will leave class with a beautiful handcrafted hardwood spoon to use in their own kitchens or to give as a gift!
This class will cover the basic process of forging pattern-welded Damascus steel. Students will weld up several small billets and explore the basics of pattern development. Students will also explore several common methods of forge welding as well as covering the science of forge welding. Students can expect to learn the process of choosing steels that will give good pattern and function well together in the final billet. The class will cover how to lay out and prepare the steel for forge welding both in the starting stack and in subsequent re-stacks. Special attention will be given to hand work and the making of patterns well suited to limited machinery. The main areas of pattern development will be explored as well as touching on some more advanced patterning techniques. Once the billets are forged and patterned, the class will grind and polish a window or sample tile to etch and reveal the pattern. The class will cover several techniques to etch the sample for higher contrast. The techniques taught in class should offer students the building blocks to begin an exploration of Damascus patterns on their own. Experience of basic blacksmithing techniques suggested.
Birch bark picture frames and mirrors have adorned Adirondack camps and cabins for centuries and were a favorite winter project for the guides to make. This is a great class for beginners with limited experience with woodworking and tools. You will select a frame and learn how to cut and fasten the Birch bark, twigs and other natural objects to create your own 'masterpiece'. Come see why this is one of our most popular classes. You'll be proud to hang this in your home!
This class will cover the basic process of forging pattern-welded Damascus steel. Students will weld up several small billets and explore the basics of pattern development. Students will also explore several common methods of forge welding as well as covering the science of forge welding. Students can expect to learn the process of choosing steels that will give good pattern and function well together in the final billet. The class will cover how to lay out and prepare the steel for forge welding both in the starting stack and in subsequent re-stacks. Special attention will be given to hand work and the making of patterns well suited to limited machinery. The main areas of pattern development will be explored as well as touching on some more advanced patterning techniques. Once the billets are forged and patterned, the class will grind and polish a window or sample tile to etch and reveal the pattern. The class will cover several techniques to etch the sample for higher contrast. The techniques taught in class should offer students the building blocks to begin an exploration of Damascus patterns on their own. Experience of basic blacksmithing techniques suggested.
Birch bark picture frames and mirrors have adorned Adirondack camps and cabins for centuries and were a favorite winter project for the guides to make. This is a great class for beginners with limited experience with woodworking and tools. You will select a frame and learn how to cut and fasten the Birch bark, twigs and other natural objects to create your own 'masterpiece'. Come see why this is one of our most popular classes. You'll be proud to hang this in your home!
In this class students will create one fall inspired wreath using many natural materials: feathers, corn husks, pinecones, and other dried materials. Students will also make a bow for the wreath.
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!
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.
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).
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.
Explore the many ways that you can use silver in a metal clay formulation to create jewelry designs of your own. The newest way of working with silver is metal clay which can be shaped like clay to produce uniquely textured surfaces, resulting in durable beautiful silver jewelry. Students will learn metal clay working techniques and make pendants, earrings, charms and rings. Fresh leaves will also be used to create a silver piece of nature. The class will also cover techniques for setting and firing stones directly in metal clay. Each student will leave with at least four finished pieces of jewelry. No previous experience necessary.
Sterling alloys in clay form are stronger than pure silver and easy to work with making it ideal for ring making. It is possible to either purchase a .950 sterling clay or make a .960 clay (a 50/50 combination of pure silver clay and .925 sterling clay). The emphasis in this class will be on making rings, but you are also welcome to use some of your clay to make other items as well. While this class is ideal for those with metal clay experience, it is open to anyone with an interest in learning metal clay techniques for making rings with metal clay.
In this three-day class students will create a hand forged high carbon steel kitchen knife with a wood handle. Forging, grinding, and sharpening skills will be covered.
Sharpening and honing of blades is a mystery to most people these days although our ancestors knew the skill intimately. Technology of honing has definitely improved over the past 100 years and there are many technologies to choose from. Howard will demystify the sharpening process and you will leave the workshop with the skills to sharpen your own blades. Students should bring one or two blades to hone for the class.
Internationally known cheesemakers Sheila Flanagan and Sal Speights return for this second course in the Art of Cheesemaking. In this course students will learn to make fresh cheeses including chevre, fromage frais, and fromage blanc. This class will also include discussion of flavoring and packaging variations. 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.
On the afternoon of April 8, 2024, about 95% of the Adirondack Park will be shadowed in the totality of a solar eclipse as the path of totality darkens a swath of the Earth from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, from Mexico to Newfoundland. Having experienced and photographed the August 21, 2017 total eclipse in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I thought I'd share tips and techniques that could help others photograph the 2024 eclipse. Standing in the dusky darkness of totality, and looking up to the dark side of the moon, surrounded by the eerie glow of the sun's corona is a lifetime experience you will not want to miss. Having the right equipment and practicing photo techniques ahead of time will allow you to capture stunning eclipse photos, and also be relaxed enough to enjoy this unique experience. The suggested equipment and information will help you photograph the sun at any time, capturing sunspots and other solar features with additional equipment, as well as offer settings for photographing the sun during the eclipse. This is the last total solar eclipse to traverse the continental United States until August 12, 2045.
In this three-day class students will create a hand forged high carbon steel kitchen knife with a wood handle. Forging, grinding, and sharpening skills will be covered.
In this class students will create one fall inspired wreath using many natural materials: feathers, corn husks, pinecones, and other dried materials. Students will also make a bow for the wreath.
In this three-day class students will create a hand forged high carbon steel kitchen knife with a wood handle. Forging, grinding, and sharpening skills will be covered.
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.
Spend the morning crafting these lovely hanging hearts, sure to brighten your holiday decor or perfect for gift giving. The hearts are woven from hardwood maple splint and are hung from hand-dyed silk ribbon in various colors. Students will weave two large and two smaller hearts. These hearts can be filled with small items. Additional kits will be available for sale.
Students will weave these striking snowflakes from hardwood maple and cherry wood splint. Several patterns may be woven, depending on the chosen splint. Students will weave one large 10" diameter snowflake, and two smaller 7" snowflakes, which make a beautiful grouping hung together on a tree or in a window. Additional kits will be available for sale.
Blacksmiths have always made their own tools and it's a skill every smith should know. This class will work with carbon steel to make a punch or chisel that will be hardened at the working end and soft at the striking end. Each student will leave with a usable tool and the understanding of how to create more. The details of metallurgy and hardening will be discussed in depth.
Spend the morning crafting these lovely hanging hearts, sure to brighten your holiday decor or perfect for gift giving. The hearts are woven from hardwood maple splint and are hung from hand-dyed silk ribbon in various colors. Students will weave two large and two smaller hearts. These hearts can be filled with small items. Additional kits will be available for sale.
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!
Chairs with four intact rails can accept several different types of woven seats, including splint seats woven in various patterns. In this class you'll learn to weave a herringbone pattern splint seat onto a chair using flat reed. Please bring a chair that is in sound condition with the old seat removed. Any refinishing you wish to do should be completed prior to the class
Students will weave these striking snowflakes from hardwood maple and cherry wood splint. Several patterns may be woven, depending on the chosen splint. Students will weave one large 10" diameter snowflake, and two smaller 7" snowflakes, which make a beautiful grouping hung together on a tree or in a window. Additional kits will be available for sale.
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).
Spend a few days learning how to cane your own chair during which you'll learn how to weave the traditional 7-step caning pattern. Bring along a chair in good condition in need of a new caned seat. Ideally, the chair seat will be square or rectangular in shape and have fewer than 85 holes drilled into the seat frame. Any repairs and refinishing should be completed before the class begins. Please bring a chair in sound condition, with the old cane removed, if possible.
The beauty of the light shining through these shades is magical. You will create two lampshades using pressed botanicals ... hidden when the lamp is off, admired when the lamp is on. In addition, you will create two-night lights.
Spend a few days learning how to cane your own chair during which you'll learn how to weave the traditional 7-step caning pattern. Bring along a chair in good condition in need of a new caned seat. Ideally, the chair seat will be square or rectangular in shape and have fewer than 85 holes drilled into the seat frame. Any repairs and refinishing should be completed before the class begins. Please bring a chair in sound condition, with the old cane removed, if possible.
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.
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