Adirondack indigenous people have long understood that the pitch from Balsam trees has medicinal powers. Early Adirondack campers would pile branches in their lean-tos for soft and fragrant bedding and Balsam stuffed pillows continue to be a favorite souvenir of vacations in the Adirondack Mountains. For Valentine’s Day we will hand stitch velveteen hearts, stuff them with ground balsam needles, then stitch beaded decorations.
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 course will introduce students to the traditional craft of chip carving - a type of woodcarving in which a small knife is used to incise decorative floral and geometric designs into basswood or butternut. The design is created by the removal of small pieces (chips) of the wood. Chip carving is an ancient, traditional craft. Chip carved plates, jewelry and keepsake boxes, trays, breadboards, furniture and other items can make wonderful gifts and also decorate the home with traditional motifs. Some previous carving experience is helpful, but not necessary. Students will learn to carve a variety of practice designs already drawn on a board and may complete a round ornament as well.
The Adirondack Style is unique. It combines traditional furniture making with the materials found in this region: birch bark, twigs, logs and more. Found in the earliest Great Camps of our region, the skilled craftsmen who made this unique furniture were inspired by the world around them. In this class you will be guided from start to finish: from the selection of the materials and their preparation, to the joinery required, as well as the aesthetics that will help you make a fine end table suitable for your Great Camp or home.
The Adirondack Style is unique. It combines traditional furniture making with the materials found in this region: birch bark, twigs, logs and more. Found in the earliest Great Camps of our region, the skilled craftsmen who made this unique furniture were inspired by the world around them. In this class you will be guided from start to finish: from the selection of the materials and their preparation, to the joinery required, as well as the aesthetics that will help you make a fine end table suitable for your Great Camp or home.
This course will introduce students to the traditional craft of chip carving - a type of woodcarving in which a small knife is used to incise decorative floral and geometric designs into basswood or butternut. The design is created by the removal of small pieces (chips) of the wood. Chip carving is an ancient, traditional craft. Chip carved plates, jewelry and keepsake boxes, trays, breadboards, furniture and other items can make wonderful gifts and also decorate the home with traditional motifs. Some previous carving experience is helpful, but not necessary. Students will learn to carve a variety of practice designs already drawn on a board and may complete a round ornament as well.
Spinning, the ancient art of twisting fibers to make yarn or thread, still thrives today, and this workshop will show you how to bring its magic into your own creative practice. In this workshop, you will learn how to spin wool using spindles and a spinning wheel and hear stories and folklore about spinning while you practice. You will learn the basics of spinning, how to work with the properties of wool, and how to ply and finish the yarn you have spun. No experience is necessary.
To every season turn, turn, turn! This course is for people who have an interest in learning how to turn. The emphasis will be on learning how to use the lathe and tools safely and correctly. In this class you will learn the basics of creating spindle-based objects. Then you will use your new-found skills to create a candlestick and a wooden pen. Friends and family will be truly impressed! You'll need to take this class before moving on to the more advanced turning classes.
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.
Winter weather, snow and ice offer a wonderful diversity of moods for outdoor photography. Ice forms into an endless variety of shapes and patterns along lake shorelines, streams, and rivers that can be enhanced with a soft covering of snow. Snowflakes and ice provide great options for macro photography. With sunset at 5:30pm, we'll be working with golden hour light in addition to sunset color and afterglow possibilities. Spend a day photographing the beautiful winter landscapes in the southeastern Adirondacks with Carl Heilman as your guide and mentor. After meeting briefly at the Folk School for an introduction and to cover any initial questions, the rest of the day will be spent photographing at several nearby locations. There are many beautiful winter vistas within a half hour of the Folk School to take best advantage of the dramatic winter landscape. This nature photography tour is designed for those who are already comfortable with camera basics such as the relationship between aperture, shutter and ISO settings.
Come create a beautiful 12"-18" hardwood cutting board during two, half-day sessions. The class will discuss the types of wood being used, such as sapele, purple heart, African cherry and hard maple. The wood will be cut to size on a table saw. Then, using a joiner, students will make sure all pieces are the same size before gluing the various pieces together and allowing them to dry overnight. On the second day, the class will use planers to ensure that all boards are level and the same thickness. Students will then use a router to create a well and handles. Finally, the boards will be sanded.
Come create a beautiful 12"-18" hardwood cutting board during two, half-day sessions. The class will discuss the types of wood being used, such as sapele, purple heart, African cherry and hard maple. The wood will be cut to size on a table saw. Then, using a joiner, students will make sure all pieces are the same size before gluing the various pieces together and allowing them to dry overnight. On the second day, the class will use planers to ensure that all boards are level and the same thickness. Students will then use a router to create a well and handles. Finally, the boards will be sanded.
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).
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.
This course explores the three-act story structure in greater detail and focuses on how to turn a short personal narrative or another story idea into a full-length screenplay/play, novel, or memoir. In this four week class, students with learn the techniques necessary to create multi- dimensional characters, develop a compelling plot, and identify the themes that will tie the elements of their story together. Students will leave with the tools they need to begin a first draft or revise an existing one. Course Prerequisite: How to Tell a Story Pt. 1 or instructor permission.
Inspired by the history of quilts made from Glens Falls and Corinth shirt factory remnants, we will repurpose used shirts into quilt squares for a pillow top or the beginning of a larger quilt. Techniques for cutting apart shirts, and hand stitching improvised log cabin and house top squares will be demonstrated. No prior sewing experience is required.
