Traditional Crafts

This class expands on what is learned in our basic Sharpening and Honing Blades course and through individual efforts at the bench. It is more project oriented, while expanding on types of steels, testing, technique, edge geometry, stones and other sharpening tools. At the end of this workshop, you will have a deeper understanding and hands on knowledge of types of steel, edge geometry, heat treating, natural and manmade sharpening stones and options, and a greater depth of understanding of the intersection of blade steel, heat treatment, blade geometry, stone type and technology, and how it all works together. It is recommended that students have taken Sharpening and Honing Blades prior to this course.

Dates/Times

• Sunday, April 19, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Howard Schechter

Member Tuition: $135.00
Non-Member Tuition: $155.00

Material Fee: $10.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Barn quilts have become so popular over the past several years that there are barn quilt trails all over the country. We've even seen billboards on the NY thruway advertising a trail! These art projects are a great way to commemorate a special time in your life or an upcoming holiday. You might have such fun that you'll want to make several like past students. During the class you'll learn some of the history and then learn how to plot out your design after you have chosen one from the many designs on offer. There are so many patterns and the best part is you don't need any quilting experience. Bring a friend and have some fun. Wear old clothes and bring a smock or apron, students may wish to bring a hair dryer if they have one.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, February 7, 2026 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
• Sunday, February 8, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Janet Flinchbaugh

Member Tuition: $175.00
Non-Member Tuition: $215.00

Material Fee: $75.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: 1476 U.S. 9, Lake George, NY 12845, Alfred Z. Solomon Lake George Annex, located on Rt. 9 in the Log Jam Outlets immediately behind the Log Jam Restaurant

Special Notes: Please wear old clothes or bring an apron/smock.

Barn quilts have become so popular over the past several years that there are barn quilt trails all over the country. We've even seen billboards on the NY thruway advertising a trail! These art projects are a great way to commemorate a special time in your life or an upcoming holiday. You might have such fun that you'll want to make several like past students. During the class you'll learn some of the history and then learn how to plot out your design after you have chosen one from the many designs on offer. There are so many patterns and the best part is you don't need any quilting experience. Bring a friend and have some fun. Wear old clothes and bring a smock or apron, students may wish to bring a hair dryer if they have one.

Dates/Times

• Friday, May 8, 2026 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
• Saturday, May 9, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Janet Flinchbaugh

Member Tuition: $175.00
Non-Member Tuition: $215.00

Material Fee: $75.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: 1476 U.S. 9, Lake George, NY 12845, Alfred Z. Solomon Lake George Annex, located on Rt. 9 in the Log Jam Outlets immediately behind the Log Jam Restaurant

Special Notes: Please wear old clothes or bring an apron/smock.

In this exciting AFS class students will learn the basics of carving stone. You'll learn about the three basic types of chisel: point, tooth and flat. If time allows, finishing techniques will also be taught, and used to create a 3D shape in marble. All under the expert guidance of Charles Austin, stone mason and carver. Students should come with a simple idea of what they would like to create.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, May 30, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Sunday, May 31, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Charles Austin

Member Tuition: $230.00
Non-Member Tuition: $280.00

Material Fee: $20.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

First, we will learn how to prepare walnut ink from the husks of local black walnuts. The black walnut tree (Juglans nigra) is one of North America's most valuable and beautiful native trees. We will then learn how to temper and cut a turkey's wing feather into a fine writing tool that we can use with the velvety smooth walnut ink to create calligraphy (beautiful writing!). For the calligraphy classes we will use a chisel-shaped felt pen and learn two letter styles – Gothic, or blackletter, and the Foundational Hand, also using our black walnut ink. Other materials and uses will be demonstrated as well.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, April 18, 2026 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Instructor: Kendra Schieber

Member Tuition: $70.00
Non-Member Tuition: $85.00

Material Fee: $0.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

First, we will learn how to prepare walnut ink from the husks of local black walnuts. The black walnut tree (Juglans nigra) is one of North America's most valuable and beautiful native trees. We will then learn how to temper and cut a turkey's wing feather into a fine writing tool that we can use with the velvety smooth walnut ink to create calligraphy (beautiful writing!). For the calligraphy classes we will use a chisel-shaped felt pen and learn two letter styles – Gothic, or blackletter, and the Foundational Hand, also using our black walnut ink. Other materials and uses will be demonstrated as well.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, February 21, 2026 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Instructor: Kendra Schieber

Member Tuition: $70.00
Non-Member Tuition: $85.00

Material Fee: $0.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Spend a few days learning how to cane your own chair with the traditional 7-step weaving method, which results in an intricate octagonal pattern. Bring your chair needing a new seat (see requirements below). Tools and materials will be provided. Please note: This is an introductory class. Chairs MUST have 75 or fewer holes drilled into the chair seat and be square or rectangular in shape. A curve in the front of the chair is acceptable. Your chair should be in sound condition, with the old seat removed and any repairs and refinishing completed prior to class. If your chair does not meet these parameters, a limited number of additional chairs will be available for a nominal fee, and advice will be given to you on how to best weave the chair you have brought to the class.

Dates/Times

• Thursday, September 10, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Friday, September 11, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Saturday, September 12, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Christine Hubbard

Member Tuition: $345.00
Non-Member Tuition: $420.00

Material Fee: $70.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Special Notes: This is an introductory class. Chairs MUST have 75 or fewer holes drilled into the chair seat and be square or rectangular in shape. A curve in the front of the chair is acceptable. Your chair should be in sound condition, with the old seat removed and any repairs and refinishing completed prior to class. If your chair does not meet these parameters, a limited number of additional chairs will be available for a nominal fee, and advice will be given to you on how to best weave the chair you have brought to the class.

What inspires you? Nearly anything can be depicted in mosaics – flowers, birds, numbers, a special word, or a favorite scene. Create small masterpieces while extending (or beginning) your knowledge of this medium, which has been used to make long-lasting artworks for thousands of years! In this class, you can make an imaginative house number on a waterproof backing board or a multi-colored mosaic image on luaun plywood (various shapes to choose from). Bring your idea or sketch along to this workshop, and capture your image in tile, stone and glass… to create a colorful artwork that will enhance your home for years to come. Beginner to experienced artists welcome! Students will utilize brightly colored glass tiles, stained glass, seashells and pebbles. (Bring a couple of permanent items to add to your project, if you'd like!) Kate has all the "tesserae", tools and expertise you'll need to shape your pieces and secure them to a background with mortar or glue, which will comprise our first day of work. Day two will be a shorter day, grouting and admiring your finished piece, which will be ready to take home! Artist Kate Hartley, who created the North Creek Mosaic Project Mural with over 2000 volunteers, will guide you in bringing your own vision into mosaic form. She's been teaching visual arts to people of all ages for four decades, and delights in encouraging individual expression in artists of all experience levels.

Dates/Times

• Sunday, August 23, 2026 – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Monday, August 24, 2026 – 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Instructor: Kate Hartley

Member Tuition: $175.00
Non-Member Tuition: $215.00

Material Fee: $50.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Come and create a beautiful hall runner floorcloth (5" long) to enhance your home. You will learn to cut stencils or refresh your cutting skills if you have done it before. There are many techniques to learn that can be used along with stenciling to enhance your final creation. In the end you will have a unique and functional piece of art that is one-of-a-kind! Please wear old clothes. Janet will provide glue guns, but if you have your own you are welcome to bring it and she will provide the glue sticks.

Dates/Times

• Friday, April 17, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Saturday, April 18, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Janet Flinchbaugh

Member Tuition: $230.00
Non-Member Tuition: $280.00

Material Fee: $80.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: 1476 U.S. 9, Lake George, NY 12845, Alfred Z. Solomon Lake George Annex, located on Rt. 9 in the Log Jam Outlets immediately behind the Log Jam Restaurant

Special Notes: Please wear old clothes. Instructor will provide aprons and glue guns, but students who wish to bring their own glue gun may do so.

Come and create a hall runner floorcloth with Janet. This two day class will have you learning to cut stencils or refreshing your cutting skills and learning techniques to use when stenciling to enhance your final creation. You will come away with a unique and functional piece of art that is one-of-a-kind. The hall runner will be 5′ long.

Dates/Times

• Friday, July 11, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Saturday, July 12, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Janet Flinchbaugh

Member Tuition: $220.00
Non-Member Tuition: $270.00

Material Fee: $60.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: 1476 U.S. 9, Lake George, NY 12845, Alfred Z. Solomon Lake George Annex, located on Rt. 9 in the Log Jam Outlets immediately behind the Log Jam Restaurant

Special Notes: Please wear old clothes. Instructor will provide aprons and glue guns, but students who wish to bring their own glue gun may do so.

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.

Dates/Times

• Thursday, September 10, 2026 – 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
• Friday, September 11, 2026 – 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Instructor: Ernest Orsini

Member Tuition: $230.00
Non-Member Tuition: $280.00

Material Fee: $65.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Special Notes: Students must bring eye protection, ear plugs, gloves and wear sturdy shoes for their safety.