Traditional Crafts

This class is an introduction to some basic techniques for making books by hand. Participants will make 3 different book structures: a sewn pamphlet, a hard cover fold book and an Asian style “stab” binding. The workshop will start with the making of decorative paste papers to be used for covering the book models we will make in class. Investigate the crafts employed in putting the elements of a book together. These simple bindings are satisfying and useful on their own but also employ techniques that can be elaborated on for more advanced book forms and personal exploration.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, February 28, 2026 – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Sunday, March 1, 2026 – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Matt Liddle

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

Material Fee: $25.00 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

Join Janet for a day long class to create a mini barn quilt for that special mom, grandma or mother -in- law for Mother's Day. Or perhaps to spruce up your entrance way for summer. Come and unlock your creative spirit in this daylong class. Wear old clothes and bring a smock or apron, students may wish to bring a hair dryer if they have one.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, May 2, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Janet Flinchbaugh

Member Tuition: $115.00
Non-Member Tuition: $140.00

Material Fee: $30.00 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

Learn about color theory while creating a beautiful mosaic color wheel! In this workshop students will discover how one color will affect another. They will learn to use mosaic tools and adhesives and a large selection of colorful tiles, beads and glass to create a beautiful mosaic to take home.

Dates/Times

• Sunday, March 22, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Linda Biggers

Member Tuition: $115.00
Non-Member Tuition: $140.00

Material Fee: $30.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

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

Students will learn glass cutting and mosaic techniques while creating a beautiful land and waterscape mosaic. We will be using stained glass and slate to make a mosaic with water, island and trees.

Dates/Times

• Sunday, July 26, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Monday, July 27, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Tuesday, July 28, 2026 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Instructor: Linda Biggers

Member Tuition: $300.00
Non-Member Tuition: $365.00

Material Fee: $40.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

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

In this class students will create a beautiful mosaic ornament to hang in a window, outside, or use as a holiday ornament. Students will be using reflective glass and mirror to make ornaments that are fun and sparkly! Additionally, we will learn how to design the ornament and how to use mosaic tools and adhesives.

Dates/Times

• Sunday, November 1, 2026 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Instructor: Linda Biggers

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

Material Fee: $25.00 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

Enhance your garden or outdoor space with a splash of mosaic color! Create inspiring birds, flowers and butterflies on a "garden stone", (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 garden or yard for years to come. Beginner to experienced artists welcome! Students will utilize brightly colored porcelain tiles, as well as 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 set them in mortar, 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

• Friday, January 30, 2026 – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Saturday, January 31, 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

It's recycling and repurposing at its best! Search your closets or consignment shops and gather up 30-40 neck ties. Grab a chair that has 4 seat rails, and you'll be ready to go. You'll weave the neck ties onto the seat rails, creating a unique weaving and functional chair. Please bring a collection of 30 – 40 neck ties and a chair with 4 seat rungs needing a new chair seat. The chair should have the old seating material removed, with any repairs and refinishing completed prior to class. There will be a limited number of chairs available for a nominal fee if you are in need of one.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, March 28, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Christine Hubbard

Member Tuition: $115.00
Non-Member Tuition: $140.00

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

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

Special Notes: Please bring a collection of 30 – 40 neck ties and a chair with 4 seat rungs needing a new chair seat. The chair should have the old seating material removed, with any repairs and refinishing completed prior to class. There will be a limited number of chairs available for a nominal fee if you are in need of one.

Explore the magic of turning pulp into paper! This hands-on workshop introduces the elements of papermaking by hand, including fiber preparation, pulp handling, sheet forming, pressing and drying. Hand papermaking techniques can be easily learned by the beginner but can also be pursued to advanced levels, with many creative possibilities for the artist and designer. Participants in this workshop will make multiple sheets of paper using a variety of natural fiber, and low-tech equipment. Fiber plus water equals papermaking fun!

Dates/Times

• Friday, June 12, 2026 – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Saturday, June 13, 2026 – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Matt Liddle

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

Material Fee: $35.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

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

In the early 1800's the Shakers began weaving chair seats using colorful cotton tape onto their iconic chairs. You'll continue this tradition by weaving g a chair wit 4 seat rails using colorful cotton tape in traditional Shaker colors. Register early and choose between a solid color or two contrasting colors. Please bring a chair that has 4 seat rails with the old seat removed and any repairs and refinishing complete prior to class. If you don't have your own chair, a limited number will be available for a nominal fee. *Register by March 15 for your choice of color and width of tape. Upon registration you will be contacted by the instructor to discuss your choice. Registrations received after March 15 will be up to the instructor's choice. Deadline is based on supplier's shipping dates at the time of this catalog's publication and are subject to change. Please check with AFS for updated deadlines.

Dates/Times

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

Instructor: Christine Hubbard

Member Tuition: $115.00
Non-Member Tuition: $140.00

Material Fee: $90.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

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

Special Notes: Register by March 15 for your choice of color and width of tape. Upon registration you will be contacted by the instructor to discuss your choice. Registrations received after March 15 will be up to the instructor's choice. Deadline is based on supplier's shipping dates at the time of this catalog's publication and are subject to change. Please check with AFS for updated deadlines.

Chasing the sharpest edge possible has consumed Howard's time and efforts for the past 22 years. He started making knives in 1973 and has worked diligently to get blades of all types as sharp as possible with a repeatable process that can be replicated by other people. Over the years Howard has studied whetstones in museums around the world and amassed a huge study collection of rocks which have been used for various purposes by craftsmen around the world throughout time. All of Howard's sharpening work is done under magnification and he has invented tools and processes for sharpening quickly and to a keen edge. At the end of this presentation, students will have an understanding and hands on knowledge of: edge geometry, types of steel, heat treating, natural and manmade sharpening stones and options, and a better way to understand the intersection of blade steel, heat treatment,
blade geometry, stone type and technology, and how it all works together.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, April 18, 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

Special Notes: Students should bring one or two blades to hone for the class. Come prepared to work in a dirty process so wear work or old clothes. Closed toe shoes required.

Chasing the sharpest edge possible has consumed Howard's time and efforts for the past 22 years. He started making knives in 1973 and has worked diligently to get blades of all types as sharp as possible with a repeatable process that can be replicated by other people. Over the years Howard has studied whetstones in museums around the world and amassed a huge study collection of rocks which have been used for various purposes by craftsmen around the world throughout time. All of Howard's sharpening work is done under magnification and he has invented tools and processes for sharpening quickly and to a keen edge. At the end of this presentation, students will have an understanding and hands on knowledge of: edge geometry, types of steel, heat treating, natural and manmade sharpening stones and options, and a better way to understand the intersection of blade steel, heat treatment,
blade geometry, stone type and technology, and how it all works together.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, October 17, 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

Special Notes: Students should bring one or two blades to hone for the class. Come prepared to work in a dirty process so wear work or old clothes. Closed toe shoes required.

Dates/Times

• Monday, September 22, 2025 – 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
• Tuesday, September 23, 2025 – 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Instructor: Kate Hartley

Member Tuition: $165.00
Non-Member Tuition: $205.00

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

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