In this two-day course students will create their own rustic but elegant piece of jewelry using precut pieces of local Adirondack hemlock and pine, as well as shell dots, metal wire and various other items to inlay. With guidance from the instructor, students will be able to follow their own creative vision to create a unique piece of jewelry.
Learn the discipline of Metal Working known as Embossing. Students will transfer an image of their choosing from a paper template to a sheet of copper by using various sizes of stylus and other hand tools to create a textured picture. Students will find that copper is a very workable material. Your finished piece will fit in with any Adirondack decor or even in a rustic birch frame! This piece is 8" x 8".
One of the most distinctive materials in Adirondack architecture, furniture and art is white birch bark. We will use a section of white birch log, with a copper cylinder inside the log. There will be a copper vine accent piece spiraling around the vase. Students will be forming and texturing the copper vine and soldering the inside cylinder. The vase, when completed will be wet or dry and approximately 8” tall with a 3” diameter. There is no experience necessary for this class.
Forge a simple holdfast from a steel rod. A holdfast utilizes a workbench hole (or anvil pritchel hole) to secure a workpiece. A holdfast has the advantage over a clamp in that it has a longer reach and can be quickly repositioned. If you have a workbench or anvil hole you'd like to use, bring its measurement to class.
Carve a decorative door topper for your interior or exterior door. Learn to design, lay out, and carve, a scenic design or welcome sign for the top of your door.
In this class students will learn basic sheet metal forging and riveting while creating a small camper's frying pan. We'll start with a disk of heavy-gauge sheet metal and forge a frying pan suitable for campfire or stove top use with a decorative forged handle. This class is recommended for students who have taken a basic course or who have some blacksmithing experience. Quality hearing protection is recommended, along with leather gloves.
Carve a decorative door topper for your interior or exterior door. Learn to design, lay out, and carve, a scenic design or welcome sign for the top of your door.
This class follows the lessons learned in Blacksmithing 101. Students will learn how to punch and drift to make a usable bottle opener.
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.
The plants are whispering beckoning us to gather in the wild. This class is for those who would like to answer that call. To work with the plants at their peak in the location in which they thrive! Using techniques from various earth-based traditions, discover the many benefits of wild foraging including: approaching the plants with an open and receptive heart, working intuitively, setting intentions for the exchange, asking permission as a way of giving respect, giving thanks, wild plant identification, and making herbal preparations on the spot!
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.
If you're a fan of birdwatching and want to create a space for the birds that call your yard home, then this is the class for you! Create your own unique "Bird Condo" with plenty of space for backyard birds to roost.
