In this class students will create a stained glass mosaic in an 8" x 10" frame. Students will have a choice of photographs to work with, or may bring their own if desired. Students will be instructed on how to grout their piece, which is recommended but not required. This class is suitable for students of any level.
Always a popular class, Create Your Own Roasting Fork is geared towards the novice blacksmith. Blacksmith Steve Gurzler will teach basic blacksmithing skills while the students work to create a roasting fork for marshmallows or maybe even bratwurst. Bring something to roast at the end of the day with your finished product!
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.
This block shines as a two-color quilt or becomes quite playful when designed as a scrappy quilt. You will create enough blocks to construct a 40? x 40? lap quilt, wall hanging or table topper. The blocks created in the block party classes will be cut using the Acuquilt cutting system. This system improves accuracy in cutting and reduces the stress on your hands often felt while cutting large amounts of small units of fabric for the quilt blocks.
Whether you are an experienced weaver or just a beginner, pick-up band weaving on the inkle loom is a portable, satisfying, and surprisingly easy way to create elaborate patterns with minimal equipment. The pick-up technique is used in many weaving traditions, and the finished products can be made into bookmarks, dog leashes, instrument and purse straps, and belts. We will focus on traditional Nordic and Baltic pick-up weaving using linen and wool threads. We will begin by getting familiar with the inkle loom, practicing the basic weaving technique, and learning how to read a pattern, and then we will start working on our projects. Depending on how quickly you weave, you may create a couple of bookmarks or a longer strap that can be used for a bag, camera, or musical instrument. On the second day, we will go over warping the inkle loom so that you have the skills you need to do it on your own later.
Strap Hinges are an iconic form of blacksmith-made hinge. This 2-day class will take participants through the process of forging a small set of strap hinges with wrapped eyes and decorative finials. We will also forge the hooks to mount them. Students will either be able to replicate historic examples or design their own unique styles of hinges.
Whether you are an experienced weaver or just a beginner, pick-up band weaving on the inkle loom is a portable, satisfying, and surprisingly easy way to create elaborate patterns with minimal equipment. The pick-up technique is used in many weaving traditions, and the finished products can be made into bookmarks, dog leashes, instrument and purse straps, and belts. We will focus on traditional Nordic and Baltic pick-up weaving using linen and wool threads. We will begin by getting familiar with the inkle loom, practicing the basic weaving technique, and learning how to read a pattern, and then we will start working on our projects. Depending on how quickly you weave, you may create a couple of bookmarks or a longer strap that can be used for a bag, camera, or musical instrument. On the second day, we will go over warping the inkle loom so that you have the skills you need to do it on your own later.
In days gone by, it was common practice for people living in wild places to tend the land which provided them with food, medicine, and shelter. It was a daily exchange of life between human and the natural world. In this introductory series, we will explore the natural world and discover ways to more fully engage with her as she moves through each of the four seasons. In each class we will: create an outdoor (temporary) medicine wheel in order to deepen our understanding of the cyclical nature of all life: plants, people, animal/insect. We will also engage with/forage the plants which are available to us as we seasonally and learn how to transform what they have to offer into something we can use, aka beneficial preparations. This class will be balanced with time outdoors for Wild Tending and indoors for hands-on practice of preparation techniques and extraction methods. Each class stands on it's own. Together they create a synergy of seasonal attunement aligning your wild nature with the natural world around you.
Come create a simple turned bowl that still looks and feels rustic due to its live edge. This course is targeted to those who have an interest in learning how to turn. The emphasis will be on learning how to use a lathe and tools safely and correctly. In this class, you will learn the basics of creating spindle-based objects and then work at turning your bowl. Leave the class with a lovely treasure that captures the "wild" feel of the Adirondacks!
Strap Hinges are an iconic form of blacksmith-made hinge. This 2-day class will take participants through the process of forging a small set of strap hinges with wrapped eyes and decorative finials. We will also forge the hooks to mount them. Students will either be able to replicate historic examples or design their own unique styles of hinges.
Whether you can play an instrument or not, you can still write songs! Beginner or expert, in this special workshop you will learn folk song writing skills or advance your current abilities with award-winning performing songwriters Cosby Gibson and Tom Staudle. Participants of all levels will study the facets of composing and developing folk songs. Also includes live music demonstrations by the instructors, discussion, and individual guidance. Students may bring (but are not required to) instrument, recording device such as phone or handheld.
Would you like to try blacksmithing, and get a taste of the craft? Join instructor Steve Gurzler for 3 weekday evenings to learn how to operate a coal forge to bring metal to incandescent heat and shape it with hammer in hand. This class will use the Artist Blacksmiths Association of North America (ABANA) curriculum to teach the basics of blacksmithing. Students can expect to create 2 or more projects during the 3 evenings. Class size is limited to ensure all can advance at their own pace.
