Jump to Menu

Class Schedule

Note about classes in the Covid-era

I am limiting class sizes even more than usual to abide the VOSHA standards for distancing and group gatherings. In addition, just as for shoppers, participants will be required to wear face masks until such time as that changes nationally.

The classes I'm offering this summer will be held out of doors in the garden (beneath the dye tents to protect vs. rain)

The August felting workshops with Hungarian born felter Judit Pocs have been cancelled, but I'm trying to reschedule for 2021, so stay tuned.

September

Online Dye Workshop

Starting after Labor Day and running thru Nov 15th.

Read class description

This online workshop is a great way to enjoy the last of summer and early fall-it's my favorite time to dye! For natural dyeing and eco/botanical printing there are a lot of plants to harvest and I like having the extra ventilation when working with the chemical dyes. So whether you are a felter wanting to add block printing to your felt (see my runes in the far right photo) or wishing to dye your own silk fabric for nuno felting, or you are a knitter interested in dyeing yarn either with natural dyes (see the second photo from the left) or to handpaint your skeins with chemical dyes, or you are a seamstress or quilter that wants to add botanical printing/eco printing to your fabric design possibilities, this is a great workshop for you to get down all the basics....and then some. I've updated this workshop since I first filmed the basics. It now includes a bit of shibori technqiue, all about tannins and the extra steps to naturally dye or botanically print cottons or other cellulosic fibers (this workshop used to just cover dyeing wool and protein fibers). Read more about the workshop and register. Dye Lab Registration - Price: $75 Registration Terms: We make go/no-go decisions based on registration numbers and our classes have a maximum capacity, so no refunds or exchanges on class registrations are possible, EXCEPT, or course if we cancel the class for lack of enrollment. Then you will receive a 100% refund. We will notify you by email as soon as we know a class is a definite "go". Since your registration is non-refundable, please be sure to check your calendar before you commit. Please initial in the box below when you register to acknowledge you accept these terms.

October

Knitted XMAS Stocking via Zoom

October 21st & 28th and Nov 4th 7 - 8:30 PM

Read class description

This is a great class for beginning or advanced beginning knitters wanting to expand their skill set and get in the spirit of the holidays! And since it is a virtual workshop, we will be socially distanced! So as long as you know how to cast on, knit, and purl comfortably, you are welcome to join this workshop. You'll learn to work from a chart for the designs/motifs you choose to use (you are not knitting this exact stocking - it is your choice what motifs and how many, what colors, etc), manage 2 colors in a row, how to work a basic peasant heel in a sock, and also work duplicate stitch. The XMAS stocking pattern is included in the class price (I'll buy it for you thru Ravelry and have it sent to you electronically - or if you are local and don't want the online document you can come by the shop for a printed version) and offers many different holiday "motifs/patterns" to choose from so you can personalize the stocking to your liking. And of course, you can choose any colors you want. You'll need to have on hand (or buy from me at a 15% class discount) a worsted weight yarn in at least 2 colors. If you choose to use a bulky gauge, that's up to you - your stocking will be bigger (not necessarily a bad thing!). You'll need dpns and/or a 16" circular needle appropriate for the yarn you are using (somewhere in the US 7 - 9 range for worsted yarn and 10-10.5 for a bulky). Instruction fee: $45 (includes pattern, not yarn) Registration Terms: We make go/no-go decisions based on registration numbers and our classes have a maximum capacity, so no refunds or exchanges on class registrations are possible, EXCEPT, or course if we cancel the class for lack of enrollment. Then you will receive a 100% refund. We will notify you by email as soon as we know a class is a definite "go". Since your registration is non-refundable, please be sure to check your calendar before you commit. Please initial in the box below when you register to acknowledge you accept these terms. please initial to accept the registration terms

Boro Unleashed

October 17 & 18, 10:00 - 5:00 PM

As of August, this class is still a go, but we are limiting it to 6 participants. Which means there is room for just 1 more to join us. We will be socially distanced and wearing masks for sure. Weather permitting (i.e. if its not too cold) we'll even hold it in the garden beneath the dye canopies, but otherwise it will be indoors and each participant will have her own table to be 6 ft apart.

Read class description

Boro mending, kantha cloth, the Quilts of Gee's Bend. Each of these evokes images of old, worn fabrics, simply but beautifully stitched for a new purpose out of need and salvaged cloth. Born of necessity in diverse cultures worldwide, contemporary fiber artists can learn much from these traditions both technically and aesthetically. In this workshop we explore the traditions that created these textiles and then look to them for inspiration in creating new works of fiber art. Beginning with pieces of old fabrics-vintage linens, pieces of worn jeans, even bits of blankets or tattered garments-we select, curate, layer, and hand stitch them into new looks and new life. Techniques explored include non-traditional hand piecing and applique, hand quilting with heavier threads, inclusion of repurposed embellishments such as shirt buttons and beads from old jewelry, as well as design considerations in creating our compositions. This two-day workshop is a meditative blend of history, hand work, repurposing, and art making. This class is suitable for all levels of fiber artists. Join artists Lisa Binkley in "boro-ing" a range of projects--mending jeans, stitching an apron, working on a wall hanging; making a piece that could be used for a bag or pillow cover Under Lisa's guidance, you can plan a project with a specific use in mind or use the class time to explore various possitilities and begin a project you would finish at home. Bring some fabrics/pieces that have special meaning to you - or - hit up Goodwill for some fabrics to upcycle and bring new meaning to them thru the artistry of the stitch! Instruction fee $257 for this wonderful 2 day meditative workshop. Registration Terms: We make go/no-go decisions based on registration numbers and our classes have a maximum capacity, so no refunds or exchanges on class registrations are possible, EXCEPT, or course if we cancel the class for lack of enrollment. Then you will receive a 100% refund. We will notify you by email as soon as we know a class is a definite "go". Since your registration is non-refundable, please be sure to check your calendar before you commit. Please initial in the box below when you register to acknowledge you accept these terms. please initial to accept registration terms cited above

Nancy Ballesteros - Rhythms in Felt Workshops - postponed to dates in 2021 to be determined.

These workshops have been postponed until sometime in 2021. Once I have the dates, I will open registration for them - although space will be limited since those who already registered for the classes in 2020 that were postponed due to covid, have all opted to keep their spots in the 2021 workshop. So if you're interested, once I have the dates, you'll need to register right away!

Nancy Ballesteros is an accomplished color theorist, dyer and felter. The two workshops I'm hosting her for here (see below) are optimal taken together, but each can stand alone as well. Join us for both and enjoy a 15% savings over each class separately. Taking both will allow you to really immerse yourself in the technique, become one with color, and explore so many possibilities using Fibonacci in the "Sampling" workshop that when you get to the Nuno Scarf (& later when you go home to incorporate this approach in your own garments), you'll love your results right out of the gate instead of spending the next month or more on that learning curve!

I can tell already that she and I are "sympatico" given the amount of orange she incorporates into her felt! I'm not sure what my excuse is beyond that oranges speak to me, but I imagine she is highly inspired by the colors of the outback as a resident of Australia! All colors are welcome and encouraged in these workshops and if you are someone who struggles with color or doesn't but wants to expand your range of colors and color combinations, these 4 days promise to be earth shattering!

Natural Rhythms Sampling with Nancy Ballesteros

October 22 & 23, postponed to dates in 2021 to be determined.

Read class description

Have you ever wondered if the beauty in nature has any particular design method which it follows? Come and explore how the simple but powerful Fibonacci design principal can be applied to your nuno felting (no maths necessary!). These elements can be found everywhere in nature and are incredibly visually pleasing to the human brain. Learn how to apply Fibonacci's design principles to create structured linear or more rhythmical organic patterns, whilst learning how to develop and use a sophisticated colour palette. Using her 30+ years of creating colour, Nancy will present some practical ideas for developing your own colour language. Come with an open mind and spirit for learning new techniques of working with WET wool while learning to felt great superfine nuno.We will also concentrate on developing an array of skills for fully fulling your felt.Our aim is to develop a set of samples that will inspire and inform your creative process for years to come.You could fill a library with all the endless possibilities. And if you are also a weaver or knitter, I use Fibonacci all the time for creating stripe sequences for hand wovens and handknits as well! So come explore the concept in felt, but apply it many times over in other crafts you enjoy!

Natural Rhythms Nuno Scarf with Nancy Ballesteros

Postponed to dates in 2021 to be determined.

Read class description

Create a Superfine Merino Scarf while learning how to apply Fibonacci's universal design principles to your nuno felting. These design elements can be found everywhere in nature and are incredibly visually pleasing to our human brain. We will use these principles (no math necessary!) to create linear and more organic rhythmical patterns, whilst learning how to use a sophisticated colour palette.Drawing from her 30+ years of designing colours, Nancy will present some practical ideas for developing your own colour language. Learn Nancy's newest technique of working with WET wool for making clear sharp lines while also learning to felt great superfine cloth. Please come with an open mind and spirit readyto work with wool in a very different manner -it will be challenging! Emphasis will be placed on QUALITY FELT. Specific fulling techniques will expand your felting skills. Nancy will also share her No-Roll Felting Technique

And think about joining us first for the 2 day sampling workshop so you can really learn, understand and explore lots of color possibilities, so when you make your scarf in this class, it will be exactly what you dreamed of! If you register for both at the same time, enjoy savings!

More Zoom classes may be added for 2020

Depending on the interest in the XMAS Stocking in October, so stay tuned.

2021 Classes

are not yet confirmed.

Please check back for dates - we will add them as they are finalized.

January 2021

Check Back

Read class description

Instruction fee is $. Registration Terms: We make go/no-go decisions based on registration numbers and our classes have a maximum capacity, so no refunds or exchanges on class registrations are possible, EXCEPT, or course if we cancel the class for lack of enrollment. Then you will receive a 100% refund. We will notify you by email as soon as we know a class is a definite "go". Since your registration is non-refundable, please be sure to check your calendar before you commit. Please initial in the box below when you register to acknowledge you accept these terms.

February 2021

Check Back

Read class description

Instruction fee is $. Registration Terms: We make go/no-go decisions based on registration numbers and our classes have a maximum capacity, so no refunds or exchanges on class registrations are possible, EXCEPT, or course if we cancel the class for lack of enrollment. Then you will receive a 100% refund. We will notify you by email as soon as we know a class is a definite "go". Since your registration is non-refundable, please be sure to check your calendar before you commit. Please initial in the box below when you register to acknowledge you accept these terms.

March 2021

Check Back

Read class description

Instruction fee is $. Registration Terms: We make go/no-go decisions based on registration numbers and our classes have a maximum capacity, so no refunds or exchanges on class registrations are possible, EXCEPT, or course if we cancel the class for lack of enrollment. Then you will receive a 100% refund. We will notify you by email as soon as we know a class is a definite "go". Since your registration is non-refundable, please be sure to check your calendar before you commit. Please initial in the box below when you register to acknowledge you accept these terms.

April 2021

Check Back

Read class description

Instruction fee is $. Registration Terms: We make go/no-go decisions based on registration numbers and our classes have a maximum capacity, so no refunds or exchanges on class registrations are possible, EXCEPT, or course if we cancel the class for lack of enrollment. Then you will receive a 100% refund. We will notify you by email as soon as we know a class is a definite "go". Since your registration is non-refundable, please be sure to check your calendar before you commit. Please initial in the box below when you register to acknowledge you accept these terms.

May 2021

Check Back

Read class description