Courses

This course provides an opportunity for in-depth exploration of two interesting techniques, bead embroidery and needle felting. With time, space, and abundant materials, each participant will create their own unique works of art. Bead artist Jo Wood says “My goal is to review and then move beyond the basics of…

Discover the magic of “painting with beads” through your choice of seven different signature beaded lapel pin projects. In a reflection of the art and craft of bead embroidery, artist Jo Wood will lead you through your choice of one or two bead-embroidered projects, time permitting. The birch tree pin…

Bring a favorite landscape image to class and create your own unique bead painting on felted wool (material provided). Your piece can be made into a pin for a wearable work of art, or framed for display. This workshop is for all skill levels, for those new to beading on…

Drawing inspiration from opulent hand embroidered Victorian Crazy quilts; learn how to construct a traditional 14-inch Crazy quilt block using the stitch and flip sewing method on a muslin base. Traditional Crazy quilts were not constructed for warmth or for the bed; instead they showcased the maker’s needlework skills. The…

Brightly-colored seed beads have been used to embellish and brighten clothing and homegoods for centuries. Learn to make a beaded doily in this short class and experiment with color and pattern repetition to create a unique piece. Beadwork artist Marcie McIntire will provide instruction and materials for creating these lovely…

Learn basic leather sewing and beadwork by making a drawstring shoulder bag. This three day introductory course will work with soft deerskin leather, and teach several different stitches and embellishment techniques. The finished bag will measure 9” x 5 ½”.

Crocheting, knitting, tatting, and needle lace focus on a single thread to construct lace. Bobbin lace making is another one of the traditional forms of making lace, and is the only technique to use multiple threads concurrently. The technique has some similarities to weaving but is done on a portable…

Boro is a Japanese folk textile with an understated eloquence and aesthetic that was originally created out of necessity, in which small scraps of precious fabric are carefully stitched together to create a larger cloth or repair a garment. In this course, students will review a brief history of Boro…

Create a beautiful very handmade piece of clothing: right down to the fabric design! Students will create a lightweight, drapey, felt tunic using fine wool and two layers of silk. They will dye the tunic and then complete the design by steam printing with leaves and flowers. Students should bring…

Autumn brings a riot of color to the landscape of the North Shore. This workshop is your opportunity to capture a bit of the season with beads. Each participant will bring an autumn image to inspire their design. From your image you will create a unique “bead painting” embroidered on…

This class is for weavers who wish to go beyond repetitive pattern drafts and explore personal imagery and design. Doubleweave is a technique in which the weaver simultaneously weaves two layers of cloth. Reversible patterns and imagery are woven into the cloth, dark-on-light on one side, and light-on-dark on the…

Those of us in the rocky, Northern climes know that the world is a cold hard place. Luckily there’s a felted solution: the wool seat cozy. Add a beautiful and warm wooly cushion to your favorite chair, car seat, canoe, sporting event, dinner table or take it with you and…

When we think of dioramas, foggy memories of shoeboxes and elementary school projects might pop up, but dioramas can be much more than dinosaurs! Diorama means “through that which is seen” in Greek, and is a method of creating a three dimenstional scene to convey a story or a feeling.…

Braided structures are among the oldest examples of human textile work. Learn to create cloth without the use of a loom, an extremely portable method. No previous weaving experience is assumed for the beginners’ class. Using a ready-to-go warp, participants will receive an introduction to the basic techniques. Emphasis is…

This course is an intensive introduction to the ancient textile fiber: flax; and the cloth made from flax: linen. Students will explore all aspects of this traditional material, from seed selection, planting and cultivation, through harvesting, retting, hand processing, spinning, and weaving. We discuss flax’s place in traditional hand textile…