Hand tools are at the heart of woodworking, emphasizing precision, control, and a hands-on connection to the material. This course will provide students with an introduction to sharpening, maintaining, and using woodworking hand tools. Focusing on hand saws, planes, and chisels. Students will learn how to effectively use traditional hand tools and apply those skills to an introductory joint of their choosing. Hand tool woodworking can also provide a good alternative for those without a lot of space or access to ample machinery.

Learn the basics of throwing or increase your skill--this 8 week course is the bedrock of our pottery community. Instructors will demostrate different forms and help students through the process of creating work, firing and glazing. Additionally, we work with students to learn and improve handbuilding skills. We are a rare student-centered studio that focuses on cone 9-10 firings.

This course takes place in our bright, sunny pottery studio, which has been loved for decades by our community. This class comes with ample open studio time where you can work on improving your skills at your own pace. These hours will be announced via email prior to the start of your class.

One bag of clay is provided in the cost of the course.

Try out woodturning in this single-session beginner class in which students will learn to safely mount a hardwood blank between centers on a wood lathe, and then use spindle roughing gouges, parting tools and calipers to measure and shape a rolling pin tailored to their preferences. The finished projects will be ready to take home that night and put to work right away. 

This course takes place in our beautiful, light filled woodshop at the very back of our campus. 

All materials for the creation of your rolling pin are provided.

Are you curious about weaving software and wonder if it would be worthwhile? 

This class is an opportunity to try one of the popular weaving software programs - Fiberworks PCW - and explore its basic features. Weaving software allows you to quickly create a drawdown of a pattern, explore color combinations, and modify a draft to suit your project. It’s an easy way to play with design options, and it offers convenient features that will tell you the maximum float length or how many heddles you’ll need on each shaft. The only problem with weaving software is that playing with design options can be as addictive as the actual weaving!

For this class, you will need to have a laptop with the software loaded on it. We  will use Fiberworks PCW for Mac. The free demo version is fine.  You will be able to do everything except save or print your files.  Either the Bronze or Silver version is fine. Silver has some extra features that are mainly useful if you have more than 8 shafts. 

See http://www.fiberworks-pcw.com/mac.html to download a copy of the software and for installation instructions.

Students will make one silver ring and one bangle side by side, learning how the same soldering, filing, and shaping processes can be used at two different scales. By moving between each piece throughout the class, students will compare the process and gain a clearer understanding of how the same techniques can be applied to different forms. Beginners will be guided step by step, while returning students may create more complex variations and work more independently. This is a beginner friendly class!

In this workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of coil basketry by creating a small hand-stitched basket. We’ll cover how to start a base, shape the sides, and use simple stitching techniques to build structure and pattern. This class is suitable for beginners and anyone who enjoys working with their hands. All materials are provided, but if you have special yarns or fabric you’d like to incorporate, feel free to bring them along.

First Day at Shelburne Farms, Following classes at Craft School

Create a bench and learn about sustainable forestry, wood properties and selection, milling and building in the process.Forest to Furniture is a course that allows students to learn about the northern forest and to create a table or bench using wood sustainably harvested from Shelburne Farms.We will kick off the course by visiting the woodlands at Shelburne Farms. We will explore natural history, discuss management, and learn not only about the importance of forest ecosystems but also their role in carbon sequestration. You will then carefully select your wood, harvested and milled at Shelburne Farms, based on the properties of the wood and your planned use for your finished product. A simple, locally sourced and prepared meal will be shared. The rest of the course takes place at the Craft School where you will build your beautiful bench.

This course is in memory of Marshall Webb who loved the forests of Shelburne Farms and the woodshed of Shelburne Craft School.

Rigid Heddle Looms are known for their simplicity and portability. In this introductory workshop, students will learn the basics of weaving as well as several weaving techniques to achieve a variety of textures, looks and designs. Other skills learned will be:

* dressing a rigid heddle loom* preparing yarn for weaving* finishing techniques

The completed project will be a sampler showcasing the various techniques demonstrated which will give each weaver plenty of ideas and inspiration for their next project!