Have fun exploring the many possibilities water soluble oil pastels have to offer–either on their own or in combination with other mediums. Subject matter is your own choice; work from photos, life, or your wildest imagination. All levels welcome; some drawing and/or painting experience helpful.

Like cloth, written language can be found everywhere. Yet the intrinsic power of words–their ability to transcend basic “information sharing” to express ideas and convey sentiment–adds immeasurably to their appeal as patterns on the page. With the goal to inspire weavers to expand their repertoire of decorative approaches, this class will provide step-by-step instruction for using inlay to weave letters and words in cloth. Should be able to warp and weave independently.

Join an instructor inspired by Mayan men in Guatemala to give this versatile form of fiber art a try. Start with a large hook, two wool yarns, and loose single crochet stitches and progress to tapestry crocheting a bag with a beaded design to be felted in class. Build on new skills, create a cylindrical basket using a smaller hook, beaded cotton thread, and tight stitches, then tapestry crochet a flat piece with your own or your instructors motif. Beginner through advanced levels welcome. 

Bring your voice, instrument, or both as we explore the musical traditions of Southern Appalachia together. Learn songs and tunes with fun melodies, harmonies, and accompaniment. All stringed instruments welcome! Make good music in a friendly atmosphere and take away a treasure-trove of string band music from a wide variety of sources. This class is accessible for confident beginners and also has plenty of challenges for more advanced musicians and singers.

Learn century-proven techniques for carving wood in relief or carving ornamentation out of a (usually) flat surface. Develop a deeper understanding of wood as an art medium and explore the many applications of this unique art form. Bring your own simple design to carve or choose from provided patterns. Return home with at least one finished piece to display and admire.

Gain skills to better understand proper lighting, composition, color, exposure, and go-to editing apps to enhance your photographs. Learn to use editing tools already on your phone for cropping, adjusting vibrancy, contrast, or color and to turn a color photograph into a black-and-white and several other color or black-and-white variations. Although this class is best suited for the iPhone photographer, Android photographers are welcome too.

From dill to bread and butter, carrots to peaches, there’s a pickle for everyone! Learn to prepare quick pickle recipes for immediate gratification and also explore longer fermentation processes that create complex, tangy flavors. Examine the role of salt, vinegar, and other ingredients in food preservation. By the end of class, you’ll have the skills and confidence to create a variety of delicious and safely preserved pickled fruits and vegetables.

Learn a variety of different beading techniques as you weave several skinny bracelets–3/16 inch to 3/8 inch wide–which you can layer together to your heart's content. Gain skills to manage needles and beading thread, and work on designs with shaped beads and mixed colors. Use Half Tilas, Gem Duos, Super Duos, and more. This class is addictive for beaders and non-beaders of all levels. $

Get ready for a wild mushroom foray. Go on mushroom identification and collection walks, taking advantage of the spectacular summer mushroom diversity of this region’s hardwood forests. Learn about mushroom cultivation, production of mushroom supplements, and culinary tips. Dive into the influences of ecology, soil, weather patterns, and human activity and also learn all about the life cycles of fungi.

Weekend + Week. Learn to make large-scale work! Through group demonstrations and individual instruction, learn healthy hand and body postures for moving clay, how to make pots in sections, and the coil and paddle method. Inform and enliven the conversation with open discussion and focus on finding the best technique for your design ideas. Best for intermediate to advanced students who want to make large pieces. No firing will take place in this process-oriented class. $

Learn traditional woodcarving techniques for making fine, classic furniture. Start with discussions and demonstrations about various carved motifs such as a ball and claw foot, acanthus leaves, and various shell forms. Then, carve a mahogany, Newport-style, shell mirror crest on a provided frame (glass mirror not included). An ideal class for woodworkers who want to add hand carved embellishments to their furniture.

Blacksmiths have an elegantly simple solution for every problem–hit it with a hammer! And, every time we hit it, the metal moves in three dimensions. Learn to think of hot steel as a mass-like clay to squish instead of as a line to bend. Learn to track changes in order to make controllable and repeatable forgings of your own design. Expect to focus on skill building rather than finished pieces. All levels welcome.

Let your imagination guide you as we create truly one-of-a-kind pieces of functional art. In this intermediate level class, explore several traditional and inventive methods of binding brooms and building brushes onto found object handles. Work with a variety of fibers, allowing you to take your creativity to new heights! Moderate hand and body strength needed; some broom making experience recommended. $

Explore color theory through hands-on collage. Cover hue, value, saturation, and how color interacts in context. Inspired by Josef Albers’ work on color relativity, create visual studies that reveal how subtle shifts in color placement impact perception. Through guided exercises, deepen your understanding of color relationships and composition as you gain practical tools to support creative expression across art and design disciplines. All levels welcome.

For beginning to intermediate callers, enjoy a supportive environment designed to help you discover your strengths and explore new ideas. Topics include calling in time to the music (especially for beginners), teaching techniques, recognizing good choreography, planning a program, leading effective walk-throughs, improving performance presence and vocal skills, and working with musicians. Gain direct experience as you practice calling and teaching actual dances with live musicians.