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Waterford Craft School



Our Classes

Shaker Cheese Basket (1-day)

$225

with Karen Wychock

Calendar Jun 3, 2023 at 9 am

Class Day/Time: Saturday, June 3, 9 am-5 pm. Instruction time: 7 hours.

Class Description: The Shakers began making baskets early in their history to help with everyday farm work. The Shaker Cheese Basket is just what its name implies . . . it was used in the Shaker community in the cheese making process. The large hexagonal weave (triaxial weave) was used for draining the cheese curds. Today, this basket can serve as a beautiful accent piece in your home, as it is so architectural in nature. This 26” cheese basket will be woven of 3/8” flat reed using triaxial weaving, which is composed of three sets of weavers that intersect and interlace with each other at 60 degree angles. The base of the basket is a hexagon with hexagon openings. As the sides are woven it becomes round. Once the spokes are turned down, you will complete the basket with heavy 3/4” half round rims and 3/8” lashing. Please Note: This is an advanced class so you must have weaving experience. This is a challenging basket to make, but certainly one that will add beauty to your home.

Lunch: Lunch is included in the class fee. If you have any dietary restrictions, please note them when you register.

Instructor Bio: Working over wooden molds, in the method of the Shakers, Karen Wychock’s baskets are traditional in shape and materials. She weaves both Shaker reproductions in ash and traditional, utilitarian baskets of reed. Native hardwoods such as ash and oak are used to make the rims and handles, and all of her baskets are lashed using ash. Each basket takes on its own character as it is woven in a quatrefoil. Twill or fancy lace patterns appeal to both eye and touch.

Karen was an art teacher for 22 years in the Neshaminy School District, Langhorne, PA, before becoming a middle school principal for 15 years in both the Neshaminy School District and the Central Bucks School District.

She is a member of the Bucks County Craftsmen’s Guild, the Bucks County Hand Weaver’s Guild and the PA Guild of Craftsmen. She is also president of the Penn-Jersey Basket Weavers Guild. Karen sells her work at various shows and galleries throughout the northeast (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Virginia, and Ohio), and has the earned the distinction of Waterford Landmark Artisan for her commitment to the Waterford Fair and the Waterford Foundation. She teaches both children and adults.

Will run

Stained Glass: Beginner Copper Foil/Intermediate & Advanced Lead Window (2-day)

$360

with Michael Aylward

Calendar Jun 3, 2023 at 9 am

Class Day/Time: Saturday, June 3, 9 am-5 pm, and Sunday, June 4, 9 am-3pm. Instruction time: 12 hours.

Class Description: In this class, you will create a small- to medium-sized window with a geometric or floral design. Learn how to cut glass sheets using a glass cutter, and shape the pieces to fit the design. You will learn how to prepare the glass for soldering and finish work, then piece them together using either the copper foil or lead cane method. The history of stained glass in churches, private homes and museums will also be discussed. This class is open to all levels of experience. The instructor will divide the class into small groups based on level of experience.

Lunch: Lunch is included in the class fee. If you have any dietary restrictions, please note them when you register.

Instructor Bio: Mike Aylward has been creating stained glass windows since 1990. Originally from the Boston area, Mike opened North Shore Stained Glass in 1993 as a full service studio providing commissions, restorations, supplies, and art classes.

After moving to the Washington DC area, Mike opened Aldie Glassworks, providing custom stained and leaded glass windows and restorations. He has taught many classes over the years, from beginner, intermediate and advanced techniques, to restoring reclaimed windows, working with lead cane, and creating stained glass patterns from photographs. He has also earned the distinction of 'Waterford Landmark Artisan' for his excellence in craftsmanship and for his commitment to the Waterford Foundation and its mission to keep historic craft traditions alive.

Will run

Traditional Marbling on Specialty Paper, Cotton & Silk (2-day)

$345

with Peggy Wertheim

Calendar Jun 3, 2023 at 9 am

Date/Time:  Saturday, June 3 (9 am - 5 pm) & Sunday, June 4 (9 am - 3 pm) for a total of 12 instruction hours plus lunches.

Class Description: Learn traditional marbling techniques with carrageenan (powdered seaweed) and acrylic paints. Using rakes, combs, broomstraws, and other tools, you will learn patterns such as Feather, Bird Wing, Thistle, Frogs, Foot, Chevron, Peacock, Spanish Wave, Stone Marble, and more. Create 20 – 30 marbled papers and fat-quarter fabrics, which can be incorporated into collage, framed artwork, quilting, cards, journal covers, and more. Browse reference books in class & leave with an extensive take-home handout packet. Bring your love of art, your creativity, and curiosity--everything else will be included in the class fee! 

Lunch: Lunch is included in the class fee. If you have any dietary restrictions, please note them when you register.

Instructor Bio: Peggy J. Wertheim, M.A.T. Surface Design Artist and Master Teaching Artist in marbling, silk painting, batik, shibori, and complex dyeing. Her 40+ year career began with textile color exploration and completion of a Master of Arts in Teaching from Miami University. Ms. Wertheim has exhibited at hundreds of juried and invitational shows and galleries simultaneously while offering workshops. This allows her to share her expertise and creativity with her love of teaching. In 2013, she was the only Teaching Artist in the USA selected to attend the prestigious Rauschenberg Foundation Power of Art Conference. She currently devotes herself to teaching workshops, private classes, and creating her Art to Wear and framed artworks.

Will run

Art & Nature Exploration (Ages 6 - 10)

$175

with Alika Middleton

Calendar Jun 19, 2023 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

Class Day/Time: Monday, June 19th - Friday, June 23rd; 9 am-12 pm

Class Description: Dive into the creative process and experiment with a variety of art media including painting, oil pastels, clay, and mixed media. Connect to nature during the art process, creating outside as weather permits. The projects are open-ended and allow for creative freedom and personal exploration. Students will have the opportunity to play nature games and enjoy fun group activities together. It will be a JOYFUL week, full of creativity and nature play.

Please note: an additional $25 materials fee will be due to the Waterford Foundation by the first day of Camp. We will be in touch with additional details and the materials fee invoice about a month before the camp begins. 

Instructor Bio: Alika Middleton is an artist and art educator who empowers her students to trust their own creative process. She has taught visual art for the last nine years in international and private schools ranging from early childhood to high school. She is the founder of Wild Wonder Creators, a program that brings creative arts and nature together in a playful and explorative way. As an educator, she values the importance of social-emotional learning by making sure all of her students feel safe, seen, and fully supported.

Full Course

Survival Adventure (Ages 10 - 13)

$175

with Laura Handley

Calendar Jun 26, 2023 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

Class Day/Time: Monday, June 26th - Friday, June 30; 9 am - 12 pm

Class Description: Have you ever wondered what it's like to live in the woods? Come try it out! Learn the basics of wilderness survival, including shelter building, finding water, fire making, camp cooking, and wilderness safety. Packed with hands-on practice and outdoor games, this fun camp will prepare budding adventurers for all sorts of excursions.

Please note: An additional $35 materials fee will be due to the Waterford Foundation by the first day of Camp. The fee includes a fixed blade knife, a compass, and a fire-safe metal cup, which the student gets to keep. We will be in touch with additional details and the materials fee invoice about a month before the camp begins.  

Instructor Bio: Laura Handley is a teacher and writer with a deep interest in the natural world and how to survive and thrive within it. She picked up survival skills through years of hiking, camping, and foraging and honed them as a teaching assistant and co-instructor at Advanced Survival Training in Fauquier County, VA. She currently works as a high-school math teacher and volunteers extensively in habitat restoration and wildlife monitoring. She also blogs about her foraging and wildcrafting projects on Instagram as @fairfaxforager..

Payment plan available: $50 deposit plus 1 payment of $125.00, paid every two weeks.

Will run

Survival Skills (Ages 14 - 17)

$225

with Laura Handley

Calendar Jun 26, 2023 at 1 pm, runs for 1 week

Class Day/Time: Monday, June 26th - Friday, June 30; 1 pm - 5 pm

Class Description: Could you survive alone in the woods? Want to learn how? This camp will introduce students to the wilderness survival mindset and the skills they'll need to make it happen: shelter building, finding water and food, fire making, navigation, and how to handle common outdoor emergencies. Students will learn to read the land, make wise decisions, and respond with confidence to challenging scenarios, all in a fun and encouraging environment.

Please note: An additional $45 materials fee will be due to the Waterford Foundation by the first day of Camp. The fee includes a fixed blade knife, a compass, and a fire-safe metal cup, which the student gets to keep. We will be in touch with additional details and the materials fee invoice about a month before the camp begins. 

Instructor Bio: Laura Handley is a teacher and writer with a deep interest in the natural world and how to survive and thrive within it. She picked up survival skills through years of hiking, camping, and foraging and honed them as a teaching assistant and co-instructor at Advanced Survival Training in Fauquier County, VA. She currently works as a high-school math teacher and volunteers extensively in habitat restoration and wildlife monitoring. She also blogs about her foraging and wildcrafting projects on Instagram as @fairfaxforager.

Payment plan available: $50 deposit plus 2 payments of $58.33, paid weekly. Final payment of $58.34.

Will run

Wood-Fired Baking (Ages 10 - 13)

$195

with Jerry Bond

Calendar Jul 5, 2023 at 9 am

Class Day/Time: Wednesday, July 5th - Friday, July 7th; 9 am - 4 pm

Class Description: Do you like baking? How about making fires? Put on your apron, dust your hands with flour, and grab the matches! In this 3-day bread camp, students will learn how to make and bake breads in an outdoor wood oven and an indoor electric oven. Discover flat breads, chemically leavened breads, and yeasted bread that will range from savory to sweet. Learn how to prepare bread dough, then head outside to stoke the wood-fired oven, baking different flat breads, like tortillas, pita, and pizza, each day for lunch. There will be opportunities to eat your homework, because there will be enough bread to take home at the end of each day!

Payment plan available: $75 deposit plus 2 payments of $60.00, paid every two weeks.

Barn Quilt Painting (1 day)

$203

with Vyvyan Rundgren

Calendar Jul 8, 2023 at 9 am

Class Day/Time: Saturday, July 8th, 9 am-5 pm. Instruction time: 7 hours.

Class Description: In rural areas, the art of barn quilt painting has become a popular way to celebrate America’s agricultural and cultural past while adding cheery pops of color to outdoor structures. Create your own 24” x 24” barn quilt painting--the perfect size for mounting on your shed, home, or business! Using a quilt block design that you bring from home for inspiration, you will learn how to scale and transfer the pattern onto a prepared wooden board, then you will be guided through the process of taping, painting, and sealing it. Most complete projects will have one or more coats of protective sealant by the end of the class; students will be given enough sealant to complete the process at home. If time allows, a smaller 12”x12” painting can be started for an additional $10 fee, which can be paid directly to the instructor in class.

Lunch: Lunch is included in the class fee. If you have any dietary restrictions, please note them when you register.

Instructor Bio: Vyvyan Rundgren became interested in painted floor cloths (both on canvas and linoleum), which gave a new dimension to her life-long love of art. For eight years she was an instructor at the John C. Campbell Folk School in NC and also taught workshops throughout central Virginia. The painted floor cloth concept expanded to include floor quilts (fabric) and floor pages (paper). Her book, Floor Cloths, Quilts & Pages was released in 2015.

Vyvyan serves as an officer on the Board of Directors for the Art Guild of Greene County. Through the Art Guild and with the support of the Greene County Economic Development & Tourism she founded the Blue Ridge Barn Quilt Project and it has grown to be the largest barn quilt trail in Virginia, now having over 150 artworks on display. She not only paints many of the barn quilts, she also conducts workshops to teach others how to create their own.

Will run





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