Class Description: Learn how to ecoprint on silk and wool naturally! Ecoprinting (also known as botanical printing) involves collecting leaves, plants and flowers to imprint their images directly upon protein fibers using a water bath process. Students will learn techniques to create beautiful, natural designs with colors drawn directly from Nature on silk and wool. At the end of the day, students will take home their silk and wool ecoprinted samples and the knowledge to continue Ecoprinting from Nature's resources. Ecoprinting is a natural, sustainable art form. Students leave with 2 silk scarves ecoprinted naturally and in color on silk habatoi and silk noil.

Class Date and Time: This one-day workshop is hosted on Saturday, April 27th, 2024 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Total teachable hours are 7 hours.

Materials Fee (included in total class fee): $25, and covers 1 hemmed silk scarf, 1 unhemmed silk noil scarf, 1 dye blanket, all equipment use (turkey roaster, dowels, twine, baskets, scissors, paper towels, latex gloves, plastic, mordants), table coverings, access to information summary of instructions and mordant mixing.

Items Students should bring: We can collect leaves during class BUT it helps to bring leaves from your area with emphasis on high tannin leaves such as oak, maples, rose, hickory, sumac, blackberry, kudzu and interesting weeds. Fun additional plants (usually store bought) are eucalyptus and colorful “flat” flowers such as daisies. No thick plants. Students should also bring a one-gallon water jug to use as a weight (can be filled at class). Gloves are optional.

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

Instructor Bio: M Theresa Brown is a professional artist whose long art career embraces many areas of the Arts. She uses natural dyes and low impact synthetic dyes and merges them into unique, beautiful designs on silk, wool, paper and leather. She turns her transformed work into artisanal clothing, accessories, and art. Her articles and designs in the fiber arts have appeared in international publications such as "No Serial Number" and "Belle Armoire".   She has a line of instructional PDF’s on ecoprinting techniques and is the first instructor to teach ecoprinting on leather in the US. She has been an instructor at many fiber art shows including Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, Southeastern Animal Fiber Fest, Carolina Fiber Fest, Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival, Michigan Fiber Fest, Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival, Southeast Fiber Arts Association, John C Campbell Folk School and many upcoming new venues.

Class Description: Students will learn the basic steps needed to create a Turkey Wing Whisk broom from broomcorn and nylon with a plaited handle made from woven cane.

Class Date and Time: This one-day workshop is hosted on Saturday, April 27th, 2024 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Total teachable hours are 7 hours.

Materials Fee (included in total class fee): $40, covers broomcorn and other materials to make broom and a foot break pedal to take home.

Items Students should bring: none.

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

Instructor Bio: I am Gabriella Hart. I am twenty-five years old and live just outside of the beautiful and historic city of Lexington, Virginia. I am a young wife and mother of one. I enjoy my simple life on our homestead and being a part of the wonderful community that surrounds me. I am passionate about the preservation of the art and history of broom making. I hope to continue to share the beauty and my love for broom making with others.

Class Description: Let the wood guide you! In this one-day course, you’ll learn basic spoon-carving techniques, including selecting the best trees for carving, breakingdown logs into usable spoon blanks, and practicing the basic axe and knife skills needed for safe and efficient carving. Using only three tools (axe, straight knife, and hook knife), you'll begin carving your own wooden spoon. You will leave with a few blisters on your hands, an appreciation for the therapeutic nature and addictive qualities of spoon carving, and the basic technique, confidence, and reference material needed to continue carving on your own. The small group format allows for safe and individualized instruction. 

Class Date and Time: This one-day workshop is hosted on Saturday, April 27th, 2024 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Total teachable hours are 7 hours.

Materials fee (included in total class fee): $25 and covers greenwood spoon blanks for carving, a dedicated workstation, use of carving tools, course materials, personalized instruction, coaching, and encouragement.

Items Student should bring: light duty work or gardening gloves, safety glasses (optional).

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

Instructor Bio: Ian Hart operates a one-man traditional wood and metal shop near Lexington, VA. His work lays heavily on historic tradition, both in design and manufacture, largely involving the same tools and processes used by 17th and 18th Century craftsmen.  Ian formally learned traditional metalwork at the American College of the Building Arts and is a self-taught woodworker.  He apprenticed with Richard Guthrie, a Journeyman Blacksmith and 20-year veteran at Colonial Williamsburg, who taught Ian a passion for taking the time to make things properly, regardless of the cost.  Ian has worked in production, design and management at Cardine Studios, eventually transitioning to his own shop in Lexington, VA where he currently makes direct copies and original iron and wood works rooted in period examples, primarily using a coal forge and hand tools with a few modern pieces of equipment to speed things up. Every piece is hand finished to match historical ironwork. Ian is scheduled to teach an advanced woodworking class June 3-4th for us so if you want to take the skills you learned today to the next level, please consider signing up for his class on our website.

Class Description: Learn how to ecoprint on lambskin leather naturally as well as in color! In this exclusive one-day workshop, students will put ecoprinting skills to work on lambskin leather! Ecoprinting (also known as botanical printing) involves collecting leaves, plants and flowers to imprint the plant images directly upon leather.

Students will learn:

• Leather-everything you need to know to understand, locate, select and work with leathers that accept ecoprinting no matter where you live!

• Equipment-what you need and how to use it (most of which you already have!

• Plants-All about plants, leaves, weeds and flowers and using them on Leather

• Mordants- descriptions and ratios

• Dyes- easy to use selections for permanent results

• Tools- cross over tools many crafters already have for leather work.

• Sources for leather, dyes and mordants and tools (in US and online).

At the end of class students will leave with 2 samples (approx. 8” x 18”) of ecoprinted lambskin leather- naturally ecoprinted and in color and the ability to continue the process with the knowledge learned in the workshop.

Class Date and Time: This one-day workshop is hosted on Sunday, April 27th, 2024 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Total teachable hours are 5 hours.

Materials Fee (included in total class fee): $35 and covers 2 lambskin leather sections (8” x 20”), all equipment use (turkey roasters, dowels, fabric strips, baskets, scissors, paper towels, latex gloves,plastic) mordants, use of 1 pre-dyed carrier, resource list and mordant mixing instructions.

Items Students should bring: Although we will collect leaves from home prior to class, students should bring additional leaves from their area with emphasis on high tannin leaves such as oak, maples, rose, blackberry, hickory, sumac and interesting weeds. Fun additional plants (usually store bought) are eucalyptus and colorful flowers such as daisy type flowers. No thick plants. Students will also need to bring 1 roll of paper towels.

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

Instructor Bio: M Theresa Brown is a professional artist whose long art career embraces many areas of the Arts. She uses natural dyes and low impact synthetic dyes and merges them into unique, beautiful designs on silk, wool, paper and leather. She turns her transformed work into artisanal clothing, accessories, and art. Her articles and designs in the fiber arts have appeared in international publications such as "No Serial Number" and "Belle Armoire".   She has a line of instructional PDF’s on ecoprinting techniques and is the first instructor to teach ecoprinting on leather in the US. She has been an instructor at many fiber art shows including Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, Southeastern Animal Fiber Fest, Carolina Fiber Fest, Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival, Michigan Fiber Fest, Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival, Southeast Fiber Arts Association, John C Campbell Folk School and many upcoming new venues.

Class Description: Spend a relaxing day learning the basics of clothing mending with Shelagh Jessop of Stuart Moores Textiles. Shelagh will teach you the fundamentals of clothing mending along with some basic stitching techniques that will not only repair your clothing but make them stand out as you prolong the life of your much loved clothing. Each student will take home a mending kit that will include Stuart Moores Textiles plant dyed flosses and fabrics as well as everything you need to continue your mending practice at home. This workshop is offered in partnership with the Chesapeake Fibershed and their Sustainable Cloth 2024 Challenge - Mend. Make. Do.

Class Date and Time: This one-day workshop is hosted on Sunday, April 28th from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Total teachable hours are 6.

Materials Fee: $40 (included in total class fee), and covers all supplies students will need to complete a sampler in class as well as supplies to continue mending at home.

Additional supplies students should bring from home: Thread snips, tweezers, reading glasses and a craft light if the student normally uses one for crafting. A chair cushion is also useful for sitting for a long time.

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

Instructor Bio: My name is Shelagh (sounds like Shay-la) and I am the one-woman-show behind Stuart Moores Textiles (Stuart was my great-grandfather; you can read about our story on the SMT website). I am a textile artist and professional natural dyer, specializing in traditional natural dyes and dye techniques. My art is predominantly inspired by the history of textile arts and crafts, from grand tapestries made by 11th century master artisans to hand stitched home goods made by 18th century homemakers. I have a degree in Textile Design and a two-year certificate in Horticulture. I currently work out of my home-studio along the Potomac river in Maryland and share my passion for textile craft as an instructor, teaching in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions.

Class Description: In this class, students will make an asymmetrical form basket of out willow. Using traditional willow weaving techniques, we will create this contemporary design inspired by Polish basket maker, Stanislaw Dzuibak. A round base is woven in reverse pair, the stakes are inserted and the sides woven up in three rod wale and French randing. The asymmetrical element and the border of the basket is then woven from the stakes themselves! A sturdy branch handle is incorporated to finish the basket.

Class Date and Time: This two-day workshop is hosted on Saturday, May 18th, 2024 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sunday, May 19th, 2024 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm with a one-hour lunch provided each day. Total teachable hours are 12 hours.

Materials Fee (included in total class fee): $40 and covers willow, branch handle, and tool use: bodkin, rapping iron, hand pruners, side nippers, saw, fid, basket weights.

Items students should bring: Lightweight gloves.

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

Instructor Bio:  Jes Clark (they/them) is the farmer and weaver at Willow Vale Farm in Stanfordville, NY. Jes weaves traditional and contemporary functional pieces and the basket forms created are a result of their conversation with each stick of willow. All of their willow is grown without pesticides using regenerative practices and with loving care.

Class Description: Let the wood guide you! In this one-day course, you’ll learn basic bowl-carving techniques, including selecting the best trees for carving, breakingdown logs into usable bowl blanks, and practicing the basic axe and knife skills needed for safe and efficient carving. Using only three tools (axe, straight knife, and hook knife), you'll begin carving your own wooden bowl. You will leave with a few blisters on your hands, an appreciation for the therapeutic nature and addictive qualities of bowl carving, and the basic technique, confidence, and reference material needed to continue carving on your own. The small group format allows for safe and individualized instruction. 

Class Date and Time: This one-day workshop is hosted on Saturday, May 18th, 2024 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Total teachable hours are 7 hours.

Materials Fee (included in total class fee): $25 and covers wood blanks for carving, a dedicated workstation, use of carving tools, course materials, personalized instruction, coaching, and encouragement.

Items Students should bring from home: Lightweight work or gardening gloves and safety glasses (optional).

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

Instructor Bio: Ian Hart operates a one-man traditional wood and metal shop near Lexington, VA. His work lays heavily on historic tradition, both in design and manufacture, largely involving the same tools and processes used by 17th and 18th Century craftsmen.  Ian formally learned traditional metalwork at the American College of the Building Arts and is a self-taught woodworker.  He apprenticed with Richard Guthrie, a Journeyman Blacksmith and 20-year veteran at Colonial Williamsburg, who taught Ian a passion for taking the time to make things properly, regardless of the cost.  Ian has worked in production, design and management at Cardine Studios, eventually transitioning to his own shop in Lexington, VA where he currently makes direct copies and original iron and wood works rooted in period examples, primarily using a coal forge and hand tools with a few modern pieces of equipment to speed things up. Every piece is hand finished to match historical ironwork. 

Class Description: Learn the basics of quilting with this approachable project!  Sewist Amie Otto will teach students how to construct a log cabin block and then turn it into a 16” pillow cover. Students have the option of bringing their own fabrics or purchasing a kit from the instructor (details below).

Class Date and Time: This one-day workshop is hosted on Sunday, May 19th from noon – 3:00 pm. Total teachable hours are 3. Fee: $75 + materials fee.

Materials Fee: $10 (included in total class fee), and covers sewing machine use and basic notions needed for sewing including clips, pins, scissors, needles, rotary cutter and mat. Additional supplies students should bring from home*: 

*Kit purchase available from the instructor for $35. Kit includes all items listed above. Upon registration student will be send instructions on how to order kit.

Instructor Bio: Amie Otto is a long time quilter, sewist and fiber enthusiast. Amie's journey into the world of needle and thread began at an early age when she learned to make garments with dreams of becoming a fashion designer.  Later in high school, she made her first quilt as an independent study for art class.  Since then, she has honed her sewing and quilting skills through countless classes, conferences, and seminars. In addition to her role as an instructor, Amie is an active member of several quilting and textile art communities. She frequently participates in classes, conferences, sew-alongs and workshops, staying abreast of the latest trends while respecting the timeless traditions of the craft. Amie’s teaching philosophy revolves around creating a supportive, fun and inspiring environment for her students. Her classes are not just about mastering techniques; they are a celebration of creativity and self-expression. Through patient guidance and hands-on demonstrations, she empowers her students to turn fabric into masterpieces, fostering a sense of accomplishment, confidence and pride in each creation.You can see more of Amie’s work on Instagram @quiltnest and @redfoxstitchery