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: 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

Class Description: Our workshop begins with identifying dye plants in the wild and to grow, and dyes from historic professionals. We will examine a range of natural fibers, and learn historical precedents for our techniques. I will show a brief set of visuals about foraging and gardening dye plants, and the quest for sustainability in the textile industry.I will show you specific principles for extracting color from plants and adhering them to textiles and provide sample skeins in dye baths for everyone. You may bring sample skeins, particularly unusual fibers, to dip for personal experimentation. Natural fibers work best; synthetic yarns resist natural color. We will all leave with dyed samples from our personal explorations.We will use a range of natural dyes, such as: Tropical colors -- orange from annatto seed, purple from logwood, fuschia from cochineal insects. Old World colors -- madder red, weld yellow, lichen purple. American dye plants: walnut, oak bark, pokeberry and goldenrod. And the plants grown at home for dye, such as Japanese indigo, bidens, orange cosmos, marigold.We may venture beyond wool into a range of fibers and natural dyes to color them. Which plants will dye alpaca, rabbit, llama, and other animal fibers? We will research to discover dyeing characteristics of dogbane, flax, okra, and others.We will also examine making lake pigment extractions, to preserve dyebaths or to make paints. Each participant will reveive a copy of my book, Gardening and Foraging Natural Dyes. Assorted seeds and plants for a dye plant garden will be available.

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): $50, covers a copy of the book for each student, sample skeins to dye, and dye garden seeds. Garden dye plants will be available for purchase.

Items Students should bring: Clothes that can get messy or an apron and bring gloves to protect hands in hot or cold liquid. Students may bring sample skeins to dye.

Dye Plants: Will be available for purchase at the class. $8 (woad, weld, orange cosmos, Japanese indigo, & dyers coreopsis), and $10 for madder. Plants will be in quart containers. Payment made directly to instructor in cash. Plants are first come, first serve.  

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

Instructor Bio: Pat Brodowski, well-known as the former Vegetable Gardener at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, has given natural dye workshops for fiber arts groups and museums in the Mid-Atlantic area for 20 years. In 2022, she researched the plant histories and dye methods of 57 dye plants to grow, forage, or purchase and published them in a manual to encourage experimentation. Her workshops include plant lore from antiquity to link today to dyers long ago.

Class Description: Marbling provides infinite means of self-expression: selecting just theright colors, tools, and patterns to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Learn the essentials of marbling with acrylic paints on a carrageenan bath using rakes, combs, brushes and other tools. Practice classic patterns (including Stone, Nonpareil, Chevron, Peacock, Bouquet, Feather and more) and experiment with new techniques. We’ll work with both paper and fabric, and every student will take home a silk scarf with a beautiful pattern you've marbled yourselves! We’ll also try out some low-stress crafts that transform your marbled papers into beautiful gifts, including note cards, origami boxes, and hand-stitched notebooks. This class is a great introduction for curious beginners and casual marblers, as well as those with more experience.

Class Date and Time: This two-day workshop is hosted on Saturday, June 22nd from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sunday, June 23rd from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm with a one-hour lunch provided each day. Total teachable hours: 12.

Materials Fee (included in total class fee): $75, covers all supplies and tools including gloves, paper towels, etc.

Items Students should bring: Apron and/or clothes that can get wet or paint-spattered, and wear closed-toe shoes with non-slip soles.

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

Instructor Bio: Sasha Trosch has channeled her lifelong love of all things paper into her creative venture, Rock Springs Paper Craft. Specializing in marbling (paper, fabric, and 3D objects) with a growing practice in decorative and handmade paper, Sasha creates vivid artwork for the home and whimsical gift items for any occasion. Sasha has studied with master crafters at the John C. Campbell Folk School (NC), Snow Farm:The New England Craft Program (MA), and the School of Bookbinding Arts (VA) since 2015. She is a founding member of “Next Level Marblers,” a collaborative of artists committed to promoting and sustaining the craft of marbling in the U.S.

Sasha earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Wittenberg University (Ohio) and an MBA from the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte (NC). She has spent her professional career in higher education and the nonprofit sector and currently serves as associate vice president of philanthropic partnerships for BellXcel, a national education nonprofit. Sasha and her husband Carl, a retired art teacher, live in the small town of Pleasant Garden, NC.

Class Description: 

Students will create handmade paper from unwanted mail (yay recycling!) and plant material. Students will experiment with different size and shaped deckle and molds as well as adding decorative items to the pulp. Students will then create a Japanese stab binding journal using their handmade paper. Students will learn bookmaking techniques—covering a book, binding, surface design, and much more.

Class Date and Time: This one-day workshop is hosted on Saturday, June 22, 2024 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Total teachable hours: 7.

Materials Fee (included in total class fee): $25, covers mixers, trays, junk mail, plant sheet molds, mold and deckle (students will take home with them), paper, decorative materials and use of bookbinding tools.

Items Students should bring: Ruler, pencil, apron, shoes that can get wet, any decorative materials students might want to use to decorate their paper or their journal.

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

Instructor Bio: Elizabeth resides in Charles Town, West Virginia where she offers workshops in her studio, teaching Book Arts, Papermaking, and Papercutting. She accepts commissions for special projects and paper arts.

Elizabeth has taught art through The Council for the Arts, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and the Art Center, Sarasota, Florida. Elizabeth worked as a resident artist in the Jefferson County, West Virginia school system and served on the board for the Jefferson Arts Council, Teaching Arts Creatively (TAC). She is a participating juried member of the Over the Mountain Studio Tour, Jefferson County, West Virginia and a juried member of Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia.

Class Description: Pine needle basketry is a craft tradition developed by American Indians in the Southeastern and Western U.S. states. Learn how to coil and stitch long leaf pine needles to create a useful basket. Students will select from a variety of centers; wrapping and stitching techniques will be taught, and historical techniques will be discussed. No previous basket weaving experience is necessary!

Class Date and Time: This one-day workshop is hosted on Saturday, June 22nd, 2024 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Total teachable hours are 7 hours.

Materials Fee (included in total class fee): $30, covers pine needles, needles, sinew, and a basket center.

Items Students should bring: Scissors.

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

Instructor Bio: After graduating from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, I was employed by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Clark Summit, Pa from 1973-1978.

I married my husband, Jack Ryan, in 1973. We had two sons and now have two grandsons who live near us now in the Charlottesville/Waynesboro area.

In 1978 I moved to Richmond, Va to work for Dominion Energy (then VEPCO). I worked at Dominion until 2009 when I retired after 32 years in the IT department, working as an application developer.

After retiring in 2009, we wanted to move to be closer to family in Charlottesville. We moved the Ruckersville in 2015.

Art was always a hobby and my therapy from the stressful IT job. I started with folk art and had a goal to learn something new as the years went by. I learned to make baskets from long leaf pine needles from my friend’s mother. She learned from her mother. The art is very old. Back in the day, raffia was used to wrap the pine needles coils but it didn’t hold up so today we used waxed thread or sinew.

Currently I am retired, enjoying making art just about every day to display and sell at a local craft shop in Ruckersville.

I also teach a variety of classes, ranging from Mandala Dot Art, Quilling, painting a gourd bowl, and pine needle basketry. These classes are held for the Art Guild of Greene County, Albemarle county’s adult learning program and at Qute Scraps Handmade Boutique. I am now serving my fourth term as President of the Art Guild of Greene.