Class Description: Using natural materials, you will learn how to bind broomcorn to a sapling handle using a traditional American-style weave. The binding string is held under pressure with your feet, leaving both hands free to create a wide variety of broom styles. Each student will hand craft a cobweb broom and one or more hand brooms. This class is open to beginning broom weavers and returning students. Please Note: this class ends at 3 PM on Sunday.

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

Instructor Bio: Born in the west central mountains of Virginia, where he still resides, Gary Robinson learned the art of broom making in 1991 and has been making brooms full time since then. Gary’s brooms appeared in the historical drama Sommersby starring Richard Gere and Jodie Foster and have been purchased by George Washington’s Mount Vernon for use in their portrayal of colonial life. Over the years, demonstrating and teaching his craft has been one of the most fulfilling parts of his journey.

Gary has been a juried Demonstrating Artisan at the Waterford Fair since 1991. He is a Waterford Landmark Artisan, exemplifying excellence in craft and education, and for his commitment to the Waterford Foundation's preservation mission. We recorded a conversation with Gary after his 2021 class, which is on our YouTube channel.

Class Description: Learn how to carve the surface of a wooden blank to create a cutting board that is both useful and decorative. Students will choose from a selection of 17th c. patterns and learn how to transcribe and carve them using gouges and chisels. Some basic woodworking and hand tool experience is recommended, but not required. Discussion topics will include how and why furniture developed and changed over time. Please Note: this class requires a specific set of tools that are not included in the tuition fee. You can purchase the $191 take-home tool kit when you register. OR, you may bring your own tools from home to reduce the tool kit fee, but they must be identical to those on the Tool List in order to successfully complete the project. If you have some tools at home, but not all, you will be able to select the individual tools that you need to purchase when you register. If you are planning to bring tools from home, please print the attachment to make sure your tools match those on the list prior to registering. The instructor will be purchasing the tools in advance of class and there will not be any extras available if you do not purchase the kit or bring the identical tools from home. 

Please Also Note: this class ends at 3 PM on Sunday.

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

Instructor Bio: For the past ten years, Ian Hart has been interested in researching, understanding, and reproducing traditional wood and metal work, mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries. During his senior year in college at the American College of the Building Arts, he assisted in the instruction of the freshman class in traditional metalwork. He spent several summers working at folk schools (Adirondack Folk School, Tillers International, and Touchstone); a portion of that time was spent teaching classes, which ranged from ornamental ironwork, spoon and bowl carving, and carved furniture. He was a Demonstrating Artisan at the Waterford Fair (2021, 2022)

Class Description: Do you have a cane chair seat with a hole in it? Learn the craft of hand woven cane to replace the seat of a chair you bring to class. To successfully complete a newly caned seat in two days, the chair you bring to class should have 70 or fewer holes in the wood frame (example of a suitable chair frame). If you have any questions about the suitability of your project, please email us a picture of the chair you would like to work on in advance of the class. Additional Information: If your chair has more than 70 holes, extra cane material may be purchased from the instructor during class so that you can complete your project at home. Please Note: this classes ends at 3 PM on Sunday.

You will need to bring the following supplies to class: a bucket or pan that will hold a gallon of water, a spray bottle for water, an old towel, hand snips or pruners (to clip the cane), an awl if you have one, an old oyster shucker if you have one (don't buy one) or a narrow butter knife, and your chair. The instructor will bring all the other tools and supplies you need to successfully complete the project.

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

Instructor Bio: Pamela Foster has been weaving for over 40 years. She specializes in wicker restoration, but weaves all types of chair seats, including splint, cane, rush, bamboo, rattan, willow, and grasses. She has woven seats for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and restored a wicker sled for the Loudoun Museum. She has also been reproducing Gustav Stickley wicker lampshades for over 25 years, which are sold nationwide. She has been teaching for the Waterford Craft School since its inception in 2016.

We visited Pamela in her cozy, moutaintop studio in 2021 and recorded our conversation, which you can watch on our YouTube channel.

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. Please Note: this class ends at 3 PM on Sunday.

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.

Class Description: Unlike many art forms, which take years to master, marbling will inspire you with instant gratification and success! 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!  Please Note: this class ends at 3 PM on Sunday.

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.