2010 Class Schedule

7 Categories

BASKETRY/FURNISHINGS/
WOODCARVING
HANDMADE PAPER
KNITTING/SPINNING/
DYEING/FELTING
QUILTING
BEADING/STITCHERY/
WEARABLES
SURFACE DESIGN/
CREATIVE DESIGN
WEAVING

Poplar Bark Basket

Independent Study In Basketry

Japanese Baskets made
by Flo Hoppe

Classes with limited space available Classes that are full More Categories & Classes at the left.

Class No.	Class Title	Skill Level	Date	Week long	Week end	Class Fee	Teacher/s	Dorm Fee
2	Poplar Bark Basket	All	May 21-23		•	210	K. Workowski	90
4	Woodcarving Workshop	All	June 4-6		•	210	Stahl	90
6	Native American Patterns	I	June 6-11	•		380	Biederman	225
20A	Independent Study In Basketry	I	July 11-16	•		380	Biederman	225
20B	Independent Study In Basketry: Extended	I	July 11-18	7		495	Biederman	315
21	Coiled Basketry	All	July 16-18		•	210	Schuster	90
30	Willow Garden Art	All	Aug. 8-11	#		285	Campbell-Amsler	135
36	Basket Potpourri	B	Aug. 22-25	#		285	Ericson	135
39	Bent Willow Chair	B	Aug. 27-29		•	210	K. Workowski	90
43	Further Adventures/ Japanese Basketry	I	Sept. 5-8	#		285	Hoppe	135
48	Willow Harvest & Weave	All	Sept. 17-20	#		285	Campbell-Amsler	135
49	Willow Basics	B/I	Sept. 20-23	#		285	Campbell-Amsler	135
51	Heirloom Wicker Cradle	I	Sept. 20-23	#		285	Prange	135
56A	Beyond Basics: Willow Basketmaking	I	Oct. 5-10	•		380	Bedworth	225
56B	Beyond Basics: Willow (Shortened)	I	Oct. 7-10	#		285	Bedworth	135

7 = 7-Day Class

# = 3-Day Class

B = Beginner

I = Intermediate

A = Advanced

All = All Levels

Bold indicates a New Class

For class hours, go to the Contact & Registration Page
For housing information, go to the About The School Page

---

Basketry/Furnishings/Woodcarving

---

2 - Poplar Bark Basket (May 21-23) - Class Fee $ 210

Ken Workowski Learn the complete process for making a poplar bark basket or vessel.  You’ll begin by peeling the bark from a freshly felled Poplar tree and learn how to brace the seam for drying.  Then, you’ll try your hand at using a drawknife to shave the outer bark off a hickory log to acquire the inner bark used for the lacing in your basket.  After learning the preparation techniques, you will go on to construct your basket, using provided materials and tools such as a jigsaw, drill, sander and hammer, which will be provided for your use.  You will have time to construct 2 or 3 baskets during class.  Materials fee of $50 includes bark and wood bases to make 3 baskets, as well as use of tools.  Students don’t need to bring tools or have prior experience, only an eagerness to work with Nature’s materials.  For all levels.

 Return to List

4 - Woodcarving Workshop (June 4-6) - Class Fee $ 210

Harvey Stahl Spend a relaxing and creative weekend, carving wood with simple hand tools.  Geared for both beginning and intermediate carvers, this class will offer students a chance to work on a variety of projects.  Beginners will start by learning the basic techniques of the art: the use of simple handcarving tools and the procedures needed to create a small, finished wildlife figure from a butternut wood blank.  The needed tools will be provided for your use, and $10 covers the materials for the beginning project, a songbird.  Then, time permitting, you may go on to a second project of your choice.  Intermediates may wish to bring a work in progress, a pattern or piece you would like to try, or to get project ideas and materials, such as for shorebirds or decoys, from the instructor.  A variety of additional wood blanks will be available for purchase at a cost of $10-50 per blank.  Regardless of your level, all will enjoy gaining and sharing knowledge in this creative, historic art form. 

6 - Native American Patterns (June 6-11) - Class Fee $ 380

Jeanette Biederman The traditional Native American weaving patterns of the Cherokee, Chitimacha and Choctaw basketmakers have given us a rich heritage from which to learn.  Using these patterns you will learn to design and make a variety of beautiful baskets.  Your projects will vary in size, shape, design and color, with many options to choose from, including twill and double wall weaving.  Basketmaking materials will be available for purchase from instructor in class.  Expect to spend $25-45 per basket, depending on your choices.  For the intermediate basketmaker with basic weaving knowledge and some twill weaving experience. 

20A - Independent Study In Basketry (July 11-16) - Class Fee $ 380

Jeanette Biederman This class is designed to allow you to work at your own skill level on projects of your choice, with assistance, advice and encouragement from the instructor.  Projects may include ribbed baskets, traditional round bottom and market baskets or twill-woven baskets.  Basketmaking materials will be available for purchase in class by prior arrangement with the instructor, or you may bring your own.  Expect to spend $20-35 per basket, depending on your choices.  Basic basketweaving knowledge and experience is necessary. 

20B - Independent Study In Basketry: Extended (July 11-18) - Class Fee $ 495

Jeanette Biederman This class offers a 7-Day version of Jeanette’s weeklong (5-day) class.  See Class No. 20A for description.

21 - Coiled Basketry (July 16-18) - Class Fee $ 210

Lynn Stracka Schuster  Some of the finest, most beautiful baskets in the world are made using the coiled technique.  This universal method uses one continuous, round length of material to construct a basket, wound around or on top of itself, in an expanding or decreasing spiral.  Covered coiling lends itself to a wide variety of expressions, and in this class we will be using silk, wool or cotton to completely cover the core material.  Concentrated attention will be paid to shaping, rims and embellishing techniques.  Lynn will bring examples of her coiled baskets for your inspiration.  Materials fee of $25 includes coiling materials, assorted embellishing supplies and instructional notebook.  For all levels.   

30 - Willow Garden Art (August 8-11) - Class Fee $ 285

Jo Campbell-Amsler Random Weave, using sustainable gathered materials of willow, grapevine and sticks, lends itself beautifully to sculptural shapes for the garden.  In class you will learn this simple weave and create 3 to 4 pieces, ranging from Garden Globes and hanging planters to Willow People.  There will also be information and discussions on preparing and gathering the natural materials that are used in class, enabling you to go home, gather and create your own designs.  The $45 materials fee includes enough willow and other gathered materials to make 3 to 4 structures in class, plus use of tools and handouts.  For all levels.

Diane Ericson Learn and explore the art of basketmaking while creating functional baskets for your home.  Possible projects include an Egg Basket, Waste Basket, Square and large Williamsburg Market Baskets, Berry Basket with a swing handle, and Peanut Basket.  Some of the techniques we will cover are plain weave, twining, arrow weave, triple twining, randing and rib construction.  You can expect to complete 4 to 6 baskets in class.  Materials will cost approx. $10-30 per basket, depending on your choices.  Geared for beginners with little or no experience. 

39 - Bent Willow Chair (August 27-29) - Class Fee $ 210

Ken Workowski Willow furniture making is an age-old craft that allows the builder much freedom to explore various designs and building techniques.  You will learn to make a classical, sturdy and beautiful chair.  Using basic tools, each student will build their own chair, constructed entirely with willow, approximately 40” high, 32” wide and 30” deep.  Materials fee of $95 includes handouts, willow, hardware for assembling your chair, and use of tools not on your supply list.  Geared for beginners (some experience with hammer and drill will be helpful).

48 - Willow Harvest & Weave (September 17-20) - Class Fee $ 285

Jo Campbell-Amsler Fall is harvest time and the willow patch at Sievers will be ready to cut!  With expert rib-style willow weaver Jo, you and fellow students will help harvest the patch and at the same time will learn all the steps of processing willow for basket use, from the cutting, stripping and sorting, to storage methods.  The gathered material will be divided among the class, to use for making into frames, as weavers in basket construction, or made into cuttings for your own home willow patch.  Finally, using the freshly harvested willow, you will weave a Flower Gathering Basket, perfect for harvesting flowers and herbs or for displaying gourds and pumpkins.  Materials fee of $20 includes frames for 10” x 15” basket, various supplies, tool usage and handouts.  For all levels.   

49 - Willow Basics (September 20-23) - Class Fee $ 285

Jo Campbell-Amsler Add this class after the Willow Harvest & Weave and use your own gathered materials from it to learn three classic basket shapes: the Melon, the Bowl and the Pouch.  Or, come just for the Willow Basics class and the instructor will provide the materials for you.  Either way, you’ll learn good techniques for basic rib-style baskets that can be used every day.  Materials fee of $40 for Willow Harvest students with their own willow weavers:  for frames, ribs, tool usage and handouts.  $75 fee for new students includes all materials needed:  frames, ribs, weavers, tool usage and handouts.  For all levels.

51 - Heirloom Wicker Cradle (September 20-23) - Class Fee $ 285

Rich Prange Make a full-sized baby cradle with the classic look of those from the Victorian era, using wicker-style basketweaving methods.  The 16” x 34” solid maple foundation for your cradle will nicely accommodate a newborn, with room to grow.  After the maple rockers are added, the cradle will stand 15-16” high at the foot.  You’ll have the option of keeping the sides an even height or adding a hood to the cradle, which will add 10-12” to its final height.  The base and rockers are pre-finished, stained medium oak in color and sealed with urethane.  You’ll be able to add your own child-safe finish to the wickerwork later at home.  Properly stored, your cradle may be passed on through several generations.  Materials fee of approx. $95 includes the base, rockers, all weaving materials and use of specialized tools.   This is a somewhat physically challenging project and hand strength is needed.  For the intermediate basketmaker who has basic experience with weaving methods and materials.

56A - Beyond Basics: Willow Basketmaking (October 5-10) - Class Fee $ 380

Jacki Bedworth Improve your weaving, boost your creativity!  Learn ten easy ways to improve your willow weaving; then combine basic weaves in new and different ways.  Warm up your imagination by making a whimsical Wren house.  Improve your skills by copying a vintage basket or one of the many class samples.  Finish off by weaving a basket of your own design.  You can expect to complete at least three small- to medium-sized baskets, and get a good start on several more.  Show-and-tell sessions will include vintage baskets and a brief history of willow basketmaking in North America.  Materials fee of $70 for prepared willow, handouts and tool usage.  For those will a sense of adventure, experience weaving willow, and an understanding of basic stake-and-strand techniques. 

56B - Beyond Basics: Willow Basketmaking: Shortened (October 7-10) - Class Fee $ 285

Jacki Bedworth This class offers a 3-Day version of Jacki’s weeklong (5-day) class.  See Class No. 56A for description.