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October 2019
Knitting Night at MMFS
Come as you are and bring a knitting project you’re in the middle of, or have been meaning to start! Find a new friend or meet up with an old one, to enjoy time knitting together. This group will be a haven for knitters where everyone is valued. Knitters are wonderful at supporting each other, this will be an opportunity to learn and share knowledge. Liz Towers will be your host and ‘knitting coach’ as need be, to help you…
Find out more »The Art of Winemaking: A Tasteful Tour
In this first class of the 3-part Wine Series with Spillery Creative, increase your 'wine cred' as you learn the history of winemaking plus sample a delicious wine flight that exemplifies the vast array of winemaking techniques and styles. Make it an evening with friends, or come on your own to meet others interested in wine. We'll cover how wine is made, a brief history of winemaking, and discuss vessels used to ferment and age wine, from the ancient use…
Find out more »Traditional Scandinavian Spoon Carving
- Sold out!
This is an introductory spoon carving class. We will start with an overview of traditional knife grips and carving techniques. After applying those skills on practice sticks, students will begin carving a medium-sized serving or cooking spoon. With Michele and Erik providing support and expert guidance, the goal of the class is for each student to complete hand carving a spoon! Class is appropriate for adults and ‘young adults’ aged 15 or above. Each ‘young adult’ must be accompanied by…
Find out more »UPCYCLE: Make a Boro Inspired Patch
Boro –a Japanese word meaning “broken: an aesthetic that is based on fabric or garments that have been heavily used, tattered, and repaired using darning techniques such as sashiko stitching. Boro cloth lends itself to several trending movements such as sustainability (upcycle, recycle, circular design); visible mending (sashiko stitching, slow stitching) and mindfulness as people have become interested in more sustainable fashion and clothing. Join this fun class to learn basic fabric collage (tearing and arranging and tacking) and running…
Find out more »Imagination + Kids + Camera = FUN! Beginning Photography Age 10+ – 2 half-day classes
A picture is worth a thousand words! This class will empower students to begin to capture images that express themselves in relation to the world around them. Students will be introduced to technical and aesthetic aspects of photography, providing them with the foundation for life-long enjoyment & expression. This class is on 2 Saturdays: October 12th & October 26th, from 9:00am - 11:30am each Saturday. Bonus: At the end of class, each student will own their own digital camera!…
Find out more »Tool Sharpening Skills
Learn to sharpen hand tools such as planes, chisels, axes, and knives, or other tools with cutting edges such as lawn mower blades or shovels. In this class, general hand sharpening techniques and tools will be reviewed and demonstrated, with plenty of time for students to then apply these techniques as they gain practical sharpening skills. Students will leave with an understanding of edge shaping vs honing, types of cutting edges, how to create sharp edges and different sharpening techniques.…
Find out more »Natural Lotions
Once you learn how to make your own lotion, you will never want to use anything else! Have you ever looked at the label of a lotion bottle and felt completely overwhelmed wondering what it contained? Through this course you’ll learn the truth about ingredients and how to read the labels of moisturizers on the market. Then you'll learn how easy it is to make all natural lotions (hint...It’s all about the magic of emulsification!), how to choose oils for…
Find out more »November 2019
Build a Wooden Paddle
Build your own bent shaft canoe paddle. Students will learn about wood selection and grains, use of hand tools and skill saw, paddle design and considerations, and paddle sizing. Each student will leave with a completed bent shaft paddle ready for varnishing. This class will take place over 3 days for a total of 9 hours: Friday 11/1, 5-8 pm Saturday 11/2, 2-5 pm Sunday 11/3, 2-5 pm Space is extremely limited, so register early! Only 4 participants per class.…
Find out more »Knitting Decorative Nordic Mittens
Gain more experience knitting Nordic-styled decorative mittens, just in time for the holiday season! Students will knit a miniature mitten(about 4 inches tall) as a Christmas ornament, or knit all 24 for a traditional Advent calendar or garland. The skills learned on these decorative mittens are great preparation for knitting full size Scandinavian mittens. OPTION 1 - Advanced Beginner Knitters - Miniature mitten This teensy mitten works up in less than half the time of the fancier option. It does…
Find out more »Stone Balancing
The piling of stones has been happening since ancient times, whether for spiritual purposes, identification of burial grounds, navigation, or other reasons. Stone balancing has been compared to yoga practice, as the mind becomes focused and quiet during the process of balancing the stones. Uniting elements of performance art, sculpture, and meditation, Peter Juhl has been arranging natural stones to create works of art for over twenty years, primarily on the North Shore of Minnesota. The sculptures he creates evoke…
Find out more »The Art of Grape Growing: Wines with a Sense of Place
In this second of three classes in the Wine Series with Spillery Creative, discover just how much grape growing practices impact the flavor of wine. Taste wines that evoke a sense of place as you explore the term “terroir”. Learn about the evolution of a grape from bud to harvest and the crucial way in which vineyards are laid out. Gain new insight into what “organic”, “biodynamic” and “sustainable” means. Leave with a deeper appreciation for the rich viticultural history…
Find out more »Relax…Breathe…Weave: Exploring Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom
Whether you are a beginner or experienced weaver, you will enjoy learning how to weave on the versatile Schacht “Cricket” Rigid Heddle Loom. You will complete a table runner or set of coasters, learning how to create patterns using color, fiber texture and a few simple techniques. Looms will be pre-warped for all weavers. You’ll create a weaving that your heart and your fingers desire. Come and experience the joy of weaving! There are only 6 looms available, unless you…
Find out more »Soap Making
Learn to make all natural soap with John Hanson, owner/maker of the Longfellow Soap Company. Due to the use of lye (used as it has been for over 5,000 years in soap making), the soap portion of the class will primarily be a demonstration. Students will leave the class fully prepared to make their own soap and will receive a manual that includes equipment lists, sources for ingredients and where to buy locally, and John’s ‘secret recipe.’ Each student will…
Find out more »Cut Paper Art: Introduction to Papercutting
A simple piece of paper + 1 sharp knife = Art! In this class, you will learn the basic techniques for turning a piece of paper into a cut-paper design using only an x-acto knife and a cutting mat. Students will learn the basics of papercutting, an age-old art form found in many cultures around the world. In this class we will cover the concepts of positive and negative space and how to arrange the elements of a design so…
Find out more »Beginning Quilting: Triangles & Stars – 2 half-day classes
Have you always wanted to try quilting and found the thought of it intimidating? Are you an experienced quilter and want to polish your skills? With the guidance of expert quilter Wynn Martin, you will enjoy reviewing the basics and create an oversized block quilt suitable for a baby quilt or wall hanging. We will use the “Carpenter’s Star” block to create basic quilt components, evaluate color choices and also use tools, such as rulers, templates, and rotary cutters. Each…
Find out more »Holiday Breadmaking
You'll be ready for the holidays with some delicious breads! We’ll make Cardamom Bread, a delicately flavored braided yeasted bread. In Finland it's called "pulla" and is typical in cafeterias where it is considered as sign of a high-quality place. You'll discover multiple ways to use this versatile dough, and get in some good hand work braiding the dough. We will also make Pain d'Epices, (French for "spice bread", loosely translated as "gingerbread" )a traditional French rye spice bread, the heartiest…
Find out more »Pysanky-Ukrainian Egg Decoration
Just in time for the Christmas season, learn the art of making pysanky – Ukrainian decorated eggs. Using beeswax and dyes applied in layers, students will create amazing, beautiful eggs, perfect for Christmas gifts or a Christmas ornament to hang on the tree. Just think how happy your friends and family will be to receive a handmade gift! The term ‘pysanky’ is of Eastern European-Slavic heritage, from the words ‘pysaty’ – to write and ‘kraska’ - color. Pysanky suggests ‘things…
Find out more »Imagination + Kids + Camera = FUN! Beginning Photography Age 10+ – 2 half-day classes
A picture is worth a thousand words! This class will empower students to begin to capture images that express themselves in relation to the world around them. Students will be introduced to technical and aesthetic aspects of photography, providing them with the foundation for life-long enjoyment & expression. This class is on 2 consecutive Saturdays: November 16th & November 23rd, from 9:00am - 11:30am each Saturday. Bonus: At the end of class, each student will own their own digital…
Find out more »Intergenerational: Needle Felted Acorns
A perfect introduction to needle felting for beginners, this class is designed to introduce students to needle felting with a simple, seasonal project achievable in two hours’ time. Felting is older than spinning or weaving and found in many world cultures. Felting wool means to agitate the fibers so that they bond together into a non-woven fabric or a three-dimensional form. Felting is often accomplished using water, soap and a hand rubbing process (wet felting). Needle felting (dry felting) involves the…
Find out more »Beginning Knitting-Make a Cozy Headband
Intimidated by knitting? Tried it multiple times but got frustrated and dropped it? Join long-time instructor Liz Towers who will gently guide you and support you as you become an honest-to-goodness knitter! You can do it! Learn the basics as you knit a cozy headband just in time for winter. Once you make one, Liz promises you’ll be knitting more as Christmas gifts! Choose from 3 project options and please specify your choice when signing up. Students will receive…
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