The Creative Connection

Registration Closed. This gift of "The Present" is about sharing a piece of yourself & your story with another woman. During this class hosted by the non-profit organization Enchanted Makeovers, each participant will create their own special & unique handmade items and a handwritten letter that will be placed in a polka dot box provided by Enchanted Makeovers. The boxes will be given to a local shelter for women. This workshop is designed to empower both the giver & receiver to tap into the present- the gift we receive every moment of every day. The opportunity to breathe life into our future however we choose.

Join Wendy Smedley and Stacy Julian from Big Picture Classes in this lively presentation and project class where you will fashion an adorable lunchbox frame and companion mini-book to celebrate someone you love. Together we will paint, distress, cover, and craft a personal keepsake, and as a bonus, we’ll expose the power of collaborative community to infuse creative muse with more meaning. Note: Kit contents will allow you to personalize your project for a girl or boy.  ..more »

Friday Class-Open. Saturday Class-Registration Closed. Betz White teaches her adorable felt trio, The Woodland Sewing Set. In this class you'll learn to make a woodsy tree stump pincushion, an owl scissor case, and toadstool tape measure. The $25 Kit Fee, payable to the instructor at the time of class, includes all the materials you'll need: pattern, felt, trims, and tape measure. Knowledge of basic sewing machine operation is required. Sewing machines will be available, but feel free to bring your own.

Using Copper sheets, then weaving with Birch bark and decorative papers, students will weave flat surfaces wrapped in copper that may be made into a necklace, pin, or earrings. Students will also be able to add embossing, mica, and cold connections to the pieces. These pieces are very unique and individual, and the workshop is fun and fast paced!  ..more »

Fashion your own set of bangles by shaping, forging, drilling, texturing, twisting, and looping steel wire into edgy urban style. A fun grouping of trinkets, objects, and beads will be given to each attendee, but do bring your own to add and make as many Wrangled Bangles as time will allow! Jump ring forming will be covered as well as steel wire forging and finishing. Techniques are adaptable to other wire types!  ..more »

Come learn how to incorporate these enormously popular tapes into your crafting, scrapbooking, and card making projects. We will also make paper “quilts,” stunning book covers, and discuss tons of wrapping ideas—all with tape. You will also learn how to use these tapes to quickly decorate ordinary items for your entertaining needs, along with fresh ideas for collage and journaling. Of course we will have to get busy during our three short hours together and make some fun tape-inspired projects that you can take home! A kit will be provided at the start of the class that includes:

• 3 rolls of Japanese washi tape
• A blank notebook
• An assortment of FABULOUS paper scraps in various sizes
• An assortment of envelopes
• Tags
• Blank card
• All items will be beautifully packaged together for you.

The online sewing world has never been more vibrant, and blogs are the heart and soul of our community. If you have aspirations to start a blog, or amp up your existing traffic, this workshop will help you meet your goals. Teacher Gretchen “Gertie” Hirsch started her blog, Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing, in 2009 and 2 years later was able to become a full-time sewing writer and teacher, brand ambassador for BurdaStyle with a book coming out in 2012 from STC Craft/Melanie Falick Books. She’ll discuss online etiquette, networking, finding your audience, getting noticed, writing valuable content, bringing in income, and tips for aspiring authors. Gretchen will share her real-life experiences--successes and foibles--on the road to becoming a successful sewing blogger. *No Sewing Machine Needed

Registration Closed. Learn how to take your knitting in multiple directions, making the most out of your lovely multicolored hand-dyed yarn, in this fun class. The classic zigzag scarf can be used in so many ways, as a cowl, shawl, or as a long scarf wrapped around multiple times. Once you have started with these multi-directional techniques you will learn in class, it will be hard to stop.

 Experience: Beginnner