Workshops

Welcome to the workshops at the Appalachian Center for Craft.
The Appalachian Center for Craft offers hands-on workshops on our campus nestled in the woods on Center Hill Lake in Smithville, Tennessee. Participants may find workshops for a variety of skill levels in blacksmithing, clay, fibers, glass, metals and wood. Workshops are accessible to those who want to learn an entirely new skill as well as those who want to refine their existing skills. Artists from across the country and our own campus lead workshops in our professionally equipped studios throughout the year.
Discounts are available to residents of Dekalb, Putnam, Smith and White counties and current Tennessee Tech students, faculty and staff. For more information, click the “discounts” drop down menu below.
- Blacksmithing
Holiday Festival Mini-Workshop, November 21
Forged Ornaments
Paul CarterLearn the basics of forging and create your own ornament! You’ll be guided through the process, from maintaining a coal fire for heating steel, to forming and twisting hot metal.
Blacksmithing Studio, 2 - 5pm
$75
- Clay
Holiday Festival Mini-Workshop, November 21
Make Your Own: Raku Ornament
Andy FosterThis hands-on workshop explores the exciting possibilities of raku, an ancient Japanese pit firing technique. Participants will glaze and fire pre-made clay ornaments, working with a variety of raku techniques to create totally unique surface designs. Everyone leaves class with a finished ornament!
Clay Studio, multiple 45 minute sessions from 2 - 5pm
$55
- Fibers
Holiday Festival Mini-Workshop, November 21
Suminagashi: Ink Marbling on Paper and Silk
Jesse SatterfieldCreate beautiful marbled patterns utilizing Suminagashi, an ancient Japanese technique that translates to “floating ink”. We’ll manipulate ink on the surface of water and transfer your designs to paper and silk.
Fibers Studio, 2 - 5pm
$75
Holiday Festival Mini-Workshop, November 21
Hand Brooms for the Home
Jesse SatterfieldLearn how to make several styles of functional and decorative hand brooms! We’ll use broom corn, twines and yarns, a tensioning device, and our own hand-strength to create 2-4 hand brooms to take home.
Fibers Studio, 10am - 1pm
$75
- Glass
Holiday Festival Mini-Workshop, November 21
Make Your Own: Blown Glass Ornament
Ike Synnestvedt, Charlotte King, Jack SlifkaExperience the joy of glassblowing and create your own blown-glass ornament! Participants will work one-on-one with an instructor, who will assist them through the process of creating their own ornament from start to finish in just 30 minutes. Please note: because hot glass needs time to anneal, ornaments will not be ready to take home right away. They can be picked up beginning December 1 or participants can have them shipped for a small fee.
Glass Studio, 30 minute session from 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm
$55
- Metals
Holiday Festival Mini-Workshop, November 21
Enameled Ornaments
Alissa GobleCreate dazzling holiday ornaments! You’ll create a variety of ornaments by applying powder and painting enamels to winter-themed copper cut-outs. By the end of class you’ll have a collection of enameled ornaments and basic knowledge of the craft, from enamel application to firing!
Metals Studio, 10am - 1pm
$75
- Wood
Holiday Festival Mini-Workshop, November 21
Woodturned Candle Sticks
Talia DruryThis class is the perfect introduction to woodturning! Learn the foundations of spindle-turning while forming and finishing an elegant set of wooden candlesticks. Expect plenty of hands-on instruction and an approachable overview of the basics!
Wood Studio, 10am - 1pm
$75
Holiday Festival Mini-Workshop, November 21
Ornaments on the Lathe
Talia DruryTurn your own holiday ornaments! This beginner-friendly workshop will guide students through basic woodturning techniques, from getting started on the lathe to shaping raw wood into beautiful holiday ornaments.
Wood Studio, 2 - 5pm
$75
Workshop Information
- » How to Register
To reserve your seat, register online via our Workshop Marketplace and pay the workshop tuition fee. If you need assistance, we are happy to help you register via phone. Call our office at 931-372-3051 M-F, 8:30am - 4:30pm
- » Discounts
We offer 25% discounts on workshop tuition for Tennessee Tech University students, faculty and staff AND all residents of Dekalb, Putnam, Smith and White counties. Use the code ACC26 when prompted to enter a promotional code at checkout. Holiday Festival workshops are not eligible for discounts.
Discounts must be applied to your purchase when registering. The Craft Center cannot make refunds after registration for missed discounts. Multiple discounts cannot be combined. Discounts cannot be applied to room and board or meal plans.
- » Schedules
Weeklong Workshop — Sunday to Friday
Sunday
Time Activity Location 1 - 2:30 PM Check-in Lobby 2:30 PM Orientation Cafe 3 - 6 PM Workshops Studios 6 - 7 PM Dinner Cafe 7 - 9 PM Workshops Studios Monday - Thursday
Time Activity Location 8 - 9 AM Breakfast Cafe 9 AM - 12 PM Workshops Studios 12 - 1 PM Lunch Cafe 1 - 6 PM Workshops Studios 6 - 7 PM Dinner Cafe Friday
Time Activity Location 8 - 9 AM Breakfast Cafe 9 AM - 12 PM Workshops Studios 12 - 1 PM Lunch Cafe By 2 PM Check-out Lobby Weekend Workshop — Friday to Sunday
Friday
Time Activity Location 1 - 2:30 PM Check-in Lobby 2:30 PM Orientation Cafe 3 - 6 PM Workshops Studios 6 - 7 PM Dinner Cafe 7 - 9 PM Workshops Studios Saturday
Time Activity Location 8 - 9 AM Breakfast Cafe 9 AM - 12 PM Workshops Studios 12 - 1 PM Lunch Cafe 1 - 6 PM Workshops Studios 6 - 7 PM Dinner Cafe Sunday
Time Activity Location 8 - 9 AM Breakfast Cafe 9 AM - 12 PM Workshops Studios 12 - 1 PM Lunch Cafe By 2 PM Check-out Lobby Daylong Workshop — Saturday or Sunday
Time Activity Location 9:00 - 9:45 AM Check-in Lobby 9:45 AM Orientation Cafe 10 AM - 12 PM Workshops Studios 12 - 1 PM Lunch 1 - 5 PM Workshops Studios - » Room and Board for Summer Workshops
Workshop participants are able to purchase Room and Board as a package including lodging and meals. Please note that we recommend registering for Room and Board at least three weeks before the workshop start date. We cannot guarantee Room and Board to participants during check-in unless they have registered for it at least 2 weeks in advance.
Weekend Room
Room & Board: $130. Board for 2 nights. Friday evening - Sunday afternoon.
Includes lodging for Friday and Saturday nights. Check in is between noon and 2:30pm on Friday. Check out is by 2pm on Sunday.
Weeklong Room
Room and Board: $325. Board for 5 nights. Sunday evening - Friday afternoon.
Includes lodging for Sunday through Thursday nights. Check in is between noon and 2:30 pm on Sunday. Check out is by 2pm on Friday.



- » Material Fees
Material fees will be charged to all workshop participants based on materials used in each workshop, in addition to any supplies your instructor asks you to bring. Materials fees are collected on the last day of the workshop. The chart below contains an estimate for each studio’s materials fees. Please note that it is possible for fees to be less or greater than the amount indicated on the workshop listing and in the estimated range below.
Fibers — $50-$150
Wood — $50-$200
Clay — $35-$150
Metals — $35-$150
Blacksmithing — $35-$150
Glass — $50-$200 - » Workshop Policies
- Refunds and transfers are available up to 30 days prior to the first day of the workshop, minus the $75 processing fee. No refunds will be available after this date.
- If a workshop is cancelled due to low enrollment, registered participants will receive full refunds or may transfer into another workshop. Notice will be given no later than 2 weeks prior to the start of the workshop.
- Participants are responsible for bringing items on a workshop material list and paying for material fees, which are not included in the workshop tuition. A list of materials to bring and an estimated material fee is included in the confirmation email you receive prior to online registration. If you have not received this information, please contact craftcenter@tntech.edu
- All workshop participants must be 18 or older.
- Tennessee Tech does not condone and will not tolerate discrimination against any individual on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, genetic information, disability, veteran status, and any other basis protected by federal and state civil rights law. Tennessee Tech complies with Title IX and prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities, admissions or employment.
- Individuals may be dismissed without refund from campus for hazardous, disruptive, aggressive or intimidating behavior. We strive to maintain a friendly, inspiring, safe atmosphere on our campus for maximum creativity!
- The health and safety of students, faculty and staff is important to us. We encourage you to review Tennessee Tech University’s Covid-19 Guidelines.
Questions? Contact the Craft Center at craftcenter@tntech.edu.







