Appalachian Center for Craft

May 9 - 11, 2025: Weekend

Basic Bladesmithing: A Knife for Daily Life

Sean FitzSimmons

Learn the processes to hand make a small utility knife and expand your blacksmithing skills in this exciting weekend workshop. We will cover hand forging techniques, basic grinding, heat treating and handle construction. Our goals will be to instill knowledge and confidence, but students can expect to walk away with one knife and the know-how to follow their passion further. All levels welcome. $35 material fee

$445

You should wear appropriate forging attire, including non-synthetic clothing and closed-toe shoes. Work boots are recommended. You may bring a refillable water bottle and any personal protective equipment you wish to wear, such as safety glasses, hearing protection, and gloves. The Craft Center provides face shields, safety glasses, and gloves that you can borrow. You’re also welcome to bring your own hand tools if you have them.

 

Sean Fitzsimmons is a bladesmith and artist blacksmith from Sussex county New Jersey. He draws inspiration from fantasy and historical sources, and seeks to make objects of arcane significance with positive intentions. He has a deep appreciation for handmade things of any variety and loves to trade with other craftspeople. You can find him in the water when he is not in the forge.

May 18 - 23, 2025: Weeklong

The Bowie Knife

Jay Replogle

In this class participants will forge, grind, and finish their very own Bowie Knife! We will learn about forging in coal, heat treating high-carbon steel, and handle fitting and finishing. We will also discuss the historical significance, use and design of this iconic 19th century blade. For beginners or intermediate blacksmiths wanting to refine skills. $50 material fee

$770

You should wear appropriate forging attire, including non-synthetic clothing and closed-toe shoes. Work boots are recommended. You may bring a refillable water bottle and any personal protective equipment you wish to wear, such as safety glasses, hearing protection, and gloves. The Craft Center provides face shields, safety glasses, and gloves that you can borrow. You’re also welcome to bring your own hand tools if you have them.

 

Jay Replogle is a working bladesmith located in Sparta TN. He is a Tennessee Tech alumni, who graduated in 2008 with a BFA in metalsmithing with a concentration in blacksmithing. Jay has the Journeyman Smith ranking from The American Bladesmith Society. He has competed on the History Channel’s Knife or Death and was a Forged in Fire champion. 

May 30 - June 1, 2025: Weekend

Hammer Making

Kevin Dotson

Forge your own cross-peen hammer, a versatile tool useful for a wide range of work. We will cover the basics of forging, including an introduction to simple metal manipulation at the anvil, team striking, and using the pneumatic power hammer and hydraulic forging press. By the end of the weekend, you’ll complete your own hand-forged hammer and gain experience in basic tool design. All levels welcome. $45 material fee

$445

You should wear appropriate forging attire, including non-synthetic clothing and closed-toe shoes. Work boots are recommended. You may bring a refillable water bottle and any personal protective equipment you wish to wear, such as safety glasses, hearing protection, and gloves. The Craft Center provides face shields, safety glasses, and gloves that you can borrow. You’re also welcome to bring your own hand tools if you have them.

 

Kevin Dotson is originally from Florida and received his MFA with a concentration in blacksmithing in 2019. He now owns and operates his own fabrication/blacksmith business operating out of Sparta TN.

June 7, 2025: Daylong

Grilling Tools

Andrew Reist

In this hands-on blacksmithing workshop, participants will create their own steak turner or fork. Designed for beginners, this class introduces the fundamental skills of blacksmithing. Students will learn hammer control, fire management, twisting, tapering and forging. Come prepared for a day of hard yet rewarding work at the forge!

$190

You should wear appropriate forging attire, including non-synthetic clothing and closed-toe shoes. Work boots are recommended. You may bring a refillable water bottle and any personal protective equipment you wish to wear, such as safety glasses, hearing protection, and gloves. The Craft Center provides face shields, safety glasses, and gloves that you can borrow. You’re also welcome to bring your own hand tools if you have them.

 

Andrew Reist is a STEAM teacher and a blacksmith who focuses on functional ironwork and creating blacksmith tools. He graduated from Tennessee Tech with a bachelors of Fine Arts in Art Education, focusing on metalworking. He started blacksmithing in 2012 and then in 2020, he began producing anvils and blacksmith tools.

June 29, 2025: Daylong

Forged Candle Holders

Rob Robinson

Develop basic forging skills and create custom candle holders that will add warmth, light and elegance to any home. Participants will explore processes in working with metal including lengthening, thinning and moving the material, forming and shaping with the use of an anvil, joining pieces together by riveting or soldering, and finishing techniques, including planishing copper. Participants can expect to make one steel coil candle holder and one mixed metal (steel and copper) candle holder. Open to all levels.

$200

You should wear appropriate forging attire, including non-synthetic clothing and closed-toe shoes. Work boots are recommended. You may bring a refillable water bottle and any personal protective equipment you wish to wear, such as safety glasses, hearing protection, and gloves. The Craft Center provides face shields, safety glasses, and gloves that you can borrow. You’re also welcome to bring your own hand tools if you have them.

 

Rob Robinson of Sand & Steel is a blacksmith from Mt. Juliet, TN, specializing in 18th century and historical ironworking. Forging for over thirty years, Rob has taught classes throughout Middle Tennessee and at various conferences. Rob is also the former President of the Appalachian Area Chapter of Blacksmiths.

May 9 - 11, 2025: Weekend

Domestic Functional Sculpture

Wansoo Kim

What kind of ceramic functional sculptures can you make to enliven your home environment? This workshop explores diverse applications for creating functional ceramic objects. For example, as a pet parent I can design a functional sculpture that can work as a dog waste bag dispenser and a leash hanger. Participants will make one or two small objects that can be used in their private space. Basic hand-building processes and techniques such as coiling, pinching, slab-building, and small mold making will be introduced. The class will also discuss low-fire surface treatments. All skill levels are welcome. $45 material fee

$440

Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and closed-toe shoes. You may want to bring an apron. Bring any personal tools you want to use, and packing materials and a box if you want to bring wet works home to fire elsewhere. Work may also be fired at ACC and can be picked up afterwards.

 

Kim is an artist and educator who currently resides in Tennessee. He earned his MFA in Studio Art from the University of Nebraska and his BFA in Ceramic Art and Design from Seoul National University of Science and Technology. Since coming to the United States in 2013, Kim has actively pursued his career as an artist, showing his works regularly in solo and group exhibitions. Recent solo exhibitions include Jane Hartsook Gallery at Greenwich House (New York, NY; 2022), Watkins College of Art at Belmont University (Nashville, TN; 2022), and Appalachian Center for Craft (Smithville, TN; 2022). His recent group exhibitions include American Museum Of Ceramic Art (Pomona, CA; 2024), Red Arrow Gallery (Nashville, TN; 2023) and Whitespace (Atlanta, GA; 2023). He currently teaches at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN.

May 18 - 23, 2025: Weeklong

Raku Pottery

Melodie Grace

Explore the exciting possibilities of raku, an ancient Japanese pit firing technique. Workshop participants will be instructed in all steps of a variety of raku firing techniques, including oxidation, reduction, naked raku, horsehair, and experimentation with other carbon sources. Students will gain firsthand experience throwing raku clay, mixing glazes, working with raku kiln equipment, setup, post firing reduction, cleaning, sealing, etc. This workshop is best for students with intermediate pottery experience. Students should come prepared with 5-10 pieces of raku bisque. $60 material fee

$760

Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, including long-sleeve non-synthetic tops and pants and closed-toe leather shoes. You may want to bring an apron and a refillable water bottle. Bring any personal tools you want to use, and packing materials and a box to bring your work home. Additionally, students should bring 5-10 pieces of raku bisque made with Standard 239 raku clay, newspaper, a notebook and pen. Students may bring horse hair, if they have access to it, or natural feathers from the craft store.

 

Melodie Grace is a Nashville, Tennessee-based ceramic artist, and pottery teacher specializing in the ancient art of Japanese pit-fired raku. Her award-winning raku pottery has been shown at such prestigious shows as Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show and Denver’s Cherry Creek Arts Festival, has won multiple state and national awards, and holds the honor of being William’s Sonoma brand West Elm’s first numbered, limited-edition pottery collection.

May 25, 2025: Daylong

Polymer Home Accents

Francesca Faucette

Embrace the endless creative possibilities of working with polymer clay, a material that is easy to work with, affordable and accessible in your local art store, and can be fired in your oven. Learn the techniques–mold making, color blending, stamping, using pigment powders and more– to make decorative elements to embellish your work. We’ll create several pieces of home decor, including a coffee table box, a wire and gemstone bowl, and slate wall art. No experience needed.

$180

A designer at heart, I’ve been creating jewelry since early 1999. I’m mostly self-taught, although I’ve taken workshops in almost all mediums. I’m not always as disciplined in my designs as I'd like, since I hardly ever work from a pattern or direction. I work intuitively, take inspiration and twist and turn it, bash and burn it until I get what I want. My work is bold, expressive, and filled with texture.

I also teach jewelry design and fabrication. This allows me to connect with kindred spirits, sharing positive energy and learning from every student. It feeds my spirit to see students emerge and develop as artists and designers. I've taught in the Carolinas, at national bead shows, and for almost 2 decades in the Nashville area as Francesca Lynn. I've recently relocated back to the home of my heart, East Tennessee, and started Studio Navarri.

May 30 - June 1, 2025: Weekend

Clay Collage: Screenprinting and Layered Decorative Techniques

Rose Hardesty

Unleash your creativity and cultivate your vision to craft unique, collaged images on clay surfaces. Decorating techniques covered: screen printing with slip/underglazes, stamped slip inlay, line inlay, ceramic chalk pastels, colored wax resist brush work, decal application. Each technique will be presented separately, with discussions and demonstrations on how to combine and layer them. We will work on pre-made wet clay and bisque tiles, no wet clay building covered in this workshop. Students will come away with greenware and bisque tiles, recipes, their own silkscreen, and lots of new ideas about decorating. Appropriate for all levels, some clay experience helpful. $40 material fee

$470

Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and closed-toe shoes. You may want to bring an apron. Bring packing materials and a box to take your work home. Additionally, please bring the following materials from the class supply list:

Mudtools red rib

Mudtools yellow rib

Pony roller, curved roller (the instructor will have extras for sale)

High contrast images (black and white only, no grey) for burning screens - these may be printed at the Craft Center - details to come

Small scraping tool or flat trimming tool

Paring knife or Dolan knife

The following items are available to borrow from the Craft Center but feel free to bring your own if you have them:

Line making tools: needle tools, ballpoint pen, thin bladed knife, etc, for making different line thicknesses

Small carving tools

Decorating brushes in assorted shapes

Scissors that cut paper well

Flat trimming tool

Exacto with sharp blade

Optional: Small Gelli plate, stamps, and a cutting mat

 

Rose Hardesty is a visual artist who was born in Ventura, CA, and is currently living and working in Bakersville, NC. She creates functional and sculptural wood fired ceramic pieces inspired by the natural world and informed by imagination. Her work marries seemingly disparate elements of the art and craft world, blurring the line between high and low craft. A deep love for materials, a passion for printmaking, utilization of local clay materials, and atmospheric firings are cornerstones in her practice.

June 7, 2025: Daylong

Coiled Vases

Darby Lewis

Discover joy in the process of hand building! In this one day workshop students will learn how to make vases using a variation of the West African coil building method. Learn how to roll coils, use them to construct a variety of open and closed forms, and finish off with learning different surface decoration techniques such as carving and sgraffito. Completed vases may be kiln fired and picked up beginning June 21.

$180

Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and closed-toe shoes. You may want to bring an apron. 

 

Darby Lewis is currently the Clay Artist in Residence at the Appalachian Center for Craft (2024-2025). After receiving their BFA in Clay from Tennessee Tech University in 2020, they were the adjunct instructor for Cumberland University’s clay program before going on to their current residency.

May 9 - 11, 2025: Weekend

Fused Glass Jewelry

Elizabeth Mobley

Curious about fused glass? Want to refine your skills and create new work? This workshop is for you! Create stunning fused glass jewelry from a diverse array of glass in various colors and opacities, plus unique accents and dichroic glass that will shimmer and shift color right before your eyes. You’ll learn to cut, assemble, and cold-work glass, and leave with a variety of handmade fused glass jewelry. All levels are welcome. $65 material fee

$440

Wear closed-toe shoes. You may want to bring an apron and personal protective gear, like goggles, craft gloves, and an N95 mask. The Craft Center has gloves, glasses and masks you may use.

 

Elizabeth has been creating glass art since 2005. She advanced her glass skills by studying glass at the Glass Fusing School in Italy, Corning Museum of Glass, and studying under prominent glass masters. Additionally, she worked at a glass distribution center and studio. Elizabeth currently serves as the Programs Chairperson for Carrollton Artists’ Guild, the Education Chairperson for Rockmark Cultural Arts Center, and is active with several other art organizations. She teaches glass kiln fusing at art centers and craft schools.

May 18 - 23, 2025: Weeklong

Intro to Glassblowing

Kayla Sanford

This beginning-level workshop will build your confidence in the art of glassblowing. We’ll practice making basic shapes and create a variety of cups, bowls, and vases while learning the fundamental techniques. Gathering glass, blowing bubbles, shaping, adding color, and proper tool usage will be covered in this course. Students should be ready for a week of intense, rewarding work.  $25 material fee

$900

Wear closed-toe shoes and non-synthetic materials and bring a refillable water-bottle. The Craft Center will provide personal protective gear.

 

Kayla Sanford is a glass artist from Cleveland, OH. She began her career at the Cleveland Institute of Art to study animation. However, after taking a 20-minute glassblowing workshop, she was hooked! She switched majors shortly thereafter and graduated in 2021 with a BFA in Glass. Kayla now travels, teaching beginner workshops while also working as a contractor for Hollywood Hot Glass as a Hot Glass Instructor/Manager on Celebrity Cruises. She is happy for the opportunity to introduce this medium to new people every day.

May 25, 2025: Daylong

Intro to Stained Glass: Copper Foil Method

Bunny Nunn

Whether you’ve always admired stained glass windows or are simply curious about the art form, this one-day workshop is the perfect introduction. You’ll work from a selection of easy-to-follow designs, learning each step of the process, from cutting and grinding to foiling and soldering, as well as patina application and polishing. This class is designed for beginners, with no prior experience necessary–just bring your enthusiasm and curiosity!

$180

You’re welcome to bring an apron and any preferred safety gear (safety masks, goggles). You may also use masks, gloves, and safety glasses provided by the Craft Center.

 

Bunny is a multimedia artist who loves tedious arts and outdated systems. She lives in Nashville with her husband Sylas and two doggies, Roky and Pee Wee.

May 30 - June 1, 2025: Weekend

Crafting Nature's Beauty

Martha Morales Purucker

Take inspiration from the breathtaking natural world around you in this weekend stained glass intensive. You’ll create an original design inspired by nature, with plenty of guidance from the instructor as you work through the creative process. Beginners and more experienced artists alike will benefit from an in-depth exploration of stained glass techniques, including cutting, grinding, foiling, soldering and framing. By the end of the weekend, you’ll have a completed stained glass panel, ready to hang and bring a touch of nature into your space. $60 material fee

$440

If you have a design in mind, bring a sketch sized no larger than 12x12 (we suggest 12x10) with 16-18 sections/pieces maximum. You’re welcome to bring an apron and any preferred safety gear (safety masks, goggles). You may also use masks, gloves, and safety glasses provided by the Craft Center.

 

I'm Martha Morales Purucker, a fused glass artist with over a decade of experience transforming glass into art. My work is inspired by my Mexican roots and skills I’ve honed through years of learning from glass masters. I’ve created a vibrant studio space where creativity flourishes. Let’s explore the magic of glass together!

 

June 7, 2025: Daylong

Lampworking Glass Beads

Renee Mathies

Learn how to melt colored rods of glass with a torch to create one-of-a-kind glass beads. We’ll start with a focus on form, using hand tools to shape your beads, then move on to adding surface designs, exploring various techniques for adding decorative elements to your work. You’ll learn the fundamental skills for safely working with torches and hot glass. By the end of class, you’ll have a beautiful set of handmade beads ready to craft into something special. 

$180

You’re welcome to bring an apron and any preferred safety gear (safety masks, goggles). You may also use masks, gloves, and safety glasses provided by the Craft Center. Your glass beads will need to be annealed in the kiln overnight and can be shipped to you or picked up from the Craft Center the following day.

 

I started working with glass 15 years ago after taking a one day class. I loved it and took off on my own glass journey. Since then I have built my own studio where I teach beginning and intermediate lampworking. I am a member of the Foothills Arts & Crafts Guild, the Arts & Culture Alliance, International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB) & The Oak Ridge Art Center. I teach at various art centers as well as Pellissippi State Community College Adult Lifelong Learning Center. Through the ISGB and taking different classes by various renowned artists, I've learned new and interesting techniques. My Beach Bead (my signature bead) was entered into a traveling bead show across the US ending in a display in Washington State at the ISGB convention. Teaching the art of lampworking to beginners has become my passion. The excitement they get from creating with hot glass makes me smile.

 

June 29, 2025: Daylong

Hot Glass, Cool Creations

Sarah Montrond

If you've ever wanted to try glassblowing, this is your chance! Join us for a full day of hands-on creativity in the hot shop. Start by learning how to gather, shape, and manipulate hot glass as you create your very own paperweight. From there, you’ll explore additional techniques to craft a variety of stunning glass objects. The thrill of working with hot glass is truly addictive—once you’ve tried it, you won’t want to leave! Whether you're a complete beginner or have taken a class before, Hot Glass, Cool Creations is the perfect way to dive into this fiery art form.

$200 

Wear closed-toe shoes and non-synthetic materials and bring a refillable water-bottle. The Craft Center will provide personal protective gear.

 

Sarah Montrond received her BFA in Painting and Art History with a minor in Glass from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2019 with departmental honors. She is a glass artist and painter who connects nature to craft. She draws inspiration from backpacking long trails, such as the Appalachian Trail. She has completed programs such as the Pittsburgh Glass Center’s Technical Apprenticeship, StarWorks’ Glass Resident Internship, Pilchuck Glass School’s Fellowship, and Lexington Glassworks’ Resident Assistantship. Sarah has completed residencies at the Worcester Center for Crafts and Salem Art Works. She has been awarded scholarships for craft schools such as Pilchuck Glass School, Penland School of Craft, Tulsa Glassblowing School, and Haystack Mountain School of Craft.  Her work has been showcased in prestigious national and international exhibitions, including the Glass Art Society Member Exhibition Connection at Wilhelm Hallen in Berlin, Germany. Notably, she was a finalist in the International Competition Milano Vetro 35 at Castello Sforzesco in Milan, Italy. Sarah is currently enjoying her time in a year-long residency at the Appalachian Center for Craft in Smithville, TN

May 18 - 23, 2025: Weeklong

Making Jewelry with Everyday Tools

Bob Coogan

Learn the art of metalsmithing using simple and affordable tools you can find at your local hardware store or secondhand shop. Open to all levels with no metalsmithing experience required, students should just bring their own ball-peen hammer. This classic tool will be essential throughout the week. This class is taught by Bob Coogan, internationally recognized metalsmith and founder of ACC’s metals program. Learn from a master and take home your own handmade jewelry, along with the skills to continue your metalsmithing journey. $30 material fee

$770

Wear closed-toe shoes. You may bring your own personal protective gear or borrow safety gear from the Craft Center. Please bring the following materials from the class supply list:

Two of your own ball-peen hammers, light-mid weight (4 - 8 oz each) but we can use any that you have available

One new 10 inch file with a number 2 cut and handle (Nicelson, Simmons and Craftsman brands recommended)

Optional:

Any additional tools you have on hand that you think may be useful

Your own metal, if you have it: copper, brass or sterling silver

 

Bob Coogan is a graduate of Humboldt State Polytechnic and Cranbrook Academy of Art. He taught in the metals department at the Appalachian Center for Craft and was honored with a Fulbright teaching exchange, spending a year teaching in England. Bob has a long history of teaching workshops both internationally and across the US. In his retirement, he continues to create commissioned pieces and works for exhibition. He is currently exhibiting his work in the traveling exhibition From Swords into Plow Shears in the UK.

May 25, 2025: Daylong

Chainmaking

Talia Tax

This introductory class is a great way to learn how to solder through making chains! We will cover how to make jump rings, how to set up and solder most effectively, and several methods of connecting rings to make a chain. Students will make several copper chain samples and at least one silver chain to take home. Open to all levels.

$180

Wear closed-toe shoes. You may bring your own personal protective gear or borrow safety gear from the Craft Center.

 

Talia Tax is an artist from Arizona currently residing at the Appalachian Center for Craft. They collect techniques and ways of making to create sculptural objects that pick at the threads of contemporary American society and gender norms. Using metal and found objects, Talia examines the concepts of safety and authenticity through a queer lens. Their work has been featured in exhibitions at Penland School of Craft (Miscellaneous, 2024), Sloss Furnaces (NCCCIAP Juried Exhibition, 2023), Carnegie Mellon University (Meeting of the Minds Festival, 2023), and Yale University.

May 30 - June 1, 2025: Weekend

Silver Metal Clay Jewelry

Amy Brandenburg

Experience the art of jewelry making with silver metal clay! This soft, workable material, made with tiny particles of metal, transforms into solid silver when fired. In this workshop, you’ll learn to sculpt unique jewelry pieces from metal clay and finish with firing, drilling, adding patina, and polishing. By the end of the class, you’ll have three beautiful silver jewelry pieces to take home. Open to all skill levels.  $80-100 material fee

$420

Wear closed-toe shoes. You may bring your own personal protective gear or borrow safety gear from the Craft Center. Bring an open mind and a notebook/sketchbook and writing utensil.

 

Amy Brandenburg is a certified metal clay instructor who has been teaching metal clay for the last 14 years. She received a BA in Jewelry Design from Columbia College in Chicago and an MA in Visual Culture; Costume Studies from NYU. An award-winning metal clay artist and member of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild, she creates jewelry inspired by history, nature and architecture that is enameled, carved and three dimensional. Sharing her passion for metal clay, she creates an environment where others can experiment, learn and grow.

June 7, 2025: Daylong

Cold Connections

Talia Tax

Most of a metalsmith’s work happens without a torch. In this workshop, students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of cold connections in metalsmithing, and learn how to join metal without soldering or fusing. We will develop the skills of sawing, filing, texturing, annealing, and riveting to ultimately create a pendant or ring. Our discussions will center on the precision, forms, and kinetics possible with these techniques. Beginning level.

$180

Wear closed-toe shoes. You may bring your own personal protective gear or borrow safety gear from the Craft Center.

 

Talia Tax is an artist from Arizona currently residing at the Appalachian Center for Craft. They collect techniques and ways of making to create sculptural objects that pick at the threads of contemporary American society and gender norms. Using metal and found objects, Talia examines the concepts of safety and authenticity through a queer lens. Their work has been featured in exhibitions at Penland (Miscellaneous, 2024), Sloss Furnaces (NCCCIAP Juried Exhibition, 2023), Carnegie Mellon University (Meeting of the Minds Festival, 2023), and Yale University.

June 29, 2025: Daylong

Balance and Color - Mobile Earrings

Brie Flora

Learn foundational jewelry-making skills and make striking mobile earrings to elevate your personal style! In this daylong workshop, students will create earrings by combining metal processes with powder coating, a method for applying vibrant colors to metal. We will work through basic metalworking techniques such as sawing, working with jump rings, and wire forming, followed by an introduction to powder coating. Students will spend the day expanding their skill set and exploring creative design, and leave with a pair or two of new earrings! Open to all.

$200

Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a sketchbook/notepad and writing utensil. You may bring your own personal protective gear or borrow safety gear from the Craft Center.

 

Brie Flora is an artist, jeweler, and educator living in Cookeville, Tennessee. Brie received a dual BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Metalsmithing + Jewelry and Art Education, May 2015. Brie was selected to participate as an Emerging Artist in Resident at Salem Art Works (2018), and has been awarded numerous awards including Best New Exhibitor (2019 Tennessee Craft), Outstanding Achievement in Jewelry (2019 Amdur Productions), and the Lillian Bardield Award (2014 Mobilia).

Brie created a contemporary jewelry exhibition project called Guidelines which has had 3 Volumes. For more info, follow @guidelines_jewelry on instagram. Brie teaches workshops both virtually and in person around the country, and has exhibited in numerous group exhibitions.  She also co-owns a gallery and storefront in Cookeville TN called, The Silver Fern, which opened in July 2021.

May 9 - 11, 2025: Weekend

The Art of Unique Inlays and Embellishments

Myra Orton

During this fun inlay workshop, you will learn techniques to become proficient in the art of bending and inlaying purfling (used in stringed instruments), along with leather, ZipFlex, abalone, mother of pearl, and colorful wood into wooden flat surfaces. All tools and equipment will be provided, enabling you to gain experience in creating recesses, cutting materials for inlay, inlaying the materials, applying composition, adding color, using copper foil, and utilizing pyrography and a small power carver to enhance the inlaid surfaces. This workshop is filled with in-depth instruction and hours of guided, hands-on learning.  $80 material fee

$435

 

Wear closed-toe shoes, work clothes (long pants recommended), and tie back long hair. Bring safety gear such as ear plugs, safety glasses and dust masks. The Craft Center also has safety gear you can borrow. Each student should bring their own desk task light, which can usually be purchased for under $20. If students are traveling to the Craft Center by plane, the instructor will bring a light for you to use.

 

Myra Orton is a pyrography and surface embellishment artist, instructor, woodworker, woodturner, stringed instrument builder, and retired teacher. She has been working with wood most of her life. Myra teaches the art of inlaying various mediums, pyrography, power carving, coloring techniques, composition, wood turning, and where to find inspiration. She is well known for her wood turnings, which contain motifs that are truly inspired by nature and tell a story. She enjoys challenging herself to see what new techniques she can develop in order to share them with others through her love of teaching. Myra gives demonstrations, teaches workshops, and practices her craft full-time.

May 18 - 23, 2025: Weeklong

Making Shavings! Woodturning 101

Lucas Hundley

Make a mess and have fun in this introduction to the craft of woodturning! This course covers the basic techniques, starting with proper use and maintenance of the lathe and tools. Learn how to turn both dry and green wood from start to finish. Add surface decorations and learn drying and finishing techniques. By the end of the course, students will understand the nature of wood and complete many small projects, finishing the week with a small milking stool of the student’s design. $80 material fee

$755

Wear closed-toe shoes, work clothes (long pants recommended), and tie back long hair. Bring safety gear such as ear plugs, safety glasses and dust masks. The Craft Center has safety gear you can borrow. You may also bring your own tools, if you have them, for advice and inspection.

 

Lucas Hundley was raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and makes his home there today. His studio is in Jonas Ridge, on the edge of the Pisgah National Forest. He began turning as a child and became accomplished enough to be recognized by the American Woodturners’ Association while still in high school. He was awarded an Education Opportunity Grant to study in Japan in Yamanaka and to also share with the Japanese artists what American woodturners were doing. Luke attended Haywood Community College where he received an Associates Degree in Professional Woodworking. He then attended the Appalachian Center for Craft at Tennessee Tech University where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He has since become a member of the Southern Highland Crafts Guild.

Luke’s turned work ranges from small ornaments to large bowls, and he also utilizes green woodworking techniques to create traditional Windsor chairs, as well as other furniture of his own design. He works in collaboration with fellow artist, Crystal Hurt, who assists in the woodworking process as well as adding painted elements to some of his work. The wood he uses is sourced responsibly from local woodlands. Every twist, curl, knot, bug hole, shake ring or rotten spot speaks to the life of the tree and the environment in which it grew. In Luke’s workshop, that life is taken into consideration when designing a piece.

“For a piece to be successful,” says Luke, “I need to enjoy making it. Work that does not speak to me or uses processes I do not enjoy quickly loses its fun and never seems to get finished. My hope is that the end user of my work will feel a connection with the item and continue to build a relationship with the piece through use. I endeavor to make work that will be enjoyed for generations.”

May 25, 2025: Daylong

Hand-cut Dovetails

Stephan Michletto-Blouin

Expand your woodworking skills by learning how to join two pieces of wood with a traditional, hand-cut dovetail joint. Layout, cut, fine tune and assemble a dovetail joint from a small collection of essential hand tools, refining your skills in sawing, chiseling, knife-marking, filing and assembly by mallet. Students will take home their completed dovetail and the knowledge to incorporate dovetail joinery into their future woodworking projects.

$165

Wear closed-toe shoes, work clothes (long pants recommended), and tie back long hair.  Bring safety gear such as ear plugs, safety glasses and dust masks. The Craft Center also has safety gear you can borrow. You should also bring your own measuring tape or ruler and a mechanical pencil.

 

 

May 30 - June 1, 2025: Weekend

Woodturning Intensive

Jared Moran

Study the fundamentals of woodturning in this weekend intensive. Learn how to add form and shape to your work on the lathe with woodturning tools – spindle gouges, bowl gouges, roughing gouges, and scrapers. Create honey dippers, bottle openers, french rolling pins, simple ornaments, bowls, and twig pots/vases if time permits. Sanding, finishing and tool sharpening will also be covered. $75 material fee

$435

Wear closed-toe shoes, work clothes (long pants recommended), and tie back long hair.  Bring safety gear such as ear plugs, safety glasses and dust masks. The Craft Center also has safety gear you can borrow. You should also bring your own notepad and writing utensil.

 

Jared is a self-taught woodturner that has been turning for several years now. He first began wood turning in 2021 after first learning to handcarve bowls. His pieces are made from exclusively local and salvaged woods. It is important to him that his pieces have a sense of place and a connection to his local environment. When he is not turning in his shop or at art shows he his typically managing the small farm he and his family owns in Kentucky.

June 7, 2025: Daylong

Make Your Own Cutting Board

Alexandra Mavrikis

Spend a day in the Craft Center Woodshop getting comfortable using the machinery you always wanted to use but were too afraid to ask about. Jointer, planer, bandsaw, drill press, router, edge sander, spindle sander, and the random orbital sander are all covered in this beginners class where you will walk away with a cutting board at the end of the day. 

$175

Wear closed-toe shoes, work clothes (long pants recommended), and tie back long hair.  Bring safety gear such as ear plugs, safety glasses and dust masks. The Craft Center also has safety gear you can borrow. 

 

Alexandra Mavrikis is a multidisciplinary artist, furniture maker, and visual arts educator. She received her MFA in Woodworking and Furniture Design at the San Diego State University. Her work incorporates mixed media, with a focus on wood and ceramic and has been exhibited nationally. She addresses the body, gender and spatial relations while also questioning the necessity of functionality for furniture objects in the home.

May 9 - 11, 2025: Weekend

Designing Artist's Books

Claudia Lee

Express your personal vision and creative style through the artist book–a uniquely crafted work of art in book form that combines innovative design, visual storytelling, and a rich array of materials and techniques, allowing you to make it truly your own. Learn surface design and bookbinding techniques while working with a variety of papers and fabrics to add content and form to your book. Open to all levels. $55 material fee

$420

Students should bring the following from the class supply list:

Good white glue such as Aleene’s Tacky Glue

Notebook

Scissors

Ruler

Pencil

The following items are available to borrow but feel free to bring your own if you have them:

Exacto knife and spare blades

Self-healing mat

Your bookbinding tools, such as a bone folder and awl/needle tool

Optional:

Any papers you want to use in your book

 

Claudia Lee is a full-time artist and papermaker, international workshop instructor, author, and designer. She is a two-time recipient of a Master Craftsman Apprenticeship Grant from Tennessee Arts Commission and Tennessee Craft. She owns and operates Liberty Paper, a working and teaching facility in Liberty, Tennessee.

May 18 - 23, 2025: Weeklong

Papermaking with Botanicals and Garden Scraps

Maeve Leslie

Discover how to make beautiful handmade papers using materials sourced from your kitchen, garden, and yard! Learn the basics of papermaking, including how to prepare and incorporate botanical elements to add texture and design. We’ll explore the unique qualities of different plants, uncovering their natural textures and characteristics through the paper we make. Building on these techniques, we’ll also explore patterned pulp paintings and craft books from the paper we make in the workshop. Additionally, students will gain the skills to replicate the papermaking setup at home. $25 material fee

$730

Bring any garden scraps, botanicals, and any other materials you’d like to experiment with in your paper. Bring a waterproof apron, rain boots or shoes and clothing you don’t mind getting wet/dirty.

 

Maeve Leslie is a multi-media artist whose research revolves around unseen labor in the United States. Their work expresses identity, erasure, social justice, and diaspora through printmaking, hand papermaking, and book arts. Material exploration is emphasized in their work through learning and incorporating other mediums when necessary. Maeve’s work strives to challenge their viewer’s ideas around immigration, immigrant labor, and the ways children of immigrants navigate multiple cultures.

 

In 2020, they completed research in the Philippines to study the qualities and process of pineapple (piña) fiber from plant to woven textile and paper. In 2022, they received the Gabriele S. Haberland Scholarship to research current working paper mills in Switzerland and Italy. Maeve has shown at the Zhou B Arts Center in Chicago, the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, the Morgan Conservatory in Cleveland, and other venues nationwide. Maeve received their MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and continued their studies at the University of Iowa-Center for the Book. They are currently the Assistant Professor of Printmaking at the Metropolitan State University of Denver in Denver, Colorado.

May 30 - June 1, 2025: Weekend

Pulp Painting with Natural Color

Hannah O'Hare Bennett

Pulp painting is a papermaking technique where pigmented pulp (made from fibers and water) is applied to a wet sheet of handmade paper to create decorative or pictorial designs. We’ll start with the basics of papermaking and then introduce pulp painting techniques, using exclusively natural colors from ochres and other earth pigments. We’ll learn about reverse pulp painting, building thin layers of pulp, and integrating inclusions into our paper. Students will create at least fifteen samples, and if desired, one or two larger pieces.  $30 material fee

$435

Wear rubber boots and a water-proof apron, or shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting wet. Students should also bring the following:

Small, thin objects for inclusions (thread, lace, cut paper, etc.)

8 pint to quart sized plastic containers. 

Optional: larger containers with lids for taking home excess pulp

 

Hannah O’Hare Bennett is an artist, experimental papermaker and educator based in Madison WI. She holds a BFA in Printmaking from the University of Kansas (1998) and an MFA in Design Studies from the University of Wisconsin Madison (2017). Between those degrees, she worked as a farmer, Peace Corps Volunteer (Ecuador, 2004-2006), and produce manager, manual labor that informs her current subject matter and manner of creating art. Since completing her MFA she has had residencies at institutions such as Women's Studio Workshop, Penland School of Craft, Playa Summer Lake, and Studioworks at the Tides Institute, taught papermaking workshops at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Pyramid Atlantic, the Paper and Book Intensive, the Morgan Conservatory and more, and exhibited work in group and solo shows across the country. She has taught college courses at Mount Mary University, University of Montana Western, and the University of Wisconsin Madison. Currently she is the UW Madison campus Peace Corps recruiter, and maintains a deep craft informed art practice in her studio at Arts & Literature Lab. http://www.hannahoharebennett.com

May 30 - June 1, 2025: Weekend

Barn Owl

Gerry Burklow

Create your own barn owl in this weekend felting intensive! Starting with a wire armature, we’ll add form and detail with wool, learning techniques in both dry and wet felting applications. We’ll learn how to add realistic talons, eyes, and a beak. As your owl takes shape, the magic unfolds and its personality is revealed! Students may not complete their project within the duration of this course, but will go home with a fully formed owl and the knowledge to finish at their own pace. Open to all levels. $65 material fee

$435

Gerry Burklow is an award winning retired hospice nurse who worked in a world a stark reality and pain. As part of her self-care practice she discovered the art of needle felting. Completely self taught, you can find her most days in her studio- a land where cheeky squirrels serve tea to chipmunks and polar bears sail ships. “The art I make comes from a wonderful childhood and memories of a simpler time- and who doesn’t love an owl in a big hat?”

June 7, 2025: Daylong

Bookbinding

Autumn McPeak

Discover the delightful process of bookbinding in this daylong beginner workshop! Learn the essential tools and techniques of bookmaking, including cutting paper, sewing, gluing, creating covers, and working with decorative papers. By the end of the workshop, students will complete their own handmade 12-signature book. Open to all levels.

$165

My name is Autumn McPeak and I'm a bookbinder and visual artist. I have always had an inquisitive nature about wanting to know how things are made and work. That curiosity led me to book binding. Once I learned the basics in my first class taken in 2014, I was hooked into learning more about this type of art. In the end I have learned that why I keep at It is love of the process. I enjoy that I have a finished piece, but the most joy I get is in making the books. Finally, once the book is complete, I enjoy that my books have a second life of adventure.

June 29, 2025: Daylong

Broom Making

Alexandra Mavrikis

Explore the traditional craft of broom making and take home a variety of your own hand-made brooms! You’ll learn how to work with broomcorn and twine to make hand-held and long handled brooms, including turkey wings, hawk tails, sweepers, pot scrubbers and more. Open to beginners.

$175

Alexandra Mavrikis is a multidisciplinary artist, furniture maker, and visual arts educator. She received her MFA in Woodworking and Furniture Design at the San Diego State University. Her work incorporates mixed media, with a focus on wood and ceramic and has been exhibited nationally. She addresses the body, gender and spatial relations while also questioning the necessity of functionality for furniture objects in the home.

May 9 - 11, 2025: Weekend

Weave Here, Weave There, Weave Anywhere!

Kristy Bishop

This workshop is perfect for the weaver on the go! Rigid heddle weaving is a versatile and portable technique that requires minimal space. Learn the fundamentals of warp-faced weaving on a rigid heddle loom and gain hands-on experience in warping the heddles, reading and writing weaving patterns, and experimenting with various color combinations, yarn textures, and thicknesses to craft unique designs. Whether you're new to weaving or looking to expand your skills, this workshop will immerse you in the addictive world of rigid heddle weaving. It will be hard to put down the shuttle! $80 material fee

$455

Bring yarn, including smoother textured yarn for the first few weavings. After that, we’ll experiment with thicker and more textured yarns. All else will be provided, including additional yarn and a weaving kit to take home after the workshop. The kit includes a shuttle, clamp, warping peg, and heddle. 

 

Kristy Bishop (b. 1986) is a teaching artist focusing on textile practices based in Charleston, SC. She travels for artist residencies in public schools all over South Carolina, hosts adult workshops, and summer camps. Kristy partners with the Gibbes Museum of Art, the Greenville County Museum of Art, the Charleston Museum, and Engaging Creative Minds to facilitate workshops. She has been an artist-in-residence at the Gibbes Museum of Art, 701 Center for Contemporary Art and the City of North Charleston. Since 2020, Kristy Bishop has been a Certified Teaching Artist through the South Carolina Arts Commission. In 2024, Kristy’s work was exhibited at Artfields, Lake City, SC, The Lyndon House Center for the Arts, Athen, GA and a solo exhibit at the Park Circle Gallery in North Charleston, SC.

Drawing inspiration from the rich history of tablet weaving, my work is an engagement with ancient practice and traditional techniques that were once commonly used to adorn clothing. By delving into the historical roots of weaving, I honor the craft's heritage while infusing it with contemporary vision and freedom. I meticulously weave series of bands with unique patterns and colors using inkle, rigid heddle and tablet weaving and then interweave those bands into ever growing compositions. The interwoven masses grow and evolve, split and stretch. Guided by the color and pattern relationships within each band, new pathways materialize, creating a visual tapestry that tells its own story.

May 18 - 23, 2025: Weeklong

Improvisational Quilting

Casey Engel

Embrace play and intuition in this quilting workshop. Students will engage with two approaches to building a quilt top: one using handwork and the other using machine piecing. We’ll start with whole cloth and move into improvisational machine piecing, allowing students to experiment with form and composition. Students will incorporate hand quilting or tying, using the top quilt as a foundation to inspire stitching. While basic sewing machine experience is helpful, it’s not required, as the workshop accommodates both handwork and machine-piecing enthusiasts. Depending on individual progress, students may complete multiple mini or midscale wall quilts. $25 material fee

$755

Students should bring the following from the class supply list:

Found/sourced fabric - clothes, bed sheets, tablecloths any fabric you are attracted to and are interested in repurposing. Cotton or linen are ideal. The instructor will also supply miscellaneous scrap fabric.

DMC pearl cotton thread size 8

Rubber Thimble

Sewing clips

Basting pins

Your own sewing kit with hand needles, cotton sewing thread, scissors, pins and a seam ripper

 

Casey Engel’s (b. 1991) work explores themes of self expression, collection, and accumulation through an interdisciplinary practice, specializing in fibers, printmaking, and ceramics. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2015. Engel has participated in residencies at The Hambidge Center (Rabun Gap, GA), Township10 (Marshall, NC), The Bascom: Center for Visual Arts (Highlands, NC), and Starfangled Press (Brevard, NC), and has conducted workshops at institutions such as Converse University, The Bascom, and Odyssey Clayworks.

 Engel's work has been exhibited at Blue Spiral 1 gallery (Asheville, NC), Converse University (Spartanburg, SC), Quiltcon (Raleigh, NC), McDonough Museum of Art (Youngstown, OH), The Bascom (Highlands, NC), GreenHill Center for North Carolina Art (Greensboro, NC), and Piedmont Arts Museum (Martinsville, VA); her work resides in numerous private collections globally. Currently based in Asheville, NC, she works at her home studio.

June 29, 2025: Daylong

Foraged Color: Dyeing with Plant-Based Materials

Erin Walker

Discover natural dyeing and learn how to extract pigments from the plants growing right outside your door. This workshop introduces the process of making and using natural dyes, starting with selecting plants and extracting their colors. We will cover factors that affect dyes– such as pH levels, types of fibers and mordants– and how to properly care for naturally dyed items, in addition to discussing the rich history of natural dyes. Participants can choose from a variety of provided items to dye, including bags and bandanas. This workshop is open to all skill levels.

$180

Erin Walker is a local herbalist, forager and textile artist. Her goal in creating art is to make wearable pieces from the plants she loves to teach about. Her clothing consists of upcycled pieces she gives new life with plant dyes.

May 9 - 11, 2025: Weekend

Intro to 3D Printing: Pop Culture Toys

Jim Wysolmierski

Step into the future of art and design by exploring the innovative world of 3D printing! In this workshop, students will gain hands-on experience with computer-aided design (CAD) software and 3D printing, utilizing free or cost-effective technology. The class will begin with practice projects, including printing a lithophane–a three-dimensional translucent image created from a photograph provided by the participant. As the workshop progresses, students will develop foundational skills in these technologies and produce a hand-held, 3D printed toy inspired by aesthetics from popular culture. Open to all, familiarity with using a computer is helpful. $20 material fee

$420

Bring note-taking supplies.

 

Jim is an award winning sculptor and arts educator from Florida. He holds an MFA in Emerging Media: Studio Art and Design from the University of Central Florida and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of South Florida. The sculptural forms and installations he builds serve as corporeal and allegorical accounts of lived experiences, using visual narratives of trepidation and metamorphosis. The artwork draws from principles rooted in Buddhism, affect theory, phenomenology, and materiality; incorporating them as tools to comprehend his position in the world, and to grasp the power of transformation.

Currently, Jim serves as the Artist in Residence - Exhibitions at the Appalachian Center for Craft, and is part of the adjunct faculty at Tennessee Technological University, teaching foundational art courses. Previously, he taught a range of sculptural courses at the University of Central Florida. He has contributed as a panelist at the SECAC academic conferences in 2022 and 2023, and has exhibited his artworks in solo shows as well as in a range of galleries and museums from Florida to New York, and up to Alaska. In the summer of 2024, Jim brought 3D design college courses into the Florida prison system through the Florida Prison Education Project, providing college credit to those incarcerated.

May 25, 2025: Daylong

Eco Printing with a Twist!

Kathryn Faille

Discover the magic of printing with plants! Eco printing is a process that transfers botanical materials onto paper or fabric. In this workshop, you’ll print plants onto paper and take your creations to the next level by adding embellishments with watercolor. You’ll learn how to select and source plant material, explore creative ways to arrange natural materials for printing, and navigate each step of the eco printing process. Whether you’re a plant lover, print enthusiast, or total beginner, this workshop is for you!

$180

I am primarily a self taught artist working in multiple mediums including, weaving, eco printing, fiber art, watercolor, book arts, mixed media and collage design. The fascination of discovering new ways to use different art supplies and natural materials in combination keeps me constantly engaged in the process of making art.

May 25, 2025: Daylong

Mold Making, Casting and Multiples

Jim Wysolmierski

Learn the basics of mold making and casting in this daylong workshop. Students will learn how to work with silicone and plaster, create a mother mold for producing multiples, and cast a compact sculpture, with the possibility of creating a bigger “assemblage” sculpture. The work will be inspired by either an object provided by the instructor or a personal item brought in by the student, based on its complexity. Please note that the personal provided item may be damaged during the mold-making process. Open to all.

$185

You may bring a small, personal item that you are willing to get damaged.

 

Jim is an award winning sculptor and arts educator from Florida. He holds an MFA in Emerging Media: Studio Art and Design from the University of Central Florida and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of South Florida. The sculptural forms and installations he builds serve as corporeal and allegorical accounts of lived experiences, using visual narratives of trepidation and metamorphosis. The artwork draws from principles rooted in Buddhism, affect theory, phenomenology, and materiality; incorporating them as tools to comprehend his position in the world, and to grasp the power of transformation. Currently, Jim serves as the Artist in Residence - Exhibitions at the Appalachian Center for Craft, and is part of the adjunct faculty at Tennessee Technological University, teaching foundational art courses. Previously, he taught a range of sculptural courses at the University of Central Florida. He has contributed as a panelist at the SECAC academic conferences in 2022 and 2023, and has exhibited his artworks in solo shows as well as in a range of galleries and museums from Florida to New York, and up to Alaska. In the summer of 2024, Jim brought 3D design college courses into the Florida prison system through the Florida Prison Education Project, providing college credit to those incarcerated.

June 29, 2025: Daylong

Sourdough Bread: Basics and Skills

Meghan Borland and Luke Yoder

This workshop is ideal for anyone who wants to make sourdough bread--from beginning home bakers to those who are exploring a career in baking. Participants will gain hands-on experience mixing, dividing, shaping, scoring and baking bread. While scientific and technical details will be covered, the emphasis will be on practical techniques that result in the best sourdough bread possible, baked at home or in a commercial setting. All levels of experience are welcome, and questions are encouraged!

$165

Bring supplies for taking notes and feel free to bring any books or recipes you’ve been using to bake sourdough bread, for discussion.

 

Meghan Borland and Luke Yoder have owned Meg's Bread in Cookeville, TN since 2019.  With the goal of supplying the area with excellent sourdough bread, the journey for the best possible loaf is an ongoing daily task.  Luke is passionate in research, fermentation, equipment and formulas--Meg has the creative and intuitive skills to turn "dough" into "bread" through mixing, shaping, scoring and baking.

After many thousands of loaves baked every year and dozens of employees trained, Meg and Luke contain a wealth of knowledge on sourdough bread and small business ownership.