Bring the family camping for Labor Day weekend and seize a day for yourself. These one day, project-oriented workshops include lunch in the garden and are perfect for teens and adults alike. And even if you’re not a camper… there’s nothing like a day of learning and making to turn this Holiday weekend into a special treat. Sessions are $295 but if you are planning to camp at Searsport Shores Ocean Campground you will receive a $100 camp site credit at check-in if you register for two or more Short Shorts.
Saturday September 2, 2023
Molly Grant~ Leather Bag, Zipp Style
Sew a one of the kind leather bag with Molly. Choose the color of your leather, straps, zippers and how it will be decorated. Material kit $125
Emma Morin~ Creative Embroidery
Learn 5 embroidery stitches while constructing a charming, 3-D ornament. These skills will give you the confidence to mend your clothes creatively, and create gifts everyone will want to receive $10 material fee.
Katama Murray~ September Impressions: Basics of Cyanotype Printing
Dive into the process of cyanotype printing with Katama Murray of Teach Peace Prints in this hands-on, one day workshop! This outdoor workshop will focus on how to create prints on watercolor paper and cotton fabric using foraged or personal items with the power of the sun. Cyanotype printing is an amalgamation of photography and printmaking that commonly yields cyan-blue prints, also referred to as blueprints. In the case of cloudy or rainy weather, we will still create prints using special UV lamps. This process yields different results each time, and is a great opportunity to let go while collaborating with nature. Create beautiful, one of a kind prints that can be admired forever, while taking time to slow down and appreciate the richness and diversity of plant life dwelling alongside us. Students will create five prints on paper, small prints on cotton fabric, and a printed cotton tote bag. $30 material fee
Santa Steve~ Weaving Chain Mail
Since the 3rd century, humans have been weaving wire to create coats of armor for protection and prestige. Today we weave wire rings to create beautiful and extremely tactile jewelry. Learn the basics of chain mail construction and take home an elegant bracelet or pair of earrings. (please note that the image is a more advanced project but the weaving is the same) $10 material fee
Deb Dutton~ Paste Paper and Flag Book
Paste paper, which was produced starting in the late sixteenth century, is made from both vegetable dyes and inorganic pigments mixed with paste. An endless variety of patterns can be achieved by manipulating the wet paste. Unlike other types of paper which involve extensive equipment and are made only by skilled craftsmen, paste paper can be made in the binding workshop, and the patterns that resulted represent an amazing range of detail and quality. Bookbinders use paste paper for their end pages.
Modern paste paper uses common household items, found objects, brushes and sponges to create patterns in the wet paste/paint mixture. We’ll use our imagination and create designs on paper - as freestyle or traditional as you like. Then we’ll make flag books from our artistic papers.
The foundation of the deceptively simple Flag Book structure is an accordion folded spine. Rows of flags attached to opposing sides of each of the spine’s “mountain” folds allow the artist to fragment and layer a number of complementary or contrasting images and narratives. The flag book was originally created by Hedi Kyle. $12 materials fee
PS In Deb's letter she writes: "I promise it will be a day of freedom for our creative selves (there’s no bad paste paper) and lots of fun"
Sunday September 3, 2023
Molly Grant~ Leather Bag, Susan Style
Sew a one of the kind leather bag with Molly. Choose the color of your leather, straps, zippers and how it will be decorated. Material fee $125
Emma Morin~ Creative Embroidery
Learn 5 embroidery stitches while constructing a charming, 3-D ornament. These skills will give you the confidence to mend your clothes creatively, and create gifts everyone will want to receive $10 material fee.
Katama Murray~ Weaving and Dyeing with Foraged Color
During this one-day workshop, students will learn the basics of natural dyeing and small tapestry weaving using organic, foraged materials. Each student will create a naturally dyed cotton bandana, a palette of naturally dyed yarn, and a series of small tapestry "bookmark" weavings. We will embrace our surroundings and settle into stillness as we tune into the meditative qualities of weaving. Inch by inch, row by row, students will gain an understanding of the creative capacity that weaving on a small, mobile loom holds. Light and portable, these small Hello Looms can fit in the palm of your hand, making them easy to take on any adventure and accessible to beginners and experts alike. Students will have the option to integrate both naturally dyed yarn and foraged organic objects into their weavings. Natural dyeing is an ancient textile process that has been practiced for thousands of years around the world. Colors used in natural dyeing are often derived from various plant, mineral, and invertebrate sources, such as flowers, leaves, bark, wood, berries, roots, insects, fungi, lichen, food waste, and more. Water is added to the dyestuff to create a dyebath, in which the colors from the source are extracted and intensified. Prepared (mordanted) fiber is then left to sit in the dye bath either with or without heat application, which allows the pigments to transfer to the fibers over time with patience. Colors and shades from dyes are dependent on location, soil, water quality, pH, and much more, meaning some colors may never be created exactly the same twice - this makes for a fascinating world of experimentation and letting go...These meditative processes yield unique, one-of-a-kind results, and provide opportunities to relax collaborating with nature. All levels of experience are welcome! Material kit $30
Santa Steve~ Weaving Chain Mail
Since the 3rd century, humans have been weaving wire to create coats of armor for protection and prestige. Today we weave wire rings to create beautiful and extremely tactile jewelry. Learn the basics of chain mail construction and take home an elegant bracelet or pair of earrings. (please note that the image is a more advanced project but the weaving is the same) $10 material fee
Deb Dutton~ Book Binding Three Ways
Learn 3 different book bindings in six hours. Japanese stab binding, crown book and dos e do ( double signature front+ back) You can bring your own papers. Or purchase all you need from Deb's Personal Stash. $12 Materials Fee