Open Studios 2 (Art Studio)
Punch Needle Embroidery
With Emma Morin
Punch needle is a type of embroidery that involves using a special tool called a punch needle to create loops of yarn on woven cloth. The needle is designed to "punch" the yarn through the fabric, resulting in a soft and fluffy texture in the final fiber art piece. These loops can vary in length and be arranged in different patterns, offering a wide range of design possibilities and textures. Punch needle projects encompass various items like wall hangings, pillows, rugs, coasters, tabletop decorations, kid's toys, and more.
Braided Wool Chair Pad or Table Topper
With Judy MacKay
Judy learned how to braid in a class at Fiber College and since made multiple projects. She is intrigued by the various color combinations and how each created a unique finished product. Judith will be showing students how to produce a rug braided chair seat or table topper. Students can learn to measure, cut, roll, braid, spiral, sew and secure their piece.
Artistic Patches for Mending and Embellishing
With Erin Hauge (gatherwhatspills),
Learn to make artistic patches for customizing and mending your wardrobe. We’ll use hand sewing and block prints, embroidery and sashiko stitching, appliqué and more to create unique patches. Reclaimed and thrifted materials as well as natural dyed textiles all provided for you to slow down and enjoy the process. Inspired by my seven years of running an international patch swap called Mend and Make Friends where people trade handmade patches of all sorts across the globe.
Erin gathers what others spill!
Felted Bars of Soap
With Betsy Alspach
Betsy has been working with wool and teaching children and adults alike the magic of natural fibers for over 20 years.
A bar of felted soap is incredibly easy to grasp making it the perfect gift for family and friends of all ages. No matter how soapy or wet the felt becomes, it’s still easy to grip. Felt is soft and warms under the water, giving a luxurious feeling to hard soap bars. And we haven't even begun to talk about the fun of choosing the colors we wrap with!
Soap wrapped in felt lathers well, once the water, felt and mechanical action interact. Felt also ensures that the soap keeps wicking, removing moisture, as it dries; which ensures that felted soap tends to stay intact for longer. Finally, good wool typically has antibacterial properties, which can help soaps avoid any mould or fungi. Felted soap is an interesting solution to a simple problem that seems to live on the edge of common use; a curious craft item that may be hundreds if not thousands of years old.
We borrowed this description from Christopher Roosen's Blog. Visit him for a truly interesting article with references.
What else is there to do?
At Searsport Shores Ocean Campground and Art Space
The Shores was once part of an 1800’s coastal farm. We have mature white pine and oak trees that have seen more than a century of full moons. We've restored the organic gardens and planted a dyer's garden for ecoprinting and coloring the wool we shear from our campground flock of angora goats and sheep. There are kayaks for rent and miles of beach to explore. Come for the weekend and bring friends whether they like to craft or not...it's all good!