fabric, book, metal, straw, culinary classes
MVAS Looms Workshop: Getting Started with Tori Hanna
Students will get hands-on experience with the loom room looms and talk to an expert about planning a project and how to get it underway. Learn about weaving basics while you sit down and weave at the MVAS looms. No need to buy your own or build on to the garage. You can get started on November 3 with all the info you need to weave today. More in-depth classes will be available at MVAS beginning January 19th.
Date: Saturday, November 3, 2007
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Registration deadline: October 15
Tuition: $25 (must be a current member of MVAS)
Deposit: $25
Supplies: included
Click here to register.
Weaving Projects with Diana Soehren
If you’ve thought about making your own rugs, table coverings, but just never had the space to house a loom, here’s an opportunity to get inspired, learn how to start your project and get assistance when you need it most. Thursday and Friday evenings, Diana will help students set up to use the looms at the Milan Village Arts School. Students will learn the basics of preparing fabrics, choosing a design, warping and beginning to weave. Those who would like to continue their projects can schedule time with Diana on Saturday and Sunday to work on their projects from beginning to end.
Date: Thursday through Sunday, January 17, 18, 19 & 20
Time: Thursday & Friday 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday & Sunday, arrange Registration deadline: January 1
Tuition: member-$50 non-member-$65
Deposit: $25
Supplies: $10 or more based on supplies used. Students should provide their own materials.
Click here to register.
No More Procrastination with Donna Bevelhymer
One last opportunity in 2008 to get experienced help in starting your weaving project. Donna has a wide variety of experience and a real passion for the fabric arts and no matter what your project, she can help. In this class, students will be sitting at the looms to weave and complete a small project such as a placemat or bread cloth.
Date: Saturday & Sunday, March 1 & 2
Time: Saturday, 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Registration deadline: February 15
Tuition: member-$60 non-member-$75
Deposit: $30
Supplies: based on supplies used. Students should provide their own materials but contact Donna at 320-226-6457 for suggestions.
Click here to register.
Using the Loom Room
Date: anyday
Time: anytime
MVAS is the proud recipient of some very special looms. With the help of the Milan Community Foundation and Torri Hanna, and due to space provided by the Greater Milan Initiative, those looms are available for any member to use, whenever. They are warped for you to get started. We have instructors to introduce you. Contact MVAS at 320-734-4807 to find out how you can use the MVAS looms for your weaving project.
Dyeing to Felt with Anne Pryzbilla
Participants will use environmentally safe, non-toxic dyes to create beautiful, self-patterning yarns in their choice of colors on the first day. (Self-patterning yarns knit up into beautiful patterns without having to follow intricate color charts.) Students will also choose a project & pattern (slippers, bags, pillows, mittens, etc.) in which to incorporate their one-of-a-kind yarn. They will leave this class with “homework” and tips and hints to make this assignment an enjoyable learning process.
Two weeks later, students will return to class with a completed “homework assignment” and ready to learn how to turn this homework into a fabulous felted fiber creation. If you’ve ever washed a favorite wool sweater and ended up with a Barbie doll garment, you already have some experience with felting, a process in which knitted wool is soaked in hot water to shrink and tighten the fibers to create a dense fabric. During this session students will learn how to intentionally felt wool in order to achieve a desired effect. Participants will leave this second session with a completed one-of-a-kind fiber project and enough skill and know-how to create many more.
Only the most basic knitting skills required for this class. Participants should know how to knit, purl and bind off and will receive a materials list two weeks prior to the first class session.
Date: Two Saturdays, April 5 & 19
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration deadline: March 15
Tuition: member-$65 non-member-$80
Deposit: $30
Supplies: $20 depending on supplies used.
Click here to register.
Silk Painting with Ann Taecker: Beginning
Think stained glass on silk: draw an outline of resist and color the rest with dyes for a distinctive silk scarf, wall hanging or table runner of your own design.
In this beginning class, students will learn the gutta serti technique of silk painting. Areas of design are isolated with a resist or gutta and dyes are painted within these areas with watercolor brushes. Students will have a choice of sizes to work with—a 22 x 22 inch square, 8 x 54 inch oblong or two to three 11 x 11 inch squares. Designs will be available to choose from, but Ann will encourage students to draw their own. (If drawing a design prior to class, remember to keep within the sizes mentioned above and draw with a black Sharpie permanent pen on paper [old newspaper works fine] before class.)
Date: Saturday, January 19
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration deadline: January 1
Tuition: member-$40 non-member-$55
Deposit: $20
Supplies: $30.
Click here to register.
Shibori Dyeing with Martha Roisen
Shibori is a traditional Japanese dyeing technique where cloth is shaped and secured through many methods: folding, stitching, twisting and finally dyed or discharged (bleached) to create a rich, sometimes unexpected surface. Martha will introduce students to many options and ideas for their projects on Friday evening. Saturday and Sunday students will have time to experiment with their own projects and end the class with stunning fabric for wall hangings, pillows, clothes or even furniture or curtains.
Date: Friday through Sunday, May 2, 3, 4
Time: Friday, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration deadline: April 15
Tuition: member-$65 non-member-$80
Deposit: $40
Supplies: $20
Contact Martha Roisen with questions at 507-469-8323.
Click here to register.
Basic Broom Making with Robin Moore
Few things are as satisfying as making your own beautiful tools for daily use. Brooms have been made by hand for centuries. Students in this class will learn a simple way to create a broom from raw materials. The broom you make will last for years and you’ll never buy another at a store again. Students may bring wood for their handle or choose from those provided. However, if you do want to bring your own wood, please contact Robin first. Brooms will be between 12 and 42 inches long according to preference.
Date: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 16 & 17, 2007
OR Friday and Saturday, June 27 & 28
Time: Friday 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Registration deadline: October 20, 2007 OR June 1, 2008
Tuition: member-$60 non-member-$75
Deposit $30
Supplies: $20
Call Robin at 320-269-6176 with questions or to discuss broom handles.
Click here to register.
Create a Card with Andy Kahmann and Nan Karr-Kaufenberg
Design & print your very own ‘Bad Andy’ card at A to Z Letterpress.
Personalize your correspondence by designing and printing your own cards. Students may carve their design to build a lino block or use a zinc cut from Andy’s library of material to design their very own card. Nan will be on hand on Saturday to help students with the intricacies of lino block cutting. Andy will help you print your cards on the 1950s Vandercook hand crank press on Sunday. A selection of traditional metal type faces and dingbats are available for students to choose from.
Date: Saturday & Sunday, February 16 & 17
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: February 1
Tuition: member-$75 non-member-$90
Deposit: $40
Supplies: included
Class held at A to Z Letterpress Studio, Main Street, Montevideo. Class size is limited.
Click here to register.
Cartonnage: Creating Useful and Decorative Objects from Paperboard with Steve Pittelkow
Cartonnage (pronounced carton-ahje) is popular worldwide and is used to create beautiful objects from decorative paper and sturdy paperboard. Using decorative paper you create yourself, make a bowl and other objets d’art in this two-day class. On the first day, create an exciting array of decorative paper. Then learn to construct a box, bowl or other object on the second day. This class will inspire you to continue to design and build other beautiful household and gift items.
Paste paper is a simple, straightforward method of decorating paper that allows infinite control over design and color. Papers are created using pigmented paste painted on damp paper. Then, with homemade tools and found objects designs are made in the damp paste. When dry, the paper is an excellent material for book covers, cards, stationery or other uses.
Date: Saturday & Sunday, March 29 & 30
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: March 1
Tuition: member-$130 non-member-$145
Deposit: $65
Supplies: $20-$30
Click here to register.
Gourmet Cooking using Culinary Herbs with Marcia Neely
From slow cooking to modern day fast cooking, herbs add flavor and health-effects to your cooking, making simple meals tasty and nutritious. Students will learn how to grow, harvest, store and use culinary herbs in cooking on their way to becoming gourmet chefs. Marcia will guide students through her herb gardens to give them on-site tips for growing and harvesting such herbs as thyme, rosemary, garlic, sage, tarragon, basil, and nasturtium. A short time will be spent on lecture and some on sharing ideas. We’ll gather fresh herbs for making herbal vinegars and for freezing and drying. Tuition includes the class as well as the meal. Come, learn, and enjoy the savory tastes.
Date: Saturday, August 2
Time: 9:00-1:00 p.m.
Place: Honey and Herbs Farm,
155 NW 60th St., Benson, MN
Registration deadline: July 15
Tuition: member-$35 non-member-$45.
Tuition includes lunch and one herbal product, such as a jar of dried herbs, a bottle of herbal vinegar, or a bunch of fresh herbs.
Directions: From Benson, go 5 miles north on Hwy #29. Turn left (west) on Country Rd. 22. Go 1 mile. Honey and Herbs is on the left (south) with lg. black mailbox by road.
Click here to register.
Introduction to Blacksmith Arts with Gene Sandau
The art of blacksmithing includes many methods of forming iron into art, including electric or gas welding, drilling, grinding, riveting, use of a coal forge, anvil, hammers, chisels, punches, handmade tools and other equipment. Considering all these elements, interested persons should call Gene for details and to choose which skills they would like to learn. Students are encouraged to have a project in mind that they would like to do in class and take home. Classes are not gender biased. A parent or guardian must accompany students under 18. Gene believes that "the equipment and tools are not dangerous, the misuse of them is." Nevertheless, safety measures and equipment handling will be closely monitored. Please call Gene if you have any questions.
Class to be held in Madison, MN
Date & Time: To be determined by student and instructor
Tuition: $200 for a one student or $300 for two on same day.
Deposit: $100 or $150
Supplies: Students need cotton or leather gloves, high top shoes or boots, cotton work clothes and eye and ear protection.
For questions, please call Gene Sandau at 320-598-7858. Please send your deposit and registration to: Gene Sandau, 308 11th Street West, Madison, MN 56256