art/craft studio in historic downtown Silver City, NM
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​Bookbinding
Weaving
Other Fiber Arts
Surface Design & Paper Arts 
​Kids' Classes
Other Opportunities

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​

Summer 2018 Creative Workshops

Course offerings for ages 15 to 115.
(Classes for kids ages 10 to 16--and possibly ages 8 and 9--here.)

Bookbinding Workshops
Bookbinding:  Pamphlet Stitch (Upcycled Book)
Learn to make your own blank, soft cover book with this simple bookbinding stitch that creates pages that lie completely flat, handy for journaling, sketchbooks, or photo albums, and makes a sturdy, solid book. In this workshop, we will use completely upcycled materials for the pages—old maps, recycled office paper, brown grocery bags, and more. Because of the variety of materials used, these make great art journals! All bookbinding tools and materials will be provided for your use in the workshop, but feel free to bring any materials you wish to upcycle for use inside the book or as your cover. You’ll go home with one completed blank book. Appropriate for all levels.
Saturday, May 19 – 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
$30 + $5 materials
Bookbinding:  Bound Botanical Press
We’ll take bookbinding in a new direction in this workshop where we create a bound botanical (or flower) press, perfect for saving those sweet summer flowers to appreciate throughout the year. We’ll use a combination of different stitches to bind together wooden covers, cardboard spacers, and blotter paper to achieve a sturdy, useful, and beautiful press that you can take along on your special journeys. All bookbinding tools and materials will be provided for your use in the workshop. Appropriate for all levels.
Saturday, June 30 – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
$15 + $15 materials
Bookbinding: Refillable Upcycled Journal (hard cover)
You know those beautiful old hard-back books, the ones with outdated information, ruined pages, no monetary value? Instead of throwing them into the landfill, we’ll take the covers and make them into unique and functional new journals—and they’ll even be refillable! (You could also take the upcycling to the extreme, and use old junk mail and such for the pages.) We’ll show you the special trick to making a book that can be refilled in just a minute or so, making this the perfect book to carry with you on the go to keep track of your daily to-do lists and such, or for your daily writing exercises. As usual, we’ll provide all the bookbinding tools and materials you’ll need to use in the workshop. Feel free to bring your own old book to use as the cover (as long as it’s 6” wide x 9” tall or smaller—and one you’re willing to take apart, of course), but we’ll provide that for you, too, if you don’t. Appropriate for all levels.​
Sunday, July 22 – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
$15 + $5 materials
Bookbinding:  Long Stitch
Learn to make your own blank, soft cover book with this basic but beautiful bookbinding stitch that creates pages that lie completely flat, handy for journaling, sketchbooks, or photo albums. You will take home one soft cover book with a faux (or real!) leather cover. All bookbinding tools and materials will be provided for your use in the workshop. Appropriate for all levels. 
Sunday, August 5 – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
$25 + $10 materials
(Optional:  additional $5 for leather cover, payable at beginning of the workshop) 

Weaving Workshops
Backstrap Weaving with a Rigid Heddle
Backstrap looms are simple in construction, but can be used to create an immense variety of complex patterns. In this type of weaving, still used in various forms around the world today, the weaver’s own body becomes part of the loom, with a strap around the back that lets the weaver hold one end of the warp and control the warp tension. During this workshop, we’ll learn an alternative (and easier to warp) method of using a backstrap loom with a rigid heddle to create a lovely balanced weave, making it perfect for weaving things like scarves or runners without a costly or space-consuming loom. This also makes it ideal for traveling or if you live in a small space. You will weave your own backstrap to take home with you to start your very own backstrap loom, with a few simple additions. All tools and materials will be provided. Appropriate for all levels.​  
Saturday, July 21 – 9 a.m. to Noon
(Optional extra hour, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., at no extra charge, if you'd like to weave a longer piece)
$25 + $5 materials
Card Weaving
Card weaving (also known as tablet weaving), or weaving using cards with holes in them to manipulate the warp threads, has been around for thousands of years. It’s a great way to create intricate patterns and really play with color in a relatively easy manner. Lots of fun and very accessible, it can be done on an inkle loom, a backstrap loom, or simply in between two clamps on a table (and using old playing cards turned into “tablets”), making it potentially a very affordable weaving option. We’ll use inkle looms in the workshop, but the concepts can be easily transferred to other tools. We’ll learn to warp the loom using a continuous warping method, how to weave a basic pattern, and how to manipulate the cards to easily and quickly change patterns. You’ll weave a narrow sampler covering 4-5 different patterns (about 18” long, or up to 1 yard, if you choose to stay the optional—and no-extra-charge—extra hour to weave). If you have your own inkle loom, feel free to bring it along; looms will be provided for in-workshop use of anyone who doesn’t have one. All other materials will be provided. Appropriate for all levels, especially those with little to no experience with card weaving, or those needing a refresher. 
Saturday, August 11 – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
​(Optional extra hour, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., at no extra charge, if you'd like to weave a longer sampler)
$25 + $5 materials
(If you are bringing your own loom, be sure to register for the “Bringing My Own Loom” option; otherwise, register for the “I Need to Borrow a Loom” option.)

Other Fiber Arts Workshops
Wet-Felted Potholder
Felting is fun! The oldest-known method of making cloth, it happens when we take animal fiber (in this case, sheep’s wool) and add water, heat, agitation, and soap to make the fibers interlock to create fabric. This workshop will be a good basic introduction to wet felting techniques. You’ll make one wet-felted potholder with a loop to take home. All tools and materials will be provided for your use during the workshop. Making wet-felted felt is a wet, outdoor activity, so please come prepared to work on our shaded back patio. Appropriate for all levels.
Saturday, May 26 – 10 a.m. to Noon
$15 + $3 materials
Learn to Spin Yarn (Mini Electric Wheels)
Learn how to make your very own yarn from scratch! In our experience, spinning yarn is the closest thing to magic that you can get, and is a very relaxing and meditative activity (once you get the hang of it!). We’ll be using our new mini electric wheels, which will allow you to focus almost solely on the most important part of spinning (the draft), learning and practicing the basics of spinning a singles yarn. All equipment and materials will be provided for your use during the workshop, and you’ll go home with a small skein of your very own handspun yarn. Appropriate for brand new to beginning spinners.
Saturday, June 9 – 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
$15 + $3 materials
Beaded Kumihimo
Kumihimo is a Japanese form of braiding that allows you to create long, intricately woven cords that can be used for anything from shoelaces to keychains to jewelry. In this workshop, we will use a small, handheld foam disk to create a beaded bracelet. All materials and tools will be provided for your use in the workshop. Appropriate for all levels.
Saturday, June 23 – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
$25 + $7 materials
Art Yarn Techniques: Core Spinning
I love art yarn! Core spinning is my favorite spinning technique, because it allows me to quickly get a nice fluffy, wild yarn that looks great in freestyle weaving, or thrown in to a knitted or crocheted hat or scarf to make it a little funky. We’ll learn the basic technique on our little mini electric wheels or our regular spinning wheels, or bring your own wheel to practice on, if you have one (which will allow us to have a few more people in the workshop). Other than that, we’ll supply all the tools and materials you need for use in the workshop. (If there’s time, we may even be able to make some “art batt sandwiches” to use for our core yarn.) This workshop is really best for those with at least some spinning experience—you should be comfortable with drafting fiber and the basic mechanics of a spinning wheel.
​Saturday, July 21 – 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
$15 + $7 materials
(If you are using your own wheel, be sure to register for the “Bringing My Own Wheel” option; otherwise, register for the “I Need to Borrow a Wheel” option.)
Wet-Felted Glass Bottle
​Another in our series of wet felting workshops this summer, this will be a fun way to learn how to felt onto another object, in this case an 11-ounce glass bottle (which also makes it the perfect way to upcycle those old Starbucks Frappuccino bottles!). You’ll end up with a super-cute bottle to carry your favorite beverage around with you throughout the day. (Hey, you gotta get those 8 glasses of water in somehow, right?) All tools and materials will be provided for your use during the workshop. Making wet-felted felt is a wet, outdoor activity, so please come prepared to work on our shaded back patio. Appropriate for all levels.
Saturday, August 11 – 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
$20 + $5 materials
Turkish-Style Spindle Spinning
Learn how to make your own yarn using a cross-arm (Turkish-style) spindle and some wool fiber. Turkish-style spindles are wonderful—affordable, portable, easy, and fun! And when you are done, you end up with a nice center-pull ball of singles yarn that slides easily off your spindle, making it easy to ply or finish (or even weave or knit straight from the ball, if you’re feeling adventurous!). They are my preferred way to spin, even over my spinning wheels. (Who says you need an expensive spinning wheel to make your own yarn?!) All tools and materials will be provided for your use in the workshop. (If you have your own spindle, feel free to bring it to the workshop!) Appropriate for all those new to spinning on a Turkish-style spindle. 
Saturday, August 18 – 10 a.m. to Noon
$15 + $3 materials
(If you are bringing your own spindle, be sure to register for the “Bringing My Own Spindle” option; otherwise, register for the “I Need to Borrow a Spindle” option. If you’re wanting/needing a Turkish-style spindle of your own, we’ll also be stocking our own hand-crafted spindles for sale.)
3-D Wet-Felted Bird Pod
The last of this year’s wet felting series, in this workshop we’ll learn to make a 3-D felted object using a flat resist—in this case an adorable little bird pod to hang outside for the little critters to nest in. All materials and tools will be provided for your use in the workshop. Making wet-felted felt is a wet, outdoor activity, so please come prepared to work on our shaded back patio. Appropriate for all levels
Saturday, August 25 – 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
$30 + $5 materials   

Paper Arts Workshops
Upcycled Papermaking
Come learn how to use old office paper you would normally just recycle to make beautiful new paper. We’ll go through the whole process from start to finish, and you will leave with several sheets of paper, perfect for use as stationery or in a hand-bound book. All equipment and materials will be provided for your use during the workshop. Making paper is a wet, outdoor activity, so please come prepared to work on our shaded back patio. Appropriate for all levels.
Saturday, August 4 – 9 a.m. to Noon
$25 + $3 materials

 Kids' Classes & Creative Camps
Creative Fun for Kids Ages 10 to 16
(And ages 8 & 9, with permission)

Monday Mornings at The Makery

Kumihimo Bracelet/Wristband
Kumihimo is a Japanese braiding process that uses a foam disk to create a lovely patterned cord that can be used for keychains, shoelaces, and so much more! (In this class we’ll make a bracelet, or wristband.) All tools and supplies will be provided for use in class.     
Monday, June 4 – 10 a.m. to Noon — $20
 
Basic Crochet for Kids
Learn how to make a crochet chain and the single crochet (SC) stitch, which you can use to make bags, hats, wrist warmers, and so much more! (We’ll make a small bag in this class.) All tools and supplies will be provided for use in class.     
Monday, July 2 – 10 a.m. to Noon — $20  
 
Make Your Own Magic Wand
Are you a Harry Potter fan? Do you like to use your imagination to explore magical worlds? Then come make your very own magic wand, just like the ones we sell here at The Makery, but with your own style and personality! All tools and supplies will be provided for use in class.
Monday, July 16 – 10 a.m. to Noon — $20
 
Bookbinding: Japanese Stab Binding
Come make your own book (or maybe more than one!) with lots of different stitch patterns possible—great to use to bind your artwork or writing. All tools and supplies will be provided for use in class.       
Monday, July 30 – 10 a.m. to Noon — $20


​Pick & Choose Creative Camp Week for Kids
Take 1, 2, 3, 4, or all 5 days--your choice!

Monday, June 18 - Weaving on a Backstrap Loom
Learn to weave your own fabric, using some sticks and some yarn. You can use this fabric to make bags, cases, belts, miniature furnishings, and so much more! All tools and supplies will be provided for use in class.
10 a.m. to Noon — $20

Tuesday, June 19 - Upcycled Papermaking
Come learn to make your very own paper from scratch, using nothing more than old used office paper! You’ll make several sheets that you will get to take home with you, to use for cards, art, books, writing stories—anything you can imagine! All tools and supplies will be provided for use in class.
10 a.m. to Noon — $20

Wednesday, June 20 - Bookbinding:  Pamphlet Stitch
Make your very own book, using the easy pamphlet stitch and upcycled materials like old maps, grocery bags, blue jeans, and billboards. All tools and supplies will be provided for use in class.
10 a.m. to Noon — $20

Thursday, June 21 - Felted Soap & Beads
Did you know that felt is the oldest kind of fabric in existence? It’s been around for thousands of years! Come learn how to cover bars of soap with felt and to make felted beads. They make great gifts—and it’s super-fun! All tools and supplies will be provided for use in class.
10 a.m. to Noon — $20

Friday, June 22 - Spinning—Make Your Own Yarn!
Come learn to make your own yarn from sheep's wool. We'll explore a few different simple ways to make yarn, including using a rock, or your hand and your leg, or, of course, a simple drop spindle. If there's time, we'll even dye it in some Kool-Aid!
10 a.m. to Noon — $20

About our Kids' Classes (including Pick & Choose Camp Classes):
  • All classes take place from 10 a.m. to Noon.
  • Classes are for ages 10 to 16. (Talk to us if your child is 8 or 9 and is interested.)
  • All classes are $20 each (including all instruction and materials), or $15 each if you sign up for 3 or more classes (per child or per family) at once.
  • Space is limited to 8 kids.
  • There is a minimum enrollment of 3 kids per class. Class will be cancelled and registration fee refunded if fewer than 3 are enrolled 24 hours before the start of class.
 
Click here to print a one-page, chronological version of our Summer 2018 Workshop Calendar.

Other Opportunities
YOU + 2
  • See a workshop you’d like to take, but the timing doesn’t work for you?  Find two (or more—up to 6 to 9 total, depending on the workshop!) friends to take it with you and we can arrange to teach any workshop in our catalog at a time convenient for you. 
  • There is a minimum charge, based on three people taking the workshop, and an additional per-person fee above three people—these are exactly the same as our regular workshop rates. Fees depend on the particular workshop, and all fees are paid in advance.
  • This is a great option to participate in a more customized class, to arrange your own private girls’ night out, to have a fun family activity, or to create a team-building experience for your workplace. 
  • If you’d like (and for an additional fee), we can also build in time in our workshop space for additional activities that you want to plan, making this the perfect option for your private parties (birthday parties, wedding showers, baby showers, and such).  Some workshop topics can even be scaled up and done in the place of your choosing—family reunion, anyone? 
  • See our full Workshop Catalog here for a listing of our offerings.  Then contact us to set up a workshop time.  It’s that simple.
 
Join us — we look forward to being your creative outlet!
KIDS’ WEAVING

Kids are always welcome to weave with us during our regular Walk In & Weave times, but we also have a special weekly weaving session just for kids (from any age old enough to reach the pedals of the loom, alone or with the help of an adult, up to age 12).  Kids can be weaving with just five minutes of basic instruction, even if they’ve never woven before!  (And kids often weave the most creative cloth, because they are much more open to possibilities than adults.)

During the school year, every Thursday – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
During the summer, every Thursday – 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

$15 (Fee includes materials – kids must take their weaving home at the end of each session.  Basic instruction in sewing, to make a cell phone case, purse, and such, is also an option during this time.)
WALK IN & WEAVE
Join us for our regularly scheduled Walk In & Weave freestyle weaving instruction three times weekly, for all ages—adults and kids, alike. Come once, or come as often as you'd like!
  • If you’ve never woven before, consider Walk In & Weave to be your “Introduction to Weaving” class. You can be weaving on your own with about five minutes of instruction.
  • If you have some (or a lot of!) experience weaving, consider Walk In & Weave to be your time to just relax and weave, or to explore some new techniques that you find on our in-studio samplers.
  • We do the hard part of weaving for you—warping, or setting up, the loom!
  • Choose from any of our great variety of yarns.
  • Take your finished piece home with you at the end of the two-hour session.
Pre-registration is not necessary—simply show up at the regularly-scheduled time that works best for you. (However, if you want to reserve a loom during a specific time, just email or call us to let us know you are coming.) To get the most out of your two hours, please be sure to arrive by the starting time of each session.

$20 + materials ($2/oz.)
(Introductory session is $15 + materials)

For more information about Walk In & Weave, click here.
GELLI PLATE PLAY-DATE FOR GROWN-UPS
Join us the first Saturday morning of each month for some creative play using Gelli plates to make beautiful and unique prints on paper, cardstock, and fabric. These can be used in mixed media projects, on greeting cards or in scrapbooking, or to embellish other items such as photo mats. Gelli plates are playful, creative things—very little instruction is required, and this “play-date” is all about having fun while using our vast array of tools, paints, and papers.
First Saturday of every month: 6/9 (date change), 7/7, 8/4 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m., this day only), 9/1 – 10 a.m. to Noon
$20
GIRLS' NIGHT OUT

Watch for our occasional Girls' Night Out events.  Check our home page or our Parties & Events page to see what's coming up!
OPEN BOOKBINDING STUDIO

Have you take a bookbinding workshop at The Makery, then never made a book again because you don't have the tools you need? Then we have just the thing for you! 

We are now offering Open Bookbinding Studio by appointment. Here you will be able to use any of our bookbinding tools, and someone will be here to offer advice and assistance, as well. The cost will be $10 for up to the full two hours (come as little or as long as you want within that two-hour time period). We'll also have supply kits (cover material, paper, binding thread) available if you'd like to use those materials to make your book, or you can bring your own.

Please note that this will not be a time for basic bookbinding instruction--it is meant for people who have completed a bookbinding workshop at The Makery, or who can otherwise demonstrate basic competence in bookbinding.    

We will also soon have bookbinding kits for sale, that will provide all of the basic tools you need to make books on your own!

REGISTRATION

To help us prepare for your creative workshop, please register at least one day before the first day of the workshop. Please note, too, that our workshops are limited in size--be sure to register early to save your spot!
​
You can register in several ways:
  • Stop by our studio at 206 North Bullard during our open hours (Thursday to Monday, 11 to 4; Friday & Saturday we open at 10 and close at 6).
  • Email us at [email protected]
  • Call us at 575-590-1263
  • Register online by clicking the "Register Now" button below
All workshops take place at The Makery, 206 North Bullard, in Silver City.
We will provide all tools and materials for use in the workshop (unless otherwise noted)--you supply your own unique sense of beauty!

art/craft for everyone

Our goal is to make the world of art/craft accessible to everyone, of all ages, genders, backgrounds, and abilities.  We teach you the basics, then encourage you to let loose and have fun with it, whether it's freestyle weaving, or any number of other more traditional handcrafts.  We believe that every individual has their own sense of beauty and spark of creativity, and we want to create a nurturing space where you can gain the basic skills, then feel comfortable to express that creativity in your own way.  No rules, no mistakes--just joyful creation from the heart!

Our Workshops

With this goal in mind, throughout the year, we will offer evening, after-school, and weekend workshops in all kinds of fiber arts, paper arts, and bookbinding for children and adults.  Some examples include:
​
  • Kumihimo (disk and marudai)
  • Bobbin lace
  • Surface design, such as screenprinting, batik, fabric printing
  • Crochet
  • Knitting
  • Knitting without needles (spool, loom, finger, and arm)
  • Spinning
  • Making monoprints and paste paper
  • Specialty kinds of weaving (such as inkle, peg loom, and tablet weaving)
  • Various bookbinding techniques, such as Coptic stitch, secret Belgian, stab binding, folded books, long stitch, buttonhole stitch, and pamphlet stitch.  

​We will provide tools and materials for use in your workshop--you supply your own unique sense of beauty!

Remember Our Other Offerings:​

We also offer Creative Camps in the summer.

In addition, we offer individual and group instruction in freestyle weaving, arranged ahead of time, or on a drop-in basis during our Drop-In Weaving times.

Want to do something different for your next special occasion?  Plan your next party at our studio, and unleash your creative side with your friends!

Watch for our special events, coming soon!  We'll plan special nights out where we do the hard part, and you come and have the fun of creating something new.
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Bobbin lace
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Peg loom weaving, spinning, inkle weaving
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Bookbinding: stab binding, long stitch
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​keep you updated on our current schedule of open studio times, workshops, camps, and special events.
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