• How to Tell a Story Part 1

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    Everyone has a story to tell – what matters is how you tell it. In this four-part class, students will focus on the basics of the personal narrative – a story told in first person that relates the story teller’s own experience. Students will develop a five-minute (750-word) story from start to finish through in-class exercises and take-home assignments. They will learn how to mine their memories for story ideas, structure their thoughts for maximum effectiveness, and find the details that will bring their stories to life. At the conclusion of the course, students will be offered the opportunity to share their work in front of a live audience on a date to be determined by the class as a whole.

  • Mountaineer Pack Basket

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    The Adirondack Pack Basket is one of the most recognized objects associated with the Adirondacks. These versatile baskets were used to carry just about everything the guides, hunters and trappers took with them into the woods. Create your own pack basket patterned from the traditional Adirondack Pack Baskets. The Mountaineer pack is a large pack, great size for adult men and woman for trips to the farmers market, hunting and hiking. The first day students weave a plain weave base with the pre-cut spokes and then weave the sides. Linda will be guiding students as they concentrate on shape, creating a belly while learning to continuous weave. The main weaving will be done the first day. The baskets will sit and dry overnight. On the second day, students will pack baskets tight, level the top, weave a false rim, cut and tuck spokes, add handle, and fit the rim to the basket, and lash rim. Linda will guide you and teach you many tips and techniques. Students will be using a drawknife and other sharp tools. Leather harness is dark brown. Webbing harness color choices are red, olive green, black and dark brown. Instructor will bring all materials to make the basket. Students should wear comfortable clothing. Baskets will not be stained during class. Approximate dimensions: 9? x 12? x 20? high.

  • Mountaineer Pack Basket

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    The Adirondack Pack Basket is one of the most recognized objects associated with the Adirondacks. These versatile baskets were used to carry just about everything the guides, hunters and trappers took with them into the woods. Create your own pack basket patterned from the traditional Adirondack Pack Baskets. The Mountaineer pack is a large pack, great size for adult men and woman for trips to the farmers market, hunting and hiking. The first day students weave a plain weave base with the pre-cut spokes and then weave the sides. Linda will be guiding students as they concentrate on shape, creating a belly while learning to continuous weave. The main weaving will be done the first day. The baskets will sit and dry overnight. On the second day, students will pack baskets tight, level the top, weave a false rim, cut and tuck spokes, add handle, and fit the rim to the basket, and lash rim. Linda will guide you and teach you many tips and techniques. Students will be using a drawknife and other sharp tools. Leather harness is dark brown. Webbing harness color choices are red, olive green, black and dark brown. Instructor will bring all materials to make the basket. Students should wear comfortable clothing. Baskets will not be stained during class. Approximate dimensions: 9? x 12? x 20? high.

  • Traditional Soap Making

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    Create soap just like Grandma, but better! Join Chrissey for an enjoyable Sunday afternoon as you learn how to make soap that not only smells good but is all-natural and feels great on your skin. This fun class will teach you how to create soap using the cold-process and natural/organic ingredients. You will learn all about the basic process, oils, and the difference between fragrances and essential oils. You will create soap from a recipe while learning how to handle lye safely. Finally, you'll take home your hand-made soap. So, say good-bye to store-bought soap and start using soap you made yourself!

  • Introduction to Chip Carving

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    This course will introduce students to the traditional craft of chip carving - a type of woodcarving in which a small knife is used to incise decorative floral and geometric designs into basswood or butternut. The design is created by the removal of small pieces (chips) of the wood. Chip carving is an ancient, traditional craft. Chip carved plates, jewelry and keepsake boxes, trays, breadboards, furniture and other items can make wonderful gifts and also decorate the home with traditional motifs. Some previous carving experience is helpful, but not necessary. Students will learn to carve a variety of practice designs already drawn on a board and may complete a round ornament as well.

  • Stained Glass for Beginners

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    In this workshop we will complete a small Tiffany style suncatcher, ornament, or flower. Students will be able to choose a pre-drawn pattern from a variety of designs and be guided as they learn to cut the glass (chosen from a variety of types and colors), smooth the glass pieces with a grinder, apply copper foil tape, solder the pieces together into the final piece using lead-free solder, and add jump rings or a copper wire stem. The patterns available will offer a variety of levels of difficulty so students may choose what best suits them.

  • Introduction to Chip Carving

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    This course will introduce students to the traditional craft of chip carving - a type of woodcarving in which a small knife is used to incise decorative floral and geometric designs into basswood or butternut. The design is created by the removal of small pieces (chips) of the wood. Chip carving is an ancient, traditional craft. Chip carved plates, jewelry and keepsake boxes, trays, breadboards, furniture and other items can make wonderful gifts and also decorate the home with traditional motifs. Some previous carving experience is helpful, but not necessary. Students will learn to carve a variety of practice designs already drawn on a board and may complete a round ornament as well.

  • Forging an Axe

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States
  • Weaving wtih Crickets

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States
  • Open Forge Night

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    Interested in blacksmithing but unsure how to start? Open Forge Night is the place for you! Every third Wednesday of the month during our blacksmithing season, come see demonstrations by expert blacksmith Steve Gurzler. Observing the demonstration is free and open to the public. If you want to try your hand at blacksmithing there is a $25 fee to cover the cost of materials. Safety precautions must be followed - including hard shoes with no open toes, long pants, goggles (supplied) and gloves (supplied).

  • How to Tell a Story Part 1

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    Everyone has a story to tell – what matters is how you tell it. In this four-part class, students will focus on the basics of the personal narrative – a story told in first person that relates the story teller’s own experience. Students will develop a five-minute (750-word) story from start to finish through in-class exercises and take-home assignments. They will learn how to mine their memories for story ideas, structure their thoughts for maximum effectiveness, and find the details that will bring their stories to life. At the conclusion of the course, students will be offered the opportunity to share their work in front of a live audience on a date to be determined by the class as a whole.

  • Seasonal Wild Tending

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    In days gone by, it was common practice for people living in wild places to tend the land which provided them with food, medicine, and shelter. It was a daily exchange of life between human and the natural world. In this introductory series, we will explore the natural world and discover ways to more fully engage with her as she moves through each of the four seasons. In each class we will: create an outdoor (temporary) medicine wheel in order to deepen our understanding of the cyclical nature of all life: plants, people, animal/insect. We will also engage with/forage the plants which are available to us as we seasonally and learn how to transform what they have to offer into something we can use, aka beneficial preparations. This class will be balanced with time outdoors for Wild Tending and indoors for hands-on practice of preparation techniques and extraction methods. Each class stands on it's own. Together they create a synergy of seasonal attunement aligning your wild nature with the natural world around you.