You are here

Winter Spring Classes & Workshops

Start your 2023 off on a creative foot! Grab a seat in one of our fully equipped studios, learn a new skill, and connect with the craft community.
W3.CSS Template

Blacksmithing

Introduction to Blacksmithing

Kim Stahl
This course introduces the fundamental principles of Blacksmithing materials, tools, and techniques.
Learn More»

Making a Cheese Knife

Kim Stahl
In this one-day workshop participants will make a simple cheese service knife or letter opener.
Learn More:
March 22  March 23  April 13  April 27  May 11

Making Hooks and Wall Hangers

Kim Stahl
This is a one-day workshop where participants will have the opportunity to make various hooks and wall hangers using the blacksmithing facility.
Learn More:
March 30  April 20  May 4  May 10  May 18

Clay

Ceramic Restoration

Dan Barnett
Learn some ceramic repair techniques that can restore a piece.
Learn More»

Sustainable Woodfire

Dan Barnett
Experience atmospheric wood-fire with Dan Barnett at his Watermark Studios in Worden, IL.
Learn More»

Learn to Luster

Mary Rhein
This workshop teaches you the basics and safety of how to add metallic accents to your ceramics.
Learn More:
April 23  May 21

Soda Glazing in the Kiln

Dan Barnett
Experience atmospheric firing and see the clay surface interact with soda ash!
Learn More»

Surface Design & Color Theory

Bev Aroh
In a decorative rut? Add fresh, new techniques to your design tool box!
Learn More»

Slab Built Dinnerware

Bev Aroh
Learn to use soft slab, hard slab, and templates to create functional dinnerware!
Learn More»

Making a Votive Holder

Michele Reichlin
Learn to hand-build a holder of your own design for votive or taper candles
Feb. 13  March 28

Making a Garlic Keeper

Michele Reichlin
Store your garlic in style! Hand-build your own garlic keeper using soft and firm ceramic slab construction.
Learn More:
April 3  May 16

Making a Butter Bell

Dan Barnett
Tired of scrapping a half frozen stick of butter just to tear holes in your morning toast? Try the Butter Bell!
Learn More»

Handbuilding 1

Pam Stanley
Learn basic hand-building techniques such as coil, slab, and pinching methods to explore tableware forms and sculptural ideas.
Learn More:
6-Week Class  5-Week Class

Handbuilding 2

Michele Reichlin
Develop your hand-building skills while working on projects of your own choosing.
Learn More»

Wheel 1

Multiple Teachers
Learn how to throw pots on a wheel. This wheel-throwing course focuses on skill development and form.
Learn More:
6-Week Class  5-Week Class

Wheel 2

Mary Henderson | Tom Wiggins
If you have experience on the wheel, this class focuses on refining your technique and developing a personal aesthetic.
Learn More»

Wheel 2: Jars

Pam Stanley
In this class you will learn how to throw various types of jars and lids.
Learn More»

Wheel 2: Mugs

Pam Stanley
Take mug making to the next level by learning to refine your current mugs.

Closed

Wheel 2: Bowls

Pam Stanley
Explore different shapes and sizes of bowls, including individual bowls, decorative bowls, serving bowls, and pedestal bowls.
Learn More»

Wheel 2: Sculptural Form and Function

Tom Wiggins
This will be an examination of the relationships between elements of functional ware, and how those parts contribute to the whole.
Learn More»

Wheel 2: Shape Shifting

Bev Aroh
Learn how to use the potter's wheel as a tool to create forms that can be combined with hand-building techniques.
Learn More»

Plaster Molds for the Ceramic Process

Mary Rhein
This specialized workshop focuses on the uses and practicalities of molds and plaster in the ceramic process.
Learn More»

Member Studio: Clay

*Must be a Craft Alliance Member to register.*
This extra studio time is available by appointment only to Craft Alliance members.
Learn More»

Metals

Alternative Materials

Sarah Walters
Explore creating wearable works through the use of nontraditional jewelry materials.
Learn More»

Alternative Stone Settings

Meri Ellen Brooks Taylor
Explore a variety of methods and constructions which can be used to securely set either traditionally shaped or unusually shaped stones and artifacts.
Learn More»

Broom Straw Casting

Peg Fetter
You never know what you will get with this exciting ancient form of casting!
Learn More»

Casting 1

Robert Thomas Mullen
Learn how to create models to cast into metal with the centrifugal casting machine.
Learn More:
6-Week Class 

Casting 2

Kelly Draper
This class is for intermediate to advanced students who wish to expand and refine their knowledge of centrifugal casting techniques.
Learn More»

Craft After Hours: Making a Cocktail Spoon

Lauren Nall
Introduction to cold forging, a process by which metal is shaped through a series of direct hammer blows forcing the metal to take a desired form.
Learn More»

Craft After Hours: Making a Cuff Bracelet

Lauren Nall
Explore adding texture to a copper surface using stamps and hammered patterns followed by shaping the metal into customized cuff bracelets.
Learn More»

Craft After Hours: Making a Ring Dish

Lauren Nall
An introduction to forming a shallow dish with a decorated edge by hand while enjoying complimentary refreshments.

Closed

Enamel Imagery

Kelly Draper
Bring imagery and color to your metalwork! Learn to apply vitreous enamel to copper and fire it in a kiln
Learn More»

Fire It Up!

Lauren Nall
An introduction to controlled heating techniques with a torch.
Learn More»

Fold Forming

Peg Fetter
Talk about instant gratification! Make beautiful leaves and pods that are perfect as pendants or as additions to your designs.
Learn More»

Hammer Time!

Lauren Nall
This class will be an introduction to the fundamentals of the raising process.
Learn More»

Introduction to Damascene

Paulette Myers
Learn the exciting Korean process of Damascene also known as Poamock Ssanggum and Jjoeum Ipsa.

Coming this Fall

Making a Loop-in-Loop Chain

Lauren Nall
An introduction to Etruscan style chain making with .999 fine silver wire.
Learn More»

Making Findings

Sarah Walters
Students will learn to create a variety of findings including bails, jumps rings, as well as use torches to solder.
Learn More»

Making Plant Markers

Sarah Walters
Customize your garden beds or plant pots making your own set of copper plant markers.
Learn More»

Metalsmithing 1

Multiple Teachers
This class is designed for students with little or no prior metalworking experience.
Learn More:
6-Week Class  5-Week Class

Metalsmithing 2

Meri Ellen Brooks Taylor | Peg Fetter
This class is designed for the beginning metalsmith who has completed at least one class and will commit to additional practice in the basic skills necessary to the craft before continuing on to more advanced classes.
Learn More»

Metalsmithing 3

Cindy Howenstien
In this class, students will continue refining and practicing their skills, while also learning new techniques that can expand design possibilities.
Learn More»

Metalsmithing 4

Mike Gleason | Tom McCarthy
In this advanced class, students will receive individualized attention as they work on self-directed projects of their own choosing, whether jewelry or small objects.
Learn More:
6-Week Class  5-Week Class  3-Week Class 

Recycling Silver Scrap

Sarah Burack
Do you have old scraps of silver or single earrings with a lost partner sitting around? Turn it into earrings or a bangle in this workshop!
Learn More:
March 31

Reticulation, Perforation & Keumboo

Paulette Myers
This advanced workshop will focus on how to achieve “delicate” to “greater dimensional” reticulation patterning of silver reticulation.
Learn More»

Solder Inlay

Peg Fetter
Add some unexpected zing to your designs with a twist! This technique takes mixed metals to a whole new level and will push your boundaries with your designs.
Learn More»

Stone Setting

Kate Snyder
This in-depth class includes stone setting tips and techniques that every stone setter should know.
Learn More»

Swivel Locket

Kelly Draper
Create a locket for a cherished photo or keepsake using the hydraulic press.

Closed

Member Studio: Metals

*Must be a Craft Alliance Member to register.*
This extra studio time is available by appointment only to Craft Alliance members.
Learn More»

Wood

Beginning Woodworking

Christian Xandersmith
Learn the fundamentals, safety, and techniques used in the Wood Studio by making projects.
Learn More»

Introduction to Woodworking

Tom Wiggins
This is an introduction to the tools, machines, and foundational methods of woodworking.
Learn More:
6-Week Class  5-Week Class

Intermediate Woodworking

Christian Xandersmith
Continue to grow your wood working knowledge through the completion of a dovetail stool.
Learn More»

Introduction to Woodturning

Jeff Hornung
This course is an introduction to woodturning on student lathes.
Learn More»

Wooden Boxes

Tom Wiggins
An introduction to the design and manufacturing techniques necessary to making small boxes.
Learn More»

Making Cutting Boards

Jeff Hornung
Learn how to create a series of beautiful cutting boards by laminating, cutting and manipulating different hardwoods.
Learn More»

Introduction to Bowl Turning

Jeff Hornung
Take your wood turning skills even further! Explore design, wood selection and how to maintain consistent wall thickness, as well as natural edge and footed bowls.
Learn More»

Member Studio: Wood

*Must be a Craft Alliance Member to register.*
This extra studio time is available by appointment only to Craft Alliance members.
Learn More»

Fibers

4 Scarves in 4 Weeks

Cathy McBride
Learn indigo dyeing methods by creating four beautiful scarves.
Learn More»

Arashi Shibori Dyeing

Cathy McBride
Arashi "storm" is the name the Japanese have given patterns that are created by wrapping cloth around a pole, compressing it into folds and dying it.

Closed

Craft After Hours: Marbled Silk Scarves

Zoë Finkelstein
In this Craft After Hours, add some color to your day to day with a marbled scarf.
Learn More:
Feb. 3 May 12

Devore Fabrics: Fiber Etching Techniques

Grant Benoit
Explore the surface design technique of devoré. Using an etchant on a mixed fiber fabric the chemical burns away the natural fibers creating translucent designs and patterns.
Learn More»

Dyeing Silk with Nature-Based Materials

Erin Luna
Learn how to make color with completely natural materials.
Learn More:
Feb. 10  March 31

Felt and Stitch

Cathy McBride
Create a unique felt painting with a canvas of fleece and colorful threads.
Learn More»

Floor Loom Weaving

Denise Mandel
Discover the magic of weaving on a four-harness floor loom for 6 weeks!
Learn More»

Go Big and Beautiful

Cathy McBride
This wearable workshop will demonstrate different Shibori stitching techniques to pattern a silk scarf.

Closed

Introduction to Embroidery

Carlene Fullerton
Review basic stitches and then advance weekly with new stitches.
Learn More»

Introduction to Garment Sewing

Allison Thien
In this course students will learn the basics of garment sewing by working through a basic garment sewing pattern together.
Learn More»

Introduction to Hand Sewing

Zoë Finkelstein
Learn a number of basic sewing stitches, and make your own hand-sewn creations!
Learn More»

Introduction to Knitting

Allison Thien
Knitting is a craft built on just a few simple stitches and once you understand them the options are endless.
Learn More»

Making a Quilters Tote

Laura Klaus
For this basket, the handles are woven as part of the basket making them nearly impossible to pull out!

Closed

Making a Traveling Carryall

Laura Klaus
Perfect for carrying all your odds and ends. This basket features leather handles attached after the basket is completed

Closed

Making Period Costume Accessories

Michele Siler
Accessories make the outfit especially when costuming plays and creating reenactment garb.
Learn More:
Feb. 28  April 2

Marbled Egg Family Workshop

Grant Benoit
In this family friendly workshop, learn fun marbling techniques on paper and papier mache eggs.
Learn More:
March 5  April 9

Marbling Fabric

Zoë Finkelstein
Make your own fabric creation from start to finish!
Learn More»

Natural Dyeing

Erin Luna
Learn how to dye textiles with plant based dyes.
Learn More»

Quilting: Make It Modern

Melissa Eagan
Learn how to transform traditional quilt blocks into modern variations, using themes such as improv, scale, and negative space.
Learn More»

Rust, Tea and Stitch

Cathy McBride
It's a new world of dying, using rust and Tea.
Learn More»

Sashiko Stitching and Boro

Cathy McBride
Sashiko and Boro Stitching both originated out of necessity by the poor people in Northern Japan.

Closed

Sculptural Shibori

Cathy McBride
A fun class for a piece to wear or display as a sculpture.
Learn More»

Sewing Unusual Materials

Michele Siler
Take your costuming up a level with the use of a variety of materials that can add texture, structure and stretch to your creations.
Learn More:
March 19  April 11

Making a Blanket Basket

Laura Klaus
Learn to make a tote to carry everything you need for a picnic or outing.
Learn More»

Darning and Mending

Learn to repair your ripped jeans and hole-y shirts with Alexis Giger of Little Cliff, a St. Louis-based mending and clothing repair studio.

Closed

Advanced Sweater Mending

Learn how to mend your favorite sweaters with Alexis Giger of Little Cliff, a St. Louis-based mending and clothing repair studio.
Learn More»

Member Studio: Fibers

*Must be a Craft Alliance Member to register.*
This extra studio time is available by appointment only to Craft Alliance members.
Learn More»

Print & Paper Arts

3D Papermaking

Suzanne Oberholtzer
Take your handmade paper beyond the flat sheet.
Learn More»

Beginning Papermaking

Suzanne Oberholtzer
Learn basic techniques for making handmade paper sheets with natural plant fiber pulp (abaca).
Learn More»

Bookmaking with Print Media

Brian Lathan
Learn how to use bookbinding tools and materials to make multiple book structures.
Learn More»

Collographs

Erin Johnston
The collograph is a process that involves both relief and intaglio style printing.
Learn More»

Coptic Journals

Grant Benoit
Participants will be able to learn bookbinding basics to create their own hardcover coptic book covered in decorative papers.
Learn More»

Craft After Hours: Decorative Paper and Books

Zoë Finkelstein
In this two part class learn how to make decorative papers to create your own handbound journal.
Learn More»

Craft After Hours: Marbled Festive Decorations

Zoë Finkelstein
Make festive décor for a celebration or decorations for everyday life in this Craft After Hours.
Learn More»

Craft After Hours: Secret Love Letters: Watermarks and Handmade Stationary

Grant Benoit
In this Craft After Hours, learn paper making basics and watermark techniques to send a secret message to a Valentine crush or your frenemy while enjoying refreshments.

Closed

Drawing 1

Stephen Da Lay
The focus of this class is to develop visual accuracy, basic drawing skills, and to become acquainted with the use of a variety of drawing tools and surfaces.
Learn More:
6-Week Class

Drawing 2

Stephen Da Lay
After exploring Drawing 1 with us, discover your personal style by taking a further dive into perspective, form, lighting, value, and composition.
Learn More»

Drawing for Printmaking

Erin Johnston
Combining Drawing and Printmaking, this course presents the drawing fundamentals necessary to produce quality prints.
Learn More:
6-Week Class

Intro to Linocut Printmaking: More than Black and White

Cullen Curtis
This is an intermediate class intended to show beginning printmakers deeper levels to the medium.
Learn More»

Introduction to Acrylic Painting

Cathy McBride
In this class, students will explore the basic fundamentals of acrylic paint and color mixing.
Learn More»

Introduction to Bookbinding

Abby Bennett
In this class, you will be introduced to basic bookbinding tools and materials.
Learn More»

Introduction to Etching

Kristen McMillion
In this class you will learn the basics of the intaglio etching process.
Learn More»

Introduction to Printmaking

Grant Benoit
Introduction to Printmaking is a sampler class that orients beginning level printmakers in printmaking techniques and the printmaking studio.
Learn More»

Introduction to Relief Printmaking

Libby Scobee
In this class, we will cover carving and printing with both wood and linoleum, by hand and with the press.
Learn More»

Introduction to Screenprinting

Brian Lathan
Explore silkscreen through drawing fluid and stencils. The class will introduce monoprint, drawn resist, contact stencils, paper stencils, sun exposure and complimentary techniques.
Learn More»

Mokulito Printmaking

Stephen Da Lay
The Mokulito class objective is to help participants to learn printmaking skills to produce artwork.
Learn More»

Multiple Block Relief Printmaking

Libby Scobee
In this class, we will dig in to creating prints with multiple layers and colors through relief.
Learn More»

Multiple Color Printmaking

Grant Benoit
This course is an introduction to multiple color printmaking and will introduce the tools, equipment, and materials to bring your ideas into color.
Learn More»

Painterly Prints

Grant Benoit
Explore monoprint and monotype techniques, stencils, paper plate lithography, and ideas for surface embellishment once your prints are dry.
Learn More»

Paper + Print

Grant Benoit
Torn between exploring printmaking or papermaking? In this dual course, students will split their time learning papermaking and printmaking techniques and how to connect these art forms.
Learn More»

Papermaking: Exploring Embossing

Suzanne Oberholtzer
Embossing is a technique for altering the surface of a sheet of paper by adding sculptural and dimensional qualities. The process works because paper--especially in the early, wet pulp stage--is malleable; it will embrace and retain an image of whatever object is pressed against it. Students will learn the basics of papermaking techniques and use textured fabrics, thread or string, wood blocks, linocuts or collagraphs, foam core cutouts, leaves and other elements of nature, found objects, etc. to create embossed paper.
Learn More»

Processing Natural Fibers for Papermaking

James Ojascastro
Learn the steps and techniques needed for processing native plants for handmade paper.

Closed

Western Sheet Forming and Origami

James Ojascastro
Go through the basics of western style sheet forming and then learn origami techniques to create paper folded sculptures.

Closed

Glass

Borosilicate Marbles

Fred Linders
Take your marble making to the next level with borosilicate glass.
Learn More»

Fun With Frit

Kevin Heard
Learn how to make glass beads and embellish them with crushed colorful glass (frits) for a wide variety of effects and decorations!
Learn More:
Feb. 7 April 25

Fused Glass Foundations

Yuko Suga
Make a variety of your own glass projects that will teach you the basics of glass work in the kiln.
Learn More»

Glass Beadmaking

Kevin Heard
This is an introduction to lampworking course, learn how to manipulate glass by using heat from a small torch!
Learn More»

Hearts Galore!

Mary Lou Ryan
This valentine's day, wear a beautiful glass heart you made yourself!
Learn More»

Hollow Beads

Kevin Heard
Take your lampworking skill to the next level, and learn to make lightweight, hollow glass beads in the flame.

Closed

Introduction to Glass Beadmaking

Kevin Heard & Mary Lou Ryan
In four intense, fun-filled hours, learn to wind hot molten glass on steel to form colorful glass beads!
Learn More:
Jan. 21 Feb. 18 May 13

Making Glass Coasters

Yuko Suga
Come and create a set of fused glass coasters in the new Glass Studio!
Learn More:
Jan. 15 March 5

Spring Flowers!

Mary Lou Ryan
This glass workshop helps you create a spring bouquet in glass
Learn More»

Stained Glass Hearts

Yuko Suga
Learn the basics of glass cutting and using the copper foil method of assembling stained glass into a beautiful heart.

Closed

Member Studio: Glass

*Must be a Craft Alliance Member to register.*
This extra studio time is available by appointment only to Craft Alliance members.
Learn More»

Teen Studios

Teen Lab: Marbled Paper and Books

Zoë Finkelstein
In this two part class learn how to make decorative papers to create your own handbound journal.
Learn More»

Teen Lab: Relief Printmaking

Zoë Finkelstein
learn the fundamentals of relief printmaking with linoleum blocks--from design, carving, and printing.
Learn More»