Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.9, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts a wellspring of creativity in arts and crafts ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://shakeragalley.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Blog](https://shakeragalley.org/blog/) - Shake Rag Alley Newsletters & postscripts Add Your Heading Text Here Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. ## Pages - [Home](https://shakeragalley.org/) - Join us for Fiber Faire Saturday September 26—with demos, a maker's market & more! Arts & Crafts Workshops with Onsite Lodging on a Historic Campus offering Site Rental & Custom Retreats WORK WITH US STAY WITH US CONNECT WITH US We'd love to hear from you! Check out our contact info and sign up to receive our catalog and e-newsletter or call (608) 987-3292. - [About Us](https://shakeragalley.org/home/about-us/) - Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts a wellspring of creativity in arts & crafts Our Mission The mission of Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts is to provide educational experiences in visual, performing, and literary arts for adults and children; cultivate the creativity that thrives in our rural community; and rehabilitate and preserve - [Alley Stage](https://shakeragalley.org/alley-stage/) - Alley Stage Reading Series Announcing the 2026 Alley Stage Reading Series Under the artistic direction of playwright Marcia Jablonski, the Alley Stage Reading Series continues to provide a space for Midwestern playwrights to develop their work, receive valuable feedback, and collaborate with regional actors. Going into its sixth year, this series remains an integral part - [News](https://shakeragalley.org/news/) - shake rag alley news Newsletter Archive 2026 September NewsAugust NewsAugust Workshop NewsJuly NewsJuly Workshop NewsJune NewsJune Workshop NewsMay Workshop NewsMay NewsApril NewsApril Workshop NewsMarch NewsMarch Workshop NewsFebruary NewsFebruary Workshop NewsJanuary NewsJanuary Workshop News 2025 December NewsDecember Workshop NewsNovember NewsNovember Workshop NewsOctober NewsOctober Workshop NewsSeptember NewsSeptember Workshop NewsAugust NewsAugust Workshop NewsJuly NewsJuly Workshops NewsJune NewsJune Workshop - [Fiber Faire](https://shakeragalley.org/fiber-faire/) - FIBER FAIRE September 26, 2026 10am - 4pm Here’s a taste of what’s in store at the 2026 Fiber Faire: Fiber Arts Demos: With craftspeople, artists, and farmers all over campus, you’ll learn from artisans who make by hand, and may walk away inspired by something new yourself. We’ll have spinners, weavers, dyers, embroidery & - [Community Events](https://shakeragalley.org/ghostly-gathering/) - ComMunity & Family-Friendly Events JUNE 6: FAIRY FUN! 10am-4pm $5 Admission (Free Ages 12 & Under) Don your wings and stroll the magical grounds at Shake Rag Alley for all sorts of Fairy Fun! We’ll have free fun, including:a Scavenger Hunt all over campusFace PaintingGames on the GreenPlus workshops full of magic, including:Make-A-Fairy-House $20Make-Your-Fairy-Wings $5Cookie - [Woodlanders](https://shakeragalley.org/retreat-index/woodlanders/) - Woodlanders Gathering . How the Woodlanders Gathering Works Choose your days, then fill them with as many workshops as you can fit into your schedule (be sure your choices don’t overlap times). Register online or call our office. Registration deadline July 13 (with late registrations as space allows)FeesDay Fee (Thursday-Saturday): $125 includes your choice of - [Local Directory](https://shakeragalley.org/shake-rag-alley-lodging/local-dining-directory/) - Local directory Dining All locations Mineral Point unless otherwise noted. Arcadia Books102 E. Jefferson St., Spring Green 608-588-7638 Arcadia Books American Wine Project802 Ridge St. 608-987-0505American Wine Project Café 4343 High St.608-987-6556Cafe 43 MP Cruise Inn Bar & Grill221 Commerce St. 608-987-3010Cruise Inn Bar & Grill Midway Bar & Grill140 High St.608-987-4309MIdway Bar & Grill - [Art Adventure](https://shakeragalley.org/retreat-index/art-adventure/) - Art Adventure A Mixed Media Art Retreat August 20 - 23, 2026 Treat yourself to four days of fun & exploration with assemblage, fiber, encaustic, collage, gel plates, found objects, painting & paper! From half-day to multi-day workshops, make a weekend where you can meditatively stitch, and work with boxes that can’t possibly contain all - [Writing Retreat](https://shakeragalley.org/retreat-index/writing-retreat/) - MINING your stories Join us for the tenth annual Writing Retreat at Shake Rag Alley, open to writers of all levels. We’re excited to welcome a stellar faculty including Lydi Conklin (fiction), Tamara Dean (creative nonfiction), and Dasha Kelly (poetry). In addition to your core workshops, you can explore the unexpected with Han Raschka, and the - [Jewelry Boot Camp](https://shakeragalley.org/retreat-index/jewelry-boot-camp/) - Jewelry Boot Camp An Exceptional Jewelry Making Experience Jewelry Boot Camp is the perfect way to kick off a summer of creativity! Explore 13 different workshops with 8 different jewelry artists.Treat yourself with a handmade gift you create. Shop the Friday night JBC Showcase—special creations by our instructors, students, and volunteers. It’s a sparkling celebration - [Youth Program](https://shakeragalley.org/youth-program/) - Youth Program Creative fun for artists of all ages has been a focus of Shake Rag Alley programming since its founding in 2004. We continue to provide creative & educational programming with our summer Youth Program June-August with workshops for ages K-2, Grades 3-6, and Tweens & Teens, as well as Craft Camp in late - [Partners](https://shakeragalley.org/partners/) - Partners & Supporters We thank our partners for supporting our mission to offer educational experiences in the arts, cultivate the creativity in our rural community, and care for our historic buildings and rustic campus as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Each year Shake Rag Alley brings thousands of people to Mineral Point and surrounding areas for our - [Become an Instructor](https://shakeragalley.org/become-an-instructor/) - Become a Shake Rag Alley Instructor Timetable We publish a new curriculum in January of each year. Instructors are expected to have all workshop information, including photos and supply lists, finalized by mid-October. Instructor Prospectus At Shake Rag Alley, we strive to create community while students learn, have fun, and engage their creativity. The networking - [Scherbarth Residency](https://shakeragalley.org/scherbarth-residency/) - Scherbarth Residency Program The Scherbarth Residency Program provides lodging and studio space to artists and makers in the visual, performing, and literary arts to participate in the creative community at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, and the rural community of Mineral Point, Wisconsin. While living on our unique campus of historic and reproduction - [Makers & Shakers](https://shakeragalley.org/makers-shakers/) - Makers & Shakers Art Party Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up.Each month a new project is planned and announced. Volunteers including - [Writers Reading Series](https://shakeragalley.org/writers-reading-series/) - Winter Writers Reading Series Since 2011 Shake Rag Alley has provided residencies to award-winning Wisconsin writers, offering time and space to create. In 2026, we’re partnering with Wisconsin People & Ideas, the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission through the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, Arts + Literature Laboratory, and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. Writers - [Planning Your Workshop Experience](https://shakeragalley.org/workshops/) - Planning Your Workshop Experience We’re delighted you’re planning to join us!After purchasing a workshop, you will receive a confirmation email that may contain a list of materials to bring, clothing recommendations, and safety information. Unless otherwise stated, workshops do not include meals. Half the fun of creative pursuits is meeting and spending time with fellow - [Request Catalog](https://shakeragalley.org/request-catalog/) - Request Catalog Photo Credit: Abbot’s Lane Photography Sometimes it’s nice to feel pages between your fingers, pages that turn predictably without a single click. We’d be happy to mail you our annual catalog. Not only will you find every workshop indexed by category and date, but Retreats and Special Events scheduled before we go to - [Support Us](https://shakeragalley.org/support/) - Ways to Support Shake Rag Alley As a nonprofit organization, we rely on volunteers, donors, and supporters like you to make the magic happen. Volunteers contribute over 1,000 hours annually helping host community events and fundraisers, cultivate the gardens of our 2.5 acre campus, and care for our historic buildings. Donations are an essential part - [Site Rental](https://shakeragalley.org/site-rental/) - Site Rental Sharing the Magic of Shake Rag Alley We delight in safely sharing our historic buildings and grounds — all of which are available to rent for your private event. Our charming site is versatile enough to accommodate your meetings and celebrations, from receptions to business meetings, family reunions, and graduations. Your rental supports - [Annual Retreats](https://shakeragalley.org/annual-retreats/) - Annual Retreats Jewelry Boot Camp MAY 1 - 3 Gateway to Jewelry Arts Explore jewelry making methods! A three-day weekend of introductory level jewelry classes offering a range of techniques and styles from funky to fine. Use this weekend to explore different approaches, improve on or learn new skills, network with other jewelers, and eave - [Retreat Index](https://shakeragalley.org/retreat-index/) - Annual Retreats Jewelry Boot Camp May 1-3 Mining the Story May 15-17 Woodlanders Gathering July 16-18 Art Adventure August 20-23 Rug Hooking September 25-27 - [Workshop Month Index](https://shakeragalley.org/workshop-month-index/) - Explore Workshops by Month Annual Retreats Jewelry Boot Camp May 1-3 Mining the Story May 15-17 Woodlanders Gathering July 16-18 Art Adventure August 20-23 Rug Hooking September 25-27 - [Workshop Subject Index](https://shakeragalley.org/workshop-subject-index/) - Explore Workshops by Subject Annual Retreats Jewelry Boot Camp May 1-3 Writing Retreat May 15-17 Woodlanders Gathering July 16-18 Art Adventure August 20-23 Rug Hooking September 25-27 - [Shop](https://shakeragalley.org/shop/) - Shake rag alley Shop Support Shake Rag Alley and our mission (and look stylish at the same time!) with our swag—what a great way to share about your favorite place to be!Check out t-shirts, sweatshirts, and totes perfect for carrying your supplies. And after a magical day of creating, you’ll want to hydrate and relax - [Ellery House](https://shakeragalley.org/home/history/eh/) - Ellery House This building is named for the Ellery family of cabinet makers, who owned it from about 1859 to 1970. Originally constructed as a typical Cornish one-room cut-stone cottage in the 1840s (the walls of which are still visible on the inside), various wood frame additions in a vernacular Queen Anne style were added - [Coach House](https://shakeragalley.org/home/history/ch/) - Shake Rag Alley & the Coach House Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts is a nationally known non-profit school of arts and crafts that was founded in 2004. We offer workshops in the visual, performing, and literary arts for adults and children, and we strive to cultivate creativity in the community. Part of our - [Gift Card Balance](https://shakeragalley.org/balance/) - [Shake Rag Alley Lodging](https://shakeragalley.org/shake-rag-alley-lodging/) - Shake Rag Alley Lodging Check Availability WORKSHOP DISCOUNT Participants registered in workshops receive a 10% discount on Shake Rag Alley regular guest room lodging rates. (Sorry, this does not apply to lecture-only registrations.)To receive workshop lodging rates:Enter WORKSHOP in the promotional code field and select the workshop discount rate for your room selection. At checkout - [Potters House](https://shakeragalley.org/home/history/ph/) - Potter's House This brick Federal Style cottage was built in 1850 and was the residence of the Klais family, who operated the pottery behind the house. The house was a residence until the late 1960s. In the 1970s the gable end and front were partially rebuilt. The house is used for classes in the summer - [Alley Stage](https://shakeragalley.org/home/history/as/) - Alley Stage Situated up the hill from the Ellery House on the site of a former rock quarry, the Alley Stage was built in 2007 and has hosted concerts, plays, poetry readings and is home to the Alley Stage Reading Series. The outdoor theatre seats 125. Visit the Shake Rag Alley Website - [French Cabin](https://shakeragalley.org/home/history/fc/) - French Cabin This charming cabin was moved here from Maine by the previous property owners. It was built in Canada using the piece-en-piece timber and log construction technique common in Europe for hundreds of years before being brought to Canada by French explorers in the 1700s. The piece-en-piece construction technique uses short pieces of log - [Cabinet Shop](https://shakeragalley.org/home/history/cs/) - Cabinet Shop The Cabinet Shop was built in 1972 by previous owner Al Felly and designed by historic preservationist Alan Pape. The design was inspired by a historic structure previously on site that sat close to Shake Rag Street. The Cabinet Shop serves as a rustic workshop, studio, and classroom space. Visit the Shake Rag - [Log Cabin](https://shakeragalley.org/home/history/lc/) - Log Cabin The log cabin dates from 1830 and is one of Mineral’s Point’s oldest structures. The date of construction was confirmed by testing core samples from the logs. Historic records and the building’s configuration suggest that the cabin may have been built as a schoolhouse, and could have been the first built in Wisconsin. - [Spring](https://shakeragalley.org/home/history/s/) - Federal Spring Shake Rag Alley is nestled in a small valley in Mineral Point, Wisconsin on traditional lands of the Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), Sauk and Meskwaki, Ho-Chunk (Winnebago), Myaamia, and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ nations.The picturesque 2.5 acre campus is surrounded by limestone cliffs and enjoys a naturally occurring spring, which provided a source of clean drinking water - [Art Café](https://shakeragalley.org/home/history/ac/) - Art Café Built in 1972 by Robert Camardo (Al Felly’s nephew) as an antique furniture restoration shop, the Carriage Barn was connected to the Coach House through the original stone root cellar, which is still in use today as a tunnel between the buildings. In later years, it was expanded and converted into a cafe, - [Blacksmith Barn](https://shakeragalley.org/home/history/bb/) - Blacksmith Barn The existing barn was built in 1973 as a reconstruction of the original 1850s Bernard Klais Pottery. Klais emigrated from Cologne, Germany, and produced utilitarian items, such as plant pots, dishes, and roof tiles. Klais roofed his barn with his own roof tiles, which caused the roof to collapse from the weight! The - [Registration Policies](https://shakeragalley.org/registration-policies/) - Terms & Conditions STUDENT CANCELLATIONS:Cancellations made 30 days or more before the start date of the workshop are eligible for a 75% refund OR a gift certificate in the full amount. The gift certificate can be applied to workshops or lodging one year from the date of cancellation and is transferable.Cancellations made 29 days or - [History](https://shakeragalley.org/home/history/) - History Article Heading Text Block Campus Map: Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts Coach House18 Shake Rag Street 1 of 33« PreviousNext » Art Café 2 of 33« PreviousNext » Ellery House 3 of 33« PreviousNext » restrooms 4 of 33« PreviousNext » restrooms 5 of 33« PreviousNext » restrooms 6 of 33« PreviousNext - [Contact Us](https://shakeragalley.org/home/contact-us/) - contact us Pull up a chair, here beside our cozy virtual fire, and tell us what’s on your mind. Visit us Our office is open 9 am-5 pm Monday-Friday and 8 am-4 pm weekends when workshops are in session April-October. Beginning in November through March, our office is open 9 am-2 pm Monday-Friday.Our grounds are - [Let's Keep in Touch!](https://shakeragalley.org/lets-keep-in-touch/) - Monthly Newsletters You know how it is – new ideas pop up all the time among creatives. To keep you in the dizzying loop, we’ll email you our Monthly Newsletter and Workshop News! You will hear from us only at the beginning of each month and once mid-month. An unsubscribe link will appear at the - [Instructor Directory](https://shakeragalley.org/instructor-directory/) - Instructor Directory Our instructors are drawn from a wealth of talented teachers, including nationally known artists from across the country and across the street. They are innovative craftsmen and artists who enjoy trying new techniques and love sharing what they do with their students. If you are an experienced art, craft, writing, or performing arts - [Program Manager](https://shakeragalley.org/program-manager/) - Program Manager Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts invites applications for a full-time year-round Program Manager to join the team that makes the magic happen. To apply for this position, which will remain open until filled, please complete our online employment application here. A nonprofit school of arts and crafts founded in 2004 by local - [Seasonal Gardens & Ground Intern](https://shakeragalley.org/gardens-grounds-intern/) - Seasonal Gardens & Grounds Intern Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts invites applications for a Gardens & Grounds Intern in residence. To apply for this position, please complete our online employment application here. A nonprofit school of arts and crafts founded in 2004 by local artists and community members, Shake Rag Alley’s 2.5-acre campus in - [Seasonal Youth Program Manager](https://shakeragalley.org/yp-manager/) - Seasonal Youth Program Manager Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts invites applications for a seasonal Youth Program Manager. To apply for this position, which will remain open until filled, please complete our online employment application here. A nonprofit school of arts and crafts founded in 2004 by local artists and community members, Shake Rag Alley’s - [Hospitality Manager](https://shakeragalley.org/hospitality-manager/) - Hospitality Manager Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts invites applications for a Hospitality Manager. To apply for this position, which will remain open until filled, please complete our online employment application here. A nonprofit school of arts and crafts founded in 2004 by local artists and community members, Shake Rag Alley’s 2.5-acre campus in the - [Seasonal Housekeeper](https://shakeragalley.org/seasonal-housekeeper/) - Seasonal Housekeeper Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts invites applications for a seasonal Housekeeper. To apply for this position, which will remain open until filled, please complete our online employment application here. Applications received by Feb. 17 will receive priority consideration.A nonprofit school of arts and crafts founded in 2004 by local artists and - [Gallery](https://shakeragalley.org/gallery/) - Workshop & event gallery 2022 February Weaving with Four Harnesses Weaving with Four Harnesses Weaving with Four Harnesses Garden & Landscape Expo Garden & Landscape Expo Garden & Landscape Expo Garden & Landscape Expo - [Custom Retreats](https://shakeragalley.org/custom-retreats/) - Custom Retreats Gather Family, Friends, or Colleagues for an Art Retreat at Shake Rag Alley! It’s a terrific idea. Just plan a trip for five or more to historic Mineral Point, reserve accommodations at Shake Rag Alley’s charming guest lodging, and consult with our office staff about the possibilities for a variety of art/craft workshops - [Campus Map](https://shakeragalley.org/home/campus-map/) - Campus Map: Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts Coach House18 Shake Rag Street 1 of 33« PreviousNext » Art Café 2 of 33« PreviousNext » Ellery House 3 of 33« PreviousNext » restrooms 4 of 33« PreviousNext » restrooms 5 of 33« PreviousNext » restrooms 6 of 33« PreviousNext » Open Air Parking 7 - [Wish List](https://shakeragalley.org/wish-list/) - shake rag alley center for the arts Wish List Please consider a donation in support of capital purchases that will support Shake Rag Alley programming. Any dollar amount counts! Amount Needed: $1249 0% - [Youth Program Gallery](https://shakeragalley.org/youth-gallery/) - Youth Program Gallery Youth Program – Summer 2022Laura Ingalls Wilder Day& Be in a Play Youth Program – Summer 2022 Rainbow Collage Shullsburg Field Trip – with Elizabeth Johanna Shullsburg Field Trip – with Elizabeth Johanna Shullsburg Field Trip – with Elizabeth Johanna Gelatin Plate Printing – with Elizabeth Johanna – July 31 Gelatin Plate - [Youth Program Kits](https://shakeragalley.org/youth-kits/) - Youth Program Marketplace These kits are being offered to those who wish to work independently, without instructor support. Instructions and video demonstrations, where applicable, are available on our Youth Program Instructions page. If you have any questions, please call (608) 987-3292. Make-at-home kits Pick Up at Shake Rag Alley Office or Add Shipping Charges at - [NEA Big Read](https://shakeragalley.org/nea-big-read/) - Antiracism Book Club 3rd Thursday of the Month — January to December 2022 via Zoom — 6:30-8 pm To continue the crucial conversations that began during 2020’s NEA Big Read of Claudia Rankine’s award-winning “Citizen: An American Lyric,” Shake Rag Alley is hosting another year of monthly book discussions via Zoom. Meetings start at 6:30 - [Upcoming Events](https://shakeragalley.org/upcoming-events/) - Upcoming Events Category Alley Stage Performance Annual Event Blacksmithing-Welding Creative Writing Culinary Arts Fiber Arts Glass Home and Garden Jewelry Makers & Shakers Art Party Mixed Media Painting and 2D Art Pottery Printmaking Rustic Winter Writers Reading Series Woodlanders Gathering Youth Program AugustSeptember 2026October SUMOTUWETHFRSA 303112345Events for August 30 9:00 am - 4:00 pmArt WeldingEvents - [Privacy Policy](https://shakeragalley.org/privacy-policy/) - Who We Are Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts – 18 Shake Rag Street – Mineral, Point, WI 53565 Our website address is: www.shakeragalley.org What Personal Data We Collect and Why We Collect It Contact Forms If you visit our login page, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. - [Virtual Community Conversations](https://shakeragalley.org/virtual-community-conversations/) - Virtual community conversations In preparation for our NEA Big Read of Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine, Shake Rag Alley hosted a series of virtual community conversations relevant to ideas explored within the book. These 1.5 hour Zoom meetings explored issues raised in Claudia Rankine’s work, to be addressed during a deep dive into - [All Workshops](https://shakeragalley.org/all-workshops/) - 2020 Workshops This page is not public. It serves as a convenient way for staff to view all workshops in the 2020 catalog. SOLD OUTNovember 20-22, 2026Kate ChurchRegister by:Nov 13 October 3-4, 2026Linda PietzRegister by:Sept 26 November 14 & 21, 2026Tamara DeanRegister by:Nov 12 October 30, 2026Shake Rag Alley StaffRegister by:Oct 29 July 18, 2026Scott - [Free Arts Camp - Videos](https://shakeragalley.org/free-arts-camp/) - Free Arts Camp Art Project Videos Where the Wild Things Are project with Kate Olsen Birner. Use this video with Leslie Macaulay’s Acrylic Painting kit. Animal Care Videos Meet Quilliam Shakespeare and learn how to care for a hedgehog. Video by Amelie Correa. Learn to care for an Arizona Mountain Kingsnake — and watch him - [Gift Certificates](https://shakeragalley.org/gift-certificates/) - Gift Certificates Surprise a special someone with a gift certificate redeemable for Shake Rag Alley workshops or lodging. Perfect for your next family or friends get-away – share the joy of creative adventure & cozy historic lodging! Set any amount you choose. Gift certificates will be sent to email addresses you supply – including your - [thank you](https://shakeragalley.org/thank-you-2/) - Donations Thank You! Your support of Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts means the world to us and we hope to thank you in person soon! - [thank you](https://shakeragalley.org/thank-you/) - Newsletter & Volunteer List Registration Thank You! We look forward to staying in touch and appreciate your interest in Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts! - [Workshop Search](https://shakeragalley.org/workshop-search/) - Workshop Search Select a category Adult Workshops Alley Stage Reading Series April Art Adventure August Blacksmithing & Welding Creative Writing December February Fiber Arts Gift Certificate Glass Home and Garden January Jewelry Jewelry Boot Camp July June Makers & Shakers March May Mixed Media Mosaic & Cement November October Painting & 2D Workshops Painting and - [Calendar](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/) - Workshop & event Calendar Category Alley Stage Performance Annual Event Blacksmithing-Welding Creative Writing Culinary Arts Fiber Arts Glass Home and Garden Jewelry Makers & Shakers Art Party Mixed Media Painting and 2D Art Pottery Printmaking Rustic Winter Writers Reading Series Woodlanders Gathering Youth Program AugustSeptember 2026October SUMOTUWETHFRSA 303112345Events for August 30 9:00 am - 4:00 - [404](https://shakeragalley.org/404-2/) - UH-OH! It appears this page has disappeared inside a badger hole. Your discovery has alerted us and we will fetch it back to the surface shortly.Thank you for your patience – and your tolerance of gravity. ## Products - [Knitting 101: Basketweave Scarf](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1114e/) - Learn how to cast on, and basic knit and purl stitches. You can go easy (with a garter stitch scarf), or use those two stitches to make a basketweave pattern. All you need is two needles (size 7, 8, or 9), and patience—Christina will bring a variety of yarn. We'll learn and knit together, and - [Alley Stage Reading Series:
The Pardoned: A Post-Punk Revolution](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0920a/) - Join us for a staged reading of Paula Kamen's Pardoned: A Post-Punk Revolution. Set in the idealistic Chicago arts scene of the 1990s, the play recasts the old debate about "selling out" and being authentic to a new generation—in this present age when every aspect of life is commodified. The trajectory of the central character - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Fabric Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0916n/) - Join us to make fabric flowers! These flowers can be turned into pins and other beautiful embellishments. You will have your choice of three colors. This is a project that you should be able to complete in the two hour class. Please bring sharp scissors. All other supplies will be provided. Basic hand sewing skills - [Three Questions & A Poem](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1017p/) - In this workshop, we start by asking three questions and then listening in three different directions: to the more-than-human world, to each other, and to ourselves to generate new writing. By the end of the workshop, you will have material for poems, essays or new stories and a greater understanding of the framework for lyric - [How to Make Interesting Messes on the Page: A Workshop in Revision](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1018p/) - Intended for writers who have been struggling with drafts of poems, stories or other writing that just...isn't...working yet. In this workshop (or "playshop," to use Elizabeth Shepley's term), you will explore several different playful techniques for revising and revisioning material. The emphasis is on hands-on revision techniques, open-ended possibility, idea generation and imagining in new - [Twisted Spike Bottle Opener](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0919b/) - Crack open a fresh project while you create this twisted spike bottle opener. You will learn to turn an ordinary railroad spike into an ornate and functional bottle opener that all your guests will want to use! You’ll start by heating your spike in a gas forge, and performing what are called “hot cuts” before - [Hot Week](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0921b/) - Spend a week exploring glass and metal with Nathan Gieseke and Alex Ramshur. You’ll learn glass handling skills, introduction to the furnace, and how to blow glass as you build toward your own creation. You’ll also gain skills working with metal and a variety of tools including the MiG welder, ring roller, and torch. Day - [Art Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0926b/) - No prior welding experience is necessary to create your own metal sculpture using a combination of fabrication and welding techniques. This class will expand your knowledge of welding and sculpture design as you make your own personalized art. Collect any pieces of steel you would like to work with: old tools, shovels, scraps, anything a - [Driftless Poets Writing Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0110o/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which has been meeting since 2019. Join via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—at any stage of their writing journey—are - [Using Scraps of Wool](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0919c/) - In this class you will learn several projects to use up your scraps of wool. Fun options include tiny quilts, fabric bundled mats, wool applique, postage stamp mats, kitchen table mats, and shirret coasters. Nola will provide wool scraps, coat weight wool for backings, Perle cotton and embroidery floss, needles, shirret needle, and handouts on - [Introduction to Etching, Texturing and Cold Connections](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1017j/) - Learn the art of etching and texturing metal to create earrings, pendants and bracelet components. We will explore cold connections, a way to attach two pieces of metal without soldering. Experiment with a variety of texture mats and hammers to create unique finishes on copper, brass and nickel silver. We will show you a riveting - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Shaving Cream Marbling](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1021n/) - Learn how to make beautiful marbled papers with shaving cream and acrylic inks. Carol will demonstrate how easy it is to create interesting background papers to use for collage, cards, journaling, gift tags, etc. This technique yields incredible results with a few supplies, a little fun, and minimal mess! Class size 12 Level Novice and - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Lace Stenciled Note Cards](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1118n/) - Step into the world of mixed media as you create one-of-a-kind note cards. We’ll combine acrylic spray ink and lace to produce unique designs on blank cards. Wear old clothes or an apron. Bring your sense of humor . . . mistakes happen! Optional: tweezers (for pulling wet lace off of cards), scraps of lace, - [Fright Night Ticket](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1030l/) - Join us at the Lind Pavilion for a night of Halloween-themed revelry, including some vintage silent horror, a DJ and dance party, costume contest, cash bar, and eats & treats. Doors open at 6pm. $10 tickets available in advance and at the door. You must be 21 or older to attend Fright Night. Proof of - [Deck in a Box: Image Transfers on Plaster, Metal, & Paper](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0919l/) - In this 2-day workshop, create a luscious deck of plaster & metal cards, each 4 1/4” x 3 1/4”, that will reside in a small metal box embellished with transfers and plaster. Learn multiple techniques to transfer images onto plaster, gesso, and metal, and then take each transfer to a finished work of art. You - [Floating Collage: Composition Big & Little](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1007l/) - In this workshop we will first explore the making of our own unique papers. Repurposing found papers to create new marks and designs. Allowing our outer to inspire the inner works of assembling the mixture of mind and materials. This will involve the use of many tools that may flash us back to our younger - [Moku Hanga: An Intro to Japanese Woodblock Printing](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1023l/) - Moku Hanga, meaning “wood print,” is a simple, centuries-old Japanese technique employing water-based ink, basic carving and rubbing tools, beautiful Japanese paper, and fine-grained wood. Many Western printmaking methods involve complex printing presses, oil-based inks, and toxic solvents. By contrast, Moku Hanga utilizes only a few simple tools, a small work space, and is entirely - [Journaling the Inner Journey: Writing Toward Wholeness](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0911p/) - Words hold the power to uncover truths, heal wounds, and illuminate the path forward. This writing-focused retreat invites you to explore meaningful dialogue with your inner self through reflective journaling, mindfulness practices, and meditation. Journaling the Inner Journey is designed for anyone who wishes to deepen their writing practice as a tool for self-inquiry and - [Time Is On My Side](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0911l/) - By connecting the past lives of objects with our own lives, we can build art that explores issues like memory, nostalgia, history, or the nature of time itself. All found objects have a story to tell. It is up to us to save them from being lost to time. Gary will provide assorted clock bodies - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0918o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0919o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Earth Pigment Laboratory](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0912s/) - Experience an earth pigment paint-making laboratory where you will learn, experiment and create quick studies using natural, nontoxic materials. The majority of the time will be dedicated to experimenting in the “laboratory” where ingredients and recipes will be provided to make samples of painting media. Take away an Earth Pigment Journal to document what you’ve - [Railroad Spike Tomahawk](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0911b/) - In this class you will be using a gas forge to transform a railroad spike into a tomahawk. This will involve forging a chisel for cutting and drifting the eye, plus upsetting and heat treating. If time allows, you will fit the handle to the tomahawk and stain it. This class is intended for those - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1009o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1106o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1106o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0918o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Flights of Fancy: Mixed Media With Acrylic and Colored Pencil](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1024s/) - Using photo references from nature, you will accomplish finished work with beginning grid drawing techniques, acrylic base layering and detail work with colored pencil, acrylic paint, and acrylic medium glazes. Inspired by Anthony’s work, you will be encouraged to use reality as a basis to expand your own personal style. Class size 12 Level Intermediate - [Beginning Figure Drawing](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1108gl/) - Learn how to move beyond the stick figure and make dynamic, engaging figure drawings in this fast-paced, energetic class. Working from live models, we'll use several tried-and-true methods that will dissolve fears and instill confidence, setting you on your way toward more perceptive investigations of the human form. While this is a course designed for - [Beguiling Beads](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0821e-a/) - In this fun class we will not only learn the basics of fiber and paper bead construction using geometric patterns to make varied shapes and sizes, but we will also experiment with selecting intriguing patterns of fabric and paper. Finally we'll get extravagant and play with embellishing our beads with fiber, yarn, lace, wire, beads - [Spirit Protectors: Metal Figurative Assemblage](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0917l/) - I created my first Spirit Protectors during a difficult time in my life, and can’t seem to stop—I want to share with you! On day one, I’ll teach my favorite surface design techniques on metal: leaf printing, faux etching, texturizing, and metal transfers, and we’ll prepare our bases & create cool, funky faces. On day - [Mixed Media Watercolors](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0821j-a/) - Join Micah for this fresh new approach integrating collage and texture with watercolor. We will be using a series of landscape images to clip, tear and paint our way through a foundation. We will then learn the secrets of QoR Light Dimensional Ground as an amazing layering process we can then embellish with watercolor using - [Botanical Paper Embroidery](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0821s-a/) - Unleash your creativity and discover the captivating art of paper embroidery! In this class, you'll learn the fundamental techniques of this unique craft, transforming paper into works of art with needle, thread and dried botanical cuttings. We'll focus on creating beautiful geometric botanical designs. You'll be guided step-by-step through an easy-to-learn pattern, perfect for beginners. - [Black and White Collage Portrait](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0823s-a/) - Turn cut pieces of paper into a painterly representation of yourself, a family member, even a pet! Using a photo reference, we'll make larger-than-life portraits by observing changes in light and shadow in a straightforward, step-by-step manner. Suitable for all levels of experience; this workshop is beginner-friendly but also fun for more advanced students. Materials - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1205o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1206o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Beginning Glass Bead Making](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1107l/) - Julie will demonstrate how to make glass beads in the small flame of a torch. You will learn heat control, different techniques and styles, the basics of hot head torch set up and safety. Round beads will be made first. Next, you’ll pull glass stringers from the glass rod to use for decorative details such - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Colorful Mineral Point](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0819n/) - Immerse yourself in the joy of coloring, plus level up your visual communication by creating your own coloring page! In this class you’ll receive a copy of Colorful Mineral Point, a coloring and activity book that celebrates our one of a kind city. We will color in the book, discuss the process, and draw. Book - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0919o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Soul Houses](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0822l-a/) - What is a home? It is our foundation, our sense of self, of being, an intimate space where we store memory. Soul Houses is a way to create assemblages from found objects that help us as creators tap into the sense of security and place that houses create. They are a safe haven for your - [Needle Tatting ONLINE](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1003o/) - Many of us have memories of a beloved grandmother or great aunt who would wile away the hours tatting beautiful lace with her shuttle. Little known to many aspiring tatters is that the lovely rings and chains formed with a shuttle can be duplicated using a tatting needle. You may have always wanted to try - [Mending Hearts: Stitching Recycled Fibers Into Sculpture](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0823l-a/) - This intensive workshop explores trauma, loss, hopes, and dreams. You will create 3-D fiber sculptures through wrapping and meditative stitches. Thread, needle, and fabric become vehicles that aid the repair of our lost and broken hearts. Learn to transform personal grief and longing into powerful pieces of art. You are encouraged to bring broken objects, - [Beginning Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0815b/) - Learn the basics of a gas forge; handling hammers, tongs, and anvil; and working iron into points, loops, and twists for useful objects such as drawer handles, plant hangers, and a variety of hooks. This is a beginning class but intermediate students are welcome to review their skills and try more complex projects. Class size - [The Story’s in the Making ONLINE](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1120o/) - In this online workshop (times are central standard time) we will learn some basics of building figures using polymer clay, wire armature and cloth and combining your choice of memorabilia, found objects, scrounged bits with a tall tale or perhaps a true story. With a combination of scheduled interactive online time, a library of instructional - [Introduction to Cyanotype](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0808s/) - Cyanotype is an early photographic printing process yielding beautiful prussian blue prints on hand coated paper. A brief history of the process will start the activities before coating paper, gathering material from the garden (feel free to bring your own inspirational items from home to use, including lace doilies, pressed flowers, or other FLAT or - [Memory Scroll](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0815s/) - Memorabilia saved from past generations or a special trip or event can be preserved and displayed artfully. Suzi will guide you through the process of collaging your special items into a scroll that can be displayed, or rolled up into a compact piece of history to be passed down through future generations. Materials Fee includes - [Beyond the Layers: An Oil & Cold Wax Found Object Journey](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1002l/) - In this three-day workshop, you will create richly layered paintings on a custom-made panel designed specifically for exploration and discovery. Each panel features a reverse pocket area, a recessed space that can securely hold a found object, merging painting and assemblage into one unified artwork. Using oil & cold wax medium, you will build translucent - [Inked Up!](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0814/) - Learn a basic, DIY way to screen print and make your own wearable art! Bring your own clothes to print on, in addition we will supply small tote bags. Along with the screen printing, we will create basic linocut stamps! Levels Grades 3-6 + Tweens & Teens Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Moving Into Three Dimensions](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0820s-a/) - If you like painting, collage, drawing, mixed media or assemblage, this is an opportunity to enlarge your story by expanding from two dimensions into three. In this fun workshop, we will take our images and mark making and apply them onto three dimensional wooden forms, experimenting with how to connect them visually and thematically. You - [Medals for Everyday Valor](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0822sam-a/) - Using a wealth of scraps and bits and bobs we will create wearable fabric medals for ourselves and others to recognize and celebrate everyday valor. Fabric, beads, ribbons, and charms are hand stitched to a backing fabric and a large safety pin or pin back. Materials fee includes: pin backs/large safety pins, permanent glue stick, - [Layer by Layer: Creating Depth and Color with Encaustic](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0822n-a/) - Dive into the possibilities of encaustic through transparent layering and optical color mixing. Using encaustic medium and transparent paints, build depth and vibrancy with sheer layers, nuanced fusing, and mark making—allowing colors and details to interact and shift when seen through the wax. We’ll begin with demonstrations on preparing panels, controlling transparency, and creating overlays - [Death's Head Moth Ornament](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0822spm-a/) - They aren't scary until you look closely! We will create moth ornaments with skull beads for heads, wrapped and sewn bodies and fabric wings. They will hang from wire halos and can be as lively or ghostly as your choices of fabric. Materials fee includes: skull beads, wire, sticks to support body, glue, permanent glue - [Draft with Daring and Devotion ONLINE](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1114o/) - Success in writing means showing up regularly and taking risks. In this workshop, you’ll explore techniques for getting to the page, overcoming resistance, and tapping into your creative intuition. You’ll set writing goals tailored to your style of devotion. You’ll begin a new piece or add to a work-in-progress with original prompts designed to encourage - [Plein Air Painting](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0808c/) - For hundreds of years, artists have loved to venture out of their studios to study light and life by painting on location. Plein air painting, or painting outdoors, offers artists a unique opportunity to capture the true colors, light, and atmosphere of a scene as it changes in real time. Working directly in nature encourages - [Beginning Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0803/) - Use forges, hammers, anvils, and other blacksmith’s tools and learn the gas forge. In this introduction to blacksmithing, learn how to cut, bend, and shape hot steel, making a post-hook (every beginner blacksmith’s first project), and several other handy items. Level Ages 13 & up Class size 8 Student Supply List Wear cotton/wool clothing and - [Enamel Buffet](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0912j/) - Enamel is glass fused to a metal base using a kiln. It's deeply colorful, shiny, and it's fun to make jewelry from this contemporary medium with an ancient past. Leslie will teach you how to apply the glass, fire it in the kiln, and show you several simple techniques that make a big impact on - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1010o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Fine Silver Rings in a Day](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1011n/) - Create your own unique .999 pure silver ring using fine silver metal clay and wear it home. Learn the techniques to size, form, refine, embellish and set afire in place cubic zirconia into your ring. Make your ring as plain or glitzy as you wish, with or without a stone. After it's fired and polished, - [Wet My Plants](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0822j-a/) - Join Micah to explore this multi layered process showcasing native plants. In this workshop, participants will learn basic design compositions and color theory. We will then learn stenciling techniques and image transfer as we easily apply botanical images. We will then use gels and pastes in order to add depth and texture including media like - [Holiday Pin Loom Weaving](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1107s/) - Learn to weave on a pin loom and make two delightful holiday decorations. For the Christmas Tree Ornament, you’ll weave three small squares then combine them on a wooden dowel and embellish with beads and bows. You’ll also make Gnorman the Gnome—a delightful fellow that you can make from woven squares. You’ll learn to weave - [Woodlanders Half Day Fee-Friday](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717hdf/) - Registration fee for half days during Woodlanders - $65 per morning or afternoon. Half-day fee includes your choice of workshops, am/pm snacks, and beverages. Does NOT include lunch, which can be purchased separately. Workshop materials fees are extra and are shown with each class listing. Class size 100 Friday Half Day Fee $65 - [Basic Documentary Filmmaking with Your Smartphone](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0820o/) - Learn to create compelling short documentaries using just your smartphone. In this beginner-friendly class, three seasoned, award-winning filmmakers/PBS producers will guide you through the full process: pre-production, planning, research, writing a simple treatment, and scouting locations. Practice shooting techniques—from framing and steady camera work to gathering meaningful b-roll—as well as essential sound recording skills for - [5 Acrylic Paintings in a Day](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1011l/) - An artist really learns to paint when given the freedom to let go of a subject and the expectations of a single painting. This class will help you do this through repetition and technique. Painting the same subject five times, you will learn experimentation and be challenged to find ways to rediscover the subject. The - [Watercolor From the Beginning Part l - Technique](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0803l/) - Learn everything you need to know about watercolor paper and the four characteristics of watercolor paint. Through a series of exercises you will achieve full saturation, execute dark to light gradient washes, build color with glazes, let the paint bleed, use dry brush technique, lift paint, use masking and learn special tricks unique to watercolor - [Japanese Boro Mending](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0731l/) - Inspired by the Japanese hand-stitching “Boro” tradition of mending, we will use improvisation and hand-stitching to create rich textures that pay homage to the upcycle and reuse movement. Mottainai means "taking good care of things with respect, making it last long, not wasting and re-appreciating" (Selvedge: the fabric of your life, Issue 81 Japan Blue). - [The Art of Sashiko Drafting](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0801l/) - Welcome to the Art of Sashiko. Sashiko is what we do to textiles before mending is needed! The first portion of the workshop begins with an overview of Sashiko, a demo of Unshin and a pre-printed design, making it easier to follow and grow in confidence with your hand-stitching rhythm as we move to the - [Inside/Outside Boxes](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0821n-a/) - Using cigar boxes and a variety of mixed media materials we will create self-portraits that explore how we express ourselves, both in our public persona by embellishing the outside of the box with representative images, objects, and text, and our inner lives on the inside of the box with other representations. The result is a - [Light a Lantern](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0727/) - Use your hand building clay skills to create your own lantern. Light your own path with your one-of-a-kind creation and take it home! Levels Grades 3-6 + Tweens & Teens Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Advanced Foldforming Techniques](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0725j/) - Foldforming is a fascinating departure from traditional metalsmithing techniques. This is an in-depth class for learning the basic folds of foldforming, including: single, double, triple, tee, wedge, boat, and cross folds. You will also learn how to "fold forge" (hammering), and forge a leaf, Rueger, Romero, cuff, and pleated folds. You will also learn to - [A Lily from the Fire](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0808b/) - In this 2-day class, we’ll be making a decorative piece consisting of two or more lilies fixed in a round base. We’ll be bringing the lilies to life by shaping, texturing, and bending metal using a gas forge, anvil and hammers. While each of you will start with the same pieces of iron, each lily - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0801o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Wasteland Gladius Sword](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0801b/) - Fire up the forge and let your imagination run wild while you design and make your very own Wasteland Gladius sword. Once you’ve drawn out your blade, the possibilities are endless as you use tools to shape your blade and edge. Get creative with your crossguard and pommel by digging into the scrap bin for - [Watercolor From the Beginning Part ll - Color](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0804l/) - Cultivate your ability to perceive color and start to learn the vocabulary by playing with color cards. Through a series of exercises you will learn to mix color and be able to see and strategically use color temperature in your work. Color matching and building form will give you direction in finding color solutions. This is - [Watercolor From the Beginning Part lll- Constructing the Landscape](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0805l/) - This class will focus on the elements of composition and how to use them to make compelling work. A demonstration on dividing the planes and assigning value, color and textures to them, will give you an in-depth understanding of constructing a landscape. You will work in the field and/or from photographs putting that knowledge into practice. This is - [Watercolor From the Beginning Part lV- Components of the Landscape](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0806l/) - One, two and three point perspective will be covered along with demonstrations on capturing sky, clouds, water, trees, grass and rocks to help you gain mastery over the elements of a landscape. You will spend time practicing and then work in the field and/or from photographs to create works of art. This is one in a series - [Watercolor From the Beginning Part V- Form & Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0807l/) - For beginner or experienced watercolor painters, this workshop will focus on building form, choosing colors that harmonize, as well as, painting shadows and backgrounds. You are encouraged to bring objects to paint, and we’ll make simple attainable compositions with fruit and vegetables, or challenge ourselves with crystal and silver. Tips on painting flowers, vases and water - [Picnic on the Green](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717-b12/) - A great time to relax and share your day’s creative adventures. Students may add the evening picnic (not included with day fees). Class size 50 Materials Fee $15 - [Picnic on the Green](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-c13/) - A great time to relax and share your day’s creative adventures. Students may add the evening picnic (not included with day fees). Class size 50 Materials Fee $15 - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Boho Fabric Beads](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0722n/) - These beautiful fiber beads are made from little scraps of fabric and some thread and are so quick and easy to produce. They can be used to make jewelry, garlands, ornaments, trivets, cat toys, chair pads, embellishments - you will think of a dozen other uses as you mindfully wrap and stitch these little one-of-a-kind - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1009o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Perfect Placemat Pairs](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1108i/) - Yes, you can make placemats…two at a time! Employing the same tools, materials, and techniques as we use for rag rugs, you will choose your colors from our huge stash of fabrics and then weave strips of that cloth on a sturdy pre-warped loom. You’ll go home with several pairs of placemats. All materials are - [Woodlanders Half Day Fee-Saturday](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718hdf/) - Registration fee for half days during Woodlanders - $65 per morning or afternoon. Half-day fee includes your choice of workshops, am/pm snacks, and beverages. Does NOT include lunch, which can be purchased separately. Workshop materials fees are extra and are shown with each class listing. Class size 100 Saturday Half Day Fee $65 - [Woodlanders Day Fee-Thursday](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0716/) - Registration fee for from 1 to 3 days at Woodlanders - $125 per day. Day fee includes lunch, snacks, beverages, and some evening activities. Register for 1, 2, or 3 full days and then fill the days you plan to attend with as many workshops as you like. Workshop materials fees are extra and are - [Woodlanders Day Fee-Friday](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717/) - Registration fee for from 1 to 3 days at Woodlanders - $125 per day. Day fee includes lunch, snacks, beverages, and some evening activities. Register for 1, 2, or 3 full days and then fill the days you plan to attend with as many workshops as you like. Workshop materials fees are extra and are - [Woodlanders Day Fee-Saturday](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718/) - Registration fee for from 1 to 3 days at Woodlanders - $125 per day. Day fee includes lunch, snacks, beverages, and some evening activities. Register for 1, 2, or 3 full days and then fill the days you plan to attend with as many workshops as you like. Workshop materials fees are extra and are - [Woodlanders Half Day Fee-Thursday](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0716hdf/) - Registration fee for half days during Woodlanders - $65 per morning or afternoon. Half-day fee includes your choice of workshops, am/pm snacks, and beverages. Does NOT include lunch, which can be purchased separately. Workshop materials fees are extra and are shown with each class listing. Class size 100 Thursday Half Day Fee $65 - [The Perfect Pie](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717-b11/) - Join pie-maker extraordinaire (and the first Woodlander scholarship student!) to learn the basics of crusts (fluting, moisture control, etc.) and then put that knowledge to work making your own perfect pie crust. Mike will then demo turning that crust into a delicious pie—and we’ll bake it up for your afternoon snack! (You’ll take your crust - [Humke-Inspired Soda Pop Critters](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0729/) - In this workshop inspired by art teacher Lisa Humke, we’ll be turning trash into treasure! Recycle crushed soda cans into lovable critters with paint, wooden shapes, and your imagination. Levels K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Woodlander Leaf Embroidery](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0716-a10/) - Put your unique spin on a centuries’ old tradition of embroidery on flour sack towels. You will gather leaves from the beautiful flowers and trees on the Shake Rag campus. We will then pin those to the towel in the design desired by the maker. This will become the outline for drawing the pattern onto - [Create a Comforting Doodlebird](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717-b05/) - Ann will provide a charming, little hand-carved wooden bird and show you how to add your own unique doodled designs. Ann has lots of fun ways to help you create beautiful, intriguing structured patterns and add a wax finish. When life feels challenging, wrap your hands around your Comfort Creature, give it a rub, and - [Guest Lunch — Friday](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717-a99/) - Students may add a lunch to their half-day fee or bring one or more guests to share lunch on the Green. (Lunch is included with the day fee for registered students.) Class size 50 Materials Fee $12 - [Handmade Paper](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0716-a02/) - Learn how to make paper pulp using a kitchen blender and recycled paper. See demos of pulling sheets of paper as well as using cut metal screens and squeeze bottles to create images on the paper sheets. Class size 10 Materials Fee $10 - [Leather Woodlanders Pouch](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-c04/) - Using a supplied leather pouch, you will fashion a Woodlander-themed flap out of various colors of leather. You will then carve a leaf pattern onto the flap and choose from a shoulder or belt strap style to carry to the next festival, ren fair or other occasion. Class size 10 Level Beginner and above Student - [Garden Chair](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717-b09/) - Join Jim & Tor to learn the basics of twig chair structure and construction and take home a wonderful whimsical chair for your porch, house, or garden. Class size 8 Level Beginner and above Student Supply List Bring good clippers, hammer, small saw, portable screw driver if you have one. Materials Fee $40 - [Music on The Green:
Scott Stieber and Don Myers](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-c14/) - Join us on The Green during Woodlanders Gathering with Scott Stieber & Don Myers. Scott and Don have fun playing a variety of original and 'cover' tunes, including blues, singer-songwriters, and Brit Invasion. Enjoy a summer evening alongside the creek with friends. Refreshments available for purchase. Open to the public. Tickets also available at the - [Soap & Candle Making for Beginners](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-c12/) - Megan will show you how easy and fun it is to create melt-and-pour goat's milk soaps and soy wax candles. You will use essential oils for scent and will use other fun add-ins like coffee, herbs, dried flowers, and other natural items. You will leave with several soaps and one candle. Once you learn how - [Upcycled Storage Belt](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0716-a08/) - Made from the belt loop top of blue jeans with added pockets and storage bags, this functional art holster was born because Lindy couldn’t walk through the house without losing her phone. At Woodlanders you’ll be able to use your storage belt right away for your knife, fill pockets with nails, treats, or even your - [Darn Socks!](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0716-a04/) - Bring your favorite socks (and sweaters!) that have gotten a little too-loved, worn, or holey. We’ll fix them up with some basic darning, using a light bulb and selection of yarns. Christina will bring a selection of yarn (choose your colors to either hide the mend or make a colorful mix), and needles. We’ll sit, - [Build a Bug B&B](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0716-a07/) - Bee a social butterfly and invite a swarm of your creepy crawly friends to come stay awhile at your bee-utiful new inn for insects. Your bug hotel will benefit your garden by providing a safe environment in which beneficial insects and small creatures can lodge. We will use natural and upcycled materials to create a - [Necktie-Printed Scarves](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-c09/) - Ever wonder what to do with old silk neckties worn by loved ones in your life? They will live on through Cathy's mystery process of color transfer from silk ties to a blank silk scarf. You'll enjoy wearing a memory-rich scarf or giving one to someone who'll treasure necktie imprints. Bring a minimum of three - [Funky Fish Assemblage](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-c07/) - Using two wooden fish cutouts and a 14” frame (provided) you’ll assemble a sculpture to hang up or sit on a table. By attaching funky found and foraged objects, such as rusty bits, or natural materials (also provided), and adding some carving, burning, or painting, you’ll come away with a truly one of a kind - [Rug Hooking Retreat: Creative Stitches](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0925l/) - Open to all levels, cuts and designs. Please bring your sense of humor, your imagination and an open mind. Challenge yourself to hook your best rug ever! No limits! This retreat will appeal to those who enjoy traditional rug hooking, and those who are open to learning creative stitches and mixed media in their rugs. - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1107o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Washi Egg Ornaments](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-c08/) - In this class you will choose from a variety of Washi papers or small print fabrics to make egg gourd ornaments. The best Washi paper is handmade by a few remaining artisan families in Japan. It is made from the mulberry plant and is more flexible and "forgiving" than regular bond paper. These egg ornaments - [Rustic Gothic Hexagonal Side Table](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0716-a01/) - Using rustic weathered wood—fence slats, barn siding, reclaimed wainscot—you’ll construct a six-sided accessory table that’s perfect for resting your relaxing beverage alongside the novel you’re currently reading. Using common carpentry tools, you’ll cut out a gothic-inspired motif from the three upright supports, and shape two hexagons for a low shelf and the table surface. Assembly - [Handsewn Leather “Boho” Bag](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717-b10/) - Fashion a Boho-style handbag out of leather using one of several one-piece patterns. You may decorate with beads, fringe and colored leather to complete your creation. Class size 10 Level Beginner and above Student Supply List Scissors, pen, ruler. Materials Fee $25 - [Leather Dual (Wine) Bottle Holder](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0716-a09/) - Using a supplied pattern, you will cut out a leather holder and assemble a bottle holder for whatever bottles you’d like to carry. By assembling with Chicago screws, the project comes together providing a handy carrier to bring to the next get-together. Class size 10 Level Beginner and above Student Supply List Scissors, pen, standard - [Forging Hooks & Leaves](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717-b01/) - Learn the basics of blacksmithing from Hal, as well as how to use a portable propane gas forge. You’ll learn the use of the hammer, anvil, and vise as you practice drawing, tapering, and twisting. You’ll make decorative and useful hooks and leaves. Class size 6 Level Beginner and above Student Supply List Wear cotton - [Bloom—Kinetic Yard Art](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-c05/) - Add personality and charm to your outdoor space! Create your own vision with these pre-welded blooms. You can shape, twist and choose a finish for your own unique piece of art. Class size 8 Level Intermediate and above Student Supply List Wear work clothing and work shoes ,preferably cotton material, no shorts or sandals… safety - [Accent Table/Plant Stand](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-c11/) - A Woodlander favorite—create a charming accent table or use it as a plant stand, 32” high with a shelf at the top and the bottom. Tom, a furniture maker with over 30 years of experience, will provide a variety of rustic materials, recycled boards, twigs, and curly willow. Class size 10 Level Beginner and above - [Possibilities of the Gel Plate](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0820j-a/) - Explore a variety of possibilities using slow drying acrylics, stencil and gel plate. We will begin the session warming up and creating prints using techniques like wiping, stenciling, stamping and more while learning about color combinations. Learn monotype processes where we print layers one color at a time for dreamy dimensional effect. We will spend - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0711i/) - Weave an authentic “rag” rug on a heavy-duty vintage loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 27″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from our huge stash of new and upcycled fabric! The looms are warped and ready - [Guest Lunch — Thursday](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0716-a99/) - Students may add a lunch to their half-day fee or bring one or more guests to share lunch on the Green. (Lunch is included with the day fee for registered students.) Class size 50 Materials Fee $12 - [Guest Lunch — Saturday](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-a99/) - Students may add a lunch to their half-day fee or bring one or more guests to share lunch on the Green. (Lunch is included with the day fee for registered students.) Class size 50 Materials Fee $12 - [Rustic Garden Wood Bench](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0801c/) - This class is the perfect entry for novices into the world of rustic woodworking. We will be working with cedar, a material that is more environmentally favorable and longer lasting than pine and chemically treated lumber. We will also discuss upcycling old cedar boards into new project ideas. You will learn about cut sheets, blueprints - [Kinetic Artist Books: Motion, Fold, & Form](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0712s/) - Explore the playful possibilities of kinetic artist books—structures that move, unfold, and transform. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to create two dynamic book forms: an origami star book that opens into a sculptural shape, and a pop-up accordion book with surprising dimensional elements. Using drawing, watercolor and mixed media, you’ll bring your books to - [Rustic Garden Bench](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-c02/) - Max and Jim are the perfect rustic woodworker team to assist you in making your very own rustic bench from scratch. You’ll choose and trim up a slab, make rustic legs, drill holes, fit the legs, and go home with a family heirloom! Woodlanders have been making slab benches for years—definitely a favorite! Class size - [Creating from Castoffs: Fiber as Sculpture](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0709l/) - In this hands-on workshop, recycled textiles and found objects become the foundation for expressive, sculptural 3-dimensional creations. Explore how discarded materials—old clothing, linens, and everyday objects—can be re-imagined into meaningful artworks that reflect personal stories and creative freedom. Through intuitive processes and guided techniques such as knotting, wrapping, stitching, and cordage-making, you’ll learn to unlock - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0920i/) - Weave an authentic “rag” rug on a heavy-duty vintage loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 27″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from our huge stash of new and upcycled fabric! The looms are warped and ready - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0812i/) - Weave an authentic “rag” rug on a heavy-duty vintage loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 27″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from our huge stash of new and upcycled fabric! The looms are warped and ready - [Fine Silver & Dichroic Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0802j/) - In this fun class you will combine dichroic glass, which has an ethereal, sparkly, and opal-like quality with silver metal clay to make amazing fine silver and glass pendants. Although our studio kiln is necessary to work with silver metal clay and glass, Sherry & Holly will demonstrate torch firing so you can continue to - [Rustic Assemblage](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0716-a05/) - In this day long workshop, we’ll combine collage, image transfer and assemblage. Your finished project can be either two or three dimensional, intimate or large in scale, colored or black and white. Use of natural materials is encouraged, although hundreds of found items will be available to choose from. Everything needed to complete your project - [Layered Landscapes](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-c01/) - In this workshop you will experiment in making textured papers in water-based mediums using various techniques. Then using a reference photo you bring from home, or your imagination, you will cut from your made papers and construct your landscape. It's a satisfying process that celebrates the use of every scrap. Class size 8 Level Beginner - [Rustic Greeting Cards with Ink Stamps & Watercolor](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-c10/) - Learn how to design and craft rustic-style greeting cards using ink stamping techniques combined with watercolor washes for a warm, handmade aesthetic. No previous experience is required, just be ready to let loose and allow your creativity to flow. All materials provided and you can expect to take home a variety of cards and envelopes. - [Zine Making Workshop: Share Your Voice in Print](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0710s/) - A zine is a small, do-it-yourself publication used to express your passions, ideas, and identity. Design and create your own zine using black-and-white media, which will then be copied and hand-colored using a variety of materials. Sandra will share her personal collection of zines and introduce you to the rich, rebellious history of zine-making—from punk - [Circus of the Curious and the Misbegotten](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0625l/) - Step right up, my fine and freakish friends! Behind this tent flap lies wonders—a traveling troupe of curious souls and misbegotten marvels, built from bits and bones of forgotten things. We’ll create our own sideshow icons: part saint, part scoundrel, all spectacular. Using found objects, sculptural materials, and acrylic paint, we’ll conjure a carnival of - [Creative Metamorphosis: Design & Hand-Stitching](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0730l/) - We will begin with surface design by block printing using traditional Indian wooden blocks and found objects, on paper and cloth with permanent water-based textile ink to explore our creative voices. With sustainability principles in mind, we will discuss printing on garments to prolong their wear and add visual interest. In the second portion of - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Artist Trading Cards](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0617n/) - Join us at the Lind to make Artist Trading Cards in whatever medium and way you like to make! We’ll have the cards, and a selection of supplies, including paint, pastel, pencil, pen, fiber bits, wires, and whatever else we can find for you to create on these playing card sized canvases. (Bring your own - [Rustic Coat Tree](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-c03/) - Make a whimsical coat tree with natural materials, and lots of hooks for hanging your hats, bags, and coats. Tor will show you how to create your own unique coat tree and have fun too. Class size 10 Level Beginner and above Student Supply List Bring good clippers, hammer, small saw, portable screw driver if - [Contemporary Prong Setting - Pendant](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0627j/) - Have a curious object you’ve been dying to turn into jewelry? A pebble from a favorite hike? A mysterious trinket from your junk drawer? In this playful yet skill-driven workshop, you’ll learn to design and fabricate a contemporary pendant that includes a custom prong setting. Prong styles covered will include a partial bezel, a claw - [Here Comes the Sun](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0617/) - Celebrate summer with sun prints! You’ll use light-sensitive paper, your imagination, and finds from the gardens to create unique artwork. You’ll also take inspiration from the colors & shapes all around to create giant paper flowers that never need watering! Level Grades 3-6 Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Pebble Weave Scarf](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1102o/) - Make a "pebble weave" scarf while you learn all of the basics of weaving on a 4-harness floor loom. Then you can do it and so much more at home on your own. On day one we'll wind a 3 yard warp, 10" wide and thread it onto the loom. Day two is dessert! It's - [Growth Mindset Planter](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0615/) - In this class, we’ll talk about how effort, challenges, and persistence help us grow. To show this, we’ll create growth mindset planters that reflect where we are right now, while leaving room for future growth. Levels K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 + Tweens & Teens Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Introduction to Oil Painting](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1031s/) - This workshop will give you a foundation in oil painting through a series of exercises that will introduce and reinforce the fundamentals of the craft. Open to all experience levels and beginner friendly, instruction is tailored to your individual needs. Learn several different approaches to oil painting, including grisaille and alla prima. Tackle the mysteries - [Botanical Gel Plate Printing](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0811s/) - We will begin our botanical journey by gathering plant materials from the beautiful Shake Rag Campus. Then it's back to the studio to play with paints and the gel plate. Even beginners can get amazingly detailed results from the botanicals. We will print lots of plant material the first day, then create a beautiful 8" - [Bird Nest Fabric Vessel](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0814s/) - Students will create a 3-dimensional bird's nest using both weaving and hand stitching techniques.Suzi will provide a kit of fibers, feathers, threads and props used to make the nest, and written directions. Additional nests can be made at home by supplying new fibers and threads. These little nests make charming gifts. Class size 12 Level - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1009o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Let’s Make Mosaics](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0805/) - When you make a mosaic, you make a pattern or image by arranging small pieces of glass, stone, or tile to make your design—this kind of art has been made since Ancient Rome! You can make your own mosaic gluing tiles and china pieces on a wooden base with nontoxic glue. Shake Rag Alley will - [Drawing Basics](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0810/) - Have you ever heard the phrase “I can’t even draw a stick figure”? Join us in learning how to conquer the stick figure statement! During this class we’ll focus on different aspects of drawing basics. We’ll look into contour lines, textures, and observation. You’ll be going home with a lot more than just a stick - [Beginning Rug Hooking](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0613s/) - You will learn everything you need to know to hook and finish a piece of traditional rug hooking. We will cover materials needed to hook and how to select, prepare, and use materials for your project. You will also learn how to do simple and safe dyeing for your rug hooking. You will receive a - [Forged Grill Tools](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0613b/) - Use the gas forge to create a hand forged BBQ fork and spatula using various twists, splitting, riveting, and finish techniques for your summer grilling. In addition, we will make a hold-fast tool to use during the fabrication process in class. You’ll be the envy of the neighborhood tossing those steaks or flipping burgers! Materials - [Sense of Place: A Photo–Encaustic Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0612l/) - Capture the unique architecture of Mineral Point, and Shake Rag Alley’s gardens, and explore the dialogue between photography and wax. This workshop gives you time and space to capture the visually interesting—to use the landscape as both subject and material. We will transform images through the luminous depth of encaustic. Photograph aged wood, historic buildings, - [Lovely Landscape](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0820i-a/) - Celebrate a broad view of the natural world…with fabric and more! Whether you love a lush woodland, tidy farm fields, an austere desert, or an evocative seascape, by layering strips of colorful printed and solid fabrics, you’ll create a flowing foundation for a pictorial celebration of our environment. We’ll explore and apply the pertinent elements - [Make a Bent Willow Chair](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0613c2/) - Bring a bit of enchantment and nature into your home with a bent willow chair. Tor will bring plenty of green willow and lead you through the process of making a rustic bent willow chair using only hand tools. At the end of the workshop you will have a beautiful, handcrafted piece of furniture to - [Forge a Calla Lily](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717-b08/) - Hal will lead you in blacksmithing an attractive calla lily flower on a stem and stand, and you’ll get some good experience in heating iron rod in a propane gas forge and hammering it into shape on an anvil. Class size 6 Level Beginner and above Student Supply List Wear cotton or non-acrylic outerwear and - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0713o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Introduction to Leathercraft](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0716-a03/) - The first part of the class will be spent learning about leathercraft. We will discuss different types of leather and possible applications for each. Next, you will try out common tools used in making leather items. The remaining class time will be spent by crafting a small leather project from several patterns. Class size 12 - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0606o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Drawing Comics from Nature](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0606j/) - In this workshop, we will each create a three panel comic based on our own unique observations of nature. Materials Fee includes all supplies. Class size 8 Level Beginner and above Student Supply List Everything provided! Tuition $30 Materials Fee $20 - [Cartonnage: Creating a Classic Tool Box](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0619l/) - Step into the joyful world of cartonnage and transform simple materials into a beautiful, functional work of art! In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how to craft a stunning classic toolbox using sturdy bookboard, elegant bookcloth, and gorgeous Chiyogami papers. Perfect for holding your favorite treasures—whether bookbinding tools, embroidery supplies, Zentangle pens, or journaling essentials—this - [Reborn Jeans: Create Unique Patches That Tell Your Story](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0606e/) - Customize your jeans and jackets with art that reflects your individuality. Cat’s work has been displayed in notable places, including the White House and the private collections of Yoko Ono and Kevin Walgreen. The day begins with "Riveted: The History of Jeans," a video on denim's significance. You'll design in pencil first, and then use - [Color Pencil Beasties](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0529l/) - Animals make us laugh and bring contentment to our lives. Spend the day creating imaginative color pencil portraits of assorted beasties. Don’t worry about drawing abilities. This is about learning to see, blending colors and layering to create depth and saturation of color. Pencil technique demos include blending, hatching, directional lines, and burnishing. Giving permission - [Watercolor Biomorphic](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0530l/) - Explore abstraction with simplified flora shapes, textures, and colors. Watercolors that are dropped-in provide harmonious glowing fusions of color on paper. Dropped-in color refers to a loaded brush with water and paint. The brush just touches the wet paper surface, and paint will spread incredible fusions of color with hardly any effort at all. We’ll - [Watercolor Collage: Enlightened Fauna](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0531l/) - This workshop will focus on the techniques of paper collage with watermedia. Our subjects will be fauna set in a whimsical enlightened theme using watercolor, gouache, and acrylic. You’ll be able to handprint images from my personal hand carved stamps for collage. Learn how to use values to determine color choice placements for collage and - [Reborn Jeans: Create Custom Clothing With Paint & Bleach](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0607e/) - When your cherished denim has seen better days or could use a creative facelift, embrace the opportunity to create unique personal statements using bleach and paint. Begin your adventure by watching "Riveted: The History of Jeans." Afterward, take pencil and paper to create a design that beautifully speaks to who you are, or choose a - [Free Arts Camp: Adventure Seekers](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0720/) - If you’re interested in an adventure, this camp is for you! To start the week, we’ll prepare for our journeys by creating survival pouches, choosing our challenges, and designing our signature flag. Then we’ll use our discovery tools to follow treasure trails, chart maps, and find out just what it means to be an explorer. - [Creating a Watercolor Travel Journal](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0606s/) - How many vacation photos are on your phone that you never look at again? Come take a fun, hands-on workshop on making a keepsake watercolor travel journal that you’ll cherish! You’ll learn the basics of working with watercolors, and then use your own photos to start your journal. Everything is taught step by step in - [Exotic Mosaic Tile](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0725s/) - Create a beautiful eclectic objet d’ art, combining an array of various types of glass and vintage or costume jewelry on a large ceramic tile in this two-day class. We will work with small, colorful glass tiles, Van Gogh glass, stained glass, mirror glass, and deconstructed jewelry. You will learn basic glass-cutting techniques (it’s remarkably - [Visual Improvisation](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0530s/) - What happens when eight strangers meet up to collaborate through line, color, and composition? Let's find out! Working on one large substrate using various water-based mediums and charcoal, the group will be guided through loose prompts to express the interaction through making marks in the moment. Each of you will get to take home a - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Crochet Butterflies](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0520n/) - Come learn the basics of crochet with Clara and leave with a kaleidoscope of fiber butterflies! Clara will teach a few basic crochet stitches to make these colorful winged beauties suitable for use as a pin, barrette, pendant, or lucky charm. All materials provided, but feel free to bring your own crochet hook, if you - [Introduction to Cartonnage](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0618l/) - Cartonnage is the art of turning simple cardboard into beautiful, useful creations—and it’s easier than you might think! In this introductory class, you’ll learn the essential steps of cutting, building, and covering, transforming flat pieces into a sturdy handmade object. Along the way, you’ll get to play with lovely papers, add your own creative touches, - [Wonderful Waffle Weave](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0626s/) - Waffle weave has a distinctive texture, making it both absorbent and reversible. We’ll be starting from scratch—winding and threading enough yardage to make four 100% cotton hand towels. The towel’s ends are finished with an elegant but sturdy bound weave, in a contrasting color if you choose. You’ll come away from this session with that - [Painting Beyond Image](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0706/) - Now is your chance to explore painting through a lens of process, composition, and personal investigation. Moving outside the boundaries of traditional pictures, students will discover what paint can truly do when unleashed through splashy gestures, juicy layers, wild intuition, and fearless experimentation. The only requirement is a willingness to get messy! Leave with a - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1010o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Manuscript Consultation: Poetry](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0517c-c/) - Writing Retreat participants may sign up for a 30-minute one-on-one manuscript consultation with retreat faculty members. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis either booking online or by calling the office at (608) 987-3292: Friday 4:15-4:45pm Saturday 9:15-9:45am Sunday 9:15-9:45am Prose: No more than 12 pages of prose, double-spaced, 12-point font, - [No-Mordant Natural Dyes: Indigo, Kakishibu, Iron Buff and Tea](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1010s/) - Most natural dyes require preparing the fabric with mordants to get the dyes to bond with the fabric. Skip those steps by using the few natural dyes out there that really and truly work without a mordant! Colors we can achieve include lovely blues, rich browns, rusty oranges and smokey grays. Use shibori and adire - [Make a Bent Willow Chair](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0912c/) - Bring a bit of enchantment and nature into your home with a bent willow chair. Tor will bring plenty of green willow and lead you through the process of making a rustic bent willow chair using only hand tools. At the end of the workshop you will have a beautiful, handcrafted piece of furniture to - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1010o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Anytime, Anywhere: Urban Sketching Basics](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0531s/) - Urban Sketching is about capturing time and place while connecting with others through the seemingly solitary act of sketching. In this introductory workshop, we’ll explore the basics of sketching on location from observation in the beautiful, historic setting of Mineral Point. We’ll spread out across various spots in the Historic Downtown area, so comfortable walking - [Market Basket](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1003s/) - This beginner level basket has lots of uses. Woven with natural reeds that are accented with dyed reed of your choice, and a wrapped handle that sets off the basket. Finished basket measures 12 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 7 inches high. All tools needed for the class are provided. Materials Fee includes: all - [Fine Silver Link Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1010j/) - In this class you will form both the links and toggle attachment from fine silver metal clay using your choice of design and shape. After shaping, drying, drilling holes and refining and firing, you will attach them with sterling jump rings and polish, then patina if desired. You will be able to wear your beautiful - [Leather & Birch Catch-All Basket](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717-b03/) - Construct a catch-all basket using a variety of materials. You will fold leather into a basket and add a decorative birch bark rim to finish your handy creation. This project finishes up with a hand-sewn sea grass and wooden top edge. Class size 12 Level Beginner and above Student Supply List Scissors and a pen. - [Carve a Tufted Titmouse Looking Down at A Cat on the Ground Below](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717-b04/) - Strop your carving knife (make sure those knives are sharp!) and with the help of Nick, an expert woodcarver, get ready to carve this charming bird, assemble the birdhouse, and capture the bird's feathers and expression with paint. This class works best for those with some experience with figurative carving. Class size 8 Student Supply - [Forged Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0516b/) - It's springtime so let's make some flowers. We will make the calla lily with two leaves mounted on a circular base. The second flower will be a rose made from pre-cut petals which will be shaped and fitted together on a stem for display in a vase of your choice. Perfect for gift giving, or - [Regalia: The Art of Ornamental Portraits](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0604l/) - Adornment as power: A headdress of roots and antlers, a crown of impossible flowers, a face framed like ancient architecture, regalia tells a story about identity. Working large to make an impact (16x20" to 18x24"), merge photography with painted, drawn, stenciled, and collaged ornamentation. Learn to construct luminous surfaces, creating depth with glazes and mediums, - [Intermediate Glass Bead Making](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1108l/) - The next step in glass bead making is here! You'll learn complex stringers, incorporating silver metal into glass for special effects, encasing with clear glass to add beauty and magnification, sparkle, and shine. Explore precision and organic free style design of letting glass flow into layers of molten glass. Learn about reduction flame; reducing fuel - [Create Sparkling Dichroic Glass Beads in the Flame](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1106l/) - Discover the magic of working with fire and glass as you learn to make color-shifting, radiant beads using dichroic (dicro) glass—a mesmerizing metal-oxide coated glass known for its shimmering, holographic colors. In this hands-on class, you’ll melt and shape COE 104 glass rods in the torch flame, then layer in clear and black dichroic glass - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0419o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Do it like Dale Chihuly!](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0612/) - Have you ever heard of Dale Chihuly? He’s a sculptural artist well known for stretching the boundaries of glass as a medium; creating gravity defying chandeliers, complex sculptures, and many more styles. In this class, we will mimic the style of his Venetian Series to create our own sculptures using recycled materials and paper mache. - [Making Glass Beads for Beginners](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0501l-b/) - Julie will demonstrate how to make glass beads in the small flame of a torch. You will learn heat control different techniques and styles, the basics of hot head torch set up and safety. Round beads will be made first. Next, you’ll pull glass stringers from the glass rod to use for decorative details such - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1107o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Christensen Soap Carving](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0812/) - Want to try carving in a safe way? Learn how to carve soap and make small soap sculptures the way Shake Rag Alley Board president Mike Christensen taught us. We’ll then use this knowledge in other ways, whittling potatoes into stamps and other fun things. Lots of fun! Levels K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class - [Generative Fiction Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0515n-c-1/) - In this workshop we will focus on craft techniques around crafting scenes that have emotional impact. Daily prompts will lead to short scenes that we will workshop in class, and we will study short readings to help develop basic craft elements. Class size 12 Level Beginner and above Student Supply List Something to write with - [Intro to Silver Metal Clay](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0501n-b/) - Learn how to make beautiful fine silver jewelry from soft workable silver clay. Silver metal clay is a safe non-toxic material made of tiny silver particles embedded in an organic base. You will learn to form, refine, fire and finish jewelry pieces using the clay, paste and a syringe. You will go home with one - [Huffman Steampunk Owls](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0610/) - Create a mechanical looking owl out of many recycled objects. Records, plastic silverware, pop tops, nails, washers, Popsicle sticks, pop cans and many other items you will have to choose from to create your awesome steampunk owl. You’ll have a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork to take home! Levels K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class size - [Fused Loop Earrings](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0503s-b/) - You will discover how to fuse fine silver wire using a small butane torch to make shining beautiful loops. In addition, you will create head pins for beads, and craft ear wires. Once you master earrings, try your hand at making pendants or bracelets. You will learn everything you need to make a dazzling variety - [Blacksmithing for Beginners: Fire and Hammers](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0530b/) - Have you ever wanted to dip your toes (metaphorically … no actual toe-dipping allowed) into the world of blacksmithing? Join us for two days of fire and hammers. Learn the basics of blacksmithing using a gas forge. Learn tapers, curls, twists, and shaping red-hot metal into functional tool or art. Time allowing, we’ll be making - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0504o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Craft Camp: Join the Super Scribble Squad!](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0622/) - During this week-long camp we’ll spend time doing all things superhero! We’ll start by discovering your superhero name and developing your super powers. Learn how to fight crime with the power of art, create our superhero costumes, and even make our own comic books! Bonus: After creating your own superhero identity, designing an epic look, - [Alley Stage Reading Series Special Event: The Meeting](https://shakeragalley.org/product/alley-stage-reading-series-special-event-the-meeting/) - Join us for a special Alley Stage Reading Series event, featuring a new play by Brian James Polak. In The Meeting, five former theater makers convene a meeting in a near-future, fascist America, when all forms of art (and even the utterance of any art-related words) have been banned. These artists discuss what a person - [Boho Wire Bead Crochet Necklace](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0501c-b/) - Have you always wanted to learn wire bead crochet? Now's the perfect chance! In this class we'll be using silver-plate wire and a selection of gemstone beads, chips, and pearls to create a simple three-strand bead crochet necklace. And we'll finish it off with leather lace for a boho-inspired adjustable necklace. Not grooving on the - [Making Glass Beads for Beginners](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0503l-b/) - Julie will demonstrate how to make glass beads in the small flame of a torch. You will learn heat control different techniques and styles, the basics of hot head torch set up and safety. Round beads will be made first. Next, you’ll pull glass stringers from the glass rod to use for decorative details such - [Embossed Enameling](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0502s-b/) - Learn how to use embossing folders to create a deep pattern on thin metal to create lightweight, colorful, and dramatic pendants. Learn how to apply liquid and powdered glass enamel for contrast and color. Materials fee includes all materials and use of tools. Class size 10 Level Beginner and above Student Supply List Bring a - [Sterling Silver Bead Necklace](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0503j-b/) - Learn to solder a double-dome bead to make a necklace. This course is an excellent way to develop your shaping and soldering skills. Step by step instructions will show you how to texture metal by roll printing, alongside how to saw, dome and rim disks. You’ll learn the significance of drilling a hole before soldering, - [Beautiful Earrings](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0502j-b/) - Earrings earrings earrings! From symmetry (or not!), to balance and movement, this course brings statement and beauty to earring design. With a focus on drop and dangle earrings, explore texturing, sawing and adding accents by using hammering, roll printing, piercing and riveting. Emphasis will be on creating visual interest through length, shape, and surface design. - [Chain Making: Bracelets](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0501j-b/) - The bracelet takes on many different styles. Explore the foundational magic and joy of chain making and wire working to create bracelets! You will develop forming and sawing skills to create complex linking patterns by shaping wire and making jump rings using hammers, pliers, anvils, rolling mills and other tools from your toolkit. The course covers - [Introduction to Foldforming](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0502c-b/) - Discover a fascinating departure from traditional metalsmithing techniques. Greg will teach you single, double, triple line, and tee folds to create a unique finished piece of jewelry. You will learn to soften copper with a torch, bend and fold copper with hammers, cut copper with shears, fire paint for multicolor finishes, and apply protective coatings. - [Felted Wool & Silk Scarf](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0425e/) - Always wanted to learn how to nuno felt but didn’t want to experience the arduous task of rolling involved with wet felting? If so, this is the perfect workshop for you. Nuno felting is a wet felting technique which fuses wool to fabric. It is the most recent innovation of wet felting created in 1994. - [Making Glass Beads for Beginners](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0502l-b/) - Julie will demonstrate how to make glass beads in the small flame of a torch. You will learn heat control different techniques and styles, the basics of hot head torch set up and safety. Round beads will be made first. Next, you’ll pull glass stringers from the glass rod to use for decorative details such - [Blacksmith an Oriole Feeder](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0425b/) - Use the gas forge to create a functional and beautiful original design oriole bird feeder with a wall or post hanger bracket to support the feeder. Each step of the process will be demonstrated and completed before going on the next step. The two parts of the feeder will be welded together, and the wall - [Alley Stage Reading Series:
Load-Bearing Walls](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0628a/) - Join us for a staged reading of Pamela Morgan's Load-Bearing Walls, where Sophie fights for her legal rights to inherit the home and accounts of her partner, Lena. Challenged by Lena's mother, Lauren, the asexual nature of their partnership is called into question and put on trial. Load-Bearing Walls focuses on themes of romance, love, - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0418o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0417o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Irreverent Embroidery](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0530e/) - If you’ve got something to say and have been looking for the perfect way to say it, may we suggest some chain stitches and French knots? Why knot, right? Jonna and Christina will provide an embroidery primer to learn (or refresh) your skills, a horde of vintage hankies & textiles, hoops, needles, thread & floss, - [Oil & Cold Wax Exploratory](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0418l/) - Explore through instructor-led demos, and individual guidance—techniques that are fun, creative, and only limited by imagination. We will use printmaking methods, mark making, and add textures. What is hidden under layers will be uncovered by scraping, scratching, gouging, and the use of solvents. There are no mistakes in this class, only results yet to be - [Coppersmithing 101](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0424c/) - Learn how to work with copper and take home four handsome finished pieces. Vickie “Doc” Schertz has been sharing her coppersmithing skills for several years and welcomes beginners as well as those with some experience. You’ll learn how to move, manipulate, and reshape copper. The four projects include a 3” x 4” copper “coupon” to - [A Line Meant Poetry Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0515c-c/) - One line of poetry can work like a spell, conjuring a memory for one person and pulling gospel from someone else. Join Dasha for a session of curation, creation and a poetic conversation. You will imagine new works and explore fresh project ideas in this generative workshop for writers at all levels, inspired by Kelly's - [Perfect Placemat Pairs](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0425i/) - Yes, you can make placemats…two at a time! Employing the same tools, materials, and techniques as we use for rag rugs, you will choose your colors from our huge stash of fabrics and then weave strips of that cloth on a sturdy pre-warped loom. You’ll go home with several pairs of placemats. All materials are - [Cut & Color: Hand Painted Woodcut Prints](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0417s/) - Learn the fundamentals of creating a one-color woodcut print and then painting the print with gouache paint. The technique of painting woodcuts goes back centuries but other paints were used. Gouache became widely accessible in the 19th and 20th centuries with industrial production. Using Japanese carving tools and shina wood, a Japanese maple plywood, we - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0314o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Temari Ball Ornament](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1107c/) - Temari are a traditional Japanese craft of patience and love, where fabric balls are decorated with intricate and eye-catching embroidered designs. The origins of Temari date 1,400 years ago and were first used as a children’s toy made from old fabric and rice hulls. Over time Temari became a symbol of love and well wishes. - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0515o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Pink Eraser Block Printing](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0418e/) - Make art using pink erasers! You'll learn how to sketch and carve your designs into erasers, then ink and stamp them onto paper. Your carved designs can be used to make tiny art prints, greeting cards, gift tags, for art journaling, and more. Bring carving tools if you have them, but we will have some - [Introduction to Gas Forge Blacksmithing: The Basics](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0418b/) - We will begin with an in-depth introduction to the gas forge—covering everything from safety, setting up the propane tank valves, starting procedures, heating techniques, efficient usage, and finally how to shut down the forge safely. We’ll cover available tools, such as the belt sander, band saw, wheel grinder and drill press, and proper use of - [Paper & Book Camp 2.0](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0424l/) - Paper! Alter old, new, and found papers with masking, wrapping, sewing, ink drawings, tea dying, and stenciling. Our first tea-dyed batches will focus on layering, masking, wrapping, leaf masks, and ink/wax contact prints. As we wait for the papers to cure and dry, we’ll design cover options and create collage/sewn elements. After ironing the first - [Copy Cats!](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0731/) - Learn how to copy the world around you! Practice basic observation skills in drawings. “Steal like an artist” using transfer techniques with charcoal and paper, putty stamping, and tin foil. You’ll learn tips and tricks to collect textures and patterns, turning our world into art. Levels K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class size 10 Tuition - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Gemstone & Wire Pendant](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0415n/) - Make a beautiful necklace for yourself or a loved one. Pat will teach you how to work with 20 gauge wire, make a double bail, and help you design your pendant using a gemstone, accent beads, findings, and wire. All tools and materials are provided, including the cord necklace. Additional necklace kits can be purchased - [Tunnel Book Workshop: Create a World in Layers](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0711s/) - Discover the magic of tunnel books—three-dimensional, layered paper scenes that create depth and surprise. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to design and construct your own tunnel book using cut paper, collage, and drawing techniques. We’ll explore narrative, visual storytelling, and perspective as you build a miniature world that unfolds through layers. Whether whimsical, abstract, - [Stone Statues](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0710/) - Reusing cardboard boxes, we’ll create statues that look like they’re made from stone and very old! We’ll use all sorts of materials to age our statues—including mixing glue and dirt, washing with paint, and texture rubbing with charcoal. Be ready to get a little messy! Levels K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class size 10 Tuition - [So Symmetrical!](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0608/) - Symmetry can be found all around us! Let’s create projects where we spend time observing what symmetry looks like in nature, and then making our own interpretations with all sorts of art supplies. Levels K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Beginning Foundation Paper Piecing: Tiny Quilt Blocks](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0411s/) - Foundation paper piecing (FPP) allows you to sew precise, tiny quilt blocks with ease. This is a great way to use up small quilting cotton fabric scraps. In this workshop you’ll learn the basics of FPP, using a sewing machine to create three palm-sized quilt blocks that could be used in other projects, patches, or - [Cementimals](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0708/) - Here is your chance to use your imagination and make a zany animal out of cement. First we form it, then we add all sorts of doodads like wire, beads, and shells, and see what sort of strange creature emerges. (Cementimals need to set for a week before they can be taken home.) Levels K-Grade - [Drag Queens And Car Crashes: The “Big Turn”](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0516l-c/) - This generative workshop explores how to rebel against expectations in our writing—those thrilling moments when a narrative swerves into unexpected meaning. We’ll study how writers build tension and then subvert it in order to challenge, throw off, and transform our understanding of the work, before creating drafts alongside guided prompts that aim to develop our - [Helm Weave Chainmaille Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0501e-b/) - Chainmaille is an ancient art form used for flexible armor, found as far back as the 5th century BC in Scythia (an area between Europe and Asia). Using small pliers in each hand to open and close metal rings around each other, we form a pattern. The helm weave is a basic weave that is - [Beat the Clock!](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0807/) - Can you escape before time runs out? Ellery House and the Cabinet Shop have been transformed into escape rooms. These rooms can only be conquered by solving the puzzles and riddles, finding hidden clues, and opening locks using secret codes. Use your wits and some tools, and work with your teammates to escape in time! - [Temari Earrings & Pendants](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0418c/) - Temari are a traditional Japanese craft of patience and love, where thread or fabric balls are decorated with intricate and eye-catching embroidered designs. The origins of Temari date back about 1,400 years ago first used as a children’s toy made from old fabric and rice hulls. Over time Temari became an ultimate symbol of love - [Tinker Lab](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26y0619/) - Join us for a tinkering workshop! We will explore the Shake Rag campus and look for leaves, sticks and other nature bits and bobbles we might use to mix up some fun. We’ll engage in mud kitchen style play with prompts on potions to mix up. We will also explore different mediums of preserving special - [Write A Song!](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0328c/) - Learn how to write a song from initial inspiration to completion. We will cover creative flow, song structure, lyric and music writing in a supportive setting. Over the day you will collaborate on song ideas, and then begin writing your own song solo or with others as you prefer. By the end you will have - [In One's Pocket](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0321l/) - Join Kristin in a mixed media papery menagerie. In this two-day class, we will be making zine-type books full of color, stitching, drips, art marks, folds, and creativity—paper pockets full of goodness! Our zine pages will be filled with exploratory drips and dribbles, stenciled or stamped, sewn fabric bits, art marks, collage, found words, ribbony - [Brush and Block](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0801s/) - This workshop explores the possibilities of mixing the flow of watercolor with the structure and rhythm of block printing. The first part of the day we will experiment with different watercolor techniques to create exciting backgrounds and atmospheres. The second half will focus on creating interesting shapes in linoleum and carving texture, and then layer - [Large Mosaic Planter](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0711c/) - Create a beautiful large mosaic planter, turning a plain clay or ceramic pot into a true showcase for potted annuals. We will use hammer and plates to make shards and caulk adhesive for a heavy duty vessel that will stand up to the elements and provide true visual delight. We will grout on day two. - [Glassblowing Intensive](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0317o/) - On day one, you’ll learn glass handling skills, introduction to the furnace, and how to start a bubble in the glass. Day two refines your skills as you explore form, color, and the possibilities of glass. In this small and personalized workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to blow glass yourself and work towards your own - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0315o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0314o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0314o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0313o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0313o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0313o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0918o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Approaching Drawing](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0318n/) - Join Scherbarth Artist in Residence Colette Wright Adams for our first Makers & Shakers of 2026. This will be an engaging evening of meditation, hand-relaxing techniques, and traditional observational drawing skills. Participants will join Colette in black and white drawing from life using pencil and paper provided. Feel free to bring your own drawing supplies - [Don't Shoot Yourself in the Foot: Submitting Your Book with an Editor's Eye](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0517l-c/) - Submitting your manuscript can be one of the most intimidating parts of getting your work into the world, in part because publishers' acquisitions processes are often opaque. In this workshop, writers will participate in guided activities to learn about what agents and publishing houses are commonly looking for. Writers will also have the opportunity to - [Blueprint Photo Banner](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0321s/) - Use photos, documents, and letters to tell the story of a recipe, your house, a person, or a favorite activity, using sun prints and fabric. You will learn how to prepare your digital photo files to create film negatives for making cyanotype prints of your own photos. Then, expose and develop cyanotypes using the instructor's - [Felted Christmas Gnomes](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1107e/) - Learn how to wet and needle felt by making a Christmas gnome. Great to place on a mantel or hung from your Christmas tree. Kati will briefly introduce the history of felting and provide examples modern day felted items. This workshop is a great introduction to the ancient art of wet felting—you will learn how - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Free Workshop with Wisconsin Poet Laureate Brenda Cardenás](https://shakeragalley.org/product/wwrs0318c/) - Join us at Rountree Gallery, 120 W. Main St., Platteville on March 18 6-8pm for Ekphrasis: Writing Inspired by Visual Art workshop with: Brenda Cardenás Wisconsin Poet Laureate One artistic form can inspire another, creating profound connections, often in eye-opening and fortuitous ways. In this writing workshop, you will learn about various approaches poets take - [Beginning Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0502b/) - Learn the basics of a gas forge; handling hammers, tongs, and anvil; and working iron into points, loops, and twists for useful objects such as drawer handles, plant hangers, and a variety of hooks. This is a beginning class but intermediate students are welcome to review their skills and try more complex projects. Class size - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1107o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Adding Dimensions to Creative Nonfiction](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0515s-c-1/) - Powerful essays and memoirs stretch beyond the lives and events they depict. In this workshop, you'll explore several techniques for expanding the dimensions of your creative nonfiction, including speculation, research, structural invention, and stylistic innovation. We'll take inspiration from authors such as Jo Ann Beard, Ross Gay, Maxine Hong Kingston, Claudia Rankine, and Jesmyn Ward. - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0418o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0516o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0408i/) - Weave an authentic “rag” rug on a heavy-duty vintage loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 27″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from our huge stash of new and upcycled fabric! The looms are warped and ready - [Gourd Jewelry](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0314spm/) - In this class, using various shaped gourd pieces, you will create a one-of-a-kind jewelry piece. You may decide on a pair of earrings, a brooch, a necklace or bracelet. Various embellishments offered range from alcohol inks, acrylics, batik inks, shells, beads, feathers, “natural” reeds, cactus skeletons, other plant pieces and much more. This workshop is - [Asian Friendship Vessel](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0314sam/) - With a prepped Martin gourd, you will make an Asian Friendship vessel. You will be incorporating various symbols—Tranquility, Happiness, Love, Peace, Wisdom, Friendship, Harmony, etc.—to your bowl. The top edge will be finished with chopsticks to complete the look. All supplies will be provided. Appropriate for all skill levels. Class size 10 Level Beginner and - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0609i/) - Weave an authentic “rag” rug on a heavy-duty vintage loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 27″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from our huge stash of new and upcycled fabric! The looms are warped and ready - [Inkle Weaving](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0328s/) - On day one, you’ll weave a lovely Latvian Flower pattern on the Inkle loom. On day two, you’ll choose your favorite colors, and then design and weave a beautiful band. During the workshop, you’ll learn how to set up the loom and weave a band that you can use as a belt, bag strap or - [Smokey Market Basket](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0509s/) - This versatile basket is a beginner level class. The basket is woven with smoked reed that contrasts with the natural reed. Finished basket measures 12 inches long, 10 inches wide, and 6 inches high. All tools needed for the class are provided. Materials Fee includes: all reeds needed to make the basket. Class size 10 - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0919o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Scrap Metal Horse](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1010b/) - Create a unique horse sculpture from assorted recycled materials. This course will teach beginner fabrication, welding and metal forming. You will be using tools such as, angle grinder, bench vise and MiG welder. Run wild while posing your horse however you’d like. This fun project will have you saying yay! Not nay. Class size 4 - [Manuscript Consultation: Poetry](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0516c-c/) - Writing Retreat participants may sign up for a 30-minute one-on-one manuscript consultation with retreat faculty members. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis either booking online or by calling the office at (608) 987-3292: Friday 4:15-4:45pm Saturday 9:15-9:45am Sunday 9:15-9:45am Prose: No more than 12 pages of prose, double-spaced, 12-point font, - [Creative Combination: Watercolor & Acrylic](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0327l/) - Good painters are first good designers. Learn concepts that allow you to find strong abstract shapes in your scenes. We will learn about the different types of contrasts and how they add drama to your painting. The workshop will focus on painting like a printmaker—finding and constructing negative shapes to create mosaic-like paintings using watercolor - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0516o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [More Drawing for Beginners](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0329gl/) - Have you always wanted to learn to draw? Here's your chance! We'll explore several media and techniques in a fun, friendly and stimulating environment. Get ready to experiment with colored pencils and ink. Materials Fee includes: papers and drawing materials. Class size 7 Level Beginner and above Student Supply List Students should bring a small - [Wrapping Rocks](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0716-a06/) - Do you stop and pick up interesting rocks and wish you knew a way to display them artistically? This workshop introduces the craft of decorative wrapping of rocks (mostly hand sized or smaller) with fibers such as twine, leather, cotton or wool thread or yarn, cane and wire to enhance their beauty or call attention - [Fine Silver Leaves & Pods from the Garden](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0801j/) - Transform leaves or small pods into fine silver jewelry using silver metal paste and clay in this exciting one day class. Sherry and Holly will demonstrate the process, from collecting appropriate organic material, then preparing and/or storing that material, all the way to completing a fine silver piece of jewelry. Learn to make bails and - [Treasure Box II](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0718-c06/) - Create a keepsake treasure box from fine china shards, suitable for your most treasured possessions. We will create our bits and pieces box with a hammer using thinner bone china, found not only in heirloom family sets, but in commemorative plates, and other items considered antique (but not really valuable any longer) and readily available - [The Poetry of Motion: Kinetic Earrings Intensive](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0410j/) - Are you ready to play with fire? To add dimension, texture, and movement to your jewelry creations? Let’s make some dynamic earrings that dance and sway. In this action-packed workshop, I will show you how to make a variety of hollow forms, from open to textured to scrappy, how to bezel set rose cut gemstones - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0215o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0214o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0214o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0214o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0213o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0213o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0213o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Reading & Talk with Marcia Bjornerud](https://shakeragalley.org/product/wwrs0326b/) - Join us at The Mineral Point Public Library, 137 High St., on March 26 for Mind, Body and Stone: An essayist and a scientist reflect on the power of landscapes presented by: Marcia Bjornerud Wisconsin Writers Blei/Derleth Nonfiction Book Award winner Bonus: Rebecca Jamieson Wisconsin Writers Kay W. Levin Short Nonfiction Award winner will also - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Reading & Talk with Rebecca Jamieson](https://shakeragalley.org/product/wwrs0326j/) - Join us at The Mineral Point Public Library, 137 High St., on March 26 for Mind, Body and Stone: An essayist and a scientist reflect on the power of landscapes presented by: Rebecca Jamieson Wisconsin Writers Kay W. Levin Short Nonfiction Award winner Bonus: Marcia Bjornerud Wisconsin Writers Blei/Derleth Nonfiction Book Award winner will also - [Art Parts Heart](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1003b/) - First, you’ll bend flat material into a heart shaped frame. Now comes the real fun! Dig through the scrap bins to find the perfect bits and pieces to fill your heart. Express yourself in metal and learn to fabricate a heart on a steel base or as a wall hanging piece. Materials Fee includes: metal, - [International Santa Claus Gourd Vases](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1108spm/) - This class will have you creating your own heritage Santa. (I have created 23 different Santa gourd vases featured throughout the world!) You may select from any of the following: African, Baltic, Belgian, British, Canadian, Filipino, French, Germany, Greek, Hungary, Irish, Italian, New Zealand, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, Ukraine, USA, Welsh, or Yugoslavia - [Holiday Gourd Penguins](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1108sam/) - This is a unique holiday decoration that can remain on display throughout the entire winter! Using a tall penguin gourd, you will paint a pattern with matching material for the base and scarf. Penguin gourds range in height and can sit on a fireplace mantel or wherever you need a little whimsy. Materials Fee includes - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0314i/) - Weave an authentic “rag” rug on a heavy-duty vintage loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 27″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from our huge stash of new and upcycled fabric! The looms are warped and ready - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0515o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0418o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Manuscript Consultation: Poetry](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0515c-c-2/) - Writing Retreat participants may sign up for a 30-minute one-on-one manuscript consultation with retreat faculty members. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis either booking online or by calling the office at (608) 987-3292: Friday 4:15-4:45pm Saturday 9:15-9:45am Sunday 9:15-9:45am Prose: No more than 12 pages of prose, double-spaced, 12-point font, - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0517i/) - Weave an authentic “rag” rug on a heavy-duty vintage loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 27″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from our huge stash of new and upcycled fabric! The looms are warped and ready - [Make a Bent Willow Chair](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0321c/) - Bring a bit of enchantment and nature into your home with a bent willow chair. Tor will bring plenty of green willow and lead you through the process of making a rustic bent willow chair using only hand tools. At the end of the workshop you will have a beautiful, handcrafted piece of furniture to - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1106o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Manuscript Consultation: Non Fiction](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0517s-c/) - Writing Retreat participants may sign up for a 30-minute one-on-one manuscript consultation with retreat faculty members. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis either booking online or by calling the office at (608) 987-3292: Friday 4:15-4:45pm Saturday 9:15-9:45am Sunday 9:15-9:45am Prose: No more than 12 pages of prose, double-spaced, 12-point font, - [Manuscript Consultation: Non Fiction](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0516s-c/) - Writing Retreat participants may sign up for a 30-minute one-on-one manuscript consultation with retreat faculty members. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis either booking online or by calling the office at (608) 987-3292: Friday 4:15-4:45pm Saturday 9:15-9:45am Sunday 9:15-9:45am Prose: No more than 12 pages of prose, double-spaced, 12-point font, - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0417o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Fine Silver Rings in a Day](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0502n-b/) - Create your own unique .999 pure silver ring using fine silver metal clay and wear it home. Learn the techniques to size, form, refine, embellish and set a fire in place cubic zirconia into your ring. Make your ring as plain or glitzy as you wish, with or without a stone. After it's fired and - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Reading with Susanna Daniel](https://shakeragalley.org/product/wwrs0122d/) - Since 2011 Shake Rag Alley has provided residencies to award-winning Wisconsin writers, offering time and space to create. In 2026, we’re partnering with Wisconsin People & Ideas, the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission through the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, Arts + Literature Laboratory, and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. Writers stay in Shake - [Manuscript Consultation: Prose Submissions](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0517e-c/) - Writing Retreat participants may sign up for a 30-minute one-on-one manuscript consultation with retreat faculty members. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis either booking online or by calling the office at (608) 987-3292: Friday 4:15-4:45pm Saturday 9:15-9:45am Sunday 9:15-9:45am Prose: No more than 12 pages of prose, double-spaced, 12-point font, - [Woodlanders Gathering](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0716-0/) - Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced craftsperson, you are in for an incredibly fun and creative time with more than 30 nature-based workshops to choose from, and talented instructors who love returning to the gathering to share their creativity. Create rustic furniture from sturdy benches to whimsical side tables, garden-inspired pottery, or leather projects; - [Manuscript Consultation: Prose Submissions](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0516e-c/) - Writing Retreat participants may sign up for a 30-minute one-on-one manuscript consultation with retreat faculty members. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis either booking online or by calling the office at (608) 987-3292: Friday 4:15-4:45pm Saturday 9:15-9:45am Sunday 9:15-9:45am Prose: No more than 12 pages of prose, double-spaced, 12-point font, - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0516o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Nature Imprints in Clay](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717-b07/) - Create a unique hand-built bowl and imprint the clay with natural textures with expert potters Diana and Claire at the fabulous Johnstons’ Brewery Pottery Studio at 276 Shake Rag Street. After your bowl dries, the Johnstons will glaze and fire it in their stoneware kilns. Class size 8 Student Supply List Shipping fees may apply - [Flow Motion: Wire Sculpture Mobiles & Stabiles](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717-b06/) - Get into the flow by learning how to create mixed media mobiles (which hang from the ceiling) and stabiles (free standing). You'll design your project, cut shapes, learn how to bend and twist wire, and find the perfect balancing points by which to build the sculpture. Materials Fee includes all supplies. Class size 6 Student - [Learn to Use a Pottery Wheel](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26w0717-b02/) - Sisters and potters, Katie and Joelle White will give you an introductory lesson in how to throw clay pots on a spinning potter’s wheel. Once you’ve learned to control the lump of clay centered on the wheel, you’ll have a lifetime skill. This is a class just for learning that essential skill. You will leave - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Reading with Elizabeth Hendricks](https://shakeragalley.org/product/wwrs0115h/) - Since 2011 Shake Rag Alley has provided residencies to award-winning Wisconsin writers, offering time and space to create. In 2026, we’re partnering with Wisconsin People & Ideas, the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission through the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, Arts + Literature Laboratory, and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. Writers stay in Shake - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Reading with Alison Thumel](https://shakeragalley.org/product/wwrs0115t/) - Since 2011 Shake Rag Alley has provided residencies to award-winning Wisconsin writers, offering time and space to create. In 2026, we’re partnering with Wisconsin People & Ideas, the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission through the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, Arts + Literature Laboratory, and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. Writers stay in Shake - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Reading with Robert Fromberg](https://shakeragalley.org/product/wwrs0305f/) - Since 2011 Shake Rag Alley has provided residencies to award-winning Wisconsin writers, offering time and space to create. In 2026, we’re partnering with Wisconsin People & Ideas, the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission through the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, Arts + Literature Laboratory, and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. Writers stay in Shake - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Reading with A.M. Goodhart](https://shakeragalley.org/product/wwrs0319g/) - Since 2011 Shake Rag Alley has provided residencies to award-winning Wisconsin writers, offering time and space to create. In 2026, we’re partnering with Wisconsin People & Ideas, the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission through the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, Arts + Literature Laboratory, and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. Writers stay in Shake - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Reading with Nick Gulig](https://shakeragalley.org/product/winter-writers-reading-series/) - Since 2011 Shake Rag Alley has provided residencies to award-winning Wisconsin writers, offering time and space to create. In 2026, we’re partnering with Wisconsin People & Ideas, the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission through the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, Arts + Literature Laboratory, and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. Writers stay in Shake - [Art Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0829b/) - No prior welding experience is necessary to create your own metal sculpture using a combination of fabrication and welding techniques. This class will expand your knowledge of welding and sculpture design as you make your own personalized art. Collect any pieces of steel you would like to work with: old tools, shovels, scraps, anything a - [Feathered Friends](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0724s/) - Have you ever thought about "Frankensteining" your own feathered friend? Probably not . . . but it's really fun! In this workshop, you'll be supplied a weighted owl base with a Styrofoam head attached . . . which will serve as the core of your piece. Using air dry paper clay you'll sculpt your dream - [Manuscript Consultation: Non Fiction](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0515s-c/) - Writing Retreat participants may sign up for a 30-minute one-on-one manuscript consultation with retreat faculty members. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis either booking online or by calling the office at (608) 987-3292: Friday 4:15-4:45pm Saturday 9:15-9:45am Sunday 9:15-9:45am Prose: No more than 12 pages of prose, double-spaced, 12-point font, - [Manuscript Consultation: Fiction](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0515n-c/) - Writing Retreat participants may sign up for a 30-minute one-on-one manuscript consultation with retreat faculty members. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis either booking online or by calling the office at (608) 987-3292: Friday 4:15-4:45pm Saturday 9:15-9:45am Sunday 9:15-9:45am Prose: No more than 12 pages of prose, double-spaced, 12-point font, - [Morning Pages](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0515-c-mp/) - Center yourself by beginning the day beside fellow writers working quietly in the Lind Pavilion in a creative cloud of lovely spring light and fresh coffee. 8:15-9:15am - [Faculty Reading](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0515-c-0/) - Join us at Republic of Letters, 151 High St., at 7 pm for social time and a reading by the Mining Your Stories Writing Retreat faculty: Lydi Conklin Dasha Kelly Tamara Dean Han Raschka Adam al-Sirgany FREE & Open to the Public - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0417o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0515o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1204o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1204o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1205o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1204o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1205o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0517o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r0920o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1011o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1108o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Mixed Media Fiber Jewelry](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1002j/) - Are you an equal opportunity maker? Like to experiment with handwork? Save your scraps for “something cool”? Bring your fabric scraps, floss, and beads and join us for a weekend of mixed media fiber jewelry. Turn your flotsam and jetsam into beautiful new treasures. Do you have an odd found object or broken jewelry parts - [Urban Sketching Explorations](https://shakeragalley.org/product/26r1004c/) - Urban Sketching is about capturing time and place while connecting with others through the seemingly solitary act of sketching. In this workshop, we’ll explore the fundamentals of sketching on location from observation, then take things a step further—incorporating creative elements inspired by our wanderings. Experiment with prompts, create page backgrounds, and use found materials to - [Donation](https://shakeragalley.org/product/donation/) - [Gift Certificate](https://shakeragalley.org/product/gift-card/) - [Sutcliffe Endowment Campaign](https://shakeragalley.org/product/sutcliffe-endowment-campaign/) - Every dollar is important. Whatever you can give, you can feel good about supporting everything that Shake Rag Alley does for our community and visitors every year. We provide an enriching arts and craft curriculum for youth and adults, we protect and restore our beautiful historic campus, and we channel creativity for hundreds of students ## Events - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Shaving Cream Marbling](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/ms1021/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point Learn how to make beautiful marbled papers with shaving cream and acrylic inks. Carol will demonstrate how easy it is to create interesting background papers to use for collage, cards, journaling, gift tags, etc. This technique yields incredible results with a few supplies, - [Fright Night](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fright-night26/) - Join us at the Lind Pavilion for a night of Halloween-themed revelry, including some vintage silent horror, a DJ and dance party, costume contest, cash bar, and eats & treats. Doors open at 6pm. $10 tickets available in advance and at the door. You must be 21 or older to attend Fright Night. Proof of - [Needle Tatting ONLINE](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1003o/) - Many of us have memories of a beloved grandmother or great aunt who would wile away the hours tatting beautiful lace with her shuttle. Little known to many aspiring tatters is that the lovely rings and chains formed with a shuttle can be duplicated using a tatting needle. You may have always wanted to try - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Fabric Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/ms0916/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point Join us to make fabric flowers! These flowers can be turned into pins and other beautiful embellishments. You will have your choice of three colors. This is a project that you should be able to complete in the two hour class. Please bring - [Art Adventure Showcase](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-showcase26/) - Join us for a pop-up gallery & fundraiser all in one! Join us at the Sardeson Studio (223 Commerce St.) to check out mixed media creations by instructors, students, and community members and support Shake Rag Alley with your shopping. We'll have light refreshments too for a fun night out! - [Youth Art Show](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/yas26/) - On Thursday, August 6, 4-6pm, we're having a youth art show at the Sardeson Studio. We invite all young artists (kindergarten through teens) to share a work or two for installation. Work can be dropped off Shake Rag Alley (18 Shake Rag St.) the week of July 27-31 between 9am-5pm. For more information, please contact - [Fiber Faire](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fiber-faire26/) - Get ready for our annual Fiber Faire September 26, 10am-4pm! We'll have fiber arts demos with craftspeople, artists, and farmers all over campus. You’ll learn from artisans who make by hand and may walk away inspired by something new yourself. Enjoy our market of artisan goods and handmade items just in time for fall. The Sweet Life Ice - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Colorful Mineral Point](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/ms0819/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point Immerse yourself in the joy of coloring, plus level up your visual communication by creating your own coloring page! In this class you’ll receive a copy of Colorful Mineral Point, a coloring and activity book that celebrates our one of a kind city. - [Music on The Green: Scott Stieber and Don Myers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/musiconthegreen26/) - Join us on The Green during Woodlanders Gathering with Scott Stieber & Don Myers. Scott and Don have fun playing a variety of original and ‘cover’ tunes, including blues, singer-songwriters, and Brit Invasion. Enjoy a summer evening alongside the creek with friends. Refreshments available for purchase. Open to the public. Tickets also available at the - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Boho Fabric Beads](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/ms0722/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point These beautiful fiber beads are made from little scraps of fabric and some thread and are so quick and easy to produce. They can be used to make jewelry, garlands, ornaments, trivets, cat toys, chair pads, embellishments – you will think of a - [Alley Stage Reading Series: Load-Bearing Walls](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/asrsmorgan/) - Join us for a staged reading of Pamela Morgan’s Load-Bearing Walls, where Sophie fights for her legal rights to inherit the home and accounts of her partner, Lena. Challenged by Lena’s mother, Lauren, the asexual nature of their partnership is called into question and put on trial. Load-Bearing Walls focuses on themes of romance, love, dignity in death, - [Alley Stage Reading Series: Pardoned: A Post-Punk Revolution](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/asrskamen/) - Join us for a staged reading of Paula Kamen’s Pardoned: A Post-Punk Revolution. Set in the idealistic Chicago arts scene of the 1990s, the play recasts the old debate about “selling out” and being authentic to a new generation—in this present age when every aspect of life is commodified. The trajectory of the central character - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Artist Trading Cards](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/ms0617/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point Join us at the Lind to make Artist Trading Cards in whatever medium and way you like to make! We’ll have the cards, and a selection of supplies, including paint, pastel, pencil, pen, fiber bits, wires, and whatever else we can find for - [Fairy Fun Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fairyfunday26/) - Join us for fun for all ages! We'll have workshops (including Make-A-Fairy-House), a campus-wide scavenger hunt, sweet treats, and games on the green. $5 admission (free for ages 12 & under). Fees for some workshops. - [Sardeson Day Volunteer Appreciation](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/rsday26/) - You're invited to our Sardeson Day Volunteer Appreciation Event at the Sardeson Studio (223 Commerce St). On June 20th, 4-6pm, we'll have delicious food, libations of all sorts, thank you's for our volunteers, a wine pull, and lots of celebrating what makes our community so special. Our area is rich with people who give their - [Youth Program: Inked Up!](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0814/) - Learn a basic, DIY way to screen print and make your own wearable art! Bring your own clothes to print on, in addition we will supply small tote bags. Along with the screen printing, we will create basic linocut stamps! Levels Grades 3-6 + Tweens & Teens Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Youth Program: Christensen Soap Carving](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0812/) - Want to try carving in a safe way? Learn how to carve soap and make small soap sculptures the way Shake Rag Alley Board president Mike Christensen taught us. We’ll then use this knowledge in other ways, whittling potatoes into stamps and other fun things. Lots of fun! Levels K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class size 10 - [Youth Program: Drawing Basics](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0810/) - Have you ever heard the phrase “I can’t even draw a stick figure”? Join us in learning how to conquer the stick figure statement! During this class we’ll focus on different aspects of drawing basics. We’ll look into contour lines, textures, and observation. You’ll be going home with a lot more than just a stick - [Youth Program: Beat the Clock!](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0807/) - Can you escape before time runs out? Ellery House and the Cabinet Shop have been transformed into escape rooms. These rooms can only be conquered by solving the puzzles and riddles, finding hidden clues, and opening locks using secret codes. Use your wits and some tools, and work with your teammates to escape in time! - [Youth Program: Let’s Make Mosaics](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0805/) - When you make a mosaic, you make a pattern or image by arranging small pieces of glass, stone, or tile to make your design—this kind of art has been made since Ancient Rome! You can make your own mosaic gluing tiles and china pieces on a wooden base with nontoxic glue. Shake Rag Alley will - [Youth Program: Beginning Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0803/) - Use forges, hammers, anvils, and other blacksmith’s tools and learn the gas forge. In this introduction to blacksmithing, learn how to cut, bend, and shape hot steel, making a post-hook (every beginner blacksmith’s first project), and several other handy items. Level Ages 13 & up Class size 8 Student Supply List Wear cotton/wool clothing and closed-toe leather shoes. - [Youth Program: Copy Cats!](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0731/) - Learn how to copy the world around you! Practice basic observation skills in drawings. “Steal like an artist” using transfer techniques with charcoal and paper, putty stamping, and tin foil. You’ll learn tips and tricks to collect textures and patterns, turning our world into art. Levels K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Youth Program: Humke-Inspired Soda Pop Critters](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0729/) - In this workshop inspired by art teacher Lisa Humke, we’ll be turning trash into treasure! Recycle crushed soda cans into lovable critters with paint, wooden shapes, and your imagination. Levels K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Youth Program: Light a Lantern](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0727/) - Use your hand building clay skills to create your own lantern. Light your own path with your one-of-a-kind creation and take it home! Levels Grades 3-6 + Tweens & Teens Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Youth Program: Free Arts Camp](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0720/) - If you’re interested in an adventure, this camp is for you! To start the week, we’ll prepare for our journeys by creating survival pouches, choosing our challenges, and designing our signature flag. Then we’ll use our discovery tools to follow treasure trails, chart maps, and find out just what it means to be an explorer. - [Youth Program: Stone Statues](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0710/) - Reusing cardboard boxes, we’ll create statues that look like they’re made from stone and very old! We’ll use all sorts of materials to age our statues—including mixing glue and dirt, washing with paint, and texture rubbing with charcoal. Be ready to get a little messy! Levels K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Youth Program: Cementimals](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0708/) - Here is your chance to use your imagination and make a zany animal out of cement. First we form it, then we add all sorts of doodads like wire, beads, and shells, and see what sort of strange creature emerges. (Cementimals need to set for a week before they can be taken home.) Levels K-Grade 2 - [Youth Program: Painting Beyond Image](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0706/) - Now is your chance to explore painting through a lens of process, composition, and personal investigation. Moving outside the boundaries of traditional pictures, students will discover what paint can truly do when unleashed through splashy gestures, juicy layers, wild intuition, and fearless experimentation. The only requirement is a willingness to get messy! Leave with a - [Youth Program: Craft Camp: Join the Super Scribble Squad!](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0622/) - During this week-long camp we’ll spend time doing all things superhero! We’ll start by discovering your superhero name and developing your super powers. Learn how to fight crime with the power of art, create our superhero costumes, and even make our own comic books! Bonus: After creating your own superhero identity, designing an epic look, - [Youth Program: Tinker Lab](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0619/) - Join us for a tinkering workshop! We will explore the Shake Rag campus and look for leaves, sticks and other nature bits and bobbles we might use to mix up some fun. We’ll engage in mud kitchen style play with prompts on potions to mix up. We will also explore different mediums of preserving special - [Youth Program: Here Comes the Sun](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0617/) - Celebrate summer with sun prints! You’ll use light-sensitive paper, your imagination, and finds from the gardens to create unique artwork. You’ll also take inspiration from the colors & shapes all around to create giant paper flowers that never need watering! Level Grades 3-6 Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Youth Program: Growth Mindset Planter](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0615/) - In this class, we’ll talk about how effort, challenges, and persistence help us grow. To show this, we’ll create growth mindset planters that reflect where we are right now, while leaving room for future growth. Levels K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 + Tweens & Teens Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Youth Program: Do it like Dale Chihuly!](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0612/) - Have you ever heard of Dale Chihuly? He’s a sculptural artist well known for stretching the boundaries of glass as a medium; creating gravity defying chandeliers, complex sculptures, and many more styles. In this class, we will mimic the style of his Venetian Series to create our own sculptures using recycled materials and paper mache. - [Youth Program: Huffman Steampunk Owls](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0610/) - Create a mechanical looking owl out of many recycled objects. Records, plastic silverware, pop tops, nails, washers, Popsicle sticks, pop cans and many other items you will have to choose from to create your awesome steampunk owl. You’ll have a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork to take home! Levels K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Youth Program: So Symmetrical!](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26y0608/) - Symmetry can be found all around us! Let’s create projects where we spend time observing what symmetry looks like in nature, and then making our own interpretations with all sorts of art supplies. Levels K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class size 10 Tuition $20 - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Crochet Butterflies](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/ms0526/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point Come learn the basics of crochet with Clara and leave with a kaleidoscope of fiber butterflies! Clara will teach a few basic crochet stitches to make these colorful winged beauties suitable for use as a pin, barrette, pendant, or lucky charm. All materials - [Art Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0926b/) - No prior welding experience is necessary to create your own metal sculpture using a combination of fabrication and welding techniques. This class will expand your knowledge of welding and sculpture design as you make your own personalized art. Collect any pieces of steel you would like to work with: old tools, shovels, scraps, anything a - [Rug Hooking Retreat: Creative Stitches](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0925l/) - Open to all levels, cuts and designs. Please bring your sense of humor, your imagination and an open mind. Challenge yourself to hook your best rug ever! No limits! This retreat will appeal to those who enjoy traditional rug hooking, and those who are open to learning creative stitches and mixed media in their rugs. - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0920o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0920i/) - Weave an authentic “rag” rug on a heavy-duty vintage loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 27″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from our huge stash of new and upcycled fabric! The looms are warped and ready - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0919o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0919o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0919o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Deck in a Box: Image Transfers on Plaster, Metal, & Paper](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0919l/) - In this 2-day workshop, create a luscious deck of plaster & metal cards, each 4 1/4” x 3 1/4”, that will reside in a small metal box embellished with transfers and plaster. Learn multiple techniques to transfer images onto plaster, gesso, and metal, and then take each transfer to a finished work of art. You - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0918o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0918o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0918o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Spirit Protectors: Metal Figurative Assemblage](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0917l/) - I created my first Spirit Protectors during a difficult time in my life, and can’t seem to stop—I want to share with you! On day one, I’ll teach my favorite surface design techniques on metal: leaf printing, faux etching, texturizing, and metal transfers, and we’ll prepare our bases & create cool, funky faces. On day - [Make a Bent Willow Chair](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0912c/) - Bring a bit of enchantment and nature into your home with a bent willow chair. Tor will bring plenty of green willow and lead you through the process of making a rustic bent willow chair using only hand tools. At the end of the workshop you will have a beautiful, handcrafted piece of furniture to - [Enamel Buffet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0912j/) - Enamel is glass fused to a metal base using a kiln. It’s deeply colorful, shiny, and it’s fun to make jewelry from this contemporary medium with an ancient past. Leslie will teach you how to apply the glass, fire it in the kiln, and show you several simple techniques that make a big impact on - [Journaling the Inner Journey: Writing Toward Wholeness](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0911p/) - Words hold the power to uncover truths, heal wounds, and illuminate the path forward. This writing-focused retreat invites you to explore meaningful dialogue with your inner self through reflective journaling, mindfulness practices, and meditation. Journaling the Inner Journey is designed for anyone who wishes to deepen their writing practice as a tool for self-inquiry and - [Time Is On My Side](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0911l/) - By connecting the past lives of objects with our own lives, we can build art that explores issues like memory, nostalgia, history, or the nature of time itself. All found objects have a story to tell. It is up to us to save them from being lost to time. Gary will provide assorted clock bodies - [Art Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0829b/) - No prior welding experience is necessary to create your own metal sculpture using a combination of fabrication and welding techniques. This class will expand your knowledge of welding and sculpture design as you make your own personalized art. Collect any pieces of steel you would like to work with: old tools, shovels, scraps, anything a - [Art Adventure | Mending Hearts: Stitching Recycled Fibers Into Sculpture](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0823l-a/) - This intensive workshop explores trauma, loss, hopes, and dreams. You will create 3-D fiber sculptures through wrapping and meditative stitches. Thread, needle, and fabric become vehicles that aid the repair of our lost and broken hearts. Learn to transform personal grief and longing into powerful pieces of art. You are encouraged to bring broken objects, - [Art Adventure | Wet My Plants](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0822j-a/) - Join Micah to explore this multi layered process showcasing native plants. In this workshop, participants will learn basic design compositions and color theory. We will then learn stenciling techniques and image transfer as we easily apply botanical images. We will then use gels and pastes in order to add depth and texture including media like - [Art Adventure | Death’s Head Moth Ornament](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0822spm-a/) - They aren’t scary until you look closely! We will create moth ornaments with skull beads for heads, wrapped and sewn bodies and fabric wings. They will hang from wire halos and can be as lively or ghostly as your choices of fabric. Materials fee includes: skull beads, wire, sticks to support body, glue, permanent glue - [Art Adventure | Medals for Everyday Valor](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0822sam-a/) - Using a wealth of scraps and bits and bobs we will create wearable fabric medals for ourselves and others to recognize and celebrate everyday valor. Fabric, beads, ribbons, and charms are hand stitched to a backing fabric and a large safety pin or pin back. Materials fee includes: pin backs/large safety pins, permanent glue stick, - [Art Adventure | Layer by Layer: Creating Depth and Color with Encaustic](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0822n-a/) - Dive into the possibilities of encaustic through transparent layering and optical color mixing. Using encaustic medium and transparent paints, build depth and vibrancy with sheer layers, nuanced fusing, and mark making—allowing colors and details to interact and shift when seen through the wax. We’ll begin with demonstrations on preparing panels, controlling transparency, and creating overlays - [Art Adventure | Soul Houses](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0822l-a/) - What is a home? It is our foundation, our sense of self, of being, an intimate space where we store memory. Soul Houses is a way to create assemblages from found objects that help us as creators tap into the sense of security and place that houses create. They are a safe haven for your - [Art Adventure | Mixed Media Watercolors](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0821j-a/) - Join Micah for this fresh new approach integrating collage and texture with watercolor. We will be using a series of landscape images to clip, tear and paint our way through a foundation. We will then learn the secrets of QoR Light Dimensional Ground as an amazing layering process we can then embellish with watercolor using - [Art Adventure | Botanical Paper Embroidery](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0821s-a/) - Unleash your creativity and discover the captivating art of paper embroidery! In this class, you’ll learn the fundamental techniques of this unique craft, transforming paper into works of art with needle, thread and dried botanical cuttings. We’ll focus on creating beautiful geometric botanical designs. You’ll be guided step-by-step through an easy-to-learn pattern, perfect for beginners. - [Art Adventure | Inside/Outside Boxes](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0821n-a/) - Using cigar boxes and a variety of mixed media materials we will create self-portraits that explore how we express ourselves, both in our public persona by embellishing the outside of the box with representative images, objects, and text, and our inner lives on the inside of the box with other representations. The result is a - [Art Adventure | Beguiling Beads](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0821e-a/) - In this fun class we will not only learn the basics of fiber and paper bead construction using geometric patterns to make varied shapes and sizes, but we will also experiment with selecting intriguing patterns of fabric and paper. Finally we’ll get extravagant and play with embellishing our beads with fiber, yarn, lace, wire, beads - [Art Adventure | Possibilities of the Gel Plate](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0820j-a/) - Explore a variety of possibilities using slow drying acrylics, stencil and gel plate. We will begin the session warming up and creating prints using techniques like wiping, stenciling, stamping and more while learning about color combinations. Learn monotype processes where we print layers one color at a time for dreamy dimensional effect. We will spend - [Art Adventure | Moving Into Three Dimensions](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0820s-a/) - If you like painting, collage, drawing, mixed media or assemblage, this is an opportunity to enlarge your story by expanding from two dimensions into three. In this fun workshop, we will take our images and mark making and apply them onto three dimensional wooden forms, experimenting with how to connect them visually and thematically. You - [Art Adventure | Lovely Landscape](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0820i-a/) - Celebrate a broad view of the natural world…with fabric and more! Whether you love a lush woodland, tidy farm fields, an austere desert, or an evocative seascape, by layering strips of colorful printed and solid fabrics, you’ll create a flowing foundation for a pictorial celebration of our environment. We’ll explore and apply the pertinent elements - [Introduction to Oil Painting](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1031s/) - This workshop will give you a foundation in oil painting through a series of exercises that will introduce and reinforce the fundamentals of the craft. Open to all experience levels and beginner friendly, instruction is tailored to your individual needs. Learn several different approaches to oil painting, including grisaille and alla prima. Tackle the mysteries - [Flights of Fancy: Mixed Media With Acrylic and Colored Pencil](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1024s/) - Using photo references from nature, you will accomplish finished work with beginning grid drawing techniques, acrylic base layering and detail work with colored pencil, acrylic paint, and acrylic medium glazes. Inspired by Anthony’s work, you will be encouraged to use reality as a basis to expand your own personal style. Class size 12 Level Intermediate and above - [Moku Hanga: An Intro to Japanese Woodblock Printing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1023l/) - Moku Hanga, meaning “wood print,” is a simple, centuries-old Japanese technique employing water-based ink, basic carving and rubbing tools, beautiful Japanese paper, and fine-grained wood. Many Western printmaking methods involve complex printing presses, oil-based inks, and toxic solvents. By contrast, Moku Hanga utilizes only a few simple tools, a small work space, and is entirely - [How to Make Interesting Messes on the Page: A Workshop in Revision](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1018p/) - Intended for writers who have been struggling with drafts of poems, stories or other writing that just…isn’t…working yet. In this workshop (or “playshop,” to use Elizabeth Shepley’s term), you will explore several different playful techniques for revising and revisioning material. The emphasis is on hands-on revision techniques, open-ended possibility, idea generation and imagining in new - [Three Questions & A Poem](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1017p/) - In this workshop, we start by asking three questions and then listening in three different directions: to the more-than-human world, to each other, and to ourselves to generate new writing. By the end of the workshop, you will have material for poems, essays or new stories and a greater understanding of the framework for lyric - [Introduction to Etching, Texturing and Cold Connections](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1017j/) - Learn the art of etching and texturing metal to create earrings, pendants and bracelet components. We will explore cold connections, a way to attach two pieces of metal without soldering. Experiment with a variety of texture mats and hammers to create unique finishes on copper, brass and nickel silver. We will show you a riveting - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1011o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Fine Silver Rings in a Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1011n/) - Create your own unique .999 pure silver ring using fine silver metal clay and wear it home. Learn the techniques to size, form, refine, embellish and set afire in place cubic zirconia into your ring. Make your ring as plain or glitzy as you wish, with or without a stone. After it’s fired and polished, - [5 Acrylic Paintings in a Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1011l/) - An artist really learns to paint when given the freedom to let go of a subject and the expectations of a single painting. This class will help you do this through repetition and technique. Painting the same subject five times, you will learn experimentation and be challenged to find ways to rediscover the subject. The - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1010o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1010o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1010o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Fine Silver Link Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1010j/) - In this class you will form both the links and toggle attachment from fine silver metal clay using your choice of design and shape. After shaping, drying, drilling holes and refining and firing, you will attach them with sterling jump rings and polish, then patina if desired. You will be able to wear your beautiful - [Scrap Metal Horse](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1010b/) - Create a unique horse sculpture from assorted recycled materials. This course will teach beginner fabrication, welding and metal forming. You will be using tools such as, angle grinder, bench vise and MiG welder. Run wild while posing your horse however you’d like. This fun project will have you saying yay! Not nay. Class size 4 Level Beginner - [No-Mordant Natural Dyes: Indigo, Kakishibu, Iron Buff and Tea](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1010s/) - Most natural dyes require preparing the fabric with mordants to get the dyes to bond with the fabric. Skip those steps by using the few natural dyes out there that really and truly work without a mordant! Colors we can achieve include lovely blues, rich browns, rusty oranges and smokey grays. Use shibori and adire - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1009o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1009o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1009o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Floating Collage: Composition Big & Little](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1007l/) - In this workshop we will first explore the making of our own unique papers. Repurposing found papers to create new marks and designs. Allowing our outer to inspire the inner works of assembling the mixture of mind and materials. This will involve the use of many tools that may flash us back to our younger - [Urban Sketching Explorations](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1004c/) - Urban Sketching is about capturing time and place while connecting with others through the seemingly solitary act of sketching. In this workshop, we’ll explore the fundamentals of sketching on location from observation, then take things a step further—incorporating creative elements inspired by our wanderings. Experiment with prompts, create page backgrounds, and use found materials to - [Art Parts Heart](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1003b/) - First, you’ll bend flat material into a heart shaped frame. Now comes the real fun! Dig through the scrap bins to find the perfect bits and pieces to fill your heart. Express yourself in metal and learn to fabricate a heart on a steel base or as a wall hanging piece. Materials Fee includes: metal, - [Market Basket](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1003s/) - This beginner level basket has lots of uses. Woven with natural reeds that are accented with dyed reed of your choice, and a wrapped handle that sets off the basket. Finished basket measures 12 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 7 inches high. All tools needed for the class are provided. Materials Fee includes: all - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Gemstone & Wire Pendant](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/ms0426/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point Make a beautiful necklace for yourself or a loved one. Pat will teach you how to work with 20 gauge wire, make a double bail, and help you design your pendant using a gemstone, accent beads, findings, and wire. All tools and materials - [Mixed Media Fiber Jewelry](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1002j/) - Are you an equal opportunity maker? Like to experiment with handwork? Save your scraps for “something cool”? Bring your fabric scraps, floss, and beads and join us for a weekend of mixed media fiber jewelry. Turn your flotsam and jetsam into beautiful new treasures. Do you have an odd found object or broken jewelry parts - [Trick’r Treat ](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/trickr-treat26/) - If you are a kid or want to act like a kid – put on your wildest costume and come to Shake Rag Alley! Children of all ages will meet friendly (not scary) costumed characters who will be passing out Halloween treats at each of the Shake Rag historic buildings. This Mineral Point tradition is - [Knitting 101: Basketweave Scarf](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1114e/) - Learn how to cast on, and basic knit and purl stitches. You can go easy (with a garter stitch scarf), or use those two stitches to make a basketweave pattern. All you need is two needles (size 7, 8, or 9), and patience—Christina will bring a variety of yarn. We’ll learn and knit together, and - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1108o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Holiday Gourd Penguins](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1108sam/) - This is a unique holiday decoration that can remain on display throughout the entire winter! Using a tall penguin gourd, you will paint a pattern with matching material for the base and scarf. Penguin gourds range in height and can sit on a fireplace mantel or wherever you need a little whimsy. Materials Fee includes - [International Santa Claus Gourd Vases](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1108spm/) - This class will have you creating your own heritage Santa. (I have created 23 different Santa gourd vases featured throughout the world!) You may select from any of the following: African, Baltic, Belgian, British, Canadian, Filipino, French, Germany, Greek, Hungary, Irish, Italian, New Zealand, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, Ukraine, USA, Welsh, or Yugoslavia - [Beginning Figure Drawing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1108gl/) - Learn how to move beyond the stick figure and make dynamic, engaging figure drawings in this fast-paced, energetic class. Working from live models, we’ll use several tried-and-true methods that will dissolve fears and instill confidence, setting you on your way toward more perceptive investigations of the human form. While this is a course designed for - [Intermediate Glass Bead Making](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1108l/) - The next step in glass bead making is here! You’ll learn complex stringers, incorporating silver metal into glass for special effects, encasing with clear glass to add beauty and magnification, sparkle, and shine. Explore precision and organic free style design of letting glass flow into layers of molten glass. Learn about reduction flame; reducing fuel - [Perfect Placemat Pairs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1108i/) - Yes, you can make placemats…two at a time! Employing the same tools, materials, and techniques as we use for rag rugs, you will choose your colors from our huge stash of fabrics and then weave strips of that cloth on a sturdy pre-warped loom. You’ll go home with several pairs of placemats. All materials are - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1107o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1107o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Felted Christmas Gnomes](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1107e/) - Learn how to wet and needle felt by making a Christmas gnome. Great to place on a mantel or hung from your Christmas tree. Kati will briefly introduce the history of felting and provide examples modern day felted items. This workshop is a great introduction to the ancient art of wet felting—you will learn how - [Temari Ball Ornament](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1107c/) - Temari are a traditional Japanese craft of patience and love, where fabric balls are decorated with intricate and eye-catching embroidered designs. The origins of Temari date 1,400 years ago and were first used as a children’s toy made from old fabric and rice hulls. Over time Temari became a symbol of love and well wishes. - [Beginning Glass Bead Making](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1107l/) - Julie will demonstrate how to make glass beads in the small flame of a torch. You will learn heat control, different techniques and styles, the basics of hot head torch set up and safety. Round beads will be made first. Next, you’ll pull glass stringers from the glass rod to use for decorative details such - [Holiday Pin Loom Weaving](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1107s/) - Learn to weave on a pin loom and make two delightful holiday decorations. For the Christmas Tree Ornament, you’ll weave three small squares then combine them on a wooden dowel and embellish with beads and bows. You’ll also make Gnorman the Gnome—a delightful fellow that you can make from woven squares. You’ll learn to weave - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1106o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1106o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1106o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Create Sparkling Dichroic Glass Beads in the Flame](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1106l/) - Discover the magic of working with fire and glass as you learn to make color-shifting, radiant beads using dichroic (dicro) glass—a mesmerizing metal-oxide coated glass known for its shimmering, holographic colors. In this hands-on class, you’ll melt and shape COE 104 glass rods in the torch flame, then layer in clear and black dichroic glass - [Pebble Weave Scarf](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1102o/) - Make a “pebble weave” scarf while you learn all of the basics of weaving on a 4-harness floor loom. Then you can do it and so much more at home on your own. On day one we’ll wind a 3 yard warp, 10″ wide and thread it onto the loom. Day two is dessert! It’s - [Santa Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/santa-day26/) - Save the date of December 5! Photos with Santa are a holiday tradition at Shake Rag Alley. Visit our historic campus for photos, holiday craft-making, and sweet treats. Fun for the entire family! Please purchase an appointment for each activity and each child participating. Stay tuned for more details! - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1205o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1205o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1205o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1206o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1204o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1204o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r1204o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Art Adventure](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/artadventure26/) - Treat yourself to four days of fun & exploration with assemblage, fiber, encaustic, collage, gel plates, found objects, painting & paper! From half-day to multi-day workshops, make a weekend where you can meditatively stitch, and work with boxes that can’t possibly contain all you are! 14 workshops with 9 talented instructors from across the country - [Beginning Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0815b/) - Learn the basics of a gas forge; handling hammers, tongs, and anvil; and working iron into points, loops, and twists for useful objects such as drawer handles, plant hangers, and a variety of hooks. This is a beginning class but intermediate students are welcome to review their skills and try more complex projects. Class size 8 - [Memory Scroll](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0815s/) - Memorabilia saved from past generations or a special trip or event can be preserved and displayed artfully. Suzi will guide you through the process of collaging your special items into a scroll that can be displayed, or rolled up into a compact piece of history to be passed down through future generations. Materials Fee includes - [Bird Nest Fabric Vessel](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0814s/) - Students will create a 3-dimensional bird’s nest using both weaving and hand stitching techniques.Suzi will provide a kit of fibers, feathers, threads and props used to make the nest, and written directions. Additional nests can be made at home by supplying new fibers and threads. These little nests make charming gifts. Class size 12 Level Beginner and - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0812i/) - Weave an authentic “rag” rug on a heavy-duty vintage loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 27″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from our huge stash of new and upcycled fabric! The looms are warped and ready - [Botanical Gel Plate Printing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0811s/) - We will begin our botanical journey by gathering plant materials from the beautiful Shake Rag Campus. Then it’s back to the studio to play with paints and the gel plate. Even beginners can get amazingly detailed results from the botanicals. We will print lots of plant material the first day, then create a beautiful 8″ - [Introduction to Cyanotype](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0808s/) - Cyanotype is an early photographic printing process yielding beautiful prussian blue prints on hand coated paper. A brief history of the process will start the activities before coating paper, gathering material from the garden (feel free to bring your own inspirational items from home to use, including lace doilies, pressed flowers, or other FLAT or - [A Lily from the Fire](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0808b/) - In this 2-day class, we’ll be making a decorative piece consisting of two or more lilies fixed in a round base. We’ll be bringing the lilies to life by shaping, texturing, and bending metal using a gas forge, anvil and hammers. While each of you will start with the same pieces of iron, each lily - [Spring Garage Sale Fundraiser](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/springgaragesale26/) - It's that time of year again—we're ready for your garage sale donations of furniture, housewares, art, art & craft supplies, books, & other wonderfulness (no clothes or electronics please!). Our annual garage sale is April 9-11 (yes—we are doing Thursday this year!), and sales support operating expenses for our arts & crafts nonprofit. The - [Makers & Shakers Art Party: Approaching Drawing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/ms0326/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point Join Scherbarth Artist in Residence Colette Wright Adams for our first Makers & Shakers of 2026. This will be an engaging evening of meditation, hand-relaxing techniques, and traditional observational drawing skills. Participants will join Colette in black and white drawing from life using pencil and - [Watercolor From the Beginning Part V- Form & Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0807l/) - For beginner or experienced watercolor painters, this workshop will focus on building form, choosing colors that harmonize, as well as, painting shadows and backgrounds. You are encouraged to bring objects to paint, and we’ll make simple attainable compositions with fruit and vegetables, or challenge ourselves with crystal and silver. Tips on painting flowers, vases and water - [Watercolor From the Beginning Part lV- Components of the Landscape](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0806l/) - One, two and three point perspective will be covered along with demonstrations on capturing sky, clouds, water, trees, grass and rocks to help you gain mastery over the elements of a landscape. You will spend time practicing and then work in the field and/or from photographs to create works of art. This is one in a series - [Watercolor From the Beginning Part lll- Constructing the Landscape](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0805l/) - This class will focus on the elements of composition and how to use them to make compelling work. A demonstration on dividing the planes and assigning value, color and textures to them, will give you an in-depth understanding of constructing a landscape. You will work in the field and/or from photographs putting that knowledge into practice. This is - [Watercolor From the Beginning Part ll – Color](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0804l/) - Cultivate your ability to perceive color and start to learn the vocabulary by playing with color cards. Through a series of exercises you will learn to mix color and be able to see and strategically use color temperature in your work. Color matching and building form will give you direction in finding color solutions. This is - [Watercolor From the Beginning Part l – Technique](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0803l/) - Learn everything you need to know about watercolor paper and the four characteristics of watercolor paint. Through a series of exercises you will achieve full saturation, execute dark to light gradient washes, build color with glazes, let the paint bleed, use dry brush technique, lift paint, use masking and learn special tricks unique to watercolor - [Fine Silver & Dichroic Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0802j/) - In this fun class you will combine dichroic glass, which has an ethereal, sparkly, and opal-like quality with silver metal clay to make amazing fine silver and glass pendants. Although our studio kiln is necessary to work with silver metal clay and glass, Sherry & Holly will demonstrate torch firing so you can continue to - [The Art of Sashiko Drafting](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0801l/) - Welcome to the Art of Sashiko. Sashiko is what we do to textiles before mending is needed! The first portion of the workshop begins with an overview of Sashiko, a demo of Unshin and a pre-printed design, making it easier to follow and grow in confidence with your hand-stitching rhythm as we move to the - [Rustic Garden Wood Bench](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0801c/) - This class is the perfect entry for novices into the world of rustic woodworking. We will be working with cedar, a material that is more environmentally favorable and longer lasting than pine and chemically treated lumber. We will also discuss upcycling old cedar boards into new project ideas. You will learn about cut sheets, blueprints - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0801o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Fine Silver Leaves & Pods from the Garden](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0801j/) - Transform leaves or small pods into fine silver jewelry using silver metal paste and clay in this exciting one day class. Sherry and Holly will demonstrate the process, from collecting appropriate organic material, then preparing and/or storing that material, all the way to completing a fine silver piece of jewelry. Learn to make bails and - [Brush and Block](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0801s/) - This workshop explores the possibilities of mixing the flow of watercolor with the structure and rhythm of block printing. The first part of the day we will experiment with different watercolor techniques to create exciting backgrounds and atmospheres. The second half will focus on creating interesting shapes in linoleum and carving texture, and then layer - [Japanese Boro Mending](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0731l/) - Inspired by the Japanese hand-stitching “Boro” tradition of mending, we will use improvisation and hand-stitching to create rich textures that pay homage to the upcycle and reuse movement. Mottainai means “taking good care of things with respect, making it last long, not wasting and re-appreciating” (Selvedge: the fabric of your life, Issue 81 Japan Blue). - [Creative Metamorphosis: Design & Hand-Stitching](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0730l/) - We will begin with surface design by block printing using traditional Indian wooden blocks and found objects, on paper and cloth with permanent water-based textile ink to explore our creative voices. With sustainability principles in mind, we will discuss printing on garments to prolong their wear and add visual interest. In the second portion of - [Exotic Mosaic Tile](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0725s/) - Create a beautiful eclectic objet d’ art, combining an array of various types of glass and vintage or costume jewelry on a large ceramic tile in this two-day class. We will work with small, colorful glass tiles, Van Gogh glass, stained glass, mirror glass, and deconstructed jewelry. You will learn basic glass-cutting techniques (it’s remarkably - [Feathered Friends](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0724s/) - Have you ever thought about “Frankensteining” your own feathered friend? Probably not . . . but it’s really fun! In this workshop, you’ll be supplied a weighted owl base with a Styrofoam head attached . . . which will serve as the core of your piece. Using air dry paper clay you’ll sculpt your dream - [Woodlanders Gathering](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/woodlanders-gathering26/) - Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced craftsperson, you are in for an incredibly fun and creative time with more than 30 nature-based workshops to choose from, and talented instructors who love returning to the gathering to share their creativity. Create rustic furniture from sturdy benches to whimsical side tables, garden-inspired pottery, or leather projects; - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0713o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Kinetic Artist Books: Motion, Fold, & Form](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0712s/) - Explore the playful possibilities of kinetic artist books—structures that move, unfold, and transform. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to create two dynamic book forms: an origami star book that opens into a sculptural shape, and a pop-up accordion book with surprising dimensional elements. Using drawing, watercolor and mixed media, you’ll bring your books to - [Tunnel Book Workshop: Create a World in Layers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0711s/) - Discover the magic of tunnel books—three-dimensional, layered paper scenes that create depth and surprise. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to design and construct your own tunnel book using cut paper, collage, and drawing techniques. We’ll explore narrative, visual storytelling, and perspective as you build a miniature world that unfolds through layers. Whether whimsical, abstract, - [Large Mosaic Planter](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0711c/) - Create a beautiful large mosaic planter, turning a plain clay or ceramic pot into a true showcase for potted annuals. We will use hammer and plates to make shards and caulk adhesive for a heavy duty vessel that will stand up to the elements and provide true visual delight. We will grout on day two. - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0711i/) - Weave an authentic “rag” rug on a heavy-duty vintage loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 27″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from our huge stash of new and upcycled fabric! The looms are warped and ready - [Zine Making Workshop: Share Your Voice in Print](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0710s/) - A zine is a small, do-it-yourself publication used to express your passions, ideas, and identity. Design and create your own zine using black-and-white media, which will then be copied and hand-colored using a variety of materials. Sandra will share her personal collection of zines and introduce you to the rich, rebellious history of zine-making—from punk - [Creating from Castoffs: Fiber as Sculpture](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0709l/) - In this hands-on workshop, recycled textiles and found objects become the foundation for expressive, sculptural 3-dimensional creations. Explore how discarded materials—old clothing, linens, and everyday objects—can be re-imagined into meaningful artworks that reflect personal stories and creative freedom. Through intuitive processes and guided techniques such as knotting, wrapping, stitching, and cordage-making, you’ll learn to unlock - [Wonderful Waffle Weave](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0626s/) - Waffle weave has a distinctive texture, making it both absorbent and reversible. We’ll be starting from scratch—winding and threading enough yardage to make four 100% cotton hand towels. The towel’s ends are finished with an elegant but sturdy bound weave, in a contrasting color if you choose. You’ll come away from this session with that - [Circus of the Curious and the Misbegotten](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0625l/) - Step right up, my fine and freakish friends! Behind this tent flap lies wonders—a traveling troupe of curious souls and misbegotten marvels, built from bits and bones of forgotten things. We’ll create our own sideshow icons: part saint, part scoundrel, all spectacular. Using found objects, sculptural materials, and acrylic paint, we’ll conjure a carnival of - [Cartonnage: Creating a Classic Tool Box](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0619l/) - Step into the joyful world of cartonnage and transform simple materials into a beautiful, functional work of art! In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how to craft a stunning classic toolbox using sturdy bookboard, elegant bookcloth, and gorgeous Chiyogami papers. Perfect for holding your favorite treasures—whether bookbinding tools, embroidery supplies, Zentangle pens, or journaling essentials—this - [Introduction to Cartonnage](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0618l/) - Cartonnage is the art of turning simple cardboard into beautiful, useful creations—and it’s easier than you might think! In this introductory class, you’ll learn the essential steps of cutting, building, and covering, transforming flat pieces into a sturdy handmade object. Along the way, you’ll get to play with lovely papers, add your own creative touches, - [Make a Bent Willow Chair](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0613c2/) - Bring a bit of enchantment and nature into your home with a bent willow chair. Tor will bring plenty of green willow and lead you through the process of making a rustic bent willow chair using only hand tools. At the end of the workshop you will have a beautiful, handcrafted piece of furniture to - [Sense of Place: A Photo–Encaustic Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0612l/) - Capture the unique architecture of Mineral Point, and Shake Rag Alley’s gardens, and explore the dialogue between photography and wax. This workshop gives you time and space to capture the visually interesting—to use the landscape as both subject and material. We will transform images through the luminous depth of encaustic. Photograph aged wood, historic buildings, - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0609i/) - Weave an authentic “rag” rug on a heavy-duty vintage loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 27″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from our huge stash of new and upcycled fabric! The looms are warped and ready - [Reborn Jeans: Create Custom Clothing With Paint & Bleach](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0606e-593/) - When your cherished denim has seen better days or could use a creative facelift, embrace the opportunity to create unique personal statements using bleach and paint. Begin your adventure by watching “Riveted: The History of Jeans.” Afterward, take pencil and paper to create a design that beautifully speaks to who you are, or choose a - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0606o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Creating a Watercolor Travel Journal](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0606s/) - How many vacation photos are on your phone that you never look at again? Come take a fun, hands-on workshop on making a keepsake watercolor travel journal that you’ll cherish! You’ll learn the basics of working with watercolors, and then use your own photos to start your journal. Everything is taught step by step in - [Regalia: The Art of Ornamental Portraits](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0604l/) - Adornment as power: A headdress of roots and antlers, a crown of impossible flowers, a face framed like ancient architecture, regalia tells a story about identity. Working large to make an impact (16×20″ to 18×24″), merge photography with painted, drawn, stenciled, and collaged ornamentation. Learn to construct luminous surfaces, creating depth with glazes and mediums, - [Anytime, Anywhere: Urban Sketching Basics](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0531s/) - Urban Sketching is about capturing time and place while connecting with others through the seemingly solitary act of sketching. In this introductory workshop, we’ll explore the basics of sketching on location from observation in the beautiful, historic setting of Mineral Point. We’ll spread out across various spots in the Historic Downtown area, so comfortable walking - [Watercolor Collage: Enlightened Fauna](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0531l/) - This workshop will focus on the techniques of paper collage with watermedia. Our subjects will be fauna set in a whimsical enlightened theme using watercolor, gouache, and acrylic. You’ll be able to handprint images from my personal hand carved stamps for collage. Learn how to use values to determine color choice placements for collage and - [Irreverent Embroidery](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0530e/) - If you’ve got something to say and have been looking for the perfect way to say it, may we suggest some chain stitches and French knots? Why knot, right? Jonna and Christina will provide an embroidery primer to learn (or refresh) your skills, a horde of vintage hankies & textiles, hoops, needles, thread & floss, - [Watercolor Biomorphic](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0530l/) - Explore abstraction with simplified flora shapes, textures, and colors. Watercolors that are dropped-in provide harmonious glowing fusions of color on paper. Dropped-in color refers to a loaded brush with water and paint. The brush just touches the wet paper surface, and paint will spread incredible fusions of color with hardly any effort at all. We’ll - [Blacksmithing for Beginners: Fire and Hammers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0530b/) - Have you ever wanted to dip your toes (metaphorically … no actual toe-dipping allowed) into the world of blacksmithing? Join us for two days of fire and hammers. Learn the basics of blacksmithing using a gas forge. Learn tapers, curls, twists, and shaping red-hot metal into functional tool or art. Time allowing, we’ll be making - [Color Pencil Beasties](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0529l/) - Animals make us laugh and bring contentment to our lives. Spend the day creating imaginative color pencil portraits of assorted beasties. Don’t worry about drawing abilities. This is about learning to see, blending colors and layering to create depth and saturation of color. Pencil technique demos include blending, hatching, directional lines, and burnishing. Giving permission - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0517i/) - Weave an authentic “rag” rug on a heavy-duty vintage loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 27″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from our huge stash of new and upcycled fabric! The looms are warped and ready - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0517o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0516o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0516o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0516o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0515o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0515o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0515o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Jewelry Boot Camp Showcase](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/jewelry-boot-camp-showcase26/) - Shop the Friday night JBC Showcase—special creations by our instructors, students, and volunteers. It’s a sparkling celebration of the Shake Rag Alley community! - [Writing Retreat: Don’t Shoot Yourself in the Foot: Submitting Your Book with an Editor’s Eye](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0517l-c/) - Submitting your manuscript can be one of the most intimidating parts of getting your work into the world, in part because publishers’ acquisitions processes are often opaque. In this workshop, writers will participate in guided activities to learn about what agents and publishing houses are commonly looking for. Writers will also have the opportunity to - [Writing Retreat: Drag Queens And Car Crashes: The “Big Turn”](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0516l-c/) - This generative workshop explores how to rebel against expectations in our writing—those thrilling moments when a narrative swerves into unexpected meaning. We’ll study how writers build tension and then subvert it in order to challenge, throw off, and transform our understanding of the work, before creating drafts alongside guided prompts that aim to develop our - [Writing Retreat: Faculty Reading & Open Mic](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/writing-retreat-openmic26/) - Join us at Republic of Letters, 151 High St., at 7 pm for social time and a reading by the Mining Your Stories Writing Retreat faculty: Lydi Conklin Dasha Kelly Tamara Dean Han Raschka Adam al-Sirgany FREE & Open to the Public - [Writing Retreat: Generative Fiction Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0515n-c-1/) - In this workshop we will focus on craft techniques around crafting scenes that have emotional impact. Daily prompts will lead to short scenes that we will workshop in class, and we will study short readings to help develop basic craft elements. This workshop is part of the Writing Retreat. For more retreat information, visit: - [Writing Retreat: Adding Dimensions to Creative Nonfiction](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0515s-c-1/) - Powerful essays and memoirs stretch beyond the lives and events they depict. In this workshop, you’ll explore several techniques for expanding the dimensions of your creative nonfiction, including speculation, research, structural invention, and stylistic innovation. We’ll take inspiration from authors such as Jo Ann Beard, Ross Gay, Maxine Hong Kingston, Claudia Rankine, and Jesmyn Ward. - [Writing Retreat: A Line Meant Poetry Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0515c-c/) - One line of poetry can work like a spell, conjuring a memory for one person and pulling gospel from someone else. Join Dasha for a session of curation, creation and a poetic conversation. You will imagine new works and explore fresh project ideas in this generative workshop for writers at all levels, inspired by Kelly’s - [Smokey Market Basket](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0509s/) - This versatile basket is a beginner level class. The basket is woven with smoked reed that contrasts with the natural reed. Finished basket measures 12 inches long, 10 inches wide, and 6 inches high. All tools needed for the class are provided. Materials Fee includes: all reeds needed to make the basket. Class size 10 Level Beginner - [Jewelry Boot Camp](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26jbc/) - Jewelry Boot Camp is the perfect way to kick off a summer of creativity! Explore 13 different workshops with 8 different jewelry artists. Treat yourself with a handmade gift you create. Shop the Friday night JBC Showcase—special creations by our instructors, students, and volunteers. It’s a sparkling celebration of the Shake Rag Alley community! Registration - [Perfect Placemat Pairs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0425i/) - Yes, you can make placemats…two at a time! Employing the same tools, materials, and techniques as we use for rag rugs, you will choose your colors from our huge stash of fabrics and then weave strips of that cloth on a sturdy pre-warped loom. You’ll go home with several pairs of placemats. All materials are - [Paper & Book Camp 2.0](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0424l/) - Paper! Alter old, new, and found papers with masking, wrapping, sewing, ink drawings, tea dying, and stenciling. Our first tea-dyed batches will focus on layering, masking, wrapping, leaf masks, and ink/wax contact prints. As we wait for the papers to cure and dry, we’ll design cover options and create collage/sewn elements. After ironing the first - [Coppersmithing 101](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0424c/) - Learn how to work with copper and take home four handsome finished pieces. Vickie “Doc” Schertz has been sharing her coppersmithing skills for several years and welcomes beginners as well as those with some experience. You’ll learn how to move, manipulate, and reshape copper. The four projects include a 3” x 4” copper “coupon” to - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0419o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0418o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0418o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Introduction to Gas Forge Blacksmithing: The Basics](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0418b/) - We will begin with an in-depth introduction to the gas forge—covering everything from safety, setting up the propane tank valves, starting procedures, heating techniques, efficient usage, and finally how to shut down the forge safely. We’ll cover available tools, such as the belt sander, band saw, wheel grinder and drill press, and proper use of - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0418o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Temari Earrings & Pendants](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0418c/) - Temari are a traditional Japanese craft of patience and love, where thread or fabric balls are decorated with intricate and eye-catching embroidered designs. The origins of Temari date back about 1,400 years ago first used as a children’s toy made from old fabric and rice hulls. Over time Temari became an ultimate symbol of love - [Pink Eraser Block Printing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0418e/) - Make art using pink erasers! You’ll learn how to sketch and carve your designs into erasers, then ink and stamp them onto paper. Your carved designs can be used to make tiny art prints, greeting cards, gift tags, for art journaling, and more. Bring carving tools if you have them, but we will have some - [Oil & Cold Wax Exploratory](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0418l/) - Explore through instructor-led demos, and individual guidance—techniques that are fun, creative, and only limited by imagination. We will use printmaking methods, mark making, and add textures. What is hidden under layers will be uncovered by scraping, scratching, gouging, and the use of solvents. There are no mistakes in this class, only results yet to be - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0417o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0417o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0417o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Beginning Foundation Paper Piecing: Tiny Quilt Blocks](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0411s/) - Foundation paper piecing (FPP) allows you to sew precise, tiny quilt blocks with ease. This is a great way to use up small quilting cotton fabric scraps. In this workshop you’ll learn the basics of FPP, using a sewing machine to create three palm-sized quilt blocks that could be used in other projects, patches, or - [The Poetry of Motion: Kinetic Earrings Intensive](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0410j/) - Are you ready to play with fire? To add dimension, texture, and movement to your jewelry creations? Let’s make some dynamic earrings that dance and sway. In this action-packed workshop, I will show you how to make a variety of hollow forms, from open to textured to scrappy, how to bezel set rose cut gemstones - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0408i/) - Weave an authentic “rag” rug on a heavy-duty vintage loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 27″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from our huge stash of new and upcycled fabric! The looms are warped and ready - [More Drawing for Beginners](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0329gl/) - Have you always wanted to learn to draw? Here’s your chance! We’ll explore several media and techniques in a fun, friendly and stimulating environment. Get ready to experiment with colored pencils and ink. Materials Fee includes: papers and drawing materials. Class size 7 Level Beginner and above Student Supply List Students should bring a small sketchbook, about 12 - [Write A Song!](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0328c/) - Learn how to write a song from initial inspiration to completion. We will cover creative flow, song structure, lyric and music writing in a supportive setting. Over the day you will collaborate on song ideas, and then begin writing your own song solo or with others as you prefer. By the end you will have - [Inkle Weaving](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0328s/) - On day one, you’ll weave a lovely Latvian Flower pattern on the Inkle loom. On day two, you’ll choose your favorite colors, and then design and weave a beautiful band. During the workshop, you’ll learn how to set up the loom and weave a band that you can use as a belt, bag strap or - [Creative Combination: Watercolor & Acrylic](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0327l/) - Good painters are first good designers. Learn concepts that allow you to find strong abstract shapes in your scenes. We will learn about the different types of contrasts and how they add drama to your painting. The workshop will focus on painting like a printmaker—finding and constructing negative shapes to create mosaic-like paintings using watercolor - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Marcia Bjornerud & Rebecca Jamieson](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/wwwrsbjornerudjamieson/) - Join us at The Mineral Point Public Library, 137 High St., on March 26 for a program (details forthcoming) presented by: -Marcia BjornerudWisconsin Writers Blei/Derleth Nonfiction Book Award winner -Rebecca JamiesonWisconsin Writers Kay W. Levin Short Nonfiction Award winner Learn more by visiting the Winter Writers Reading Series event page:https://shakeragalley.org/writers-reading-series/ - [Make a Bent Willow Chair](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0321c/) - Bring a bit of enchantment and nature into your home with a bent willow chair. Tor will bring plenty of green willow and lead you through the process of making a rustic bent willow chair using only hand tools. At the end of the workshop you will have a beautiful, handcrafted piece of furniture to - [In One’s Pocket](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0321l/) - Join Kristin in a mixed media papery menagerie. In this two-day class, we will be making zine-type books full of color, stitching, drips, art marks, folds, and creativity—paper pockets full of goodness! Our zine pages will be filled with exploratory drips and dribbles, stenciled or stamped, sewn fabric bits, art marks, collage, found words, ribbony - [Glassblowing Intensive](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0317o/) - On day one, you’ll learn glass handling skills, introduction to the furnace, and how to start a bubble in the glass. Day two refines your skills as you explore form, color, and the possibilities of glass. In this small and personalized workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to blow glass yourself and work towards your own - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0315o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0314i/) - Weave an authentic “rag” rug on a heavy-duty vintage loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 27″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from our huge stash of new and upcycled fabric! The looms are warped and ready - [Asian Friendship Vessel](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0314sam/) - With a prepped Martin gourd, you will make an Asian Friendship vessel. You will be incorporating various symbols—Tranquility, Happiness, Love, Peace, Wisdom, Friendship, Harmony, etc.—to your bowl. The top edge will be finished with chopsticks to complete the look. All supplies will be provided. Appropriate for all skill levels. Class size 10 Level Beginner and above Student - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0314o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0314o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0314o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Gourd Jewelry](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0314spm/) - In this class, using various shaped gourd pieces, you will create a one-of-a-kind jewelry piece. You may decide on a pair of earrings, a brooch, a necklace or bracelet. Various embellishments offered range from alcohol inks, acrylics, batik inks, shells, beads, feathers, “natural” reeds, cactus skeletons, other plant pieces and much more. This workshop is - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0313o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0313o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0313o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Hands-Off Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0215o/) - Designed for students who have taken a previous glass workshop, or have experience, you’ll have your own materials, blowhose extension, and time at the furnace and bench. Nathan will assist and guide you, and students will assist each other, but this workshop is for you to see your piece from start to completion with as - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0214o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0214o2/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0214o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Something To Hold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0213o3/) - Try glassblowing with Nathan’s assistance, and make a functional item to use at home. For the confident beginner or someone with some glass experience, you’ll make a cup, bowl, or other vessel for use. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. Get ready to swing & stretch - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0213o2/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Garden-Inspired Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/26r0213o1/) - Explore glass by learning how to gather from the furnace, handle tools, and see your creations come to life. Ideal for beginners, you’ll leave class with a flower, bird, and paperweight inspired by nature. Nathan’s responsive teaching style offers help when you need it, and independence as you’re ready. No previous glass experience needed. Materials - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Robert Fromberg](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/wwrsfromberg/) - Robert Fromberg’s books include the award-winning memoir How to Walk with Steve, about caring for his autistic brother; the Edna Ferber Fiction Book Award–winning novel Gee, That Was Fun: 7 Days of Mayhem, 1983; and the new novel The Serial Stowaway. A product of Peoria, Illinois, Fromberg moved at age 16 to New York City’s - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Susanna Daniel](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/wwrsdaniel/) - Susanna Daniel’s third novel, Girlfriending, will be published in February of 2026 by Third Rail Press. Girlfriending is a spinoff of “The Goddess of Illicit Choices,” which won the 2024 Zona Gale award for short fiction. Her debut novel, Stiltsville, was awarded the 2011 PEN/Bingham prize, and her second novel, Sea Creatures, was a Target - [Winter Writers Reading Series: A.M.Goodhart & Nick Gulig](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/wwrsgodohartgulig/) - A.M. Goodhart is a Madison based writer and textile artist. They have published poems in Epiphany, The Indianapolis Review, Passages North, and Lake Effect. Their collection Neither Kind of Body was a semi-finalist for the A. Poulin, Jr. Poetry Prize at BOA Editions and the Pamet River Prize at Yes Yes Books. Nicholas Gulig - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Alison Thumel & Elizabeth Hendricks](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/wwrsthumelhendricks/) - Alison Thumel’s debut poetry collection, Architect, won the 2024 Miller Williams Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the 2025 Kate Tufts Poetry Award. She is the recipient of a Wallace Stegner Fellowship in poetry at Stanford University, a grant from the Elizabeth George Foundation, and the Martha Meier Renk Fellowship from the University of - [Santa Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/santa-day25/) - Save the date of December 6! Photos with Santa are a holiday tradition at Shake Rag Alley. Visit our historic campus for photos, holiday craft-making, and sweet treats. Fun for the entire family! Please purchase an appointment for each activity and each child participating. Register here: https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/december/ We're partnering with Pointer Pantry and their mission - [Alley Stage Reading Series: "One Time" by Richard Lyons Conlon](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/asrsconlon/) - Our fifth annual Alley Stage Reading Series continues with playwright Richard Lyons Conlon's "One Time" About "One Time" Sometimes it takes a lifetime of stories to tell the story of a lifetime. Unrequited love, religious epiphanies, posing in the nude, an abusive marriage, and the secret powers of nuns … these are just some of - [Launch Reading for Driftless: An Anthology of Voices from Where We Live](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0816s-504/) - Join us Thursday, July 24, at 6 pm for a launch reading of Driftless: An Anthology of Voices from Where We Live. This anthology, published by Little Creek Press, captures voices from the Driftless Region as part of our NEA Big Read programming. This event will take place at Republic of Letters Books, 151 High - [Roland Sardeson Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/rsday25/) - Join us to celebrate this very Mineral Point holiday on the Solstice, as we toast Roland, and enjoy some pie. More details to come! - [Creating a Sense of Belonging Through Slam Poetry](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0816s/) - Good stories foster empathy and help people see the world through different perspectives. This workshop is designed to challenge you to think, write, and share experiences that have contributed to your sense of belonging. By providing a brave space to share personal stories and challenging us all to listen critically, we hope to foster empathy - [Gala On The Green](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/galaonthegreen/) - Save the date for our Gala on the Green June 28, 4-6pm! Celebrate with music, libations, appetizers, and the gorgeous summer sunlight. We'll have live and silent auctions featuring art & experiences, and all proceeds benefit Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts! - [Tour of Fairy Homes](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/tour-of-fairy-homes25/) - Stroll the magical grounds at Shake Rag Alley to see original fairy homes (think small, really small!), & all sorts of fairy fun. Stay tuned for more details! - [Jewelry Boot Camp Showcase](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/jewelry-boot-camp-showcase-2-391/) - Enjoy a Friday evening of shopping and socializing at our special showcase featuring the creativity of Shake Rag Alley instructors, students, and volunteers.Visit our pop-up jewelry gallery, featuring torch-fired glass with beadazzledbyjulz.com, eclectic finds with DeeConstruct, handcrafted treasures with an inspired past from Salve Regina Tchotchkes, creations from Teeks and Toddles, silver jewelry from Sherry Viktora, - [Writing Retreat: Faculty Reading & Open Mic](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/writing-retreat-openmic25/) - oin us at Republic of Letters Books (151 High St) for a reading with Writing Retreat Faculty, including Sheree L. Greer, Rebecca Jamieson, Raki Kopernik, and C. Kubasta + Open Mic. Free & open to the public! - [Alley Stage Reading Series: "Stop the Monsanity!" by Robert Lynn](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/asrslynn25/) - Our fifth annual Alley Stage Reading Series concludes with playwright Robert Lynn's "Stop the Monsanity!" About "Stop the Monsanity!" Written to be performed by one man and one woman, this political comedy can be performed by up to seven actors. Elise has been promoted to spokesperson for the largest social justice non-profit in the country. - [Alley Stage Reading Series Opener: "AI Gore Rhythm" by Phil Darg](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/alleystageerickson-670/) - Our fifth annual Alley Stage Reading Series begins with playwright Phil Darg's, "AI Gore Rhythm" About "AI Gore Rhythm" In the future, AI will do everything for us . . . except make us happy. Al Gore Rhythm explores the current trajectory of humanity’s relationship with technology—specifically, the deeper integration of computer tech into daily - [Youth Program: Huffman Steampunk Owls](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0822/) - Create a mechanical looking owl out of many recycled objects. Records, plastic silverware, pop tops, nails, washers, Popsicle sticks, pop cans and many other items you will have to choose from to create your awesome steampunk owl. You’ll have a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork to take home! K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class size 10 Tuition $15 - [Youth Program: Christensen Soap Carving](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0820/) - Want to try carving in a safe way? Learn how to carve soap and make small soap sculptures the way Shake Rag Alley Board member Mike Christensen taught us how. We’ll then use this knowledge in other ways, whittling potatoes into stamps and other fun things. Lots of fun! K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class - [Youth Blacksmithing: Make a Musical Triangle](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0818/) - Use forges, hammers, anvils, and other blacksmith’s tools to make a musical triangle and striker. In this introduction to blacksmithing, learn how to cut, bend, and shape hot steel. There are many different styles of musical triangle to choose from; the simplest three-sided bent rod to a Cajun style “t’fer” (small iron) with loops on - [Youth Program: Finger Knitting & Arm Knitting](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0815/) - Learn to knit using your fingers, hands, elbows, and arms (no needles needed!). You can make scarves, blankets, and much more. Grades 3-6 + Tweens & Teens Class size 10 Tuition $15 - [Youth Program: Cementimals](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0813/) - Here is your chance to use your imagination and make a zany animal out of cement. First we form it, then we add all sorts of doodads like wire, beads, and shells, and see what sort of strange creature emerges. (Cementimals need to set for a week before they can be taken home.) K-Grade 2 - [Youth Program: Cork Bulletin Board](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0811/) - Make a bulletin board for your space that is uniquely you. We’ll use leftover corks, paint, ribbon, and anything else you want to decorate this space for saving stickers, notes, and special things you don’t want to lose. Grades 3-6 + Tweens & Teens Class size 10 Tuition $15 - [Youth Program: Very Hungry Caterpillars & Crafts](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0808/) - We’ll begin by reading the iconic book by Eric Carle and then make crafts to recreate the characters from the book. Think caterpillars, paint, stamping, and story. We’ll also explore Shake Rag Alley’s Monarch garden and learn about the life cycle of caterpillars and butterflies. Grades K-2 Class size 10 Tuition $15 - [Youth Program: Let’s Make Mosaics](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0806/) - When you make a mosaic, you make a pattern or image by arranging small pieces of glass, stone, or tile to make your design—this kind of art has been made since Ancient Rome! You can make your own mosaic gluing tiles and china pieces on a wooden base with nontoxic glue. Shake Rag Alley will - [Youth Program: Share Your Story with a Hand-Sewn Book](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0804/) - We’ll go offline learning how to make our own books or journals. We’ll hand-sew pages and covers and each book will be one-of-a-kind to share your story, write down ideas or draw, or keep for things that are uniquely yours. Grades 3-6 + Tweens & Teens Class size 10 Tuition $15 - [Youth Program: Lip & Body Balms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0801/) - Join us for a fun DIY workshop to create your own chapstick and hand balms. You will use coconut oil, vitamin E oil, essential oils, and other natural items. You will leave with both a chapstick and hand balm. Once you learn how easy it is, you will be re-creating these recipes at home! Grades - [Youth Program: Stained Glass Sundial](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0730/) - Learn about stained glass and make a sundial! You’ll pick your colors and foil and solder your way to catching the sun’s rays. Ages 13 & up only! Class size 10 Tuition $15 - [Youth Blacksmithing: Make a Musical Triangle](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0728/) - Use forges, hammers, anvils, and other blacksmith’s tools to make a musical triangle and striker. In this introduction to blacksmithing, learn how to cut, bend, and shape hot steel. There are many different styles of musical triangle to choose from; the simplest three-sided bent rod to a Cajun style “t’fer” (small iron) with loops on - [Youth Program: Free Arts Camp: Blast from the Past—Dinosaur Creations](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0721/) - Enjoy a week of dinosaur-themed arts & crafts projects during our popular Free Arts Camp. Practice your T-Rex roars on our Alley Stage, use science in your artwork, and hunt for fossils! (Thanks to United Fund of Iowa County, Mineral Point Community Chest, and our other community partners, Free Arts Camp is offered with no - [Youth Program: Teen Glassblowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y06261/) - Take hot glass starting at 2000 degrees with a consistency of honey, add color, and make into a unique glass object you can take home! Ages 13 & up only! Class size 3 Level Beginner and above Student Supply List Please wear comfortable close-fitting clothes in natural fibers (a cotton t-shirt and jeans work well), and closed toe - [Youth Program: Teen Glassblowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y06262/) - Take hot glass starting at 2000 degrees with a consistency of honey, add color, and make into a unique glass object you can take home! Ages 13 & up only! Class size 3 Level Beginner and above Student Supply List Please wear comfortable close-fitting clothes in natural fibers (a cotton t-shirt and jeans work well), and closed toe - [Youth Program: Craft Camp: Birdie Bonanza!](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0623/) - Join the Youth Program for a fun-filled week of exploring, observing, and creating all things birdie! Have you ever stopped to listen to the birds outside? Taking the time to appreciate these beautiful creatures can be magical. Throughout the week, we’ll make birdhouses, feeders, and a variety of bird-related crafts while learning about our feathered - [Youth Program: Tinker Lab](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0620/) - Join us for a tinkering workshop! We will explore the Shake Rag campus and look for leaves, sticks and other nature bits and bobbles we might use to mix up some fun. We’ll engage in mud kitchen style play with prompts on potions to mix up. We will also explore different mediums of preserving special - [Youth Program: Pink Eraser Block Printing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0618/) - Make art using pink erasers! Sketch and carve your designs into erasers, then ink and stamp them onto paper. Tweens & Teens Class size 10 Level Beginner and above Tuition $15 Materials Fee $0 - [Youth Program: Creating from Photos](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0616/) - We’ll take a photo of something you find beautiful, interesting, or curious on campus (with your phone or Mack’s)—and then recreate the imagery with a range of mediums. Choose from realism or abstraction to create your artwork. Grades 3-6 + Tweens & Teens Class size 10 Tuition $15 - [Youth Program: Starry Night Soup Cans](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0613/) - Recycle soup cans to make luminaries that glow with your own special designs—take inspiration from imagination, favorite artists, or the night sky! We’ll use battery-powered tea lights to create a soft glow safe for inside spaces. Grades 3-6 + Tweens & Teens Class size 10 Tuition $15 - [Youth Program: Knives & Forks & Spoons OH MY!](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0611/) - Make a garden with plastic silverware! We’ll use knives & spoons for dragonflies, forks for flowers, and work together on a giant sun—the only limit is your creativity. Grades K-Grade 2 + Grades 3-6 Class size 10 Tuition $15 - [Youth Program: Cork & Twig Birdhouse](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25y0609/) - Make the base of a birdhouse, and then decorate with corks, twigs, and natural materials inspired by a walk around our campus. Grades 3-6 + Tweens & Teens Class size 10 Tuition $15 - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party2505/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Volunteers including local artists take turns - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party08/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Volunteers including local artists take turns - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party10/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Volunteers including local artists take turns - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party09/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Volunteers including local artists take turns - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party2506/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Volunteers including local artists take turns - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party2504/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Volunteers including local artists take turns - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party25/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Volunteers including local artists take turns - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-11/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Volunteers including local artists take turns - [Scherbarth Residency Artist Exhibit](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/scherbarth25/) - Join Scherbarth residents Katie Hogan and Megan Rosing at the Sardeson Studio March 27, 6pm for artist talks and works-in-progress. Based in Madison, Katie Hogan's practice explores human portraiture and the figure, working in oils, unconventional surfaces, and mixed media. Meghan Rosing will share about her portrait series of headline-grabbing women, some famous as perpetrators - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights & Freeform Sculpture](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1012ob/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights & Freeform Sculpture](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1109oa/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights & Freeform Sculpture](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1109ob/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights & Freeform Sculpture](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1207oa/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights & Freeform Sculpture](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1207ob/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. - [Beginning Rug Hooking](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0719c/) - Have you been wanting to learn how to rug hook? Join Zann, Harriet, and Jayne to learn all the basics of traditional rug hooking. Our project finishes as a piece with a pumpkin in the center, a perfect fall decoration. You will be provided a kit which includes linen backing, wool, tape for finishing and - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1206oc/) - Excited to continue with glass? In this class you’ll grow your glassblowing skills working with multiple gathers of glass and using a wide variety of bench tools. Artist Nathan Gieseke will assist as you gather the glass, pick up and design your color, and blow out the form. Next it’s on to the punty transfer - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1205oc/) - Excited to continue with glass? In this class you’ll grow your glassblowing skills working with multiple gathers of glass and using a wide variety of bench tools. Artist Nathan Gieseke will assist as you gather the glass, pick up and design your color, and blow out the form. Next it’s on to the punty transfer - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1206ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1205ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1206oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1205oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Abstracting from Photo](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1115l/) - To “abstract” is to “remove information.” You will begin with a series of exercises to simplify a photograph. In drawing and studies, we will isolate lines, shapes, or gestures. Choosing additional compositional elements, such as color and texture, you will create a painting that is a culmination of the more successful exercises. Class discussions about - [Write A Song!](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1115c/) - Learn how to write a song from initial inspiration to completion. We will cover creative flow, song structure, lyric and music writing in a supportive setting. Over the day you will collaborate on song ideas, and then begin writing your own song solo or with others as you prefer. By the end you will have - [Picassiette Birds](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1115s/) - Create a pair of birds using china, tile, buttons, and old jewelry pieces! You will learn how to cut china and small tiles to incorporate into their design. You should have time to complete two birds in class, though grouting will need to be done on your own after the adhesive has had a chance - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1108oc/) - Excited to continue with glass? In this class you’ll grow your glassblowing skills working with multiple gathers of glass and using a wide variety of bench tools. Artist Nathan Gieseke will assist as you gather the glass, pick up and design your color, and blow out the form. Next it’s on to the punty transfer - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1107oc/) - Excited to continue with glass? In this class you’ll grow your glassblowing skills working with multiple gathers of glass and using a wide variety of bench tools. Artist Nathan Gieseke will assist as you gather the glass, pick up and design your color, and blow out the form. Next it’s on to the punty transfer - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1108ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1107ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1108oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1107oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party11/) - Third Wednesday of the Month 6:30-8:30 pm Lind Pavilion411 Commerce St.Mineral Point From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Volunteers including local artists take turns - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1109i/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Moku Hanga: An Intro to Japanese Woodblock Printing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1107l/) - Moku Hanga, meaning “wood print,” is a simple, centuries-old Japanese technique employing water-based ink, basic carving and rubbing tools, beautiful Japanese paper, and fine-grained wood. Many Western printmaking methods involve complex printing presses, oil-based inks, and toxic solvents. By contrast, Moku Hanga utilizes only a few simple tools, a small work space, and is entirely - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1103o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Intermediate Glass Bead Making](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1102l/) - The next step in glass bead making is here! You’ll learn complex stringers, incorporating silver metal into glass for special effects, encasing with clear glass to add beauty and magnification, sparkle, and shine. Explore precision and organic free style design of letting glass flow into layers of molten glass. Learn about reduction flame; reducing fuel - [Beginning Glass Bead Making](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1101l/) - Julie will demonstrate how to make glass beads in the small flame of a torch. You will learn heat control, different techniques and styles, the basics of hot head torch set up and safety. Round beads will be made first. Next, you’ll pull glass stringers from the glass rod to use for decorative details such - [Volunteer Make-A-Fairy-House Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/volunteer-make-a-fairy-house-workshop25/) - We need your whimsy & your skills! Drop in from 10am-4pm to make homes fit for fairies that will be featured throughout the 2.5-acre Shake Rag Alley campus during the annual Tour of Fairy Homes on June 7. Volunteers of all ages are welcome! All sorts of natural, fun materials, and tools will be provided, - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets2511/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [A Ghostly Gathering](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/a-ghostly-gathering-25/) - Join us Saturday October 25th, 2025 for the fifth annual A Ghostly Gathering featuring a variety of festive experiences on our 2.5-acre campus in the historic heart of Mineral Point! Proceeds from this fall fundraiser support Shake Rag Alley arts and crafts programming and historic preservation. More info to come. - [Perfect Placemat Pairs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1021i/) - Yes, you can make placemats two at a time! Employing the same tools, materials, and techniques as we use for rag rugs, you will choose your colors from our huge stash of fabrics and then weave strips of that cloth on a sturdy pre-warped loom. You’ll go home with several pairs of placemats. All materials - [Railroad Spike Tomahawk](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1017b/) - In this class you will be forging a railroad spike into a tomahawk. This will involve forging a chisel for cutting and drifting the eye, plus upsetting and heat treating. Students should have had previous skills in blacksmithing. We will be using the gas forge and coal forge for this project. If time allows, you - [Paint, Patina, Fiber, & Gold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1017s/) - Join me for three days of alchemical wonder—this course is for painters, mixed media and fiber artists! Acrylic paints and mediums are the most versatile tools for creating the appearance of rust, copper, and gold on both canvas, paper and panels. Then there is the magic of gold leaf. You will learn how to apply - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1012oa/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement as you make two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets2510/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1011oc/) - Excited to continue with glass? In this class you’ll grow your glassblowing skills working with multiple gathers of glass and using a wide variety of bench tools. Artist Nathan Gieseke will assist as you gather the glass, pick up and design your color, and blow out the form. Next it’s on to the punty transfer - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1010oc/) - Excited to continue with glass? In this class you’ll grow your glassblowing skills working with multiple gathers of glass and using a wide variety of bench tools. Artist Nathan Gieseke will assist as you gather the glass, pick up and design your color, and blow out the form. Next it’s on to the punty transfer - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1011ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0906ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0905ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1010ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1011oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1010oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Trick’r Treat ](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/trickr-treat25/) - If you are a kid or want to act like a kid – put on your wildest costume and come to Shake Rag Alley! Children of all ages will meet friendly (not scary) costumed characters who will be passing out Halloween treats at each of the Shake Rag historic buildings. This Mineral Point tradition is - [The Balancing Act Redux](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1013j/) - The aim of this class is to combine the basic “how tos” of building figurative characters with your desire to create. This five day workshop explores creating faces, hands, and feet, attaching emotion, movement, expression, articulation, energy, costume and character. From learning foundation information and skills through balancing the act of the figure, this class - [Telling Your Story](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1010s/) - Unleash your creativity as you craft your own book blending found words, symbols, color, mark making and images. You will learn multiple ways of binding your very own artist book along with a beautiful way to craft your cover using a plaster technique along with encaustic medium. Whether you are an experienced artist or a - [Color and Meaning: Oil & Cold Wax](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1009l/) - Explore the versatility and richness of painting with R&F Pigment Sticks, oil and cold wax, with a focus on color. Through exercises and demonstrations, you will manipulate transparency, opacity, and temperature using a limited palette. This will expand your understanding of color and also provide you with a new vocabulary and vision for your expression. - [Cylindrical Bead with Bead Strand Pendant](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1005j/) - Imagine a beautiful cylindrical silver bead that you can enhance with multiple strands of colorful beads. The cylinder of metal clay will be formed over a wooden dowel. The surface of the bead will be enhanced using various textures and then fired. While firing, we will create our bead strands of 4 mm and 6 - [Fine Silver Reversible Hollow Lentil Bead or Fine Silver Mosaic Pendant](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1004j/) - You will have a choice in this class to either make a fine silver hollow reversible lentil bead or mosaic pendant. You will learn how to make multiple pieces from fine silver metal clay and put them together using two techniques including forming shapes, combining two parts to make a seamless bead using “dry construction,” - [Natural Selection: Plants, Patterns, and Paper](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r1003l/) - Working with found papers, papers we create, and everything in between, this workshop takes inspiration from the patterns and colors provided to us by nature and the passage of time. Starting off with creating some of our own elements through eco-dying on papers, we will further alter those prints with intuitive drawing, marking, and painting. - [Fiber Faire](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fiber-faire25/) - Join artists & artisans at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts for Fiber Faire 20245! Save the date, more information to come! - [Drawing the Head](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0928gl/) - How is the head like a sphere? How is it like a cube? This fun, fast-paced workshop takes a structural approach designed to overcome the most common mistakes people make when drawing the head. We’ll use a variety of media and approaches to acquaint ourselves with our subject, starting with the skull and proceeding to - [Sketchbooks as a Piece of Art](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0924l/) - Accordion or concertina sketchbooks have been around for a long time. Their appearance is different from a normal sketchbook with one continuous page that folds in and out upon itself. In this workshop, you will learn step by step how to make one hard-covered sketchbook and one with no cover in a card formation. We - [Art Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0920b/) - No prior welding experience is necessary to create your own metal sculpture using a combination of fabrication and welding techniques. This class will expand your knowledge of welding and sculpture design as you make your own personalized art. Collect any pieces of steel you would like to work with: old tools, shovels, scraps, anything a - [Creating a Watercolor Travel Journal](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0920s/) - How many vacation photos are on your phone that you never look at again? Come take a fun, hands-on workshop on making a keepsake watercolor travel journal that you’ll cherish! You’ll learn the basics of working with watercolors, and then use your own photos to start your journal. Everything is taught step by step in - [Rug Hooking Retreat: Traditional Rug Hooking focusing on Hit or Miss](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0919l/) - This is an open class for traditional rug hooking with a focus on Hit or Miss style. Hit or Miss is a technique that goes back to the origins of rug hooking. People used fabric scraps they had to make a rug. If they ran out, they used something else. You will learn all the - [Enamel Buffet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0913j/) - Enamel is glass fused to a metal base using a kiln. It’s deeply colorful, shiny, and it’s fun to make jewelry from this contemporary medium with an ancient past. Leslie will teach you how to apply the glass, fire it in the kiln, and show you several simple techniques that make a big impact on - [Artful Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0913b/) - Is it wall art or garden art? In this class the choice is yours. You will create a scene with cattail leaves and seed pods with dragonflies and fish, all within an 18″ x 27″ steel channel frame. The project will be relatively lightweight and the display options are many. Blacksmithing techniques used will be - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets2509/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [The Second Half of Life: A Creative Retreat for a Time of Deep Change](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0912c/) - The second half of life begins with all manner of changing circumstances as we reconsider who we are apart from our roles, occupations, and the past. During our time together we’ll explore the transformative possibilities of deep change through writing, discussion, creative play, and mindfulness exercises. Journey with us as we lean into Psychologist James - [Books Without Borders: Uniting Assemblage & Books](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0911l/) - Open studio time provided with Gary for those who took A Hollow That Needs To Be Filled. An extra day of coPart book, with thick, solid pages and part assemblage, we’ll build on these books and adorn them with metal transfers, fabric and other small found objects. We will then incorporate these chunky books into - [Mixed Media Assemblage Studio](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0908l/) - Open studio time provided with Gary for those who took A Hollow That Needs To Be Filled. An extra day of community with free crap, cool art, and even more fun! - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0907ob/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement as you make two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0907oa/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement as you make two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0906oc/) - Excited to continue with glass? In this class you’ll grow your glassblowing skills working with multiple gathers of glass and using a wide variety of bench tools. Artist Nathan Gieseke will assist as you gather the glass, pick up and design your color, and blow out the form. Next it’s on to the punty transfer - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0906oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Make a Bent Willow Chair](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0906c/) - Bring a bit of enchantment and nature into your home with a bent willow chair. Jim and Phil will bring plenty of green willow and lead you through the process of making a rustic bent willow chair using only hand tools. At the end of the workshop you will have a beautiful, handcrafted piece of - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0905oc/) - Excited to continue with glass? In this class you’ll grow your glassblowing skills working with multiple gathers of glass and using a wide variety of bench tools. Artist Nathan Gieseke will assist as you gather the glass, pick up and design your color, and blow out the form. Next it’s on to the punty transfer - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0905oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Blacksmithing 101](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0905b/) - If you’re a beginner, this blacksmithing workshop is for you! You will have an opportunity to use both the coal forge and gas forge and we’ll start with the basics: tending the coal fire, hammer control, use of the anvil and tongs. Once you are comfortable with the fundamentals, you’ll move on to some hot - [A Hollow That Needs To Be Filled](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0905l/) - A hollow or niche can be anything with empty space. Examples are reversed cradled boards, hollowed objects or bowls/cups. Virtually anything with some depth can make a mysterious story come to life as other objects, images or text fill the void. Gary will teach the basics of assemblage construction and mixed media techniques so that - [Art Adventure](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/artadventure25/) - Treat yourself to four days of fun & exploration with assemblage, fiber, encaustic, collage, costume, found objects, painting & paper, and eco-pigments! From half-day to multi-day workshops, make a weekend with everything from wind chimes to violins, and new techniques with materials you think you know well. 14 workshops with 12 talented instructors from across - [No Bake Apple Crisp Cheesecake](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0816l/) - Do you love Apple Crisp? How about if it was a cheesecake too? Learn to make a delicious cheesecake full of yummy ingredients and apples you can take home, refrigerate, and ENJOY. Class includes making a homemade crust, filling, and topping to create the most scrumptious dessert you’ve ever eaten!! Lynn can adapt recipe for - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0813i/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Asian Bao Buns](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0815l/) - Learn the Asian technique of creating Bao buns! Make a rich homemade dough and create little bundles stuffed with meat and Asian ingredients. Your little buns will be ready to take home to bake. Also, create a tasty homemade sauce for dipping your final creations into. Lynn can adapt recipe for gluten-free options (please identify - [Garden Pillar](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0809c/) - Make a beautiful garden pillar using a base of ceramic chimney liner and plate shards. This is a full two day project. We will begin by creating broken pieces with which to build our pillar. All supplies will be provided. Students should feel free to bring plates of their own to break if a certain - [Slow-Stitch Sampler and Introduction to Daily Practice Stitching](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0809s/) - Students will make a sampler using materials provided by the instructor. The types of embroidery stitches taught will be more “organic” and freestyle than the traditional embroidery stitches. Emphasis will be placed on design, rather than stitch perfection, leaving students free to enjoy their individual style and creativity. Materials fee includes neutral-colored canvas-like fabric for - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets2508/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [Watercolor Landscapes](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0808l/) - Translate the beauty of nature into watercolor paintings by learning to paint skies, trees, water, mountains, and rocks. This intermediate class will help you learn how to develop a strategy for building depth in your work and how to focus the center of interest using color and value. Lessons on technique for building texture, and - [Slow-Stitched Vessel](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0808s/) - Stitch a three-dimensional vessel for decorative purposes. Small bits of fabric are stitched and formed around a rigid base. As the rigid base is removed, a decorative vessel is left in the shape of the base. Instructor will have “kits” of colorful fabric bits, matching threads, and base fabric from which to choose. - [Watercolor From the Beginning Part 2](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0807l/) - This is an important foundational workshop for learning watercolor techniques, including dry brush, wet into wet, wet on dry and special techniques. Through a series of exercises, you will learn to mix color and be able to see and strategically use color temperature in their works. Time will be spent color matching and building three - [Watercolor From the Beginning Part I](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0806l/) - You will learn everything you need to build a strong foundation in getting started in watercolor. Learn detailed information on paper, paint and brushes explained clearly and demonstrated with helpful visual aids. Learn how to glaze, make the paint bleed and perform graduated washes. This is one in a series of classes designed to be - [Foundational Charcoal Drawing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0805l/) - This day will focus on working in charcoal and the multiple tools that accompany the medium. Beginning artists and those wanting to brush up on their skills will discover the basics of drawing, light and shade, proportion, three dimensional form and perspective. Learning through demonstrations, discussions, and individual instruction, students complete multiple drawings working from - [Fine Silver Link Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0803j/) - In this class you will form both the links and toggle attachment from fine silver metal clay using your choice of design and shape. After shaping, drilling holes and refining the links, you will attach them with sterling jump rings and polish, then patina if desired. You will also learn how to torch fire the - [Foundational Pencil Drawing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0804l/) - This day will focus on working in pencil and the multiple tools that accompany graphite work. Beginning artists and those wanting to brush up on their skills will discover the basics of drawing, light and shade, proportion and three dimensional form. Learning through demonstrations, discussions, and individual instruction, students complete multiple drawings working from the - [Fine Silver Leaves & Pods from the Garden](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0802j/) - Transform leaves or small pods into fine silver jewelry using silver metal paste and clay in this exciting one day class. Sherry and Holly will demonstrate the process, from collecting appropriate organic material, then preparing and/or storing that material, all the way to completing a fine silver piece of jewelry. Learn to make bails and - [Beginning Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0802b/) - Learn the basics of lighting and tending the coal fire in the forge; handling hammers, tongs, and anvil; and working metal. You will spend the morning learning how to draw and form steel to make a simple hook. In the afternoon, learn additional skills while making a heart shaped wall hook. We will be using - [Botanical Printing Intensive](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0802s/) - Explore the art of botanical printing using natural dyes to create exquisite colors and intricate patterns in this two-day course. Envision embellishing fabrics with the vibrant hues of nature! Delve into dyeing and overdyeing methods, crafting unique colors with materials like onion skins, sumac, marigold, and hibiscus. Experiment with modifiers such as iron, copper, and - [Introduction to Cyanotype](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0726s/) - Cyanotype is an early photographic printing process yielding beautiful prussian blue prints on hand coated paper. A brief history of the process will start the activities before coating paper, gathering material from the garden (feel free to bring your own inspirational items from home to use (lace doily, pressed flowers, or other FLAT or translucent - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0726i/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Exploring Oil & Cold Wax in Abstract Painting](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0725l/) - This workshop covers not only the basics of getting started in Cold Wax and Oil Abstract painting, but also how to mix an infinite range of colors using a limited palette, how to create shapes you love and make the most of glazing, texture and line in abstract painting. Many dry forms of media can - [Italian Stromboli](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0719l/) - It’s Friday! Let’s create a couple delicious Italian style appetizers full of fresh ingredients that you can take home and cook for your own happy hour! Learn to make Italian Stuffed Mushrooms, Classic Bruschetta & Focaccia Bread. Lynn can adapt recipe for gluten-free options (please identify if you’d like the gluten-free option in the Notes - [Italian Appetizer Happy Hour](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0718l/) - It’s Friday! Let’s create a couple delicious Italian style appetizers full of fresh ingredients that you can take home and cook for your own happy hour! Learn to make Italian Stuffed Mushrooms, Classic Bruschetta & Focaccia Bread. Lynn can adapt recipe for gluten-free options (please identify if you’d like the gluten-free option in the Notes - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0714o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets2507/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [Woodlanders Gathering](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/woodlanders-gathering25/) - It’s like summer camp for adults! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced craftsperson, you are in for an incredibly fun and creative time with nearly 40 nature-based workshops to choose from and more than 30 talented instructors to work with. Create rustic furniture, gourd art, pottery, or garden projects; try your hand at blacksmithing, - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0629ob/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement as you make two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0629oa/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement as you make two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0628oc/) - Excited to continue with glass? In this class you’ll grow your glassblowing skills working with multiple gathers of glass and using a wide variety of bench tools. Artist Nathan Gieseke will assist as you gather the glass, pick up and design your color, and blow out the form. Next it’s on to the punty transfer - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0628ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0628oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [A Lily from the Fire](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0628b/) - In this 2-day class, we’ll be making a decorative piece consisting of two or more lilies fixed in a round base. We’ll be bringing the lilies to life by shaping, texturing, bending metal using a gas forge, anvil and hammers. While each of you will start with the same pieces of iron, each lily will - [Navigating The Indigo Studio: A Practical Approach](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0628s/) - Enter the enchanting world of Indigo, an ancient art of fabric dyeing practiced for over 6000 years. Indigo is a plant-based dye that produces a mysterious and magical dark blue that has captivated throughout history. The class will begin by creating the indigo vat, where you will learn the secrets of this exquisite dye. As - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0627oc/) - Excited to continue with glass? In this class you’ll grow your glassblowing skills working with multiple gathers of glass and using a wide variety of bench tools. Artist Nathan Gieseke will assist as you gather the glass, pick up and design your color, and blow out the form. Next it’s on to the punty transfer - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0627ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0627oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Hand of Protection](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0626l/) - It began with the film The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (filmed in Dyna-rama!), where a mysterious woman had an eye tattooed on her hand. I spent weeks drawing eyes on my hands with magic markers, and if I could’ve gotten a real tattoo, I would have! Known as the Eye of Fatima—or the Hand of Miriam or - [Bent Willow Table & Tray](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0621c/) - In this two-day workshop, you’ll use green willow and other woods to create a table (either a coffee table or side tables) that will be a beautiful accent to any space. Walter will work with you on size and design to match your desires and aesthetic. Time permitting, you can also make a decorative tray - [Create Silver Jewelry](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0621j/) - Are you curious about how to solder and fabricate a sterling silver ring? A series of metalworking techniques from sawing and texturing to sizing and forming will be introduced. Students learn to apply heat with a torch for annealing and soldering. The ring journey focuses on a variety of techniques to create band over band, - [Blacksmithing 101](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0620b/) - If you’re a beginner, this blacksmithing workshop is for you! You will have an opportunity to use both the coal forge and gas forge and we’ll start with the basics: tending the coal fire, hammer control, use of the anvil and tongs. Once you are comfortable with the fundamentals, you’ll move on to some hot - [Harvesting: A Sustainable Approach To Papermaking](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0620l/) - This course introduces sustainable approaches to papermaking. Through this course you will be engaged conceptually in the practice of harvesting from place as content for papermaking. Local plants such as gladiola, iris, cattails are all excellent plants for papermaking. Demos will cover pulp preparation of organics, sheet forming, collage, stenciling, sculptural construction, pulp painting all - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets2506/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0610i/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0512o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0505o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0407o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0609o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Art Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0607b/) - No prior welding experience is necessary to create your own metal sculpture using a combination of fabrication and welding techniques. This class will expand your knowledge of welding and sculpture design as you make your own personalized art. Collect any pieces of steel you would like to work with: old tools, shovels, scraps, anything a - [Pendant: Cold Connected Elements](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0607j/) - Whether you’re an absolute beginner or more experienced metalsmith interested in a refresher, this workshop explores cold connection techniques to make a tab set object pendant. Expand your skillset as you design and fashion your own original pendant. Through demonstrations and hands-on practice, Sarah introduces and guides you through the process of a tab set - [Make a Bent Willow Chair](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0607c/) - Bring a bit of enchantment and nature into your home with a bent willow chair. Jim and Phil will bring plenty of green willow and lead you through the process of making a rustic bent willow chair using only hand tools. At the end of the workshop you will have a beautiful, handcrafted piece of - [Watermedia Tree Stories](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0601l/) - Create vibrant visionary tree stories using paint, block prints, collage, and watercolor. These stories will be focused on an imaginary animal amongst tree shapes. The animal shapes will be block prints that you design and print that will be adorned with collage. Experimental watermedia approaches will be explored with watercolor and acrylic with a focus - [Roots and Shoots Watercolor](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0531l/) - This workshop will focus on botanical elements using the “dropped in color” technique, which incorporates luminosity and brilliance in watercolor. We’ll work with this watercolor technique to paint close ups of succulents and flowers with bright saturated colors using negative painting techniques. This will involve glaze layers to depict shapes by painting around them with - [Lined Tote Basket](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0531s/) - This is a very nice basket for many different jobs. The basket is woven using reed, shaker tape handle, and a fabric liner. There are many colors to pick from that can be chosen on the day of the class. This is a good basket for a beginner of for anyone that just needs a - [Creative Play: Collage, Paper, & Text](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0531c/) - Back by popular demand, Mollie & Christina invite you to let go of the idea that you have to complete anything in this half-day workshop, and instead invite all creative spirits to come and play. Experiment with a bunch of beginnings and your favorite media and tools, or try something new! Artist Mollie Oblinger and - [Translucent Collage Vestiges](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0530l/) - Vestiges: a trace of something, a remnant, fragment or relic. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? I think we all have collections…and now is the time to use them! Work with watercolor and acrylic inks on translucent wet media paper and create papers for collage. Wet Media film paper is a poly substance that is a wonderful - [Traditional Blacksmith Knife](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0525b/) - Forge a handsome traditional blacksmith’s knife as you learn some more advanced forms of blacksmithing to create this object. We will learn how to work with knife steel, forge a blade edge using traditional blacksmithing techniques, and then heat treat our finished products. Some previous blacksmithing experience or a basic understanding of coal forging will - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0518ob/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement as you make two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0518oa/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement as you make two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Gas Forge Art: Framed Dragonfly](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0517b/) - Create an 8″ x 8″ framed dragonfly on a background of cattail leaves to display on a shelf, mantle, or hang on a wall. In this beginning class, you will learn basic techniques of forming, texturing, and finishing. You will forge the cattail leaves from angle iron, and finish the dragonfly using various chisel and - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0518i/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0517oc/) - Excited to continue with glass? In this class you’ll grow your glassblowing skills working with multiple gathers of glass and using a wide variety of bench tools. Artist Nathan Gieseke will assist as you gather the glass, pick up and design your color, and blow out the form. Next it’s on to the punty transfer - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0517ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0517oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0516ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0516oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0516oc/) - Excited to continue with glass? In this class you’ll grow your glassblowing skills working with multiple gathers of glass and using a wide variety of bench tools. Artist Nathan Gieseke will assist as you gather the glass, pick up and design your color, and blow out the form. Next it’s on to the punty transfer - [Writing Retreat: Let’s Talk Small Press Publishing: FAQs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0518l-c/) - Join Kristin Mitchell and the team from Little Creek Press to talk about the ins & outs of publishing, and working with a small press. Since 2011, Little Creek Press has provided an honest, professional, and stress-free one-stop experience for passionate Wisconsin authors looking to publish quality books that are in high demand. Their mission - [Writing Retreat: Writing Flash Essay](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0517l-c/) - How can you tell a thrilling true story in less than 1,000 words? One-part story and one-part poem, flash essay helps you get to the heart of what you really want to say while keeping readers riveted until the final word. Learn tools to make your writing sing. You’ll begin crafting your own flash essays - [NEA Big Read Reading & Visit with Kao Kalia Yang](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/writingretreatneareadingyang/) - Kao Kalia Yang Reading at the Lind Pavilion | open to the public (free) Join us to discuss Kao Kalia Yang’s The Latehomecomer, as part of the NEA Big Read. Focusing on the theme of Where We Live, discussions will engage with Yang’s memoir about her family’s story—and the story of the Hmong people—their immigration - [Writing Retreat: So What?: Finding the Core of Story in Memoir](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0516n-c/) - Writing memoir is about more than (re)telling personal experiences and family histories. In this workshop, writers will explore how craft elements, creative inquiry, and experimenting with form leads to bold, meaningful, and memorable memoir and personal essay. Workshop is geared for intermediate writers with some memoir and/or writing experience, but there will be on-ramps for - [Writing Retreat: Generative Fiction: Writing from the Guts](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0516s-c/) - Storytelling depends on curiosity, vulnerability, and awareness. In our time together, we’ll work with readings for inspiration, generative prompts, and listening to each other to understand the effects of our work. Each day will build on the previous day’s writing while exploring form and voice. Although we’ll be working in the fiction genre, we’ll also - [Writing Retreat: Poetry: Experience, Language, & Imagery](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0516c-c/) - Designed for beginning poets, writers who work across genres, and anyone wishing to further develop their voice, this workshop will explore generative prompts, revision, and how poems speak to each other as we think about our experiences, language, and imagery. Each day will include prompts, revisiting previous work, revision moments, and take-away ideas to continue - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets2505/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [Jewelry Boot Camp: Making Glass Beads](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0504l-b/) - Julie will demonstrate how to make glass beads in the small flame of a torch. You will learn heat control, different techniques and styles, the basics of hot head torch set up and safety. Round beads will be made first. Next, you’ll pull glass stringers from the glass rod to use for decorative details such - [Jewelry Boot Camp: Fused Loop Earrings](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0504j-b/) - You will discover how to fuse fine silver wire using a small butane torch to make shining beautiful loops. In addition, you will create head pins for beads, and craft ear wires. Once you master earrings, try your hand at making pendants or bracelets. You will learn everything you need to make a dazzling variety - [Beginning Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0503b/) - Learn the basics of lighting and tending the coal fire in the forge; handling hammers, tongs, and anvil; and working metal. You will spend the morning learning how to draw and form steel to make a simple hook. In the afternoon, learn additional skills while making a heart shaped wall hook. We will be using - [Jewelry Boot Camp: Fine Silver Rings in a Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0503n-b/) - Create your own unique .999 pure silver ring using fine silver metal clay and wear it home. Learn the techniques to size, form, refine, embellish and set afire in place cubic zirconia into your ring. Make your ring as plain or glitzy as you wish, with or without a stone. After it’s fired and polished, - [Jewelry Boot Camp: Broken China Pendants](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0503c-pm-b/) - Turn broken china shards into beautiful pendants using stained-glass soldering techniques. The china is broken into the desired size before grinding the edges. We use a copper foil that is burnished before soldering. A jump ring is added to produce a functional pendant. At this year’s Jewelry Boot Camp, choose from 10 different workshops with - [Jewelry Boot Camp: Broken China Pendants](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0503c-am-b/) - Turn broken china shards into beautiful pendants using stained-glass soldering techniques. The china is broken into the desired size before grinding the edges. We use a copper foil that is burnished before soldering. A jump ring is added to produce a functional pendant. At this year’s Jewelry Boot Camp, choose from 10 different workshops with - [Jewelry Boot Camp: Embossed Enameling](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0503j-b/) - Learn how to use embossing folders to create a deep pattern on thin metal tocreate lightweight, colorful, and dramatic pendants. Learn how to apply liquid and powdered glass enamel for contrast and color. At this year’s Jewelry Boot Camp, choose from 10 different workshops with 8 different jewelry artists all in one weekend. This lovely - [Jewelry Boot Camp: Making Glass Beads](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0503l-b/) - Julie will demonstrate how to make glass beads in the small flame of a torch. You will learn heat control, different techniques and styles, the basics of hot head torch set up and safety. Round beads will be made first. Next, you’ll pull glass stringers from the glass rod to use for decorative details such - [Jewelry Boot Camp: Introduction to Etching, Texturing and Cold Connections](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0502j-b/) - Learn the art of etching and texturing metal to create earrings, pendants and bracelet components. We will explore cold connections, a way to attach two pieces of metal without soldering. Experiment with a variety of texture mats and hammers to create unique finishes on copper, brass and nickel silver. We will show you two different - [Jewelry Boot Camp: Intro to Silver Metal Clay](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0502n-b/) - Learn how to make beautiful fine silver jewelry from soft workable silver clay. Silver metal clay is a safe non-toxic material made of tiny silver particles embedded in an organic base. You will learn to form, refine, fire and finish jewelry pieces using the clay, paste and a syringe. You will go home with one - [Jewelry Boot Camp: Messy Memory Wire Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0502c-b/) - Is your desire for perfectionism hampering your jewelry making? Well, it’s time for you to get messy! Instructor Denise Anton Wright will guide you through the process of turning memory wire, sari silk ribbon, wire, and freshwater pearls into this incredible Messy Memory Wire Bracelet. Physical movements required in this workshop include stringing pearls onto - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0427oa/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement as you make two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0427ob/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement as you make two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0426oc/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0426ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0426oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0425oc/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0425ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0315oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0425oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Coppersmithing 101](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0425c/) - Learn how to work with copper and take home four handsome finished pieces. Vickie “Doc” Schertz has been sharing her coppersmithing skills for several years and welcomes beginners as well as those with some experience. You’ll learn how to move, manipulate, and reshape copper. The four projects include a 3″ x 4″ copper “coupon” to - [Creative Combination: Watercolor & Acrylic](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0425l/) - Good painters are first good designers. Learn concepts that allow you to find strong abstract shapes in your scenes. We will learn about the different types of contrasts and how they add drama to your painting. The workshop will focus on painting like a printmaker—finding and constructing negative shapes to create mosaic-like paintings using watercolor - [Paper & Book Camp](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0425s/) - Paper! Old, new, all sorts. Alter papers with masking, wrapping, sewing, ink drawings, tea dying, stenciling, and combinations of all of these. Our first tea-dyed batches will focus on layering, masking, wrapping, and ink contact prints. As we wait for all the papers to cure and dry, we will sort and design with collage papers, - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets2504/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [Perfect Placemat Pairs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0411s-468/) - Yes, you can make placemats two at a time! Employing the same tools, materials, and techniques as we use for rag rugs, you will choose your colors from our huge stash of fabrics and then weave strips of that cloth on a sturdy pre-warped loom. You’ll go home with several pairs of placemats. All materials - [Spring Garage Sale Fundraiser](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/spring-citywide-garage-sales25/) - Our generous friends always donate the most eclectic items imaginable to support Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts. Piles of art supplies and materials, as well as donated household and collector items are ready to relocate at our annual Spring Garage Sale, which runs in conjunction with Mineral Point City-wide Sales! Friday 7:30 AM - [Monotypes & Paper Mosaics](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0411s/) - You will learn monotype printing techniques, discover how color and texture combinations make your designs “pop”, utilize 10 principles for composing images, and “play with paper” to reveal your personal style. Projects include a handmade gelatin printing plate, 24″ x 24″ collage on panel that will be ready to frame (if you love puzzles then - [Helm Weave Chainmaille Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0405j-pm/) - Chainmaille is an ancient art form used for flexible armor, found as far back as the 5th century BC in Scythia (an area between Europe and Asia). Using small pliers in each hand to open and close metal rings around each other, we form a pattern. The helm weave is a basic weave that is - [European 4 in 1 Chainmaille Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0405j-am/) - Chainmaille is an ancient art form that was used as flexible armor and has been found to be used as far back as the 5th century BC in Scythia (an area between Europe and Asia). In this class I will teach you how to weave a very easy basic chainmaille bracelet that is the basis - [Exploring the Joy of Oil & Cold Wax Painting](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0404s/) - Explore the excitement and experimentation of painting with oil & cold wax medium. You will be introduced to the oil and cold wax painting process and the variety of the tools, surfaces, and techniques used to combine layers, lines, marks, shapes and textures to create fun, expressive and colorful works of art. Loosen up, explore - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0402i/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Drawing for Beginners](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0330gl/) - Have you always wanted to learn to draw, but were intimidated by the prospect? This class will explore the fundamental building blocks of “successful drawing” in a high-fun, low-fear environment. We’ll sample three or more media and several techniques during this day-long intro course. Find out how drawing will make you see the world with - [Gourd Jewelry Box](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0329s-pm/) - This project makes an excellent gift for that special person. Each of these boxes will have a removable lid. You will be able to pick from various illustrations and patterns, as well as color options. - [Ancient Gourd Vessel](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0329s-am/) - Using a new medium in gourd classes, you will create an art piece that resembles an ancient gourd vessel. Petroglyphs and other images will be available to help you get intricate patterns in a very simple way. - [Three-Dimensional Wet Felted Bird Pods](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0322e/) - Explore the process of wet felting around balloons to create hollow vessels for bowls or bird pods or anything else you may imagine. We will explore felting over a resist, creating texture with bamboo, silk, flax, wool locks and nepps, angelina, as well as various specialty wool and yarns. On day two we will embellish - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0316ob/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement as you make two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0316oa/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement as you make two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0315oc/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0315ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [My Body Is A Cage: Poetry and The Physical Self](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0315s/) - This generative poetry workshop dares us to answer the question: how can our bodies be utilized in poetic expression? We will start by discussing poems that center the physical body and all its parts, before moving on to creating and sharing our own body-centered pieces for generous and supportive group feedback. Students may choose to - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0314oc/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0314ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0314oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets2-508/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0308i/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0216ob/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement as you make two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0216oa/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique. Experiment with color and movement as you make two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to organic freeform shapes and experiment with color in motion. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0215oc/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0215ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0215oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Glassblowing: Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0214o1c/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Glassblowing: Orbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0214ob/) - Grow your skills! Continue your glassblowing experience with color and form. Glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide and assist you with gathering the glass, starting a bubble, blowing to expand the glass, and placing a hook. This class is recommended for students who have taken a previous glass class. - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets2/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [Intro to Glass: Flower Power](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/25r0214oa/) - Artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of glass: gathering, picking up color, and forming the glass. You’ll work on handling hot glass, use of tools, and manipulating temperature. Enjoy experimenting with color while making three flowers. This intro class is a great starting point for anyone new to the art form. The - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Katharine Beutner & Emma Binder](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/wwrsbeutnerbinder/) - Katharine Beutner writes fiction and nonfiction and teaches creative writing and literature. An associate professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; previously, she taught at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and the College of Wooster in Ohio. She edits the the online eco-writing literary journal The Dodge, which is based at Wooster. Emma - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Bob Wake](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/wwrswake/) - Bob Wake is a writer and small press publisher in Cambridge, Wisconsin. He is the first-place winner of the 2024 Wisconsin People & Ideas Fiction Contest, which he also won in 2017. His short stories have appeared in Madison Magazine, The Madison Review, Rosebud Magazine, and in Wisconsin People & Ideas. He is a recipient - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Patty Cisneros Prevo](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/wwrsprevo/) - Patty Cisneros Prevo (she/her/ella) is a proud disabled Latina and picture book writer. In 2015, as a parent and 4th grade teacher, she saw a huge gap in children’s literature when it came to diversity. There were few characters of color in the pictures books she read to her children and her Black and Brown - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Quan Barry](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/wwrsbarry/) - Quan Barry is the Lorraine Hansberry Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the author of eight books of fiction and poetry, including the recent collection Auction, which the New York Times named one of the 5 best poetry books of 2023. A recipient of NEA fellowships in both poetry and fiction, Barry - [Winter Writers Reading Series Humor Workshop: Richie Zaborowske](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/wwrszaborowske/) - Join award-winning Wisconsin writer Richie Zaborowske for a humor writing workshop. Learn the art of writing humor articles in this fun and interactive workshop. Using examples from McSweeney’s and the New Yorker, Richie will show you how to develop a premise, create jokes, deploy satire, and more. Write your own titles and workshop ideas while - [Winter Writers Reading Series: David Shih](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/wwrsshih/) - David Shih is Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he has taught since 1999. He holds degrees from the University of Texas, the University of Oregon, and the University of Michigan. He has published in national outlets such as the New York Times, The New Republic, The Progressive, Slate, NPR’s Code - [Santa Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/santa-day24/) - Photos with Santa are a holiday tradition at Shake Rag Alley. Visit our historic campus for photos, holiday craft-making, and sweet treats. Fun for the entire family! Please purchase an appointment for each activity and each child participating: https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/december/ - [Glassblowing: For Beginners with Bouquets of Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r321o-2/) - In this intro class, glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of forming glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms. You’ll experiment with color & tools, making flowers. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and foundational for moving on to larger projects. - [Glassblowing: For Beginners with Bouquets of Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r321o-1/) - In this intro class, glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of forming glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms. You’ll experiment with color & tools, making flowers. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and foundational for moving on to larger projects. - [Glassblowing: For Beginners with Bouquets of Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r320o-5/) - In this intro class, glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of forming glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms. You’ll experiment with color & tools, making flowers. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and foundational for moving on to larger projects. - [Glassblowing: For Beginners with Bouquets of Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r320o-1/) - In this intro class, glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of forming glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms. You’ll experiment with color & tools, making flowers. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and foundational for moving on to larger projects. - [Glassblowing: Exploring Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r321o-3/) - Grow your skills with color and form, and play with this unique art. Under the guidance of glass artist Nathan Gieseke, you’ll work on punty transfers and vessel forms. This class is designed for students with some prior experience in glass - [Glassblowing: Exploring Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r300o-3-1/) - Grow your skills with color and form, and play with this unique art. Under the guidance of glass artist Nathan Gieseke, you’ll work on punty transfers and vessel forms. This class is designed for students with some prior experience in glass - [NEA Big Read Book Discussion](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/neabigreadiscussion1111/) - Join us to discuss Kao Kalia Yang's The Latehomecomer, as part of the NEA Big Read. Focusing on the theme of Where We Live, discussions will engage with Yang's memoir about her family's story—and the story of the Hmong people—their immigration to Minnesota when Yang was only six years old, and their transition to life - [Lantern Lighting](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/lanternlighting/) - We hope you'll join us on the Green at 7:30 p.m. October 14 for a Lantern Lighting, marking the successful completion of our Campus Revitalization Project. The project entailed a major upgrade to campus, including restoring fences and lanterns, and upgraded electrical and new WiFi. All these efforts make the 2.5 acre campus more accessible and welcoming for visitors, students, - [NEA Big Read Book Discussion](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/neabigreadiscussion11/) - Join us to discuss Kao Kalia Yang's The Latehomecomer, as part of the NEA Big Read. Focusing on the theme of Where We Live, discussions will engage with Yang's memoir about her family's story—and the story of the Hmong people—their immigration to Minnesota when Yang was only six years old, and their transition to life - [NEA Big Read Book Discussion](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/neabigreadiscussion10/) - Join us to discuss Kao Kalia Yang's The Latehomecomer, as part of the NEA Big Read. Focusing on the theme of Where We Live, discussions will engage with Yang's memoir about her family's story—and the story of the Hmong people—their immigration to Minnesota when Yang was only six years old, and their transition to life - [Assemblage Mixed Media Studio](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r274l/) - Drawing on Gary’s sense of play, and willingness to utilize almost ANYTHING to make art, this 3-day structured studio time is your time to experiment. Gary will offer instruction from his recent sold-out Portrait Assemblage workshop too. Designed for anyone wanting to try something new, get their hands dirty, and claim space for their creativity. Bring your - [A Ghostly Gathering](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/a-ghostly-gathering-24/) - Join us Saturday October 26th, 2024 for the fourth annual A Ghostly Gathering featuring a variety of festive experiences (with a lean toward spectacle & the side show) on our 2.5-acre campus in the historic heart of Mineral Point! Proceeds from this fall fundraiser support Shake Rag Alley arts and crafts programming and historic preservation. - [Glassblowing: For Beginners with Bouquets of Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r300o-2/) - In this intro class, glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of forming glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms. You’ll experiment with color & tools, making flowers. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and foundational for moving on to larger projects. - [Glassblowing: For Beginners with Bouquets of Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r300o-1/) - In this intro class, glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of forming glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms. You’ll experiment with color & tools, making flowers. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and foundational for moving on to larger projects. - [Glassblowing: Exploring Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r300o-3/) - Grow your skills with color and form, and play with this unique art. Under the guidance of glass artist Nathan Gieseke, you’ll work on punty transfers and vessel forms. This class is designed for students with some prior experience in glass - [Glassblowing: For Beginners with Bouquets of Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r299o-2/) - In this intro class, glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of forming glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms. You’ll experiment with color & tools, making flowers. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and foundational for moving on to larger projects. - [Glassblowing: For Beginners with Bouquets of Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r299o-1/) - In this intro class, glass artist Nathan Gieseke will guide you in the basics of forming glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms. You’ll experiment with color & tools, making flowers. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and foundational for moving on to larger projects. - [Glassblowing: Exploring Vessel Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r273o-618/) - Grow your skills with color and form, and play with this unique art. Under the guidance of glass artist Nathan Gieseke, you’ll work on punty transfers and vessel forms. This class is designed for students with some prior experience in glass - [Viola, Poetry, & Chocolate at Alley Stage](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/viola-poetry-chocolate-at-alley-stage/) - Enjoy the sounds of viola with Katrin Talbot and poetry with Matthew Guenette (and guests!) on our Alley Stage. This free event includes sun-dappled shade, strings, and inspiring voices, perfect for a Sunday afternoon. There will also be chocolate! Walk-ins welcome! Rain space available as needed. Australian-born Katrin Talbot is assistant principal viola of the Madison Symphony - [Fiber Faire](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fiber-faire24-2/) - Join artists & artisans at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts for Fiber Faire 2024! Farmers, fashionistas, and makers will be on hand to share all the wonderful ways we use fiber to express ourselves. Join us for demos, shopping, and a fashion show, all during Mineral Point’s Cornish Festival & Celtic Celebration! - [Introduction to Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r224o/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to learn the basics of blowing glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms, including a flower and cup. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and a foundational class for moving on to growing skills and larger - [Introduction to Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r222o-pm/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to learn the basics of blowing glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms, including a flower and cup. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and a foundational class for moving on to growing skills and larger - [Roland Sardeson Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/rsday24/) - Join us to celebrate this very Mineral Point holiday on the Solstice, as we toast Roland, and enjoy some pie. From 6-8pm at the Sardeson Studio (223 Commerce St.), with open houses of our lodging spaces: Roland's Loft and The Tuckpoint Garden Suite. These beautiful spaces are full of quirky finds, artwork, and the kind of unique touches - [Tour of Fairy Homes](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/tour-of-fairy-homes24/) - Stroll the magical grounds at Shake Rag Alley to see original fairy homes built especially for this tour. (Think small, really small!) In addition to our special fairy homes hidden about campus, fairy house and wand workshops, and the silent auction, we'll have face painting (free for all visitors!), special sweet treats, a couple fairies - [Alley Stage Reading Series: "ITCH" by DC Cathro](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/alleystagecathro/) - Our fourth annual Alley Stage Reading Series concludes with Chicago, IL playwright DC Cathro's, "ITCH." About "ITCH" Richard comes home to his mother, his twin, and their new boarder after years of being institutionalized for his never-ending itch. This reading will be followed by a talkback session and reception. For more information about DC and - [Alley Stage Reading Series Opener: "The Dreamer of Oyster Bay" by Cass Erickson](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/alleystageerickson/) - Our fourth annual Alley Stage Reading Series kicks off with Saint Paul, MN playwright Cass Erickson's, "The Dreamer of Oyster Bay." About "The Dreamer of Oyster Bay" The Dreamer of Oyster Bay, a full-length tragicomedy, tells the story of Winston Wentworth and his wife Winnie, who are trapped in an upper class lifestyle, but are - [Alley Stage Reading Series: "Reading Anna K" by Fran Zell](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/alleystagezell/) - Our fourth annual Alley Stage Reading Series continues with Chicago, IL playwright Fran Zell's, " Reading Anna K." About "Reading Anna K" It’s Sylvia’s turn to choose the book and she wants to read Anna Karenina because someone once told her it reveals the meaning of life. At age 89 she believes it’s past time - [Youth Blacksmithing: Make a Musical Triangle](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y229/) - Use forges, hammers, anvils, and other blacksmiths tools to make a musical triangle and striker. In this introduction to blacksmithing, learn how to cut, bend, and shape hot steel. There are many different styles of musical triangle to choose from; the simplest three-sided bent rod to a Cajun style (small iron) with loops on the - [Youth Program: Origami Folding & Fun](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y227/) - Origami (the art of paper folding) can seem difficult, but we’ll use bright papers and follow-along instructions to make easy forms and then move on to some more challenging patterns. Once you find a favorite, you can make a little scene with paper friends, or a project like jewelry or a hanging mobile for your - [Youth Program: Singalong & Making Music](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y225/) - Making music together, whether singing, sharing your unique talent, yelling your joyful noise, or being as silly as you can be, is a great way to start the week! In addition to raising our voices, we’ll make some homemade instruments using natural materials so you can take the fun home. - [Youth Program: Tinker Lab](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y222/) - Join us for a tinkering workshop! We will explore the Shake Rag campus and look for leaves, sticks and other nature bits and bobbles we might use to mix up some fun. We’ll engage in mud kitchen style play with prompts on potions to mix up. We will also explore different mediums of preserving special - [Youth Program: Share Your Story with a Hand-Sewn Book](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y220/) - We’ll go offline, learning how to make our own books or journals. We’ll hand-sew pages and covers and each book will be one-of-a-kind to share your story, write down ideas or draw, or keep for things that are uniquely yours. - [Youth Program: Christensen Soap Carving](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y218/) - Want to try carving in a safe way? Learn how to carve soap and make small soap sculptures the way Shake Rag Alley Board member Mike Christensen taught us how. We’ll then use this knowledge in other ways, whittling potatoes into stamps and other fun things. Lots of fun! - [Let’s Make a Mural: From Drawing to Pavement Chalk to Painting the Walls](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24r211e/) - Remember hours of chalking on the sidewalk as a child? Let’s do it again! Start with the basics of 3D drawing techniques, methods to inspire and techniques to pull from your imagination. You will then be introduced to perspective, creative use of color and various types of chalk and tools to achieve a variety of - [Youth Program: Free Arts Camp: Bigs to Littles to Bigs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y204/) - Have you ever found the tiniest treasure out on a walk? We’ll explore around Shake Rag Alley for little things to make a big impact on our creativity: from making art with found objects (what some people call junk!), to including your own treasures (like in mosaics), to working together to make art that will - [Youth Program: What’s Underneath? Scratch Art & Resists](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y201/) - Art can be full of happy accidents. We’ll explore what happens when you don’t know exactly what will happen by uncovering color with scratch art, and creating patterns with resists underneath our paint. Experimentation, play, and letting go is half the fun! - [Youth Program: Layer Painting & Design with Natural Materials](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y199/) - Artists like Andy Goldsworthy use found natural materials and create art out in the wild. We’ll take a cue from his work and assemble our palette of color from the Shake Rag Alley campus to create our artwork. We’ll then work together to make a collaborative installation for everyone to enjoy; we’ll let Mother Nature - [Youth Blacksmithing: Make a Musical Triangle](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y197/) - Use forges, hammers, anvils, and other blacksmiths tools to make a musical triangle and striker. In this introduction to blacksmithing, learn how to cut, bend, and shape hot steel. There are many different styles of musical triangle to choose from; the simplest three-sided bent rod to a Cajun style (small iron) with loops on the - [Youth Program: Craft Camp: We’re a 3-Ring Circus!](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y176/) - Claim your space under the big top with character building & risk taking! We’ll learn balance (on a slack line), tame some lions (maybe make some in papier mache for the 4th of July parade!), and do lots of clowning around. Bring your bigger-than-life creativity to Shake Rag Alley for some fun this summer with - [Youth Program: Humke-Inspired Soda Pop Critters](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y173/) - In this workshop inspired by art teacher Lisa Humke, we’ll be turning trash into treasure! Recycle crushed soda cans into lovable critters with paint, wooden shapes, and your imagination. - [Youth Program: Macramé & Free-Form Weaving](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y171/) - Macramé is the art of knots—we’re not kidding! We’ll get creative with knots & weaving, using treasures we find: bring your favorite sticks, beads, rocks, stones, and shells & let’s see what we can make together. - [Youth Program: Huffman Steampunk Owls](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y169/) - Create a mechanical looking owl out of many recycled objects. Records, plastic silverware, pop tops, nails, washers, Popsicle sticks, pop cans and many other items you will have to choose from to create your awesome steampunk owl. You’ll have a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork to take home! - [Youth Program: Candle Making for Beginners](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y166/) - This beginner-friendly class will introduce you to making your own candles. Supplies and materials include soy wax, wicks, essential oils, and upcycled candle holders. This will be a basic melt-and-pour candle-making class. You will also leave with information on how to do this yourself at home, different techniques, where to buy supplies, and helpful tips. - [Youth Program: Make Your Own Beads & Jewelry Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y164/) - Use all sorts of different materials to make your own beads: polymer clay, paper & collage materials, felted wool, wrapping sea glass and shells, and anything else you can imagine. Once you’ve created your own special beads, you can use all our jewelry-making supplies for your creations: TONS of beads, findings, tools, and whatever you - [Youth Program: Cementimals](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y162/) - Here is your chance to use your imagination and make a zany animal out of cement. First we form it, then we add all sorts of doodads like wire, beads, and shells, and see what sort of strange creature emerges. (Cementimals need to set for a week before they can be taken home.) - [Youth Program: Felted Landscape with Beads & Embroidery](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y157/) - We’ll play with different kinds of fiber to make a mixed media masterpiece! First, we’ll use wet felting to create a canvas, then use embroidery for a horizon line and adding color. You can use beads to add sparkles, like in this sunset picture. All you need is imagination! - [Youth Program: Let’s Make Mosaics](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y155/) - When you make a mosaic, you make a pattern or image by arranging small pieces of glass, stone, or tile to make your design. This kind of art has been made since Ancient Rome! You can make your own mosaic gluing tiles and china pieces on a wooden base with nontoxic glue. Shake Rag Alley - [Youth Program: Seurat & Dots](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program24y159/) - Georges Seurat is famous for his technique of pointillism, like in his painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, where tiny dots of different colors are mixed together when you look at the painting from a distance. We’ll try our own spin on Seurat’s technique using dots of colored paper and experiment with - [Volunteer Make-A-Fairy-House Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/volunteer-make-a-fairy-house-workshop24/) - Kids of all ages are invited to make homes fit for fairies that will be featured on the annual Tour of Fairy Homes in June. Meet us at the Cabinet Shop where we'll have all sorts of materials and tools to build your Fairy House. Feel free to bring bits and baubles to add to - [Driftless Poets Open Mic](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets-workshop-6-561/) - Join the Driftless Poets to celebrate National Poetry Month! We're holding our April gathering at Eliza's Lounge, 52 High St., Mineral Point. A welcoming group of poets, we're excited to share our work, and invite new friends to read their work, or the work of a poets they love. Bring your snaps, favorite lines, and good - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets-workshop-6/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [Nina Kissinger Table Read & Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/kissinger-table-read/) - Playwright Nina Kissinger offers a table read and workshop of her play-in-progress I Wasn’t Planning On Saying Anything at 6 p.m. at the Lind Pavilion (411 Commerce Street, Mineral Point) featuring local actors. Nina Kissinger is a playwright originally from San Francisco and currently based in Brooklyn. Her short play The Exit Interview was a - [Spring Garage Sale Fundraiser](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/spring-citywide-garage-sales24/) - Our generous friends always donate the most eclectic items imaginable to support Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts. Piles of art supplies and materials, as well as donated household and collector items are ready to relocate at our annual Spring Garage Sale, which runs in conjunction with Mineral Point City-wide Sales! Friday 7:30 AM - [Sweater Mittens](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r293e/) - Recycle an old sweater into the coziest mittens you’ll ever wear, no sewing machine required! In this class you will learn basic hand-sewing techniques and draft a mitten pattern that will fit YOUR unique hands. Learning to make your own clothes is a great way to showcase your artistic flair and practice sustainable fashion. Materials - [Intermediate Glass Bead Making](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r293l/) - The next step in glass bead making is here! You’ll learn complex stringers, incorporating silver metal into glass for special effects, encasing with clear glass to add beauty and magnification, sparkle, and shine. Explore precision and organic free style design of letting glass flow into layers of molten glass. Learn about reduction flame; reducing fuel - [Faces in Shoes](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r293s/) - This super fun class encourages participants to clean out their closets and turn their old outdated footwear into quirky works of art! We’ll create expressive faces in shoes using air-dry clay and proven sculpting techniques. We will also cover a variety of finishing techniques to bring your shoes to life. Shoe selection is important and - [Railroad Spike Tomahawk](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r292b/) - In this class you will be forging a railroad spike into a tomahawk. This will involve forging a chisel for cutting and drifting the eye, plus upsetting and heat treating. Students should have had previous skills in blacksmithing. We will be using the gas forge and coal forge for this project. If time allows, you - [Telling it True](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r285c/) - There comes a time when you want to explore and tell your truths, deepen your connection to what guides you and expand upon what you think you know. In this innovative retreat, guided exercises will inspire your creative journeys and encourage new narratives. We’ll use mindful awareness practices and writing prompts to awaken truths you’ve - [Moku Hanga: An Intro to Japanese Woodblock Printing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r285/) - Moku Hanga, meaning “wood print,” is a simple, centuries-old Japanese technique employing water-based ink, basic carving and rubbing tools, beautiful Japanese paper, and fine-grained wood. Many Western printmaking methods involve complex printing presses, oil-based inks, and toxic solvents. By contrast, Moku Hanga utilizes only a few simple tools, a small work space, and is entirely - [Floating Organics](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r280l/) - Imagine a world of layered, abstract, botanical shapes on paper. This workshop is perfect for discovering how to create with monotypes, resist tools, transparent watercolors, opaque inks and gouache paints on paper. This process allows you to discover ways to define the space around biomorphic shapes with deep values and colors. Pattern and texture will - [Retaining Summer’s Bounty: Dried Flowers and Wreath-making](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r279s/) - In this workshop you will learn about drying fresh flowers and using dried flowers to create wreaths. You will learn about the methods for drying including pros and cons of each, which flowers do well using each method, and how drying impacts color. You’ll learn about various base and wire forms and when to use - [Plein Air Journaling with Pens and Watercolor](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r279l/) - Spend the day on location in beautiful historic Mineral Point drawing and painting shapes, colors, nature and architecture. We’ll start out inside with several prompts and lessons on color mixing with dropped in color, arranging shapes on a journal page and drawing lines with pencil and pen. Helen will explain her journaling process, about documentation - [Garden Watermedia Delights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r278l/) - Walk into a garden and create themed mixed media paintings on Masa paper and canvas. A special batik like technique with Masa rice paper will create wonderful textures and crevices for the paint to flow into. Draw and paint symbolic iconic plants, and great, joyful creatures with bold watercolor via dropped-in color techniques. You’ll play - [Blacksmithing 102](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r278b/) - If you’ve taken a blacksmithing class or two, and want to add to your skills, Blacksmithing 102 will be a good fit. The class will begin with a review, and then build and refine your skills. The main project will be a wall mounted piece with hooks to keep all your small goodies like keys - [Knife Painting in Acrylic](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r321l/) - Paint with thick creamy paint and create vibrant, colorful surfaces. Knife painting allows the artist to loosen up and achieve a more impressionistic look. Working from photos, you will learn how to handle painting knives in order to achieve unique textures on your paintings. Techniques in knife manipulation with be covered as well as direct - [Beginning Figure Drawing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r315gl/) - “I can’t draw people!” Yes you can! We’ll explore basic concepts of figure drawing, such as volume, gesture, proportion and value, using several different techniques and media to keep things lively. Instruction will involve a live model. Materials fee includes all drawing media and papers plus model fee. - [Wonderful Waffle Weave](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r313l/) - Just in time for the holidays! ‘Tis the season for guests, and you’ll be ready to pretty-up your home or prepared with a special hostess gift. We’ll be starting from scratch—winding and threading enough yardage to make four 100% cotton hand towels. Waffle weave has a distinctive texture, making it both absorbent and reversible. The - [Funky, Chunky Journal](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r307s/) - Create your own decorated papers and then turn them into a hand-bound book. We will use luscious inks, mica powders, stamps, sponges and stencils to create large background designs. Those will be cut up and form the pages of the book then, add a decorative cover, end papers and stitch the spine with beads. Then - [Glass Blowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r273o/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique playing with color and movement as you make a minimum of two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to orgranic freeform as you experiment with freezing the motion of color in glass. - [Fiber Faire](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fiber-faire24/) - Save the date for Fiber Faire 2024! - [Introduction to Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r272o-am/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to learn the basics of blowing glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms, including a flower and cup. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and a foundational class for moving on to growing skills and larger - [Explorations in Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r272o-pm/) - Designed for students with some experience in glassblowing, this class provides an opportunity to grow your skills with color and form, and play with this unique art form. Under the guidance of glass artist Nathan Gieseke, you’ll have access to Shake Rag Alley’s Hot Shop and its furnace, annealers, and tools. Work on punty transfers - [Portrait Assemblages](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r271l/) - Our goal in this workshop is to combine the art of portraiture with assemblage. You want to use images that capture a person in a particular moment of time, building a stage for the meaning, emotions and characteristics. Bring images that focus on a special likeness, personality or expression that seeks exploration. We will be - [Introduction to Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r271o-am/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to learn the basics of blowing glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms, including a flower and cup. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and a foundational class for moving on to growing skills and larger - [Explorations in Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r271o-pm/) - Designed for students with some experience in glassblowing, this class provides an opportunity to grow your skills with color and form, and play with this unique art form. Under the guidance of glass artist Nathan Gieseke, you’ll have access to Shake Rag Alley’s Hot Shop and its furnace, annealers, and tools. Work on punty transfers - [Intro to Torch Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r266b/) - Want to give welding a try? Learn the process of cutting and welding mild steel that will give you the basics for working on steel sculptural assemblages. In this class, Dick will teach you the use of oxyacetylene for cutting and welding steel. You’ll draw shapes on metal and cut them out, then weld pieces - [Intro to Torch Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r265b/) - Want to give welding a try? Learn the process of cutting and welding mild steel that will give you the basics for working on steel sculptural assemblages. In this class, Dick will teach you the use of oxyacetylene for cutting and welding steel. You’ll draw shapes on metal and cut them out, then weld pieces - [Fine Silver Link Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r266/) - In this class you will form both the links and toggle attachment from fine silver metal clay using your choice of design and shape. After shaping, drying, drilling holes and refining and firing, you will attach them with sterling jump rings and polish, then patina if desired. You will be able to wear your beautiful - [Fine Silver Birdhouse/Fairy House Pendant](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r265/) - In this class you will learn how to construct a fine silver birdhouse or fairy house using fine silver metal clay. You will form separate parts of the house, then put them together using dry construction techniques. To make the ones pictured requires accurate sizing and refining, plus learning how to attach three-dimensional pieces. Sherry - [Rug Hooking Retreat: Folk Art Rug Hooking](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r264l/) - Simple, naïve, charming, primitive . . . all good terms to describe folk art rugs. In this open retreat you will add to your skills and gain confidence. Develop your own style while hooking a pattern of your choice or one of Laurie’s many folk art designs. The focus of this retreat will be on - [Wondering & Wandering: Writing the Personal Essay](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r258s/) - How do we write a stirring essay from the raw materials of our own lives, fears, desires, and curiosities? What tools can we use to transform the mundane into the transcendent? We’ll dive into the rich realm of the personal essay, looking at pieces from other writers, deepening our craft through guided prompts, and drawing - [Enamel Buffet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r258j/) - Enamel is glass fused to a metal base using a kiln. It’s deeply colorful, shiny, and it’s fun to make jewelry from this contemporary medium with an ancient past. Leslie will teach you how to apply the glass, fire it in the kiln, and show you several simple techniques that make a big impact on - [Allegories of Virtue & Vice: A Mixed Media Journey](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r256l/) - Within every stroke of color, every juxtaposed image, lies a hidden narrative waiting to emerge. This class draws inspiration from the poignant work of Paolo Veronese, beckoning you to explore the dualities of human nature through mixed media art where virtues stand in silent valor and vices whisper in tempting hues. Discover the art of - [Bespoke Chapbook](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r252s/) - Chapbooks can be scrappy & hand sewn or sleek with an ISBN. In this workshop, you’ll sew pages of your writing (or your favorites) into a simple binding with French flaps, and then add ephemera (think photographs, keepsakes, drawings, scraps of precious things) to create a one-of-a-kind object that combines your voice with your creative - [Micro-Mosaic Pendants](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r251j/) - In this class you will learn the process of designing and creating a mosaic pendant using your choice of tiny ceramic tiles, stained glass pieces, stone, found objects, or filati—colored glass rods cut to make tiny circles or petals. Students will learn design principles, choose a bezel to work with, learn how to cut the - [Make a Bent Willow Chair](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r251c/) - Bring a bit of enchantment and nature into your home with a bent willow chair. Jim will bring plenty of green willow and lead you through the process of making a rustic bent willow chair using only hand tools. At the end of the workshop you will have a beautiful, handcrafted piece of furniture to - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r248i/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Artful Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r251b/) - Is it wall art or garden art? In this class the choice is yours. You will create a scene with cattail leaves and seed pods with dragonflies and fish, all within an 18″ x27″ steel channel frame. The project will be relatively lightweight and the display options are many. Blacksmithing techniques used will be a - [Paper Printing Alchemy: Botanical and Rusting Methods](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r250l/) - This workshop is for the artist who loves the unexpected alchemy that can happen when a little time and some heat are applied to plants, flowers, and papers to make a unique eco-dyed print. We will explore the use of various prep methods for printing, as well as modifiers to change the colors of our - [Upcycled Mixed Media Cards](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r238s-a/) - Create one of a kind hand stitched cards that mix old-timey photos with whimsical verse. We will start by creating our own collage background papers using old paper, inks, paint and mark making. Then we will learn how to assemble the mini little portraits that are mounted onto 4″x 5″ note cards. Use them to - [From the Heart](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r237p-a/) - In this fun class we will channel what is in our hearts into a beautiful mosaic art piece to display on your wall, give as a special gift or create a memorial tribute to a special person or place. Bring your old jewelry, baubles and mementos. Using two part epoxy we will embed them onto - [Portrait as Icon](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r238p-a/) - Have you wondered how you might look as a Byzantine Icon? Transform yourself (or someone you love) into a highly stylized portrait in the Medieval style. In this session, we’ll work on a 16″ x 12″ watercolor board panel with fast-drying acrylic gouache for the underpainting, colored pencil for details and refinement, and . . - [Soul Houses](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r237s-a/) - What is a home? It is our foundation, our sense of self, of being, an intimate space where we store memory. Soul Houses is a way to create assemblages from found objects that help us as creators tap into the sense of security and place that houses create. They are a safe haven for your - [Abstract Painting with Oil & Cold Wax](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r237j-a/) - Come and explore a new medium! Wax has a long and esteemed history in art and writing. Wax tablets were used with writing as early as the 7th Century BC. Today, wax has evolved into a translucent medium that is mixed with oil paints. Cold wax can be worked into a textural surface as well - [Handbuilding Paper Clay: Developing Personal Form](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r236l-a/) - In this workshop we will explore handbuilding skills, personal form development, and the use of paper clay. Demonstrations will include clay preparation, building techniques, surface and color, firing and non-firing options; all to achieve qualities of translucency, weightlessness and building ease. You will be encouraged to develop individual ideas and conceptual directions, exploring the rigor - [Goddess Headdress & Fantasy Crowns](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r131c-a/) - Unleash your inner goddess and create a special statement piece for your next costumed adventure, at the Ren-faire festival or a Halloween bash. Lorraine Reynolds, a costume designer for over 25 years, will lead you through a half day session where you will design your own fantasy headwear. By transforming upcycled silk flowers, feathers and - [Gel Printing—Beyond the Basics](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r236j-a/) - The Gelli Plate is a tool that encourages play, but it can also be a serious fine art tool. Learn the basics of mono printing, but then take the processes further to create some beautiful layered art. No experience necessary! Jacqueline will guide you step-by-step as you create amazing papers loaded with layers of color - [Telling Your Story](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r235s-a/) - Unleash your creativity as you craft your own book blending found words, symbols, color, mark making and images. You will learn multiple ways of binding your very own artist book along with a beautiful way to craft your cover using a plaster technique along with encaustic medium. Whether you are an experienced artist or a - [Introduction to Marbling](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r235n-a/) - Paper marbling is a centuries-old art form where paint is floated upon a shallow tank of thickened water and drawn through with various tools to create striking, fluid patterns, similar to smooth marble or other kinds of stone. The image is then carefully transferred to an absorbent surface, such as paper or fabric. You’ve probably - [Art Adventure Showcase](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-showcase-315/) - Mixed media artwork, tools, and supplies will be available for purchase from teaching artists and students during our annual Art Adventure Retreat. Come enjoy a summer evening at the Lind Pavilion socializing, shopping, and dining among this creative community! A portion of vendor sales benefit Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts. Food + Cash - [Build a Better Collage](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r235j-a/) - Create your own collage papers with new and unique processes on deli paper. Some textural techniques for building your collage will also be included. Glazing and antiquing of printed materials as well as glazing the final collage will be included. We will take all of these elements and build a collage creating one that is - [Welding Wild Yard Art](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r230b/) - Let your imagination run wild to create unique and clever pieces of welded yard art. Bring your junk tools, wrenches, rakes, etc.- anything a magnet will stick to. You’ll learn how to cut, grind, heat, bend, and weld it all together to make a classic critter. Start scrounging now to collect what you will want - [Coiled and Twisted Copper Wire Cuffs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r230j/) - There are so many creative things you can do with copper wire. You can make short work of the twists and coils by using a cordless power drill and steel rods. Then slip the coils from the rods to another copper wire, and create. We’ll use wire in a variety of sizes and shapes, and - [Waterlilies, Watercolor & Monet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r229l/) - Monet made a huge contribution to the world of art with his monumental waterlily paintings. We will study and be inspired by Monet’s use of color, horizon lines, reflections and water surface, then find our own expression in watercolor. Working from photographs of Monet’s Giverny taken by Dawn, you will create your own paintings while - [Cooking with Herbs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r228o/) - We’ll begin at Shake Rag Alley, where we’ll cut herbs for class. Then, we’ll move to The Book Kitchen (151 High St), to prepare a delicious penne pasta and tomato salad. Nicole will guide you through the process with a live demonstration, emphasizing the importance of knife skills, providing useful tips to make your cooking - [Botanical Watercolor](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r228l/) - This class is easier than it sounds because you can get away with not having to paint a background! Composition, the history of botanical illustration and examples of a variety of botanical artists will be discussed. You will work from specimens collected from the beautiful gardens at Shake Rag Alley. Basic drawing instruction, as well - [Watercolor: Building Form in Nature](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r227l/) - Understanding how to build form is essential for composing good paintings. When working in watercolor there are particular challenges to choosing techniques and colors that will make objects look 3-dimensional. This one-day workshop will address color matching, mixing neutrals, layering color with glazes, and mixing on the paper. You will go out in nature or - [Watercolor From the Beginning Part II](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r226l/) - This is an important foundational workshop for learning watercolor techniques, including dry brush, wet into wet, wet on dry and special techniques. Through a series of exercises you will learn to mix color and be able to see and strategically use color temperature in your work. Time will be spent color matching and building three - [Watercolor From the Beginning Part I](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r225l/) - You will learn everything you need to build a strong foundation in getting started in watercolor. Learn detailed information on paper, paint and brushes explained clearly and demonstrated with helpful visual aids. Learn how to glaze, make the paint bleed and perform graduated washes. This is one in a series of five classes designed to - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r224i/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Introduction to Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r223o-am/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to learn the basics of blowing glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms, including a flower and cup. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and a foundational class for moving on to growing skills and larger - [Bits and Pieces Mosaic Tabletop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r223n/) - Make a mosaic tabletop with broken treasures! (Bring your own small table or purchase one from Cindy). Students will use broken plates to design a one of a kind accent tabletop. Transfer ware works great—the brighter the better! Finished tables can be used indoors or out. Materials fee includes all ceramics, adhesive, and an 18 - [Introduction to Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r222o-am/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to learn the basics of blowing glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms, including a flower and cup. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and a foundational class for moving on to growing skills and larger - [Blacksmithing a Garden Gate](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r222b/) - Join Hal and use a gas forge to create an attractive garden gate for your yard. This is an intermediate class requiring at least one of the beginning classes in either coal or gas forging, or prior forging experience. The project starts with a pre-welded 2′ x 3′ steel frame that you will use as - [The Portable Stitch: Mending to Improve](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r216l/) - Mending is about many things; repairing, improving, healing, even rebuilding. Mending is a practice, a sort of ritual, an attempt to make something whole again. It has the backing of the whole human experience. We have been mending things far longer than we can imagine. In this all-day workshop we will work on many techniques - [Fine Silver Rings in a Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r217n/) - Create your own unique .999 pure silver ring using fine silver metal clay and wear it home. Learn the techniques to size, form, refine, embellish, and set a fire-in-place stone into your ring. Make your ring as plain or glitzy as you wish, with or without a stone. After it’s fired and polished, you can - [Fine Silver Leaves from the Garden](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r216j/) - Transform leaves into fine silver jewelry using silver metal clay in this exciting one-day class. Sherry will demonstrate the process, from collecting appropriate organic material, then preparing and/or storing that material, all the way to completing a fine silver piece of jewelry. Learn to make bails and embellish your jewelry with fire-in-place stones, syringe, and - [Beginning Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r216b/) - Learn the basics of lighting and tending the coal fire in the forge; handling hammers, tongs, and anvil; and working metal. Students will spend the morning learning how to draw and form steel to make a simple hook. In the afternoon, students will learn additional skills while making a heart shaped wall hook. We will - [Introduction to the Art of Sashiko](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r215l/) - Sashiko is a traditional Japanese embroidery art of reinforcing textiles to prolong their wear by employing running stitches. Born out of frugal necessity. today it’s a decorative art we cherish. This surface design technique can be applied to quilting, mending and household items. The preprinted Sashiko cloth you will utilize in class makes it easier - [Let’s Make a Mural: From Drawing to Pavement Chalk to Painting the Walls](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r211e/) - Remember hours of chalking on the sidewalk as a child? Let’s do it again! Start with the basics of 3D drawing techniques, methods to inspire and techniques to pull from your imagination. You will then be introduced to perspective, creative use of color and various types of chalk and tools to achieve a variety of - [From Garden to Fabric: Exploring the Magic of Printing Leaves and Flowers onto Fabric](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r210s/) - Unleash your creativity and explore the possibilities of using nature’s vibrant colors to embellish fabrics. Join us in this course to learn the art of textile dyeing with natural pigments, where you’ll discover techniques for imprinting the patterns of your favorite plants and flowers onto textile. Delve into the fascinating process of extracting the unique - [The Indigo Studio: Unveiling the Mystique of an Ancient Dye](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r209s/) - Enter the enchanting world of indigo, an ancient art of fabric dyeing practiced for over 6000 years. Indigo is a plant-based dye that produces a mysterious and magical dark blue that has captivated throughout history. The class will begin by creating the indigo vat, where you will learn the secrets of this exquisite dye. As - [Introduction to Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r209o-am/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to learn the basics of blowing glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms, including a flower and cup. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and a foundational class for moving on to growing skills and larger - [Explorations in Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r209o-pm/) - Designed for students with some experience in glassblowing, this class provides an opportunity to grow your skills with color and form, and play with this unique art form. Under the guidance of glass artist Nathan Gieseke, you’ll have access to Shake Rag Alley’s Hot Shop and its furnace, annealers, and tools. Work on punty transfers - [Asian Spring Rolls & Potstickers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r209l/) - Learn the Asian technique of rolling spring rolls full of fresh ingredients & pot stickers ready to air fry or cook at home. Make a tasty homemade sauce for dipping your final creations too. Materials fee includes all ingredients to prepare spring rolls & pot stickers. Ages 14 & up. - [Old World Neapolitan Pizza](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r208l/) - Do you love pizza? Learn to create a homemade pizza crust covered with your delicious sauce . . . Topped with classic Italian toppings! Just bring a few cooking utensils & take home a pizza pie to bake. Material costs include: pizza pan & pizza ingredients. Ages 14 & up. - [Introduction to Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r208o-am/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to learn the basics of blowing glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms, including a flower and cup. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and a foundational class for moving on to growing skills and larger - [Explorations in Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r208o-pm/) - Designed for students with some experience in glassblowing, this class provides an opportunity to grow your skills with color and form, and play with this unique art form. Under the guidance of glass artist Nathan Gieseke, you’ll have access to Shake Rag Alley’s Hot Shop and its furnace, annealers, and tools. Work on punty transfers - [Make a Bent Willow Chair](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r160c/) - Bring a bit of enchantment and nature into your home with a bent willow chair. Jim will bring plenty of green willow and lead you through the process of making a rustic bent willow chair using only hand tools. At the end of the workshop you will have a beautiful, handcrafted piece of furniture to - [Beginning Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/beginning-blacksmithing-5/) - Learn the basics of lighting and tending the coal fire in the forge; handling hammers, tongs, and anvil; and working metal. Students will spend the morning learning how to draw and form steel to make a simple hook. In the afternoon, students will learn additional skills while making a heart shaped wall hook. We will - [Intro to Silver Metal Clay](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/intro-to-silver-metal-clay-2/) - Learn how to make beautiful fine silver jewelry from soft, workable “clay-like” silver. Silver metal clay is a safe, non-toxic material made of tiny silver particles embedded in an organic base. You will learn how to form, refine, fire, and finish jewelry pieces using the clay, paste, and a syringe. Make a pendant with a - [Introduction to Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r153o-am/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to learn the basics of blowing glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms, including a flower and cup. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and a foundational class for moving on to growing skills and larger - [Introduction to Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r152o-am/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to learn the basics of blowing glass from tending the furnace, to materials, and making basic forms, including a flower and cup. This intro class is essential for anyone new to the art form, and a foundational class for moving on to growing skills and larger - [Silver Spinner Ring](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r203j/) - Are you on board with the popular kinetic spinner rings? Learn to make a sterling silver or multi-metal ring with two bands: The inner one hugs your finger while the moveable outer one lets you fidget to your heart’s content. Leslie will work with you to advance your metalwork skills, including sawing, texturing, soldering, and - [Silver Stamped Band Rings](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r202j/) - Make a one-of-a-kind textured sterling silver ring. In this half-day workshop you will learn to size, stamp, form, solder, and polish a sterling ring (or two). It’s the perfect introduction to jewelry-making for beginners, a great way to get back into jewelry-making after a break, and a fun exercise for the advanced student. - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r309o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r155o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/intro-to-weaving-05/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r190o/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Resin-Finished Live Edge Table Making](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r201l/) - In this workshop, you’ll make your own live edge coffee table, approximately 30 x 14 inches. Shane will bring all the materials you need and address the basics of pouring and damming resin around live edge wood. We will cover the process of cleaning and preparing wood to pour and finish with epoxy resin. Along - [Welding Wild Yard Art](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/https-shakeragalley-org-product-24r188b/) - Let your imagination run wild to create unique and clever pieces of welded yard art. Bring your junk tools, wrenches, rakes, etc.; anything a magnet will stick to. You’ll learn how to cut, grind, heat, bend, and weld it all together to make a classic critter. Start scrounging now to collect what you will want - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r174i/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Painting in Resin](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r174s/) - Resins in art are most often seen in sculpture, such as in casting, coating, and laminating. However, when used creatively in combination with additional media, resin can be a powerful painting medium, offering depth and layering possibilities that other media cannot; resulting in spectacular works and effects. This workshop explains the basic physical properties and - [Creative Play: Collage, Paper, & Text](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r174c/) - Let go of the idea that you have to complete anything in this half-day workshop of creative play and instead experiment with a whole bunch of beginnings! Artist Mollie Oblinger and writer Christina Kubasta will engage you in a series of creative play exercises and prompts designed to inspire, utilizing text, voice, visuals, paper folding, - [Blacksmithing & Welding Open Forge Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r174b/) - Have some experience with welding or blacksmithing and want access to Shake Rag Alley’s facilities? Come take advantage of our Open Forge days. We have six coal forges, nine anvils, four gas forges, four oxyacetylene kits, two MIG welders, drill press, grinders, tools, and some scrap metal. While instruction will not be provided, a facilitator - [Layers of Color: Watercolor Pouring](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r173l/) - With an emphasis on design and planning, you will learn the technique of pouring diluted watercolor directly on paper. Pouring creates a wide range of colors and creates amazing blending effects. Through instructor demonstration, you will learn about masking, wetting techniques, using gravity to mix your limited palette, and preserving the transparency of your layers. - [Mosaic Sampler](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r161s/) - Learn to mosaic with glass, ceramic, stone, shells, beads, buttons, and other found objects to make a mosaic sampler that doesn’t need to be grouted! We will cover basic design, and then how to cut and shape each of the various materials. You will also learn how to use a cement mortar as the adhesive, - [Gemstone Graffiti: Celebrating Street Art Through Time](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r160j/) - Celebrate and preserve street art history with local artist Steve Miller. In this workshop you’ll reveal colorful whorled patterns hidden under the surface of reclaimed paint from skate park mural walls—a unique, sustainable material. After learning how to craft carved graffiti “gemstones,” you’ll assemble a wristwatch with a carved graffiti face. Materials Fee Includes a - [Blacksmithing 101](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r159b/) - If you’re a beginner, this blacksmithing workshop is for you! You’ll start with the basics: tending the coal fire, hammer control, use of the anvil and tongs. Once you are comfortable with the fundamentals, you’ll move on to some hot iron forging projects, such as a variety of handy hooks, plant hangers, bottle openers, key - [Oil & Cold Wax Annual Retreat](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r158l/) - Spend four inventive days painting with other oil and cold wax artists! Shake Rag Alley is pleased to host this annual non-instructional retreat. In Mineral Point, where gallery field trip opportunities abound! Previous attendees have found the retreat an exciting way to share your approach, knowledge, and aesthetic—and to learn from others. Bring your own - [Woodlanders Gathering](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/woodlanders-gathering-24/) - It’s like summer camp for adults! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced craftsperson, you are in for an incredibly fun and creative time with nearly 40 nature-based workshops to choose from and more than 30 talented instructors to work with. Create rustic furniture, gourd art, pottery, or garden projects; try your hand at blacksmithing, - [Trick’r Treat ](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/trickr-treat24/) - If you are a kid or want to act like a kid – put on your wildest costume and come to Shake Rag Alley! Children of all ages will meet friendly (not scary) costumed characters who will be passing out Halloween treats at each of the Shake Rag historic buildings. This Mineral Point tradition is - [Glass Blowing Project: Paperweights](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r154o/) - Join glass artist Nathan Gieseke in the Hot Shop to further your technique playing with color and movement as you make a minimum of two paperweights. You’ll explore shapes from classical spheres to orgranic freeform as you experiment with freezing the motion of color in glass. - [Explorations in Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r153o-pm/) - Designed for students with some experience in glassblowing, this class provides an opportunity to grow your skills with color and form, and play with this unique art form. Under the guidance of glass artist Nathan Gieseke, you’ll have access to Shake Rag Alley’s Hot Shop and its furnace, annealers, and tools. Work on punty transfers - [Apple Basket](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r153s/) - Gather apples or anything else in this beautiful gathering basket. You will learn basic weaving and shaping techniques. The is a substantial basket with a wooden swing handle. Materials fee includes all materials needed to make the basket: basket reed and wooden handle. - [Explorations in Glass Blowing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r152o-pm/) - Designed for students with some experience in glassblowing, this class provides an opportunity to grow your skills with color and form, and play with this unique art form. Under the guidance of glass artist Nathan Gieseke, you’ll have access to Shake Rag Alley’s Hot Shop and its furnace, annealers, and tools. Work on punty transfers - [Board To Be Wild](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r151l/) - Ah, the nostalgia of childhood board games! The anticipation of the roll, the quirky pieces, and those vibrant, intricate boards. Admittedly, in my early years, rules were more of a suggestion . . . who expects an 8-year-old to appreciate Monopoly without a dash of imagination? To be honest, Clue still puzzles me to this - [Tablet Drawing for Everyone](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r139gl/) - Drawing on the tablet is fun, convenient, adaptable—and you don’t have to clean up afterward! In this two day workshop, we’ll be using the ArtRage app to investigate a range of drawing subjects. Day one will involve getting acquainted with the app and applying it to a range of traditional drawing issues. Day two will - [Traditional Blacksmith Knife](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r146b/) - Forge a handsome traditional blacksmith knife as you learn some more advanced forms of blacksmithing to create this object. We will learn how to work with knife steel, forge a blade edge using traditional blacksmithing techniques, and then heat treat our finished products. Some previous blacksmithing experience or a basic understanding of coal forging will - [Explore Gas Forge Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r139b/) - Want to try blacksmithing with a small, portable gas forge? It’s easy to set up and use with a propane tank, and is a good choice for those who might want to set up a workshop at home. Hal will explain how to work with a gas forge, and you will learn the basic blacksmithing - [Writing Retreat: Faculty Reading & Open Mic](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/writing-retreat-openmic/) - Nearing the completion of a writer’s retreat, it’s natural to wonder about what comes next. How do you apply what you’ve learned? Is your work ready to be submitted? If so, how does that work? If not, how can you make it so? Join writing coach and published author, Kim Suhr, to explore practices, people, - [Writing Retreat: While the Iron’s Hot: Forging a Post-Retreat Plan](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r140l-c/) - Nearing the completion of a writer’s retreat, it’s natural to wonder about what comes next. How do you apply what you’ve learned? Is your work ready to be submitted? If so, how does that work? If not, how can you make it so? Join writing coach and published author, Kim Suhr, to explore practices, people, - [Writing Retreat: Introduction to Interactive Fiction](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r139l-c/) - Can a story could have more than one ending? Can a reader choose the next line of a poem? Interactive fiction allows readers to make decisions about where the narrative of a work should go next. In this workshop, you’ll create short hypertext works using the online software Twine. We will learn the basics of - [Writing Retreat: Intersections: How Research Informs Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r138n-c/) - In this interactive, generative workshop, we’ll explore research as an element of craft. From composing research questions and developing organization techniques to accessing historical archives and (re)visiting personal artifacts, we will examine the ways research can spark, support, and sustain our creative ideas across multiple genres. - [Writing Retreat: Generative Fiction: Writing from the Guts](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r138s-c/) - From the most personal to the global collective experience, storytelling depends on curiosity, vulnerability, and awareness. In our time together, we’ll work with readings for inspiration, generative prompts, and listening to each other to understand the effects of our work. Each day will build on the previous day’s writing while exploring form and voice. - [Writing Retreat: “If I / Then You” Dialectic Energy, Poetic Turns!](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r138c-c/) - In this workshop, using a dialectical back-and-forth between “I” and “you,” we will create poems of contradiction, poems of opposition, poems that argue, tease, and subvert, that begin in one position and end in another. This workshop will work for poets and writers at any stage of their journey—come ready to write and be inspired. - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/24r129i/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Making Glass Beads](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/making-glass-beads2/) - Julie will demonstrate how to make glass beads in the small flame of a torch. You will learn heat control, different techniques and styles, the basics of hot head torch set up and safety. Round beads will be made first. Next, you’ll pull glass stringers from the glass rod to use for decorative details such - [Fused Loop Earrings](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fused-loop-earrings-2/) - You will discover how to fuse fine silver wire using a small butane torch to make shining beautiful loops. In addition, you will create head pins for beads, and craft ear wires. Once you master earrings, try your hand at making pendants or bracelets. You will learn everything you need to make a dazzling variety - [Making Glass Beads](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/making-glass-beads-3/) - Julie will demonstrate how to make glass beads in the small flame of a torch. You will learn heat control, different techniques and styles, the basics of hot head torch set up and safety. Round beads will be made first. Next, you’ll pull glass stringers from the glass rod to use for decorative details such - [Fine Silver Rings in a Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fine-silver-rings-in-a-day-3/) - Create your own unique .999 pure silver ring using fine silver metal clay and wear it home. Learn the techniques to size, form, refine, embellish, and set a fire-in-place stone into your ring. Make your ring as plain or glitzy as you wish, with or without a stone. After it’s fired and polished, you can - [Embossed Enameling](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/embossed-enameling-2/) - Learn how to use embossing folders to create a deep pattern on thin metal to create lightweight, colorful, and dramatic pendants. Learn how to apply liquid and powdered glass enamel for contrast and color. - [Broken China Pendants](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/broken-china-pendants-pm/) - Turn broken china shards into beautiful pendants using stained-glass soldering techniques. The china is broken into the desired size before grinding the edges. We use a copper foil that is burnished before soldering. A jump ring is added to produce a functional pendant. Materials fee includes copper foil, solder, flux, jump rings, waxed cotton cord, - [Broken China Pendants](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/broken-china-pendants-am/) - Turn broken china shards into beautiful pendants using stained-glass soldering techniques. The china is broken into the desired size before grinding the edges. We use a copper foil that is burnished before soldering. A jump ring is added to produce a functional pendant. Materials fee includes copper foil, solder, flux, jump rings, waxed cotton cord, - [Jewelry Boot Camp Showcase](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/jewelry-boot-camp-showcase-2/) - Enjoy a Saturday evening of shopping, dining, and socializing at our special showcase featuring the creativity of Shake Rag Alley instructors, students, and volunteers. A feature of our annual Jewelry Boot Camp retreat, the showcase offers jewelry lovers and makers a chance to purchase handcrafted art pieces, tools, and supplies! - [Textured Drop Earrings](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/textured-drop-earrings/) - Roll, stamp, cut & shape your way to your very own one-of-a-kind earrings, learning about texture and pattern and basic jewelry connections. Experiment with using a rolling mill and all sorts of fun materials to create a lovely effect. We will then transform your motif into a stunning pair of earrings. Materials fee includes materials - [Micro-Mosaic Pendants](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/micromosaic-pendant/) - In this class you will learn the process of designing and creating a mosaic pendant using your choice of tiny ceramic tiles, stained glass pieces, found objects, and filati, which are colored glass rods that can be cut crosswise to make tiny circles or petals. You will have a choice of bezel to work within, - [Wire Wrapped Cabochon Pendant](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/wire-wrapped-cabochon-pendant/) - Learn a traditional method of framing cabochon stones with copper wire, and explore variations of finishing the pieces to look fancy or more plain. We’ll wrap an oval or round cabochon that measures at least 1 inch or 25 mm tall. Copper wire, tools, and stones will be provided or you may bring your own. - [Messy Memory Wire Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/messy-memory-wire-bracelet-2/) - Is your desire for perfection hampering your jewelry-making? Well, it’s time for you to get messy! Instructor Denise Anton Wright will guide you through the process of turning memory wire, sari silk ribbon, wire, and freshwater pearls into this incredibly Messy Memory Wire Bracelet. Physical movements required in this workshop include stringing pearls onto wire - [Textured Band Rings](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/textured-band-rings/) - Learn how to transform flat sheet metal into a textured ring that is as unique as you are by passing it through a rolling mill with a variety of chosen elements. Experiment with your own collection of materials or borrow from Sarah’s stash. Play with pattern, pressure, and patina to reveal an imprinted ring, rich - [Mending Hearts: Stitching Recycled Fibers Into Sculpture](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/mending-hearts/) - This intensive workshop explores trauma, loss, hopes, and dreams. You will create 3-D fiber sculptures through wrapping and meditative stitches. Thread, needle, and fabric become vehicles that aid the repair of our lost and broken hearts. Learn to transform personal grief and longing into powerful pieces of art. You are encouraged to bring broken objects, - [Photo and Encaustic: Into the Blues](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/photo-and-encaustic/) - This workshop is designed for both painters and photographers interested in gaining new skills and pushing the boundaries of their studio practice through the combination of encaustic, collage, and photography. Demonstrations introduce you to the basics of encaustic painting and digital printing, while you will explore ways to further alter your photographic images through a - [Three-Dimensional Wet Felted Bird Pods](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/wet-felted-bird-pods/) - Explore the process of wet felting around balloons to create hollow vessels for bowls or bird pods or anything else you may imagine. We will explore felting over a resist, creating texture with bamboo, silk, flax, wool locks and nepps, angelina, as well as various specialty wool and yarns. On day two we will embellish - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/robust-rag-rug-7-505/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Coppersmithing 101](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/coppersmithing-101-2/) - Learn how to work with copper and take home four handsome finished pieces. Vickie “Doc” Schertz has been sharing her coppersmithing skills for several years and welcomes beginners as well as those with some experience. You’ll learn how to move, manipulate, and reshape copper. The four projects include a 3” x 4” copper “coupon” to - [Prairie’d Primer](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/prairied-primer/) - In this immersive art experience, you will be creating a storied art journal using elementary binding principles that will create a quaint fragility to your book. You will explore cyanotype printing on fabric and distress your favorite fabrics to give them a forever-loved look and feel. You will mindfully create pages with hand-sewn details and - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/robust-rag-rug-7/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Drawing for Beginners: Part II](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/robust-rag-rug-7-536/) - Wish you could draw? Well, you can! This workshop will get you on your way, in a high-fun, low-fear environment. It takes up where Part I left off by introducing new media (like pens, oil pastels and colored pencils), while keeping the same beginner-friendly level of instruction. You’ll think about drawing in a whole different - [Intro to Weaving on a 4-Harness Loom](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/intro-to-weaving-04/) - Learn to set up a loom independently, sampling plain weave and several twills. You can choose to make a scarf, table runner, or wall art with a 10 inch wide, 3 yard long warp. We will learn to read pattern drafts, empowering you to continue exploring fabric structures autonomously beyond the class. On day one - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Susan Huebner](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-heubner/) - Susan Martell Huebner writes across genres. She won the WWA Jade Ring for Poetry in 2017 & 2023; Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters awarded her first place for poetry 2020. Find her recent poetry chapbook Gathering Sticks for the Fire at Kelsay Books; Reality Changes With the Willy Nilly Wind at Finishing Line Press; SHE THOUGHT THE DOOR WAS - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Matt Cashion](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-cashion/) - The author of three books, Matt Cashion’s novel Our Thirteenth Divorce (Livingston Press) won the 2017 Edna Ferber Book Prize, and his story collection, Last Words of the Holy Ghost (UNT Press), won the 2015 Katherine Anne Porter Prize. Born in the North Carolina mountains and raised in coastal Georgia, he earned an MFA from - [Winter Writers Reading Series: James Pollock](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-pollock/) - James Pollock is the author of Durable Goods (Véhicule Press/Signal Editions), which won the Edna Meudt Poetry Book Award from the Arts + Literature Laboratory and made The Miramichi Reader‘s list of the best poetry books of 2022; and Sailing to Babylon (Able Muse Press, 2012), a finalist for the Griffin Poetry Prize and the Governor General’s Literary Award in Poetry, - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Taylor Kirby](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-kirby/) - Taylor Kirby’s recent work appears in Wisconsin People & Ideas, Salt Hill, Cream City Review, Booth, and as a Best American Essays 2021 Notable. She lives as close to Lake Mendota as she can and works as the program manager for Odyssey Beyond Bars at UW-Madison. We are excited to partner with Mineral Point’s independent bookstore for our 2024 - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Angela Williamson Emmert](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-emmert/) - Angela Williamson Emmert’s work has appeared in About Place Journal, Atticus Review, Prime Number Magazine, Sky Island Journal, Ekphrastic Review and other venues. Her poetry has won the Wisconsin Writers Lorine Niedecker Poetry Award and the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature’s Gwendolyn Brooks Award. For twenty-two years, she taught English in the Universities of Wisconsin System. Currently, she teaches creative - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Steve Fox](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-fox/) - Steve Fox is the winner of the Rick Bass Montana Prize for Fiction, the Zona Gale Award for Short Fiction, The Great Midwest Writing Contest, the Jade Ring Award, and the Midwestern Gothic Summer Flash Contest. His fiction has appeared in New Ohio Review, Orca, Midwest Review, MQR, Whitefish Review, and others. He holds an - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Kate Vieira](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-vieira/) - Kate Vieira is an international ethnographer in the school of education at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, a creative nonfiction writer, and a single mom. Her personal essays have appeared in Guernica, The Sun, First Person Singular, Tin House (online), Nowhere Travel Magazine, and Writing on the Edge. She is a 2023 Sustainable Arts Awardee - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Carol Dunbar](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-dunbar/) - Carol Dunbar is a working writer and former actor who left her life in the city to live off the grid. Her first novel, The Net Beneath Us, won the Edna Ferber Fiction Book Award, was shortlisted for a WLA literary award, and named an honoree for The Society of Midland Authors Fiction Book Award. - [Alley Stage Reading Series: “This is Government”](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/alley-stage-reading-series-642-488-993/) - Our third annual Alley Stage Reading Series concludes with Chicago-based playwright Nina Kissinger’s play-in-progress, “This Is Government.” The reading will be followed by a talkback session and reception at the Art Cafe patio sponsored by Hook’s Cheese and The Cider Farm. In the event of rain, this event will take place in the Sardeson Studio. - [Santa Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/santa-day/) - Photos with Santa are a holiday tradition at Shake Rag Alley. Visit our historic campus for photos, holiday craft-making, and sweet treats. Fun for the entire family! Visit December workshops to book times for photos, gingerbread cottages, and crafts! - [Shake Rag Alley Gala Auction: Art & Objects](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/shake-rag-alley-gala-auction-art-objects/) - oin us for our Gala Auction: Art & Objects fundraiser event at the Lind Pavilion, 411 Commerce Street, Mineral Point. This gala event will feature art and specialty items curated by local artists and experts. Gather for live music by Driftless Standard Time, cocktail reception and hors d’oeuvres, auction bidding, raffles and games, and more fun with the art and creativity that makes Mineral Point and Shake Rag Alley so special. Featuring the work of Audrey Christie, Max Fernekes, Tom Kelly, Michael DeMeng, Laura Lein-Svencner, fiber art items including a vintage crazy quilt, sleigh blanket, and Afghan tent wrap, stained glass by Mark McKim, and woodcarving by John Sharp. We invite you to wear your artistic best and join us for a special night out. - [Fiber Faire](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/https-shakeragalley-org-fiber-faire/) - [Youth Program: Make Your Mark, Free Arts Camp](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-make-your-mark-free-arts-camp/) - Mon-Fri, July 24-28, 2023 Schedule: 9am-noon Registration Deadline: July 21 Observe & explore the natural world and all it offers for creative inspiration! Make a clay plaque using your favorite wildflowers discovered on a nature walk. Find animal tracks, take impressions, and identify what critters are roaming around Shake Rag Alley. Make your own stamps - [Youth Program: Make a Tiny World Inside a Terrarium](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-make-a-tiny-world-inside-a-terrarium/) - Mon, July 31, 2023 Schedule: 1-4pm Instructor: Christina Kubasta Registration Deadline: July 28 A terrarium is a little garden inside its own home—we’ll build ours inside a special glass container where you can watch it grow, feeling like a giant watching over your own magical land. But before we put the lid on, we’ll add - [Youth Program: Tinker Lab](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-tinker-lab/) - Fri, Aug 4, 2023 Schedule: 1-4pm Instructor: Megan Kulick Registration Deadline: Aug 3 Join us for a tinkering workshop! We will explore the Shake Rag campus and look for leaves, sticks, and other nature bits and bobbles we might use to mix up some fun. We’ll engage in mud kitchen-style play with prompts on potions - [Youth Program: Hula Hoop Chandelier](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-hula-hoop-chandelier/) - Mon, Aug 7, 2023 Schedule: 1-4pm Instructor: Rebecca Sykalski Registration Deadline: August 4 Make your very own chandelier for your room with a hula hoop and whatever colors you want. We’ll use ribbons and yarn and bobbles so you can customize just how you like it. Super cute & one of a kind! Ages Grades 3-6 - [Youth Program: Performing Arts Camp](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-performing-arts-camp/) - Mon-Fri, Aug 14-18, 2023 Schedule: 1-4pm Registration Deadline: August 11 What’s important to you? How do you want to share your voice? With workshops in creative writing, performance, and playwriting, here’s your chance to claim the stage. Shake Rag Alley is holding space for your unique creativity, your stories, and your voice. We’ll have workshops - [Youth Program: Mermaid Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-christensen-soap-carving-398/) - Fri, Aug 11, 2023 Schedule: 1-4pm Instructor: Megan Kulick Registration Deadline: Aug 10 Do you love splashing in the water, gathering seashells and playing in the sand? Well then you have much in common with a mermaid! In this workshop we’ll learn about mermaids, create our own mermaid names, and decorate our own mermaid crowns! - [Youth Program: Christensen Soap Carving](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-christensen-soap-carving/) - Wed, Aug 9, 2023 Schedule: 9am-noon Instructor: Elizabeth Johanna Registration Deadline: Aug 8 Want to try carving in a safe way? Learn how to carve soap and make small soap sculptures the way Shake Rag Alley Board member Mike Christensen taught us how. We’ll then use this knowledge in other ways, whittling potatoes into stamps - [Youth Program: Fancy Schmancy Candles & Candle Holder](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-fancy-schmancy-candles-candle-holder/) - Wed, Aug 2, 2023 Schedule: 9am-noon Instructor: Elizabeth Johanna Registration Deadline: Aug 1 Learn how to make a fancy decorated candle and candle holder. We will use recycled materials like compact discs and juice can tops, then add glass baubles and jewels for the candleholder. To decorate the candle we’ll use cutouts of thin beeswax - [Alley Stage Reading Series: "News for the Deaf Man"](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/alley-stage-reading-series-642-488/) - Our third annual Alley Stage Reading Series continues with Madison-based playwright Brian James Polak's play-in-progress, "News for the Deaf Man." The reading will be followed by a talkback session and reception at the Art Cafe patio sponsored by Hook's Cheese and The Cider Farm. In the event of rain, this event will take place in - [Storytelling Through Illustration](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/storytelling-through-illustration-2/) - Draw: the best advice you’ve ever received. Mannerisms of our pet or someone we love. This class explores the basics of illustration. We’ll layer line and color to develop our styles of representing images and characters via pen, colored pencil, watercolor, and even crayon. Participants will complete drawing and writing exercises designed to inspire and - [Alley Stage Reading Series: "And a Belle's Merry Reign"](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/alley-stage-reading-series-642/) - Our third annual Alley Stage Reading Series continues with Chicago playwright Scott Strom's play-in-progress, "And a Belle’s Merry Reign," read by Mo Grimm, Judy DeVido, Paula Moon, and Lorena Severson of Mineral Point and Amanda Zasada of Platteville. The reading will be followed by a talkback session and reception at the Art Cafe patio sponsored - [Mineral Point Museum Night](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/mineral-point-museum-night/) - Several Mineral Point historic sites including Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts invite visitors to an after-hours tour. Shake Rag Alley staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about the buildings representing Mineral Point architecture from the 1830s through 1940s. For a free-will donation, enjoy a piece of pie in honor - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/https-shakeragalley-org-product-msap-6/) - Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts Lind Pavilion - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-16/) - Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts Lind Pavilion - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-15/) - Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts Lind Pavilion - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-14/) - Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts Lind Pavilion - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-13/) - Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts Lind Pavilion - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-12/) - Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts Lind Pavilion - [MAKERS & SHAKERS ART PARTY](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/https-shakeragalley-org-product-msap-5/) - Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts Lind Pavilion - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-10/) - Monthly art party dedicated to making your own stamps with Sharon Stauffer. For details and to register, click here. - [Jewelry Boot Camp Showcase](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/jewelry-boot-camp-showcase/) - Enjoy a Saturday evening of shopping, dining, and socializing at our special showcase featuring the creativity of Shake Rag Alley instructors, students, and volunteers. A feature of our annual Jewelry Boot Camp retreat, the showcase offers jewelry lovers and makers a chance to purchase handcrafted art pieces, tools, and supplies just in time for Mother's Day! - [Studio Talk with Graphic Novelist Sharon Evans](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/54085/) - Join us at the Sardeson Studio (223 Commerce St.) for conversation, coffee, and cookies with Scherbarth Resident Sharon Evans to discuss her work in progress Escape from Canaryville. Escape from Canaryville follows the life of a Chicago cop and three generations of his family who reside in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood. - [Volunteer Make-A-Fairy-House Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/volunteer-make-a-fairy-house-workshop/) - Kids of all ages are invited to make homes fit for fairies that will be featured on the annual Tour of Fairy Homes in June. Meet us at the Cabinet Shop where we'll have all sorts of materials and tools to build your Fairy House. Feel free to bring bits and baubles to add to - [Spring Garage Sale Fundraiser](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/spring-citywide-garage-sales/) - Our generous friends always donate the most eclectic items imaginable to support Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts. Piles of art supplies and materials, as well as donated household and collector items are ready to relocate at our annual Spring Garage Sale, which runs in conjunction with Mineral Point City-wide Sales! Sale hours are - [Trick’r Treat ](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/trickr-treat/) - If you are a kid or want to act like a kid – put on your wildest costume and come to Shake Rag Alley! Children of all ages will meet friendly (not scary) costumed characters who will be passing out Halloween treats at each of the Shake Rag historic buildings. This Mineral Point tradition is - [A Ghostly Gathering](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/a-ghostly-gathering-2/) - Join us for the third annual Ghostly Gathering featuring a variety of festive experiences on our 2.5-acre campus in the historic heart of Mineral Point! Proceeds support Shake Rag Alley arts and crafts programming and historic preservation. - [Art Adventure Showcase](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-showcase/) - Mixed media artwork, tools, and supplies will be available for purchase from teaching artists and students during our annual Art Adventure Retreat. Come enjoy a summer evening at the Lind Pavilion socializing, shopping, and dining among this creative community! A portion of vendor sales benefit Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts. Food + Cash - [Woodlanders Gathering & Silent Auction](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/woodlanders-gathering-silent-auction/) - Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced craftsperson, you are in for an incredibly fun and creative time with nearly 40 nature-based workshops to choose from and more than 30 talented instructors to work with. Create rustic furniture, gourd art, pottery, or garden projects; try your hand at blacksmithing, woodcarving, nature printing, fabric dyeing, and - [Tour of Fairy Homes](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/tour-of-fairy-homes/) - Stroll the magical grounds at Shake Rag Alley to see original fairy homes built especially for this tour. (Think small, really small!) Each home will be situated in a special spot on-site for your viewing pleasure at this fundraiser for our nonprofit school of arts and crafts. If you fall in love with one, you - [Garden Expo](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/garden-expo/) - PBS Wisconsin’s Garden & Landscape Expo is a midwinter oasis for people ready to venture out and dig their hands in the dirt. Stop by during this three-day event to visit the Shake Rag Alley booth. Pick up a 2023 catalog and learn more about upcoming workshops, events and exciting opportunities. - [Batiked Copper & Glass Enameled Necklace](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/batiked-copper-glass-enameled-necklace/) - This is a torch-fired glass enameling on copper class and it’s full of creativity! You’ll begin by cutting out your shape from copper sheet metal. Then, texturizing it with a hammer, you’ll prepare the metal, enamel the copper using a torch, and last, using liquid enamels, draw a sgraffito design and torch again to bring - [Fine Silver Rings in a Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fine-silver-rings-in-a-day-2/) - Create your own unique .999 pure silver ring using silver metal clay and wear it home. Learn the techniques to size, form, refine, embellish, and set a fire-in-place stone into your ring. Make your ring as plain or glitzy as you wish, with or without a stone. After it’s fired and polished, you can leave - [Reversible Fine Silver Hollow Bead](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/reversible-fine-silver-hollow-bead/) - Make your own unique, fine-silver, reversible lentil or pebble bead pendant and wear it home. Sherry will show you not only the basics of working with silver metal clay, but also how to combine two parts to make a seamless bead using “dry construction.” You can add fire-in-place stones, add texture, or leave it plain - [Oil Pastels & Beyond](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/oil-pastels-beyond/) - This class is for students who have experience with artist-quality oil pastel. Enhance your skill level and increase your repertoire of techniques by working through exercises that will uncover your deficits in the handling of this medium. As a class we will examine what a working artist’s process looks like so we are able to - [The Collector](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/the-collector/) - Have you ever been walking in nature and seen something you thought was interesting and/or spoke to you? In this class we will be making a mask to showcase those finds. This art piece can be hung on your wall and added to over the years with all the special pieces that you collect in - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/robust-rag-rug-6/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Dyeing for Blue](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/dyeing-for-blue/) - Indigo is one of the oldest dyes used for textiles and printing. People from many different countries have utilized this organic compound to create a distinctive blue. This workshop will familiarize you with a creative, multicultural practice that utilizes predominantly plant-based materials. After the workshop, you will be able to replicate the techniques and processes. - [Crafting Your Chapbook: Putting the Pieces Together](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/crafting-your-chapbook-putting-the-pieces-together/) - Poets Ronnie Hess and Christina Kubasta will talk about chapbooks, share samples, and help you think about how to take your poems and put them together into a collection, readying for publication. As chapbook authors themselves, as well as editors and readers, Ronnie and Christina can share tips for crafting a cohesive collection and helping - [Coppersmithing 102](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/coppersmithing-102/) - Coppersmithing 102 is a chasing and repousse class that will teach you to move and manipulate a flat sheet of copper into a three-dimensional piece of art. You will chase an organic design on one side of a flat piece of copper, and then turn the copper over and raise in relief your design on - [Knife Skills](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/knife-skills/) - If you’re going to prepare food safely and efficiently, you need to master essential knife skills. Nicole will introduce you to the importance of knife safety skills, cover the basic but crucial concept of how to hold a knife, and then move on to review many common cuts including: dice, slice, chop, chiffonade, mince, paste, - [Unconventional: An Organic Approach to Prong Setting](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/unconventional-an-organic-approach-to-prong-setting/) - In this two-day workshop, we will explore my unconventional, and signature, approach to prong setting, using unusual techniques to grasp a stone (or two or three) for a dramatic necklace. We will incorporate silver organic elements for texture and intrigue, experiment with simple hinges to add movement, and discuss the importance of making your own - [Intro to Forge Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/intro-to-forge-welding/) - Have you already learned basic blacksmithing and now would like to add forge welding? It’s the art and skill of joining two pieces of steel with high heat and hammering. Bob will explain several types of forge welding methods (no Damascus). He will cover temperature, fluxes and scarfs. Once you gain confidence in your forge - [Intro to Torch Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/intro-to-torch-welding-2/) - Want to give welding a try? Learn the process of cutting and welding mild steel that will give you the basics for working on steel sculptural assemblages. In this class, Dick will teach you the use of oxyacetylene for cutting and welding steel. You’ll draw shapes on metal and cut them out, then weld pieces - [Intro to Torch Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/intro-to-torch-welding/) - Want to give welding a try? Learn the process of cutting and welding mild steel that will give you the basics for working on steel sculptural assemblages. In this class, Dick will teach you the use of oxyacetylene for cutting and welding steel. You’ll draw shapes on metal and cut them out, then weld pieces - [Books Unbounded](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/books-unbounded/) - This workshop will have you gluing, cutting, painting, and tearing up old books to create 3-D art works. We will break all rules set by librarians and school teachers who told you books were to be kept on shelves. This course will expose you to specific techniques, such as making niches, creating pockets, aging and - [The Black-and-White Woodcut](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/the-black-and-white-woodcut-2/) - Join Alfred to learn the principles of design that make a black-and-white image successful. You will design, carve, and print your own composition using a mix of European and Japanese techniques. Working in black and white expands the artist’s visual vocabulary by reducing subject matter to its essential nature. Through this distillation, the artist discovers - [Intertextual & Visual Poetry Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/intertextual-visual-poetry-workshop/) - Many of us turn to poetry to explore the complications of life, language, and emotion. But what happens when we can’t find the right words to capture the complex energy of a mood or moment? In this workshop, we’ll consider how incorporating visual art and other texts can add texture and tactility to our work. - [Natural World Journaling](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/natural-world-journaling/) - Pens and watercolor are a very useful combo for journaling in the natural world. Work with two different water soluble pens and one waterproof pen to create textures, values, and transparent watercolor compositions in journals. Learn how to paint watercolor layers and fused colors with intensity. Paint on location and document observations in the wilderness - [Creating Expressive Figures](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/creating-expressive-figures/) - This five-day workshop will be a series of sessions working with polymer clay, cloth and mixed media materials to develop an expressive figure. Polymer clay practice will focus on facial expressions, and developing and creating hands and feet. Some may choose to work on several figures but this is an individual choice. Various ideas for - [Poured Botanical Layers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/poured-botanical-layers/) - Watermedia pours provide harmonious glowing washes of color. Paint will literally be poured on wet paper surfaces allowing colors to move and blend. Incredible fusions of color will appear with hardly any effort at all. This builds up colorful backgrounds for transparent and opaque botanical layers with extended layers of mark making. We will explore, - [Watermedia Fauna Monotypes](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/watermedia-fauna-monotypes/) - Create with water-based paint monotypes, resists, water-soluble pencils, and transparent and opaque watercolors on paper building compositions based on fauna. Define the natural beauty of animals while learning the process with monotype printmaking to build up a foundation of textures and images. Create the space around the natural shapes with values and colors using indigenous - [Off-the-Wall Spontaneous Construction](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/off-the-wall-spontaneous-construction/) - This workshop is for those without preconceived notions. Your piece(s) may tell thought-provoking stories: humorous, gothic, steampunk, enigmatic, serious. Recognize happy accidents while turning weathered, rusty, whimsical, and incongruous items into really cool pieces of art. Turn cast-off junk into secrets in a box. Make ordinary objects other-worldly, such as a useless but epic bicycle, - [Blacksmithing 102](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/blacksmithing-102/) - If you’ve taken a blacksmithing class or two, and want to add to your skills, Blacksmithing 102 will be a good fit. The class will begin with a review, and then build and refine your skills. The main project will be a tabletop candleholder, and you’ll be able to see your hard work and style - [Into the Garden Book](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/into-the-garden-book/) - Come create an imaginary garden book filled with intuitive ink, acrylic, watercolor, and collage. Mark making and color washes will be the first step and we’ll finish up with the book cover with vellum and tissue layers over wood. This will be a fast-paced expressive experience where perfection goes out the window! Explore book construction - [Needle Felted Animal Sculptures](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/needle-felted-animal-sculptures-2/) - In this fauna-inspired workshop, we will learn how to make incredibly realistic 3-D felt sculptures of our beloved animals. The class will start with an overview of wool types and needles that are used for felting. We will then experiment with various felting techniques and will work on prepping the wool and creating a wire - [New Dimensions in Collage](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/new-dimensions-in-collage/) - This is a fun class in which you will be enriching the surface of your collages by exploring ways to add depth and texture to your work. Instead of being confined to the flat collage plane, we will be playing with many ways to enhance the surface space — from embossing and molding clay elements - [Oil Pastels](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/oil-pastels/) - Oil pastels have a soft and buttery feel. The color effects and textures are stunningly beautiful and captivating. You will learn to prepare the substrate and under painting, blend pastels to create 3-dimensional effects, and work with oil pastel to develop layering techniques. Use tools to scrape away or subtract oil pastel to reveal layers - [Blacksmithing & Welding Open Forge Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/blacksmithing-welding-open-forge-day-9/) - Have some experience with welding or blacksmithing and want access to Shake Rag Alley’s facilities? Come take advantage of our Open Forge days. We have six coal forges, nine anvils, four gas forges, four oxyacetylene kits, two MIG welders, drill press, grinders, tools, and some scrap metal. While instruction will not be provided, a facilitator - [The Second Half of Life: A Creative Retreat for a Time of Deep Change](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/the-second-half-of-life-a-creative-retreat-for-a-time-of-deep-change/) - The second half of life is not defined by a particular age, rather it begins in a moment brought about by life-changing circumstances – when we consider who we are apart from occupations, daily duties, and our past. Psychologist James Hollis writes the second half of life is a time of deep change; when people, - [Color, Contrast & Texture in Primitive Rug Hooking](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/color-contrast-texture-in-primitive-rug-hooking/) - Get inspired to create a beautiful hooked rug that you love and have fun making in the process! In this class you will learn how color, contrast, and texture affect your rug hooking, and how to choose wools to achieve the look you want in your rug. We will also discuss how: to decide if - [Make a Bent Willow Chair](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/make-a-bent-willow-chair/) - Bring a bit of enchantment and nature into your home with a bent willow chair. Jim will bring plenty of green willow and lead you through the process of making a rustic bent willow chair using only hand tools. At the end of the workshop you will have a beautiful, handcrafted piece of furniture to - [Friendship Bowl](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/friendship-bowl/) - In this class you will create an Friendship Bowl with traditional Japanese characters (tranquility, kindness, love, etc.). You will make decisions about the use of color, stain, and dyes after selecting your chopsticks. There will be some drilling to incorporate the chopsticks. You will work off a pre-formed and prepped gourd container. - [Explore Gas Forge Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/explore-gas-forge-blacksmithing/) - Want to try blacksmithing with a small, portable gas forge? It’s easy to set up and use with a propane tank, and is a good choice for those who might want to set up a workshop at home. Hal will explain how to work with a gas forge, and you will learn the basic blacksmithing - [DIY Cider: Fermenting Cider at Home](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/diy-cider-fermenting-cider-at-home-2/) - Cider happens! Ever left a jug of fresh-pressed cider juice in the back of the fridge for a few weeks? Did you see that jug expand? That juice was fermenting to (hard) cider! Learn how you can do that in a controlled sense and have your own fermented cider to enjoy at home. Deirdre will - [Cider Tasting: Sip & Nosh](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/cider-tasting-sip-nosh/) - Join us for a summer evening on the Green with The Cider Farm’s Deirdre Birmingham to learn what cider is and its history in America. A fun class whether on your own or with a group! Sample four styles of cider to learn major differences in not just taste, but in their production methods and - [Enamel Buffet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/enamel-buffet/) - Enamel is glass fused to a metal base using a kiln. It’s deeply colorful, it’s shiny, and it’s fun to make jewelry from this contemporary medium with an ancient past. Leslie will teach you how to apply the glass, fire it in the kiln, and show you several simple techniques that make a big impact - [Cryptozoology: Shrines of Legends & Lore](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/cryptozoology-shrines-of-legends-lore/) - Everyone has heard of the Loch Ness Monster, the Abominable Snowman, or Big Foot, but it’s surprising how many types of mysterious beasts people believe to roam the planet. The technical term for such a critter, a “cryptid,” is described as creature said to exist but is … yet … unproven. In Wisconsin, there is - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/robust-rag-rug-5/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric so - [Mixed Media Multiples in Oil & Cold Wax](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/mixed-media-multiples-in-oil-cold-wax/) - Abstract multiples are a great way to experiment while you work in a design-related series. We’ll use same-sized square cradled wood panels to create a piece from multiple parts. Choose your preferred size: 12″ to 18″ for three to six multiples, 8″ to 10″ for groupings of eight or nine (depth of cradle up to - [Upcycled Mixed-Media Collage Cards](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/upcycled-mixed-media-collage-cards/) - Create one-of-a-kind, hand-stitched cards that mix “old-timey” photos with whimsical verse. We will start by creating our own collage background papers using old paper, inks, paint, and mark making. Then we will learn how to assemble the mini-little portraits that are mounted onto 4” x 5” note cards. Use them to send an extra special - [Your Hand, Your Spirit](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/your-hand-your-spirit/) - We’re visual artists. We rely on our hands to express our ideas. Join me in making an artwork that celebrates your hand — and your essential self. Using fabrics, yarns, beads, and decorative stitching, we’ll make a piece incorporating an accurate silhouette of your dominant hand, and a symbol that stands for your core interests. - [Whooo Gives a Hoot?](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/whooo-gives-a-hoot/) - Have an art adventure making an assemblage owl using collage, assemblage, and sculpture. Use found objects and supplied materials to create a wise old owl that opens to reveal a unique assemblage. Learn techniques and bring home a wise old art piece to hang on your wall. - [Re-Leafed, or the Ancient Art of Eeep Making](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/re-leafed-or-the-ancient-art-of-eeep-making/) - I call my tin assemblages “Eeeps” and have been making them for 15 years. Each year they change and this year is no exception! We will begin by altering a metal tin for the body of our figurative sculptures. I will teach you basic cold-connection methods and a variety of techniques for altering metal … - [Little Altars, Everywhere](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/little-altars-everywhere/) - Memory and personal mythology can transform mundane ordinary objects into powerful talismans. When we arrange them with focused intention into assemblages, that energy can be magnified. Our personal associations with the divine or the sacred fuse together with artmaking to create work that can be deeply personal and even transformative. Lorraine will lead you through - [Blacksmithing & Welding Open Forge Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/blacksmithing-welding-open-forge-day-8/) - Have some experience with welding or blacksmithing and want access to Shake Rag Alley’s facilities? Come take advantage of our Open Forge days. We have six coal forges, nine anvils, four gas forges, four oxyacetylene kits, two MIG welders, drill press, grinders, tools, and some scrap metal. While instruction will not be provided, a facilitator - [Alphabets Inspired by Nature](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/alphabets-inspired-by-nature/) - We will begin by looking at example alphabets by other type designers, and then take to the outdoors to find inspiration. Once our exploring is done, we will analyze our objects with relation to what parts make up a letter. For example: Are there thicks and thins in your object? What does the vertical and/or - [Abstracts with Oil & Cold Wax](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/abstracts-with-oil-cold-wax/) - Wax has a long and esteemed history in art and writing. Wax tablets were used with writing in the 7th century B.C. Today, wax has evolved into a translucent medium that is mixed with oil paints. Cold wax can be worked into a textural surface for carving marks, or to encapsulate and suspend collage elements. - [The Artful Journal](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/the-artful-journal/) - Transform a hard-bound sketchbook with decorative techniques. Paint and collage the cover, then fill the pages with more paint and collage. Techniques include collage, stamping, stenciling, mono-printing, and more. You will be surprised as you transform the blank pages into beautiful works of art! At the end of class you will have ideas and inspiration - [On the Horizon](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/on-the-horizon/) - Imposing order in a chaotic abstract work can often be difficult. In exploring the design of an abstract work, remembering the rule of thirds is helpful. Within that rule, several techniques can be used to define a horizon line, including asemic writing, a small grid, painterly lines, and more. This technique helps to convey a - [Beyond Collage](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/beyond-collage/) - If you love to collage or are even entirely new to it, this welcoming class will enhance your creativity by allowing you to add depth and texture to your colorful designs. Working within cradled panels, we will collage and paint the background, adding embossed ceramic elements to our compositions to create our own unique works. - [Transparent Collage](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/transparent-collage/) - In this class you will make your own collage papers with tissue and paints and textures. You will learn about color theory and building collages with acrylic mediums. The different types and uses for various acrylic mediums will be discussed. Adding imagery to your collages as well as the layout and design of a good - [Lettering, Stamping & Transfers on Unglazed Tiles](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/lettering-stamping-transfers-on-unglazed-tiles/) - Join me for this fun class using different techniques to decorate nine tumbled marble unglazed tiles. These 4″ x 4″ tiles can be used as coasters, incorporated into kitchen backsplashes, or as standalone art pieces. They make great gifts for friends and family! Techniques will include writing directly onto the tiles; making stamps (or using - [Layered Faces](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/layered-faces/) - In this two-day workshop, we will create abstracts of the face using a variety of techniques to build thick, deep layers on canvas, using very few and inexpensive supplies. You will learn how to obtain a beautiful encaustic look without using messy hot wax and crock pots, and you will learn how to create depth, - [Glass Charm Braceletpalooza](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/glass-charm-braceletpalooza/) - In this workshop, you will learn basic soldering techniques, and capture playful ephemera imagery, special papers, pieces of love notes, pressed flowers, tattered lace, or words between glass. Your special pieces will reflect your personal style. Learn how to solder jump rings to your glass charm, plus attach a few jump rings to, or drill - [Expressive Coptic Journal](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/expressive-coptic-journal/) - Journals are a wonderful place to document your experiences: a substrate to dabble on with paints and collage, a personalized recipe book, a special gift, or simply a site to jot down ideas for your next masterpiece. Starting from scratch, we will create a beautiful journal with blank pages that will lay flat when opened. - [Welding Wild Yard Art](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/welding-wild-yard-art-2/) - Let your imagination run wild to create unique and clever pieces of welded yard art. Bring your junk tools, wrenches, rakes, etc., – anything a magnet will stick to. You’ll learn how to cut, grind, heat, bend, and weld it all together to make a classic “critter.” Start scrounging now to collect what you will - [Unique Chains: Not Your Average Cable Chain](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/unique-chains-not-your-average-cable-chain/) - You will focus on designing and creating a distinctive necklace or bracelet that is a dramatic departure from the average cable chain. We will be manipulating wire and sheet metal to fabricate inspired links and clasps that will have you considering connecting elements in a whole new way! - [Natural Selection: Lost & Found in the Forest](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/natural-selection-lost-found-in-the-forest/) - After journeying out into the natural world to find inspiration and materials, we will return to the studio to create sculptures based on our explorations. Have a sketch book, photographs or visual material to use as references. Bring just about anything you want to use to build your sculpture. What a great chance to use - [Stone Bridge Railing Project](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/stone-bridge-railing-project/) - Faced with unique design issues and landscaping challenges, you sometimes need to get creative. Join Dick Anderson for one of those creative solutions, and build a railing for the pathway over Shake Rag Alley’s Federal Spring, preserving the unique stone bridge. Using upcycled rope and Dick’s clever welding, you’ll get some design and construction experience - [Abstract Quilt Block Design Using a Formula](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/abstract-quilt-block-design-using-a-formula/) - Design one or more original abstract quilt block designs using Suzi’s formula technique. You will sketch multiple designs, then choose your favorite. Templates will be made from freezer paper, and you will sew your design into a wall-hanging sized art piece. Once you have learned this technique, you are on your way to creating many - [Primitive Folk Art Stitchery](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/primitive-folk-art-stitchery/) - Folk art is an expression of cultural heritage and traditions within a community. The “child-like” art can easily be accomplished by those without formal art training. In this class, you will create either a landscape or still life with fabrics, hand stitching, buttons, trims, and ephemera. Your work will be an original and may contain - [Blacksmithing a Garden Gate](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/blacksmithing-a-garden-gate/) - Join Hal and use a gas forge to create an attractive garden gate for your yard. This is an intermediate class requiring at least one of the beginning classes in either coal or gas forging, or prior forging experience. The project starts with a pre-welded rectangle that you will use as your base for adding - [Explore Layers + Shape + Line in Oil & Cold Wax Paintings](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/explore-layers-shape-line-in-oil-cold-wax-paintings/) - Advance your skills in oil and cold wax painting. We’ll explore techniques for building layers that add visual interest and complexity. Using the concepts of line and shape we will discover approaches to create variation. Using a wide variety of mark-making tools we’ll find ways to bring abstract paintings to life. Combining all of these - [Natural Stones Set in Silver Metal Clay](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/natural-stones-set-in-silver-metal-clay/) - Create a fine silver bezel setting for a natural, non-firable stone cabochon that you will add to your textured silver metal clay pendant. Sherry will teach you how to use fine silver bezel wire and metal clay to create your bezel, how to account for shrinkage, how to fire your pendant, how to set your - [The Memory of Stitches: Revisiting Old Cloth](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/the-memory-of-stitches-revisiting-old-cloth/) - My belief is that every hand stitch in imbued with memory and that paying tribute to the materials we use is an important part of the creative process. This hand-stitching workshop puts sustainability in the forefront; utilizing vintage materials we create a connection to the past and an opportunity to honor how cotton comes into - [Fine Silver Leaves from the Garden](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fine-silver-leaves-from-the-garden/) - Transform leaves into fine silver jewelry using silver metal clay in this exciting one-day class. Sherry will demonstrate the process, from collecting appropriate organic material, then preparing and/or storing that material, all the way to completing a fine silver piece of jewelry. Learn to make bails and embellish your jewelry with fire-in-place stones, syringe, and - [Chicken, Pepper, & Tomato Pie](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/chicken-pepper-tomato-pie/) - Learn to create this simple open-faced pie full of fresh ingredients! Delicious homemade crust full of chicken, onions, peppers, and tomatoes … perfect meal to use those garden veggies! Ages 14 & up. - [Beginning Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/beginning-blacksmithing-2/) - Learn the basics of lighting and tending the coal fire in the forge; handling hammers, tongs, and anvil; and working iron into points, hooks, and twists for useful objects such as drawer handles, plant hangers, and a variety of hooks. This is a beginning class but intermediate students are welcome to review their skills and - [Homemade Gnocchi Pasta](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/homemade-gnocchi-pasta/) - Learn to create homemade gnocchi pasta with Lynnie! During this class you will create delicious little Italian potato parmesan dumplings by hand. Take these little dumplings home and prepare with your favorite sauce. Lynnie will provide sauce recipes to take home to create an amazing gnocchi meal! - [Color with Sargent](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/color-with-sargent/) - John Singer Sargent was a master of color. His blacks were textured, his whites were complex, and his side-by-side use of warm and cool colors gave his work vibrancy. In this one-day workshop you will study Sargent’s work through lecture and slide presentations, and then paint from his work to create your own compelling pieces - [Watercolor Landscapes](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/watercolor-landscapes-2/) - Translate the beauty of nature into watercolor paintings by learning to paint skies, trees, water, mountains, and rocks. This intermediate class will help you learn how to develop a strategy for building depth in your work and how to focus the center of interest using color and value. Lessons on technique for building texture, and - [Building Form in Watercolor](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/building-form-in-watercolor/) - Understanding how to build form is essential for composing good paintings. When working in watercolor there are particular challenges to choosing techniques and colors that will make objects look 3-dimensional. This one-day workshop will address color matching, mixing neutrals, layering color with glazes, and mixing on the paper. You will work from still lifes provided - [Color Theory Through Watercolor](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/color-theory-through-watercolor/) - Understanding color is essential to creating work that captivates the eye and evokes certain moods or emotions. Through a series of fun exercises you will learn to understand tints, shades, and tone, the color wheel, complementary colors, warm and cool colors, and color schemes. You will make useful charts and swatches that can be used - [Watercolor From the Beginning](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/watercolor-from-the-beginning/) - Learn everything you need to build a strong foundation for getting started in watercolor. Receive detailed information on paper, paint, and brushes explained clearly and demonstrated with helpful visual aids. Practice mixing colors, learn how to do basic washes, and find out about special techniques unique to watercolor. - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/robust-rag-rug-4/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Made with Intention: Chains & Pendant](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/made-with-intention-chains-pendant/) - Use the power of intention to create a power necklace using a variety of traditional metalsmithing techniques. Set a stone for a pendant and hand fabricate your own fused chain. Upon completion, you will have a piece of jewelry that not only is beautiful, but that you can wear as a reminder of your own - [Blacksmithing & Welding Open Forge Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/blacksmithing-welding-open-forge-day-7/) - Have some experience with welding or blacksmithing and want access to Shake Rag Alley’s facilities? Come take advantage of our Open Forge days. We have six coal forges, nine anvils, four gas forges, four oxyacetylene kits, two MIG welders, drill press, grinders, tools, and some scrap metal. While instruction will not be provided, a facilitator - [Living Mixed Media](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/living-mixed-media/) - Create a series of abstract mixed media paintings influenced by your life. Have you noticed we all gravitate to similar things over and over? During this class, we will dig deep and discover what lights us up. Using this information, we will move into abstract work that highlights those things we love. We start with - [Silver Spinner Ring](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/silver-spinner-ring/) - Are you on board with the popular kinetic spinner rings? Learn to make a sterling silver or multi-metal ring with two bands: The inner one hugs your finger while the moveable outer one lets you fidget to your heart’s content. Leslie will work with you to advance your metalwork skills, including sawing, texturing, soldering, and - [Silver Stamped Band Rings](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/silver-stamped-band-rings/) - Make a one-of-a-kind textured sterling silver ring. In this half-day workshop you will learn to size, stamp, form, solder, and polish a sterling ring (or two). It’s the perfect introduction to jewelry-making for beginners, a great way to get back into jewelry-making after a break, and a fun exercise for the advanced student. - [Building Scene](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/building-scene/) - Whether you write fiction or creative nonfiction, the scene is your tool for bringing the reader deeply into a character’s experience and making a narrative as vivid as possible. Unlike exposition or summary, scenes are rendered moment by moment, and are most useful for dramatizing a pivotal turn or thread. On Saturday morning, in a - [Blacksmithing an Herb Chopper](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/blacksmithing-an-herb-chopper/) - Blacksmith a handsome herb chopper for your kitchen as you learn some more advanced forms of blacksmithing to create this more complex object. We will learn how to work with knife steel, forge a blade edge using traditional blacksmithing techniques, and then heat treat our finished products. - [Paper Printing Alchemy: Botanical and Rusting Methods](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/paper-printing-alchemy-botanical-and-rusting-methods-2/) - This workshop is for the artist who loves the unexpected alchemy that can happen when a little time and some heat are applied to plants, flowers, and papers to make a unique eco-dyed print. We will explore the use of various prep methods for printing, as well as modifiers to change the colors of our - [Historical Blacksmith Display](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/historical-blacksmith-display/) - In this drop-in session, you’ll learn about the history of blacksmithing and get to see original tools (and equipment) made by blacksmiths from the time of Mineral Point’s settlement. Learn about this trade and functional art, and maybe get inspired to try it yourself! Free. No registration required. - [Welding Wild Yard Art](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/welding-wild-yard-art/) - Let your imagination run wild to create unique and clever pieces of welded yard art. Bring your junk tools, wrenches, rakes, etc., – anything a magnet will stick to. You’ll learn how to cut, grind, heat, bend, and weld it all together to make a classic “critter.” Start scrounging now to collect what you will - [Hands-On Landscaping & Masonry](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/hands-on-landscaping-masonry/) - Join Mineral Point stone mason Nate Chambers in working on a variety of path restoration and masonry jobs around our historic campus! This two-day course will take you through job site prep, the tools of the trade, and water mitigation. Take these skills home for your own DIY projects. Be prepared for heavy lifting. Don’t - [Moku Hanga: An Intro to Japanese Woodblock Printing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/moku-hanga-an-intro-to-japanese-woodblock-printing/) - Moku Hanga, meaning “wood print” is a simple, centuries-old Japanese technique employing water-based ink, basic carving and rubbing tools, beautiful Japanese paper, and fine-grained wood. Many Western printmaking methods involve complex printing presses, oil-based inks, and toxic solvents. By contrast, Moku Hanga utilizes only a few simple tools, a small work space, and is entirely - [Mini Teacup & Saucer Mosaic](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/mini-teacup-saucer-mosaic/) - This two-day class will be a colorful journey of mosaic of a mini teacup and saucer, just because! The first day will be dedicated to choosing colors and cutting tiles into small squares. The second day will involve applying tiny tiles to the two forms–teacup and saucer. Arrangements for grouting will be made. Requires cutting - [Gas Forge Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/gas-forge-blacksmithing/) - Would you like to try blacksmithing on a gas forge? Dave will show you how to operate a gas propane forge and how to use basic tools (anvil, hammers, tongs, etc.). You will learn forging skills like tapering, drawing out, scrolling, twisting, and upsetting. Dave will demonstrate each stage with plenty of hands-on time to - [Oil & Cold Wax Annual Retreat](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/oil-cold-wax-annual-retreat-2/) - Spend four inventive days painting with other oil and cold wax artists! Shake Rag Alley is pleased to host this annual non-instructional retreat. With Mineral Point's Gallery Night corresponding with the retreat, gallery field trip opportunities abound! Previous attendees have found the retreat an exciting way to share your approach, knowledge, and aesthetic -- and - [Blacksmithing 101](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/blacksmithing-101/) - If you’re a beginner, this blacksmithing workshop is for you! You’ll start with the basics: tending the coal fire, hammer control, use of the anvil and tongs. Once you are comfortable with the fundamentals, you’ll move on to some hot iron forging projects, such as a variety of handy hooks, plant hangers, bottle openers, key - [Junk Journal Deconstruction](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/junk-journal-deconstruction/) - Some call us monsters for ripping up and altering books — I think of us as creatives who can see potential in anything! Gather together with kindred spirits and rip and alter to our hearts’ content! We’ll take a vintage book and turn it into something extraordinary using paint, embellishments, and reconstructive techniques. You bring - [Toolin'](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/toolin/) - According to the Encarta Dictionary: Assemblage (is) a work of art made from a collection of different objects. Gary is offering a workshop where ALL THE TOOLS YOU COULD WANT TO SEE are provided. Gary will be teaching the basics of assemblage construction plus mixed media techniques so that you will be able to create - [The Art of Painting on Silk](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/the-art-of-painting-on-silk/) - Colors on silk are breathtaking. This is an exciting workshop in which you will have the opportunity to explore easy-to-apply design principles, color theory, and the special techniques for painting on silk. Painting florals is perfect for this art form. This class is taught in an open, relaxed manner and is geared for the beginner - [Floating Collage Composition Big & Little](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/floating-collage-composition-big-little/) - Collage is about paper, glue, and surface. This workshop will have us loosening up and creating our own unique papers. Everything you hold in your hand is a tool and learning to use them on the surface of found papers to create a new palette is what we will do first. We will explore mark - [Explorations of the Wandering Mind](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/explorations-of-the-wandering-mind/) - “Not all who wander are lost.” Embodying this quote we will follow the threads of dreams, projections, and thoughts to create an inspired series of artworks. Guided by abstract concepts, forms, and high-impact design patterns we’ll transform our thoughts to their existence on our canvases incorporating mixed media techniques. With a strong emphasis on form, - [Beginners Gas Forge: Decorative Garden Post](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/beginners-gas-forge-decorative-garden-post/) - In this beginners class, you will learn the basics of a gas forge, drawing tapers, curling, twisting and texturing metal to make a garden post with hook and a decorative dragonfly or butterfly adornment. - [Pinching & Coiling: Explore Functional Pottery](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/pinching-coiling-explore-functional-pottery-2/) - Join Chicago artist Laura Williams to create charming cups, bowls, plates, lidded jars, spoons, vases, and teapots using the handbuilding methods of pinching and coiling. This course is ideal for beginners and seasoned hand builders alike. You will also learn about decorating your wares using underglazes and slip. All wares will be clear glazed, fired - [Woodlanders Gathering](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/woodlanders-gathering-2/) - It’s like summer camp for adults! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced craftsperson, you are in for an incredibly fun and creative time with nearly 40 nature-based workshops to choose from and more than 30 talented instructors to work with. Create rustic furniture, gourd art, pottery, or garden projects; try your hand at blacksmithing, - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/robust-rag-rug-3/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Tensile Fabric Sails](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/tensile-fabric-sails-2/) - Learn the art of creating fabric sails based on the hyberbolic-paraboloid principle, a 3-D geometry that generates strong curves that soar in space! Instructor Aris Georges will demonstrate basic principles of shapes, simple knots and anchoring methods. The group will create an installation at Shake Rag Alley, with each participant on the team stretching a - [Blacksmithing & Welding Open Forge Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/blacksmithing-welding-open-forge-day-6/) - Have some experience with welding or blacksmithing and want access to Shake Rag Alley’s facilities? Come take advantage of our Open Forge days. We have six coal forges, nine anvils, four gas forges, four oxyacetylene kits, two MIG welders, drill press, grinders, tools, and some scrap metal. While instruction will not be provided, a facilitator - [Collage Paper Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/collage-paper-party/) - Let’s get this collage paper party started! Go-to techniques to create bright, bold, luscious collage paper — PERFECT for art journals, mixed media collage, decoupage paper, and other projects. We’ll start with mark making using oil pastels and stamping found items into acrylic paint. I’ll show you tricks for using the right colors to create - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/robust-rag-rug-2/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Writing Retreat Pop-up Workshop: Postcard Poetics](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/writing-retreat-pop-up-workshop-postcard-poetics/) - Postcard Poetics is an adventure in alternative logic, a workshop where we let go of intentions in order to explore the materiality of language and create poetic artifacts born of community and generative constraints. All you need is something to write with and something to write on. - [Writing Retreat Workshop: Writing Fiction](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/writing-retreat-workshop-writing-fiction/) - Well-crafted short stories and novel chapters have a lot in common: They employ many of the same elements of writing — solid narrative arc, strong voice, the right point of view, among various other elements. Editors are on the hunt for beautifully crafted work, so whether you want to start a new short story/novel chapter - [Writing Retreat Workshop: Memoir & Personal Narrative](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/writing-retreat-workshop-memoir-personal-narrative/) - Our lives are filled with exciting moments and ordinary ones, good times and trying times, bits and pieces that make us who we are now. During this intensive three-day workshop, we will mine our memories and experiences in order to render our memoirs and short personal essays. Our own stories will be our foundation, and - [Writing Retreat Workshop: Explorations in Flash Forms](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/writing-retreat-workshop-explorations-in-flash-forms/) - Flash fiction, mini-memoir, prose poems, short-shorts, palm-of-the-hand stories: These are a few of the wide variety of brief prose forms we will read, study, and attempt in this generative, multi-genre course. We will dig into the creative possibilities of these structures by exploring the narrative potential of our observations, memories, and imaginations. The emphasis will - [Sew & Fold: Making a Writer’s Journal](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/sew-fold-making-a-writers-journal/) - Utilizing writing prompts, favorite quotes, and whatever else inspires you, we will sew our own handmade journals to take with us on our writing journeys. Each book will be utterly unique as you sew your own pages, choose your end papers, and create your own cover design sewing the pieces together in a stunning binding. - [Blacksmithing & Welding Open Forge Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/blacksmithing-welding-open-forge-day-5/) - Have some experience with welding or blacksmithing and want access to Shake Rag Alley’s facilities? Come take advantage of our Open Forge days. We have six coal forges, nine anvils, four gas forges, four oxyacetylene kits, two MIG welders, drill press, grinders, tools, and some scrap metal. While instruction will not be provided, a facilitator - [Micro-Mosaic Pendants](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/micro-mosaic-pendants/) - In this class you will learn the process of designing and creating a mosaic pendant using your choice of tiny ceramic tiles, stained glass pieces, found objects, and filati, which are colored glass rods that can be cut crosswise to make tiny circles or petals. You will have a choice of bezel to work within, - [Making Glass Beads](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/making-glass-beads-2/) - Julie will demonstrate how to make glass beads in the small flame of a torch. You will learn heat control and techniques of different styles, the basics of hot head torch set up and safety. Round beads will be made first. Next, you’ll pull glass stringers from the glass rod to use for decorative details - [Fine Silver Rings in a Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fine-silver-rings-in-a-day/) - Create your own unique .999 pure silver ring using precious silver metal clay and wear it home. Learn the techniques to size, form, refine, embellish, and set a fire-in-place stone into your ring. Make your ring as plain or glitzy as you wish, with or without a stone. After it’s fired and polished, you can - [Embossed Enameling](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/embossed-enameling/) - Learn how to use embossing folders to create a deep pattern on thin metal to create lightweight, colorful, and dramatic pendants. Learn how to apply liquid and powdered glass enamel for contrast and color. - [Drawing with Your Tablet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/drawing-with-your-tablet/) - Find out why nothing beats the versatility and portability of the tablet as a drawing tool. In this day-long class, we’ll be using the ArtRage app to draw both from observation and imagination. You don’t have to be tech-savvy to learn this fun, easy application and watch your drawing frontiers expand! - [Repurposed Charm Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/repurposed-charm-bracelet/) - Learn how to make a wearable art bracelet out of old but sentimental jewelry pieces, buttons, beads, charms, and those tiny treasures that you cannot bear to part with. In this class we will cover how to choose parts that work well together, how to prepare your repurposed “charms” (sanding, drilling, even painting parts to - [Making Glass Beads](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/making-glass-beads/) - Julie will demonstrate how to make glass beads in the small flame of a torch. You will learn heat control and techniques of different styles, the basics of hot head torch set up and safety. Round beads will be made first. Next, you’ll pull glass stringers from the glass rod to use for decorative details - [Intro to Silver Metal Clay](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/intro-to-silver-metal-clay/) - Learn how to make beautiful fine silver jewelry from soft, workable “clay-like” silver. Silver metal clay is a safe, non-toxic material made of tiny silver particles embedded in an organic base. You will learn how to form, refine, fire, and finish jewelry pieces using the clay, paste, and a syringe. Make a pendant with a - [Fused Loop Earrings](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fused-loop-earrings/) - You will discover how to fuse fine silver wire using a small butane torch to make shining beautiful loops. In addition, you will create head pins for beads, and craft ear wires. Once you master earrings, try your hand at making pendants or bracelets. You will learn everything you need to make a dazzling variety - [Broken China Pendants](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/broken-china-pendants-2/) - Turn broken china shards into beautiful pendants using stained-glass soldering techniques. The china is broken into the desired size before grinding the edges. We use a copper foil that is burnished before soldering. A jump ring is added to produce a functional pendant. - [Broken China Pendants](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/broken-china-pendants/) - Turn broken china shards into beautiful pendants using stained-glass soldering techniques. The china is broken into the desired size before grinding the edges. We use a copper foil that is burnished before soldering. A jump ring is added to produce a functional pendant. - [Beginning Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/beginning-blacksmithing/) - Learn the basics of lighting and tending the coal fire in the forge; handling hammers, tongs, and anvil; and working iron into points, hooks, and twists for useful objects such as drawer handles, plant hangers, and a variety of hooks. This is a beginning class but intermediate students are welcome to review their skills and - [Power Pendant & Chain Making](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/power-pendant-chain-making/) - Create a necklace infused with the power found in setting an intention. Using techniques such as cutting, filing, making a bezel, soldering, and texturing, you will begin this intermediate project by making a pendant with a crystal of your choice (multiple options will be available). Next, you will hand fabricate your own fused chain. Upon - [Fold-forming Basics](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fold-forming-basics/) - Want to know what fold-forming is about? Fold-forming is a technique in which metal is heated repeatedly while folding, unfolding, forging, and forming it. Working with copper you’ll learn some basic folds, plus how to use hammers to move metal. After trying your hand at each you’ll be encouraged to create a pendant using your - [Messy Memory Wire Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/messy-memory-wire-bracelet/) - Is your desire for perfection hampering your jewelry-making? Well, it’s time for you to get messy! Instructor Denise Anton Wright will guide you through the process of turning memory wire, sari silk ribbon, wire, and freshwater pearls into this incredibly Messy Memory Wire Bracelet. - [Mending Hearts: Stitching Recycled Fibers Into Sculpture](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/mending-hearts-stitching-recycled-fibers-into-sculpture/) - This intensive workshop explores trauma, loss, hopes, and dreams. You will create 3-D fiber sculptures through wrapping and meditative stitches. Thread, needle, and fabric become vehicles that aid the repair of our lost and broken hearts. Learn to transform personal grief and longing into powerful pieces of art. You are encouraged to bring broken objects, - [Gourd Jewelry Box](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/gourd-jewelry-box/) - This project makes an excellent gift for someone or perhaps just for you! Using a pre-formed gourd container, each will have a removable lid (with a finial of your choice), with your choice of illustrations, patterns (or your own sketch), and color options. Available materials will include beads, wire, dyes, stains, feathers, paint, and your - [Encaustic Collage + Assemblage](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/encaustic-collage-assemblage/) - In this workshop we will begin with backgrounds and underpainting/marking methods. Collage and assemblage materials and methods will be discussed broadly as a group, with ample time for one-on-one discussion with the instructor. We will discuss a variety of assemblage methods for securely attaching 3-D elements. Each day will build on the demos and skills - [Dynamic Storytelling: Find, Shape, & Tell Your Stories](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/dynamic-storytelling-find-shape-tell-your-stories/) - In this class you will learn how to find, shape, and present stories. You can bring existing stories to craft or find new stories from your life. We will discuss the five main elements of a story and how to discover them. By learning dynamic storytelling elements, you will gain the tools to pull short - [Beginning Rug Hooking](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/beginning-rug-hooking/) - Are you ready for a new hobby/art therapy for your free time? Then you need a beginning rug hooking fiber arts class. Learn how to pull your first loops on an 18″ rug during the class. We will learn about wool fabric, rug hooking supplies and equipment, rug hooking techniques/styles, design, and finishing your rug. - [Coppersmithing 101](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/coppersmithing-101/) - Learn how to work with copper and take home four handsome finished pieces. Vickie “Doc” Schertz has been sharing her coppersmithing skills for several years and welcomes beginners as well as those with some experience. You’ll learn how to move, manipulate, and reshape copper. - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/robust-rag-rug/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! - [Natural Geometry Collage](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/natural-geometry-collage/) - Learn the art of geometric composition by making a collage with geometric patterns inspired by flowers and plants. This exercise is based on the method of Nature Patterns originating with Frank Lloyd Wright and many apprentices at Taliesin. Instructor Aris Georges will present the background of the exercise, with examples and step-by-step process. Students will - [Pathways to Publication](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/pathways-to-publication-2/) - Literary magazines. Contests. Anthologies. All are eager to receive and consider your work. Learn how to submit poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, graphic narrative, hybrid/experimental, and excerpts of longer works for publication. Make this the year you break into print and share your work! We’ll explore markets and opportunities, examine dozens of print magazines and - [Drawing for Beginners](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/drawing-for-beginners/) - Have you always wanted to learn to draw, but were intimidated by the prospect? This class will explore the fundamental building blocks of a “successful drawing” in a high-fun, low-fear environment. We’ll sample three or more media and several techniques during this day-long intro course. Find out how drawing will make you see the world - [Warp & Weave](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/warp-weave/) - Learn (or re-learn!) to set up and weave on a four-harness loom. We will wind a 10-inch-wide, 3-yard warp, thread it onto the loom, and explore some basic weave structures and techniques. You will be introduced to reading a pattern draft and, after some sampling, can use the remaining warp and time for a project - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Nick Gulag](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-nick-gulag/) - Nick Gulig, winner of the Wisconsin People & Ideas Poetry Award for “Of Genesis,” will read from and discuss his work. Learn more about Nick and his work on our Winter Writers Reading Series page. Online via Zoom only. Please be sure to register and supply an email address at check-out to receive Zoom link via email - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Craig Reinbold](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-craig-reinbold/) - Craig Reinbold, winner of the Council for Wisconsin Writers Kay W. Levin Short Nonfiction Award for “What We Might Salvage,” published in AGNI, will read from and discuss his work. Learn more about Craig and his work on our Winter Writers Reading Series page. In-person at the Lind Pavilion, 411 Commerce St. and online. Please be sure to - [Winter Writer Reading Series: Jennifer Morales](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writer-reading-series-jennifer-morales/) - Jennifer Morales, winner of the Council for Wisconsin Writers Zona Gale Short Fiction Award for “The Doorman,” from Fire & Water: Stories from the Anthropocene, will read from and discuss her work. Learn more about Jennifer and her work on our Winter Writers Reading Seriespage. In-person at the Lind Pavilion, 411 Commerce St. and online. Please be sure - [Winter Writer Reading Series: DeWitt Clinton](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writer-reading-series-dewitt-clinton/) - DeWitt Clinton, winner of the Council for Wisconsin Writers Edna Meudt Poetry Book Award for Hello There, will read from and discuss his work. Learn more about DeWitt and his work on our Winter Writers Reading Seriespage. Online via Zoom only. Please be sure to register and supply an email address at check-out to receive Zoom link - [Winter Writer Reading Series: Tom Pamperin](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writer-reading-series-tom-pamperin/) - Tom Pamperin, winner of the Wisconsin People & Ideas Fiction Award for “In Rock Springs When the Angel Trumpets Sound,” will read from and discuss his work. Learn more about Tom and his work on our Winter Writers Reading Series page. In-person at the Lind Pavilion, 411 Commerce St. and online. Please be sure to register and - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Nancy Jesse](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-nancy-jesse/) - Nancy Jesse, winner of the Wisconsin Writers Association Jade Ring Fiction Award for “Notes to the New Facilitator of the Reminiscence Writing Group at Sunnyvale Retirement Community,” will read from and discuss her work. Learn more about Nancy and her work on our Winter Writers Reading Series page. Online via Zoom only. Please be sure to register - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Adrianna McCollum](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-adrianna-mccollum/) - Adrianna McCollum, winner of the Wisconsin Writers Association Jade Ring Nonfiction Award for “Mormon Girl and the Styrofoam Harem,” will read from and discuss her work. Learn more about Adrianna and her work on our Winter Writers Reading Series page. In-person at the Lind Pavilion, 411 Commerce St. and online. Please be sure to register and - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Jenna Rindo](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-jenna-rindo/) - Jenna Rindo, winner of the Council for Wisconsin Writers Lorine Niedecker Poetry Award for five poems published in various journals will read from and discuss her work. Learn more about Jenna and her work on our Winter Writers Reading Series page. In-person at the Lind Pavilion, 411 Commerce St. and online. Please be sure to register - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Anthony Bukoski](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-bukoski/) - Anthony Bukoski, winner of the Council for Wisconsin Writers Edna Ferber Fiction Book Award for his short story collectionThe Blondes of Wisconsin, will read from and discuss his work. Learn more about Anthony and his work on our Winter Writers Reading Series page. Online via Zoom only. Please be sure to register and supply an email - [Winter Writers Reading Series: Lawrence Tabak](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/winter-writers-reading-series-lawrence-tabak/) - Lawrence Tabak, winner of the Council for Wisconsin Writers Norbert Blei/August Derleth Nonfiction Book Award for Foxconned: Imaginary Jobs, Bulldozed Homes, and the Sacking of Local Government, will read from and discuss his work. Learn more about Lawrence and his work on our Winter Writers Reading Seriespage. In-person at the Lind Pavilion, 411 Commerce St. and online. - [Wisconsin Heights Craft Fair](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/wisconsin-heights-craft-fair/) - Shake Rag Alley Youth Program Make-at-Home kits will be available for sale during this event. Stop by and visit with outgoing Youth Program director, Elizabeth Johanna! Download Flier by Clicking Here - [A Ghostly Gathering](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/a-ghostly-gathering/) - Join us for the second annual Ghostly Gathering featuring a variety of festive experiences on our 2.5-acre campus in the historic heart of Mineral Point! Proceeds support Shake Rag Alley arts and crafts programming and historic preservation. - [Art Adventure Mixed-Media Vendor Night](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-mixed-media-vendor-night/) - Mixed-media artworks and supplies will be available for sale. - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-6/) - From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Participants and/or local artists take turns leading projects, introducing new materials and sharing techniques. There’s no need to - [Prose Writers Group](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/prose-writers-group-5/) - Writers need readers: ideally from tentative first draft to hopeful last. Looking for a second pair of eyes? Why not six or ten? If you are interested in deepening your writing craft in prose—fiction and nonfiction, short story, novel, narrative journalism, memoir, essay, and more—this is the place to meet monthly for feedback and support. - [Prose Writers Group](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/prose-writers-group-4/) - Writers need readers: ideally from tentative first draft to hopeful last. Looking for a second pair of eyes? Why not six or ten? If you are interested in deepening your writing craft in prose—fiction and nonfiction, short story, novel, narrative journalism, memoir, essay, and more—this is the place to meet monthly for feedback and support. - [Prose Writers Group](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/prose-writers-group-2/) - Writers need readers: ideally from tentative first draft to hopeful last. Looking for a second pair of eyes? Why not six or ten? If you are interested in deepening your writing craft in prose—fiction and nonfiction, short story, novel, narrative journalism, memoir, essay, and more—this is the place to meet monthly for feedback and support. - [Prose Writers Group](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/prose-writers-group-3/) - Writers need readers: ideally from tentative first draft to hopeful last. Looking for a second pair of eyes? Why not six or ten? If you are interested in deepening your writing craft in prose—fiction and nonfiction, short story, novel, narrative journalism, memoir, essay, and more—this is the place to meet monthly for feedback and support. - [Prose Writers Group](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/prose-writers-group/) - Writers need readers: ideally from tentative first draft to hopeful last. Looking for a second pair of eyes? Why not six or ten? If you are interested in deepening your writing craft in prose—fiction and nonfiction, short story, novel, narrative journalism, memoir, essay, and more—this is the place to meet monthly for feedback and support. - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets-workshop-5/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets-workshop-3/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets-workshop-4/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets-workshop-2/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [Driftless Poets Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/driftless-poets-workshop/) - Seeking feedback on your poetry from a supportive group? The Driftless Poets are saving a seat for you to join Shake Rag Alley’s monthly workshop, which meets in person and via Zoom the second Saturday of the month. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. New members—published or not—are always welcome, but only those who - [Youth Program: Leather Stash Bag](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-leather-stash-bag/) - The pioneers who came to Wisconsin long ago knew that leather was the perfect material for making a little stash bag … and it still is. We’ll take a piece of rustic leather, stitch it up the sides, and create a loop and button closure to secure the flap. Make yours to be worn around - [Youth Program: Be in a Play Camp](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-be-in-a-play-camp/) - Put together costumes, backdrops, and props, learn lines, and put on a play at Alley Stage for your friends and family—all in one week—and have a really good time doing it all! Grades 3-8. - [Youth Program: Laura Ingalls Wilder Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-laura-ingalls-wilder-day/) - Step back in time in our historic log cabin for this day of old-fashioned fun. Dress up like a pioneer and join us for a variety of activities, chores, and crafts such as making ice-cream, toys and more. Wear your pioneer clothing and bring your lunch. Grades 2-6. - [Youth Program: Leather Bracelets Trio](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-leather-bracelets-trio/) - Learn to make three different kinds of leather bracelets. Try a simple braid, using a mix of colors and textures, or add beads as you braid a second bracelet, or go with a bold knot that gets repeated in many layers. You may create them for yourself—but beware, your friends will want them, too! Grades - [Youth Program: Heart Mosaic](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-heart-mosaic/) - Make a mosaic on a 6-inch plywood heart-shaped base. Wear gloves while gluing tiles and china pieces with a nontoxic glue. Instructor will add grout and a sealer before it will be ready to take home. Grades K-6. - [Youth Program: Beaded Necklace and Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-beaded-necklace-and-bracelet/) - These fun beading projects promote creativity while also helping to develop your fine motor skills. Grades PreK-3. - [Youth Program: Mug Rugs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-mug-rugs/) - We use wool roving, braid it and sew it into a small round rug for your mug. This little rug will make your mug cozy and protect table surfaces. Grades 5-12. - [Youth Program: Soda Can Rascals](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-soda-can-rascals/) - First there were cats, then pups and lambs. In this workshop yet another soda can creature comes to life. We add small wooden shapes to a recycled aluminum can to add depth and detail. This rascally raccoon enjoys visiting the gardens and cornfields. Grades K-6. - [Youth Program: Gelatin Plate Printing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-gelatin-plate-printing/) - Learn how to make one-of-a-kind prints called monoprints from a printing plate made from unflavored gelatin and acrylic paint. The process is so much fun and so easy for all ages, plus there are so many techniques to try. Grades K-12. - [Youth Program: Basket Making](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-basket-making/) - People have been making baskets for thousands of years to carry and store things in. Here is your chance to make your own basket. We will learn some basic weaving techniques and you will have choices for reed colors and beads to make your basket uniquely your own. Grades 3-6. - [Youth Program: Cute Paper Cactus](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-cute-paper-cactus/) - Here’s a “plant” that never needs watering! We’ll punch 3 1/3″ circles from plain or patterned paper—you choose—and, after adding pointy paper spines, glue the circles together in wedges. Topped with a cheerful flower, the cactus is adhered to a cardboard base that is pressed into a real terra cotta flowerpot. Just add sand to - [Youth Program: Elgin Twig Mosaic](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-elgin-twig-mosaic/) - Learn about the art that Paul Elgin creates using twigs: Nature wall art made with a hand-carved heart set between short cut twigs glued to a rustic board. Enjoy the visual rhythm created by the cut twigs. The hand-carved heart makes it special. Grades 2-12. - [Youth Program: Soda Pop Pups or Humke Soda Can Cats](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-soda-pop-pups-or-humke-soda-can-cats/) - Choose to make either a Soda Pop Pup or a Soda Can Cat in this workshop inspired by art teacher Lisa Humke. We start with a crushed soda can attached to a cardboard backing and then spray paint it white. We add small wooden shapes to create more detail. Grades K-6. - [Youth Program: Free Arts Camp PM](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-free-arts-camp-pm/) - There will be art to create, stories to tell, music, movement, and nature to enjoy. Come make art, new friends, and fun memories in the middle of summer. Grades 1-5. - [Youth Program: Free Arts Camp AM](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-free-arts-camp/) - There will be art to create, stories to tell, music, movement, and nature to enjoy. Come make art, new friends, and fun memories in the middle of summer. Grades 1-5. - [Youth Program: Mermaid Crowns](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-mermaid-crowns/) - Do you love splashing in the water, gathering seashells, and playing in the sand? Well, then you have much in common with a mermaid! In this class learn about mermaids, create your own mermaid name, and decorate your own mermaid crown! Grades K-6. - [Youth Program: Soda Can Lambs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-soda-can-lambs/) - Painting a little lamb on a smashed aluminum can will tickle your fancy. Small wooden pieces add more detail for the ears, nose, and mouth. Grades K-6. - [Youth Program: Crazy Circle Tree](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-crazy-circle-tree/) - Go wild filling a page of cardstock with colorful circles in oil pastel! Then cut them out and arrange them just the way you like to be glued on a cardboard circle. We’ll add a tree trunk with a gateleg easel back so your tree will stand up by itself. It’ll add fun and excitement - [Youth Program: Steampunk Owls](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-steampunk-owls/) - Create a mechanical-looking owl out of many recycled objects. You will be able to choose from records, plastic silverware, pop tops, nails, washers, Popsicle sticks, pop cans, and many other items to create your awesome steampunk owl. Grades K-6. - [Youth Program: Felt Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-felt-flowers/) - Have fun learning how to make fabulous felt flowers! Make a variety of designs using lots of color to create a 3-dimensional wall hanging. This is your chance to be creative and have a great time! Grades 3-12. - [Youth Program: Cementimals](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-cementimals/) - Here is your chance to use your imagination and make a zany animal out of cement. First we form it, then we add all sorts of doodads like wire, beads, and shells, and see what sort of strange creature emerges. (Cementimals need to set for a week before they can be taken home.) Grades K-6. - [Youth Program: Paper Mache Art Camp](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-paper-mache-art-camp/) - Our Paper Maché Art Camp returns for the first time since 2019! What kind of paper maché creatures will we make together? We'll spend five days getting your creatures made, painted, and embellished before you show them off at the July 4 parade down High Street! Grades K-12. - [Youth Program: Fancy Schmancy Candles and Candleholders](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-fancy-schmancy-candles-and-candleholders/) - Learn how to make a fancy decorated candle and candleholder. We will use a recycled compact disc, a juice can top, and glass baubles or plastic jewels for the candleholder. To decorate the candle we will use cutouts of thin beeswax pressed on to the candle. These make great gifts! Grades K-6. - [Youth Program: Rainbow Collage](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-rainbow-collage/) - Join us to make beautiful and extremely creative rainbows using colored collage material on cardboard. Grades PreK-2. - [Youth Program: Egg Carton Bugs](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-egg-carton-bugs/) - Bugs! We love bugs! In this class we’ll be creating bugs made out of egg cartons. This is a great activity for ages toddler and older. It will make their imagination soar with all the possibilities once they see how cute these recycled object can be. There’s really a ton of different bugs your kids - [Youth Program: Fun with Photography](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/youth-program-fun-with-photography/) - What attracts us to some images while we walk right past others? It’s often the composition—how the elements in the image are arranged—that makes all the difference! Learn and practice compositional techniques that will engage your viewers and take your photography to the next level in this hands-on workshop. Grades 5-8. - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-5/) - From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Participants and/or local artists take turns leading projects, introducing new materials and sharing techniques. There’s no need to - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-4/) - From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Participants and/or local artists take turns leading projects, introducing new materials and sharing techniques. There’s no need to - [Making a Writing Life: From Community to Publishing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/publishing-panel/) - Writing Retreat Artistic Director Patricia Ann McNair will moderate a panel featuring perspectives from retreat faculty and Wisconsin Writers Association Board members. Public invited. Registration required. - [Writing Fiction](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/writing-fiction/) - Well-crafted short stories and novel chapters have a lot in common: They employ many of the same elements of writing—solid narrative arc, strong voice, the right point of view, among various and sundry other elements. Publishing houses and literary journal editors are on the hunt for beautifully crafted work, so whether you want to start - [Faculty & Local Author Reading](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/faculty-local-author-reading/) - Come on out during our annual Mining the Story Writing Retreat and hear readings by faculty and local authors! - [Craft Talk - Octavia Taught Me: Creative Practice and Accountability](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/craft-talk-octavia-taught-me-creative-practice-and-accountability-2/) - Novelist Octavia Butler wrote, “First, forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. … Habit will help you finish and polish your stories.” In this craft talk, writers will reckon with their writing habits and writing goals, reflecting on what works and what needs updating. We’ll share approaches and tools to help us (re)design our creative practice - [Craft Talk - Making Sense of It All: Literary Response to Historic (& Personal) Events](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/craft-talk-making-sense-of-it-all-literary-response-to-historic-personal-events-2/) - Of her latest novel, The Sentence, novelist Louise Erdrich wrote, “By the end, I realized that although we might want to forget parts of 2020, we should not forget. Obviously, we can’t forget. We have to use what we learned.” (AP News, 8/22/2021) In the recent past, we have endured historic tragedies. In The Sentence, Erdrich, - [Bridging Generations Exhibit](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/bridging-generations-exhibit/) - A reception celebrating youth artists who participated in the Bridging Generations Workshops at Shake Rag Alley will be held on the children's floor of the library April 7, at 4:30 pm with the youth projects on exhibit for a month.Financial support provided by the Association of Wisconsin Artists and Wisconsin Arts Board, Shake Rag Alley - [Bridging Generations Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/bridging-generations-workshop-502/) - Thanks to financial support from the Association of Wisconsin Artists and Wisconsin Arts Board, Shake Rag Alley and the Mineral Point Public Library are partnering to present free youth art making opportunities as well as an exhibition and artists’ reception. Shake Rag Alley Youth Program Director Elizabeth Johanna will present classes on the popular Humke Soda - [Bridging Generations Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/bridging-generations-workshop/) - Thanks to financial support from the Association of Wisconsin Artists and Wisconsin Arts Board, Shake Rag Alley and the Mineral Point Public Library are partnering to present free youth art making opportunities as well as an exhibition and artists’ reception. Shake Rag Alley Youth Program Director Elizabeth Johanna will present classes on the popular Humke Soda - [Building Community Through Haudenosaunee Raised Beadwork](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/building-community-through-haudenosaunee-raised-beadwork/) - Also known as Iroquois Raised Beadwork, Haudenosaunee Raised Beadwork is unique to the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, characterized by lines of beads that arch above the textile surface for a three-dimensional effect, typically sewn onto velvet. n this two-day community-building class, you will make an approximate 6″ x 4″ intermediate-level “whimsy,” enjoy a - [Coppersmithing 101](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/coppersmithing-101-3/) - Learn how to work with copper and take home four handsome finished pieces. Vickie “Doc” Schertz has been sharing her coppersmithing skills with students for several years and welcomes beginners as well as those with some experience. You’ll learn how to move, manipulate, and reshape copper. The four projects include a 3″ x 4″ copper - [Santa Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/santa-day-3/) - Photos with Santa are a holiday tradition at Shake Rag Alley. Visit our historic campus for photos, holiday craft-making, and sweet treats. Fun for the entire family! Photos with Santa10 am – 12 pm Holiday Crafts 10 am – 1 pm - [Trick 'r Treat](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/trick-r-treat-3/) - If you are a kid or want to act like a kid – put on your wildest costume and come to Shake Rag Alley! Children of all ages will meet friendly (not scary) costumed characters who will be passing out Halloween treats at each of the Shake Rag historic buildings. This Mineral Point tradition is - [Mineral Point Pride Festival](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/mineral-point-pride-festival/) - Celebrate community and inclusion, while participating in a variety of events, every one of which promises to be great fun! - [Alley Stage Reading Series](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/alley-stage-reading-series-4/) - Enjoy Saturday afternoons at Shake Rag Alley for our second staged-reading series. Four playwrights will present original plays in progress on our intimate outdoor theater, Alley Stage. Besides being fun to watch, a staged reading is an important way a playwright can get important feedback from an audience (you!) and determine what their next steps - [Alley Stage Reading Series](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/alley-stage-reading-series-3/) - Enjoy Saturday afternoons at Shake Rag Alley for our second staged-reading series. Four playwrights will present original plays in progress on our intimate outdoor theater, Alley Stage. Besides being fun to watch, a staged reading is an important way a playwright can get important feedback from an audience (you!) and determine what their next steps - [Alley Stage Reading Series](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/alley-stage-reading-series-2/) - Enjoy Saturday afternoons at Shake Rag Alley for our second staged-reading series. Four playwrights will present original plays in progress on our intimate outdoor theater, Alley Stage. Besides being fun to watch, a staged reading is an important way a playwright can get important feedback from an audience (you!) and determine what their next steps - [Alley Stage Reading Series](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/alley-stage-reading-series/) - Enjoy Saturday afternoons at Shake Rag Alley for our second staged-reading series. Four playwrights will present original plays in progress on our intimate outdoor theater, Alley Stage. Besides being fun to watch, a staged reading is an important way a playwright can get important feedback from an audience (you!) and determine what their next steps - [Tour of Fairy Homes](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/tour-of-fairy-homes-3/) - Stroll the magical grounds at Shake Rag Alley to see original fairy homes built especially for this tour. (Think small, really small!) Each home will be situated in a special spot on-site for your viewing pleasure at this fundraiser for our nonprofit school of arts and crafts. If you fall in love with one, you - [Jewelry Boot Camp Vendor Night](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/jewelry-boot-camp-vendor-night/) - The Jewelry Boot Camp vendor night, featuring JBC instructors, offers jewelry lovers and makers a chance to purchase handcrafted art pieces, tools, and supplies. Artisan jewelry pieces are also available online year-round in our online Artisan Marketplace. Purchase unique, one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry created by Shake Rag Alley instructors, students, community members and volunteers. - [Spring Garage Sale](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/spring-garage-sale-2/) - Our generous friends always supply the most eclectic items imaginable to support Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts. Piles of art supplies and materials, as well as donated household and collector items are ready to relocate! - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-2/) - From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Participants and/or local artists take turns leading projects, introducing new materials and sharing techniques. There’s no need to - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-9/) - From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Participants and/or local artists take turns leading projects, introducing new materials and sharing techniques. There’s no need to - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-8/) - From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Participants and/or local artists take turns leading projects, introducing new materials and sharing techniques. There’s no need to - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-7/) - From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Participants and/or local artists take turns leading projects, introducing new materials and sharing techniques. There’s no need to - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/makers-shakers-art-party-3/) - From March to November, all are welcome to gather in the Lind Pavilion for creative camaraderie. Newcomers are always welcome as well as youth ages 12 and up. Each month a new project is planned and announced. Participants and/or local artists take turns leading projects, introducing new materials and sharing techniques. There’s no need to - [Quilting Made Easy](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/quilting-made-easy/) - Interested in making a few quilt tops but don’t want to purchase fabric yardage? This class is for you! Have a stash of loved fabric and want something new to do with it? This class is for you! Come join Dierdra for a low-stress, fun weekend using pre-cuts to make lap-size quilts. Learn different patterns - [Batiked Copper and Glass Enameled Necklace](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/batiked-copper-and-glass-enameled-necklace/) - This beginning copper and glass enameling class will teach you a unique batik technique for the signature Javanese, batiked look. The necklace will be hand cut from copper sheet metal and forged, and you’ll be able to choose from a variety of colored enamel. Embellish your one-of-a-kind art piece with gemstones if you wish. A - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/robust-rag-rug-13/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Tube Set Stones](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/tube-set-stones/) - Tube setting is a versatile and surprisingly easy way to set round faceted stones—it just takes a little practice. In this workshop you will have the opportunity to learn and practice. Techniques covered include how to measure faceted stones, how to cut tubing to the right size, how to cut seats for stones in tubes, - [Oil Pastels](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/oil-pastels-2/) - Oil pastels have a soft and buttery feel and are fun and rewarding to work with. They are made from pure pigment, non-drying oils and waxes. The color effects and textures that can be achieved with this medium are stunningly beautiful and captivating. - [The Black-and-White Woodcut](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/the-black-and-white-woodcut/) - Join Alfred to learn the principles of design that make a black-and-white image successful. You will design, carve, and print your own composition using a mix of European and Japanese techniques. Working in black-and-white expands the artist’s visual vocabulary by reducing subject matter to its essential nature. Through this distillation, the artist discovers new ways - [Blacksmithing & Welding Open Forge Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/blacksmithing-welding-open-forge-day-4/) - Have some experience with welding or blacksmithing and want access to Shake Rag Alley’s facilities? Come take advantage of our Open Forge days. We have six coal forges, nine anvils, two gas forges, two oxyacetylene kits, drill press, grinders, and tools. While instruction will not be provided, a facilitator will be on site for safety - [Intro to Torch Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/intro-to-torch-welding-6/) - Want to give welding a try? Learn the process of cutting and welding mild steel that will give you the basics for working on steel sculptural assemblages. In this class, Dick will teach you the use of oxyacetylene for cutting and welding steel. You’ll draw shapes on metal and cut them out, then weld pieces - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/robust-rag-rug-12/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Intro to Torch Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/intro-to-torch-welding-5/) - Want to give welding a try? Learn the process of cutting and welding mild steel that will give you the basics for working on steel sculptural assemblages. In this class, Dick will teach you the use of oxyacetylene for cutting and welding steel. You’ll draw shapes on metal and cut them out, then weld pieces - [Gathering Gold: A Poetry Workshop](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/gathering-gold-a-poetry-workshop/) - “October,” writes the poet Barbara Crooker,“is the golden hour of the clock of the year.” Using inspiration from poems, songs, and imagery centered on the themes of October bounty and transformation, we will work through creative prompts and exercises to generate and craft poetic gems. Open to all writers and to anyone who loves sharing - [Drawing to Painting](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/drawing-to-painting/) - Do you enjoy drawing, but are intimidated by paint? In this eight-week course, we’ll explore diverse techniques and media that will give you the confidence you need to enable a smooth transition from drawing to painting. Find out why many common painting problems have their roots, and their solutions, in drawing. Topics include drawing with - [Metamorphosis: Creating a Figurative Sculpture](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/metamorphosis-creating-a-figurative-sculpture-2/) - In this five-day creative exploration, Kate will teach you the techniques she uses to build her captivating sculptural figures using polymer clay, cloth, and wire construction. The class will delve into the idea of metamorphosis, transformation, and magic. Kate’s Butterfly Transformation character is a teaching example, but students will be free to design and create - [Leaf Vein Bowl](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/leaf-vein-bowl/) - In this quick and fun class, perfect for autumnal decorating, you will create a medium-sized bowl with specially prepared leaf veins as the main focus. You can make it your own with various embellishments on the rim using feathers, beads, or leather cording, or leave it as is. All supplies are provided. Appropriate for all - [Primitive Rug Hooking Retreat With Wide Cut Wool](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/primitive-rug-hooking-retreat-with-wide-cut-wool/) - Explore primitive rug hooking using soft muted colors and wool textures such as plaids, stripes, herringbones, checks, etc. Kris teaches primitive rug hooking, which encompasses wide cuts of at least #8 and above. All the color planning will be done in class with old and new friends, and we will build the colors as we - [Blacksmithing 101](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/blacksmithing-101-4/) - If you’re a beginner, this blacksmithing workshop is for you! You’ll start with the basics: tending the coal fire, hammer control, use of the anvil and tongs. Once you are comfortable with the fundamentals, you’ll move on to some hot iron forging projects, such as a variety of handy hooks, plant hangers, bottle openers, key - [Spoon Carving Fundamentals](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/spoon-carving-fundamentals-2/) - Let the wood guide you! In this workshop, you’ll learn basic spoon-carving techniques. Using fresh-felled greenwood and only three tools (axe, straight knife, and hook knife), you’ll work to complete the class and go home with a hand-carved spoon, a few blisters on your hands, and an appreciation for the therapeutic nature and addictive qualities - [Exploring Oil and Cold Wax Painting](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/exploring-oil-and-cold-wax-painting/) - In this workshop, we will discover how to use cold wax with oil paint by creating abstract samplers and full-sized paintings on wood and paper. We’ll cover preparing surfaces, favorite techniques, layering, revealing, concealing, shifting, editing and working with colors. Trying something new can be scary, but it can also be an investment. Aren’t you - [Cabochon Pendant: Beaded Ribbon Design](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/cabochon-pendant-beaded-ribbon-design/) - Explore several intermediate to advanced wire-weaving techniques as you craft this unique pendant. Students will learn how to construct a woven bezel to securely hold the cabochon and a large bail to accommodate various chain sizes. Next comes the elegant embellishments, including a woven ribbon with beads woven into it. Discussion and demonstrations will include - [Blacksmithing & Welding Open Forge Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/blacksmithing-welding-open-forge-day-3/) - Have some experience with welding or blacksmithing and want access to Shake Rag Alley’s facilities? Come take advantage of our Open Forge days. We have six coal forges, nine anvils, two gas forges, two oxyacetylene kits, drill press, grinders, and tools. While instruction will not be provided, a facilitator will be on site for safety - [Make a Bent Willow Chair](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/make-a-bent-willow-chair-5/) - Bring a bit of enchantment and nature into your home with a bent willow chair. Jim will bring plenty of green willow and lead you through the process of making a rustic bent willow chair using only hand tools. At the end of the workshop you will have a beautiful, handcrafted piece of furniture to - [Free-Form Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/free-form-bracelet-2/) - Take your weaving skills up a notch as you work to create this unique cuff. Intermediate through advanced students will learn how to merge different weaving techniques to create exciting new patterns. The class will focus on improving weaving skills and learning more advanced techniques including weaving with beads. Students need to be proficient in - [DIY Cider: Fermenting Cider at Home](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/diy-cider-fermenting-cider-at-home/) - Cider happens! Ever left a jug of fresh-pressed cider juice in the back of the fridge for a few weeks? Did you see that jug expand? That juice was fermenting to (hard) cider! Learn how you can do that in a controlled sense and have your own fermented cider to enjoy at home. Deirdre will - [Contemporary Boro Scarf](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/contemporary-boro-scarf/) - With an emphasis on the Japanese Boro aesthetics, we will use improvisation to create a wearable scarf, or surface design panel to use in another project if you choose, using a sewing machine. The scarf panel will be adorned with the rich textures of improv Sashiko hand-stitching using colorful threads to give your work textural - [Chandelier Earrings](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/chandelier-earrings-2/) - Learn several wire techniques as you create these beautiful earrings. The class will introduce the basic over-over weave and wire shaping methods. Students will also learn how to bead the ends of wires with a torch. Most students will complete at least one earring. Some experience with wire will be helpful but not required. Weave - [Bead Ring](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/bead-ring-2/) - Expand your wire skills as you discover the art of making wire-woven rings. The class will focus on understanding the basic construction and design and will explore techniques for proper ring sizing. Ideas for customizing the design will be discussed. Students will need basic skills in over-over weave. Class is appropriate for advanced beginners through - [Knife Skills](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/knife-skills-2/) - If you’re going to prepare food safely and efficiently, you need to master essential knife skills. Nicole will introduce you to the importance of knife safety skills, cover the basic but crucial concept of how to hold a knife, and then move on to review many common cuts including: dice, slice, chop, chiffonade, mince, paste, - [Link Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/link-bracelet-2/) - In this class you will form both the links and toggle attachment from fine silver metal clay using your choice of design and shape. After shaping, drilling holes, and refining, you will attach them with sterling jump rings and polish, then patina if desired. You will be able to wear your beautiful bracelet home and - [Fine Silver and Dichroic Glass Pendants](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fine-silver-and-dichroic-glass-pendants/) - In this fun class you will combine dichroic glass, which has an ethereal, sparkly, and opal-like quality with precious metal clay to make amazing fine silver and glass pendants. Although our studio kiln is necessary to work with PMC and glass, Sherry will demonstrate torch firing so you can continue to work with PMC at - [Explore Gas Forge Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/explore-gas-forge-blacksmithing-4/) - Want to try blacksmithing with a small, portable gas forge? It’s easy to set up and use with a propane tank, and is a good choice for those who might want to set up a workshop at home. Hal will explain how to work with a gas forge, and you will learn the basic blacksmithing - [Gary's Flea Market: Some Assemblage May Be Required](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/garys-flea-market-some-assemblage-may-be-required/) - Have you ever wanted to do assemblage but feel like you do not have enough stuff? That has never been a problem for Gary, so he is offering an assemblage workshop where EVERYTHING YOU WILL NEED is going to be provided. Gary hopes you will walk into this workshop with nothing and allow the materials - [Art Adventure Retreat: My Meander Map](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-my-meander-map/) - I’m blown away by Harold Fisk’s 1944 folio of graceful illustrations that document changes to the course of the Mississippi River over thousands of years. Come explore Fisk’s techniques that express space and time in a single image. We’ll start by selecting a few pages from vintage sources—encyclopedias, sheet music, ledgers, and even maps! Reference - [Art Adventure Retreat: Little Black Book](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-little-black-book/) - Create your own decorated papers and then turn them into a hand-bound book. The interior pages of the book will be created with sumi ink and white gouache. The spine will be stitched with beads. Once the book is bound, fun begins as each page becomes a canvas full of creative techniques including embossing, folding, - [Art Adventure Retreat: Vintage Metal Deck - Taking the Mystery Out of Working with Metal](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-vintage-metal-deck-taking-the-mystery-out-of-working-with-metal/) - Transform ordinary metal into a fabulous thick, chunky, beautifully embellished deck of cards! You will receive 10 flat pieces of metal, each 6″ x 3″, to transform into beautiful works of art. We will explore a variety of ways to use and distress metal, cloth, paper, and found objects. And you will learn a plethora - [Art Adventure Retreat: Serenity Stones](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-serenity-stones/) - Stones talk to me. While beach combing, walking, hiking, I cannot pass up a good-looking stone! If you loves stones and fill your pockets like me, this class is for you! You will learn a few simple knots to wrap stones with leather cord. The first knot will bind a twig or bamboo stick around - [Art Adventure Retreat: If the Shoe Fits](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-if-the-shoe-fits/) - The saying goes, “If the shoe fits, wear it.” If it doesn’t fit … well … I say, make art with it. Shoes are very intimate accessories that are so close to us every day, yet are generally taken for granted. They separate us from the ground. They protect us from the elements. They are - [Art Adventure Retreat: Collage Exploration](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-collage-exploration/) - Explore the endless possibilities of collage. Create a collage by applying a variety of approaches to materials that have meaning to you such as photographs, fabric scraps, letters, drawings, and decorative papers. Rita will also demonstrate some mixed media techniques that are compatible with collage. Artists of all skill levels are welcome. This workshop is - [Art Adventure Retreat: Abstract Painting with Oil and Cold Wax](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-abstract-painting-with-oil-and-cold-wax/) - Come and explore a new medium! Wax has a long and esteemed history in art and writing. Wax tablets were used with writing as early as the 7th century B.C. Today, wax has evolved into a translucent medium that is mixed with oil paints. Cold wax can be worked into a textural surface as well - [Art Adventure Retreat: Upcycled Mixed-Media Collage Cards](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-upcycled-mixed-media-collage-cards/) - Create one-of-a-kind, hand-stitched cards that mix “old-timey” photos with whimsical verse. We will start by creating our own collage background papers using old paper, inks, paint, and mark making. Then we will learn how to assemble the mini-little portraits that are mounted onto 4″ x 5″ note cards. Use them to send an extra special - [Art Adventure Retreat: Textures & Transfers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-textures-transfers/) - Image transfers are one of the best ways to add photos to your work. Transfers create luscious, transparent layers that can be painted over and altered with different acrylic media, adding stunning dimensions to the page. In reverse, transfers can be applied over textured surfaces, adding more depth. Both inkjet and Xerox transfer techniques will - [Art Adventure Retreat: Family Reliquary](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-family-reliquary/) - Create a family keepsake in the style of a religious reliquary. Reliquaries are small, shrine-like, sometimes highly decorated receptacles for a relic of a saint. The relic is sealed with a wax seal and that seal should never be broken. In our case, we will create a family tree inside the reliquary and then seal - [Art Adventure Retreat: Acrylic Textures & Layers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-acrylic-textures-layers/) - The best thing about working with acrylic paint is the versatility of the medium. Jacqueline is a certified teacher for Golden Paints and will use her experience to guide students in exploring making various textures to be used in their painting practice. We’ll work with textural elements like tissue and cheesecloth and other household items. - [Art Adventure Retreat: Raku Painting](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-raku-painting/) - Raku is a Japanese form of pottery that often results in a coppery metallic finish with blue, green, and purple highlights. In this class, Jacqueline will use her experience as a Golden Artist Educator to guide you in working with aluminum foil and other metallic media to form these glistening little paintings that are like - [Art Adventure Retreat: Peetie's Book - Metal Transfers and Canvas Surface Design](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-peeties-book-metal-transfers-and-canvas-surface-design/) - Create stunning metal transfers and how to connect your transfers to pages without using glue. You will learn several simple bookbinding skills while creating a book out of painted and collaged canvas. I will also share with you my favorite collage and surface design techniques using gesso, ink, and paint to create beautiful textures, colors, - [Art Adventure Retreat: Printing Botanicals on Paper](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-printing-botanicals-on-paper/) - Have you even wanted to capture the beautiful shape of a leaf to preserve it, so you could marvel at it again and again? In this class you will learn a natural process of direct printing of leaves onto paper to create a lasting image. We will forage on the Shake Rag Alley grounds for - [Art Adventure Retreat: Beyond Collage](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/art-adventure-retreat-beyond-collage/) - If you love to collage or are even entirely new to it, this welcoming class will enhance your creativity by allowing you to add depth and texture to your colorful designs. Working within cradled panels, we will collage and paint the background, adding embossed ceramic elements to our compositions to create our own unique works. - [Fine Silver Rings in a Day](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fine-silver-rings-in-a-day-4/) - Create your own unique .999 pure silver ring using precious metal clay silver and wear it home. Learn the techniques to size, form, refine, embellish, and set a fire-in-place stone into your ring. Make your ring as plain or glitzy as you wish, with or without a stone. After it’s fired and polished, you can - [Welding Wild Yard Art](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/welding-wild-yard-art-4/) - Let your imagination run wild to create unique and clever pieces of welded yard art. Bring your junk tools, wrenches, rakes, etc., Ð anything a magnet will stick to. You’ll learn how to cut, grind, heat, bend, and weld it all together to make a classic “critter.” Start scrounging now to collect what you will - [Fine Silver Leaves from the Garden](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fine-silver-leaves-from-the-garden-2/) - Transform leaves into fine silver jewelry using precious metal clay in this exciting one-day class. Sherry will demonstrate the process, from collecting appropriate organic material, then preparing and/or storing that material, all the way to completing a fine silver piece of jewelry. Learn to make bails and embellish your jewelry with fire-in-place stones, syringe, and - [Storytelling through Illustration](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/storytelling-through-illustration/) - Draw: The best advice you’ve ever received. Mannerisms of our pet or someone we love. A very special day. In this workshop, students will develop their own set of images and characters via pen, colored pencil, watercolor, and crayon. We will develop and explore our own personal styles of drawing by completing exercises designed to - [Photo + Encaustic: Layers and Surface](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/photo-encaustic-layers-and-surface/) - This workshop is designed for both painters and photographers interested in gaining new skills and pushing the boundaries of their studio practice through the combination of encaustic and photography. Explore a range of subject matter and create richly layered and textured images that will push the viewer to question if they are looking at the - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/robust-rag-rug-11/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Homemade Apple Pie](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/homemade-apple-pie/) - Create your own piece of Americana! Learn to make a scrumptious two-crust pie from scratch and filled with the best fresh apples, sugar, and spices. Take it home to bake and share! Materials fee includes pie pan and ingredients to create your pie. - [The Beautiful Basics of Bezels](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/the-beautiful-basics-of-bezels/) - Learn to create a bezel setting and bail in silver for a round or oval cabochon stone. Fitting, soldering, and setting skills will be covered. By day 2, your cemented skills will produce a second, elegant piece. This is a great workshop for people who have had a little soldering experience, experienced jewelers who need - [Hand Stitching Design for Art Quilts](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/hand-stitching-design-for-art-quilts/) - Hand stitching is often associated with “active meditation,” because while your hands are busy, your mind is free to relax and wander. This class will focus on hand stitching a small and elegant fabric art quilt. Students will quickly compose a simple abstract design from a kit supplied by the instructor. The majority of class - [Fresh Tomato Galette](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/fresh-tomato-galette/) - Dating back to the 11th century, galettes are known as a wide variety of savory or sweet open-faced and flat bakes with crimped or pinched pastry sides. With an open face and often rustic look, the thinly sliced seasonal ingredients typically caramelize in the oven. Lynn will teach an Old World open-faced Italian-style galette (or - [Blacksmithing a Garden Gate](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/blacksmithing-a-garden-gate-3/) - Use a gas forge to create an attractive garden gate for your yard. This is an intermediate class so you need to have taken at least one of the beginning classes in either coal or gas forging. The project starts with a pre-welded rectangle that you will use as your base for adding forged cattail - [Beginning Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/beginning-blacksmithing-4/) - Learn the basics of lighting and tending the coal fire in the forge; handling hammers, tongs, and anvil; and working iron into points, hooks, and twists for useful objects such as drawer handles, plant hangers, and a variety of hooks. This is a beginning class but intermediate students are welcome to review their skills and - [Watercolor Still Life With Flowers](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/watercolor-still-life-with-flowers-2/) - For beginner or experienced watercolor painters, this class will focus on building form, choosing colors that harmonize, as well as painting shadows and backgrounds. Students will bring objects that they are interested in painting, and can make simple attainable compositions with fruit and vegetables, or challenge themselves with crystal and silver. Tips on painting flowers, - [Abstract Watercolor Exploration](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/abstract-watercolor-exploration-2/) - Watercolors have the reputation of being the most challenging painting medium. The unforgiving white of the paper and the uncontrollable nature of water make it intimidating. Through exercises participants will learn how forgiving white paper can be and how to control water and pigment. Focusing on color and composition, participants will practice techniques while creating - [Watercolor Landscapes](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/watercolor-landscapes/) - Translate the beauty of nature into watercolor paintings by learning to paint skies, trees, water, mountains, and rocks. This intermediate class will help you learn how to develop a strategy for building depth in your work and how to focus the center of interest using color and value. Lessons on technique for building texture, and - [Color Theory Through Watercolor](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/color-theory-through-watercolor-2/) - Understanding color is essential to creating work that captivates the eye and evokes certain moods or emotions. Through a series of fun exercises you will learn to understand tints, shades, and tone, the color wheel, complementary colors, warm and cool colors, and color schemes. You will make useful charts and swatches that can be used - [Watercolor From the Beginning](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/watercolor-from-the-beginning-2/) - Learn everything you need to build a strong foundation for getting started in watercolor. Receive detailed information on paper, paint, and brushes explained clearly and demonstrated with helpful visual aids. Practice mixing colors, learn how to do basic washes, and find out about special techniques unique to watercolor. - [Woodlanders Gathering](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/woodlanders-gathering/) - It’s like summer camp for adults! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced craftsperson, you are in for an incredibly fun and creative time with scores of nature-based workshops to choose from and several talented instructors to work with. Create rustic furniture, garden structures, or baskets; try your hand at blacksmithing, woodcarving, working with fiber, - [Beach Glass Rings or Pendant](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/beach-glass-rings-or-pendant/) - Create a beach glass ring or pendant to wear year round as a souvenir of golden summer days! In this class students will learn to make a bezel that will hold the glass securely in place and give the jewelry a polished, professional look, while practicing and perfecting soldering skills. This is an intermediate class - [Metal Clay Alchemy](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/metal-clay-alchemy/) - If you prefer a bit of rough in your designs, creating rings with metal clay may be right up your alley! In this class students will create three rings using a PMC3 syringe, while adding faceted stones, and tube bezels. Students will also learn to allow for shrinkage to be sure their rings are the - [Hot Wired Rings](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/hot-wired-rings/) - Create several dramatic rings by fusing multiple layers of sterling silver wire in an organic weave pattern. Embellish the ring with tube set cubic zirconas soldered in place for added glamour. Materials fee covers three rings. - [Needle Felted Animal Sculptures](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/needle-felted-animal-sculptures/) - In this fauna-inspired workshop, we will learn how to make incredibly realistic 3-dimensional felt sculptures of our beloved animals. The class will start with an overview of wool types and needles that are used for felting. We will then experiment with various felting techniques and will work on prepping the wool and creating a wire - [Hands-On Masonry](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/hands-on-masonry-2/) - Join Mineral Point stone mason Nate Chambers in working on a variety of masonry jobs around our historic campus! This two-day course will take you through job site prep, the tools of the trade, mortar recipes, and hands-on tuckpointing, log cabin chinking, and path restoration. Take these skills home for your own DIY projects. Don’t - [Blacksmithing a Washroom Set](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/blacksmithing-a-washroom-set/) - Loren learned his way around a forge as a young student at Shake Rag Alley, and has now joined the ‘smithing team! Blacksmith a handsome hand towel ring and toilet paper holder for your home as you learn the basic forms of blacksmithing to create these more complex objects. This is a beginner level course, - [Paper Printing Alchemy: Botanical and Rusting Methods](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/paper-printing-alchemy-botanical-and-rusting-methods/) - This workshop is for the artist who loves the unexpected alchemy that can happen when a little time and some heat are applied to plants, flowers, and papers to make a unique eco-dyed print. We will explore the use of various prep methods for printing, as well modifiers to change the colors of our final - [Cider Styles and Tasting](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/cider-styles-and-tasting/) - Join us for a summer evening on the Green with The Cider Farm’s Deirdre Birmingham to learn what cider is and its history in America. A fun class whether on your own or with a group! Sample four styles of cider to learn major differences in not just taste, but in their production methods and - [Welding Wild Yard Art](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/welding-wild-yard-art-3/) - Let your imagination run wild to create unique and clever pieces of welded yard art. Bring your junk tools, wrenches, rakes, etc., anything a magnet will stick to. You’ll learn how to cut, grind, heat, bend, and weld it all together to make a classic “critter.” Start scrounging now to collect what you will want - [The Braided Bracelet](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/the-braided-bracelet/) - This class is for intermediate through advanced jewelry artists. We will learn how to incorporate braided silver wire in a bracelet band. We will also be fabricating a thick wall bezel and prong setting to complete the look. The resulting bracelet will be a stunning treasure. - [Tensile Fabric Sails](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/tensile-fabric-sails/) - Learn the art of creating fabric sails based on the hyberbolic-paraboloid principle, a 3-D geometry that generates strong curves that soar in space! Instructor Aris Georges will demonstrate basic principles of shapes, simple knots and anchoring methods. The group will create an installation at Shake Rag Alley, with each participant on the team stretching a - [Robust Rag Rug](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/robust-rag-rug-10/) - Weave a traditional “rag” rug on a heavy-duty antique loom. You will be making a serious piece of floor covering, about 28″ wide and, depending on how hard you work, up to 5′ long. The looms are warped and ready to go so you can start weaving right away! We have lots of new fabric - [Turquoise and Silver Inlay Ring](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/turquoise-and-silver-inlay-ring/) - In this intermediate class, you will learn the classic technique of inlay using small turquoise fragments. You will also learn how to properly size a ring for any given metal thickness. The inlay technique can be applied to other projects like bracelets, pendants, and earrings. - [Refining and Expanding Wheel Throwing Techniques](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/refining-and-expanding-wheel-throwing-techniques/) - Do you have some experience throwing pottery, but want to ratchet up your skill set by centering more efficiently, working larger, or mastering new shapes? Join Joe from Windy Ridge Pottery to refine and expand your throwing techniques during this highly personalized process-oriented workshop. Along with working on the wheel, we will spend the weekend - [Moku Hanga: An Intro to Japanese Woodblock Printing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/moku-hanga-an-intro-to-japanese-woodblock-printing-2/) - Moku Hanga, meaning “wood print,” is a simple, centuries-old Japanese technique employing water-based ink, basic carving and rubbing tools, beautiful Japanese paper, and fine-grained wood. Many Western printmaking methods involve complex printing presses, oil-based inks, and toxic solvents. By contrast, Moku Hanga utilizes only a few simple tools, a small work space, and is entirely - [Explore Gas Forge Blacksmithing](https://shakeragalley.org/calendar/explore-gas-forge-blacksmithing-3/) - Want to try blacksmithing with a small, portable gas forge? It’s easy to set up and use with a propane tank, and is a good choice for those who might want to set up a workshop at home. Hal will explain how to work with a gas forge, and you will learn the basic blacksmithing ## Tags - [Creative Writing](https://shakeragalley.org/tag/writing/) - Use this tag for all Creative Writing workshop posts - [Jewelry Boot Camp](https://shakeragalley.org/tag/boot-camp/) - Use this tag for all Jewelry Boot Camp retreat posts - [Youth Summer Program](https://shakeragalley.org/tag/youth/) - Use this tag for all Youth Summer Program posts - [literature](https://shakeragalley.org/tag/literature/) - [reading](https://shakeragalley.org/tag/reading/) - [Literary Event](https://shakeragalley.org/tag/literary-event/) - [Writing Retreat](https://shakeragalley.org/tag/writing-retreat/) ## Product categories - [Adult Workshops](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/) - [Mixed Media](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/mixed-media-ws/mixed-media/) - [Art Adventure](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/retreats/retreats-art-adventure/) - Four days of workshops in collage, assemblage, mixed media jewelry, printmaking and more. All skill levels welcome! Come for as many days as you like, take as many or as few workshops as you like. - [Jewelry Boot Camp](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/retreats/retreats-jewelry-bootcamp/) - A three-day weekend of introductory level jewelry workshops offering a range of techniques and styles from funky to fine. Use this weekend to explore different approaches, learn new skills, network with other jewelers, and leave with a lot of new ideas and jewelry. Come for the weekend and take several classes. - [Woodlanders Gathering](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/retreats/retreats-woodlanders/) - “It’s like summer camp for adults!” Four days of more than 40 nature-based workshops for beginner or experienced craftspersons. Create rustic furniture, garden structures, baskets, or concrete/mosaic sculptures. Try your hand at blacksmithing, woodcarving, working with leather, fiber, gourds, and more. - [Blacksmithing & Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/metal-heat-ws/blacksmithing-welding/) - [Creative Writing](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/voice-page-ws/creative-writing/) - [Painting and 2D Art](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/paint-2d-ws/painting-2d-art/) - [Fiber Arts](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/fiber-ws/fiber-arts/) - [Jewelry](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/metal-heat-ws/jewelry/) - [Rustic Arts & Nature Crafts](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/heritage-ws/rustic-nature/) - [Ticketed Events](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/ticketed-event/) - Group category for Makers & Shakers Art Party, miscellaneous events - [Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/metal-heat-ws/glass/) - [Paper & Book Arts](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/voice-page-ws/paper-and-book-arts/) - [Printmaking](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/paint-2d-ws/printmaking/) - [Woodlanders Thursday](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/retreats/retreats-woodlanders/retreats-woodlanders-thursday/) - [Woodlanders Friday](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/retreats/retreats-woodlanders/retreats-woodlanders-friday/) - [Woodlanders Saturday](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/retreats/retreats-woodlanders/retreats-woodlanders-saturday/) - [Month](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/) - [July](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/july/) - 07 - [January](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/january/) - 01 - [August](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/august/) - 08 - [February](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/february/) - 02 - [March](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/march/) - 03 - [April](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/april/) - 04 - [May](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/may/) - 05 - [June](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/june/) - 06 - [September](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/september/) - 09 - [October](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/october/) - 10 - [November](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/november/) - 11 - [December](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/month/december/) - 12 - [Gift Certificate](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/funds/gift/) - [Home and Garden](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/heritage-ws/home-and-garden/) - [Woodlanders Day Fees](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/retreats/retreats-woodlanders/woodlanders-day-fees/) - [Winter Writers Reading Series](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/voice-page-ws/wwrs/) - [Sutcliffe Endowment Campaign](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/funds/sutcliffe-endowment-campaign/) - [Alley Stage Reading Series](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/voice-page-ws/alley-stage-rs/) - [Youth Program](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/youth-program/) - Group category for Summer Youth Program, Youth Kits - [Writers Retreat](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/retreats/writers-retreat/) - [Makers & Shakers](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/ticketed-event/makers-shakers/) - [Wish List](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/funds/wish-list/) - [Metal & Heat Workshops](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/metal-heat-ws/) - Group category for: Blacksmithing & Welding, Jewelry, Glass - [Voice & Page Workshops](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/voice-page-ws/) - Group category for: Creative Writing, WWRS, Book Arts, Alley Stage, Driftless Poets, Stagecraft - [Fundraisers](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/funds/) - Group category for: application fees, Sutcliffe endowment fund, Artisan Marketplace, Gift Certificates, Wish List - [Heritage Craft Workshops](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/heritage-ws/) - Group category for: Ceramics & Pottery, Culinary Arts, Rustic & Nature, Home & Garden, Mosaics & Cement - [Retreats](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/retreats/) - [Mosaic & Cement](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/heritage-ws/mosaic-cement/) - [Fiber Workshops](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/fiber-ws/) - Group category for: Fiber Arts - [Painting & 2D Workshops](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/paint-2d-ws/) - Group category for: Painting & 2D Art, Printmaking - [Mixed Media Workshops](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/mixed-media-ws/) - Group category for Mixed Media - [Stagecraft](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/adult-workshops/voice-page-ws/stagecraft/) - [Unticketed Events](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/unticketed-events/) - [Woodlanders Friday](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/woodlanders-friday/) - [Woodlanders Saturday](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/woodlanders-saturday/) - [Woodlanders Thursday](https://shakeragalley.org/product-category/woodlanders-thursday/) ## Categories - [Jewelry](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/shake-rag-jewelry/) - [Painting and 2D Art](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/painting-and-2d-art/) - [Winter Writers Reading Series](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/winter-writers-reading-series/) - [Annual Event](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/annual-event/) - [Printmaking](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/printmaking/) - [Blacksmithing-Welding](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/blacksmithing-welding/) - [Fiber Arts](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/fiber-arts/) - [Mixed Media](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/mixed-media/) - [Pottery](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/pottery/) - [Rustic](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/rustic/) - [Creative Writing](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/creative-writing/) - [Makers & Shakers Art Party](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/art-party/) - [Youth Program](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/youth-program/) - [Alley Stage Performance](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/alley-stage-performance/) - [Culinary Arts](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/culinary-arts/) - [Home and Garden](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/home-and-garden/) - [Woodlanders Gathering](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/woodlanders-gathering/) - [Glass](https://shakeragalley.org/mec-category/glass/)