INSTRUCTOR: Nell Corkin, Fellow
COURSE: Small Scale Structure/Mixed Media
PROJECT: The Petal Shop in 1:144 Scale
The undeniable charm and sturdy construction of half-timber buildings has made them a much loved part of the English landscape for hundreds of years. The Petal Shop is typical of an older half-timber building that was modified in Victorian times to serve as a shop, and is still in use.
This class will offer students the opportunity to learn a variety of techniques for working in 1:144 scale. Special emphasis will be placed on methods developed by the instructor to achieve a high level of detail as well as a realistic look in this small scale.
Students will construct the shop from 1/32" plywood, and learn how to modify a variety of purchased “N” scale castings to create the door and windows, as well as how to construct architectural details and furnishings from strip materials. They will finish both the interior and exterior, using gesso, paint, “N” scale strip wood and cast resin fireplaces. They will finish the roof with textured paper “tiles” and add weathering effects to the cottage and roof using colored pencils.
The plants and flowers will be created using a variety of materials, with emphasis on creating an attractive, natural appearance. Students can reproduce the prototype plants and flower arrangements or may choose to make their own versions using the techniques demonstrated.
Students completing The Petal Shop will have gained knowledge of materials and methods for working on their own 1:144 scale projects. Because many of the same techniques can be used for working in other small scales, this will be a particularly good class for those wishing to learn ways to add detail to small scale landscapes.
TIME: 36 hours. Completion during class is possible. Students who may not finish will have all materials and information they need to complete the project at home
POWER TOOLS: None
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate. No special skills are necessary for this project, but some experience with accurate measuring and cutting will be helpful.
MATERIALS FEE: $85 to be collected at school, with an optional fee of $35 for an original 1:144 porcelain cat on a hassock made by IGMA Fellow, Sylvia Mobley.
INSTRUCTOR: Beth Freeman-Kane, Fellow
COURSE: Box Framed Composition
PROJECT: Garden Fence
This project is a box frame composition, an ideal opportunity for anyone who loves to lose themselves in a bit of gardening! It features discarded garden implements as well as a number of creatures making themselves at home in this setting. We will construct a garden fence and work with paper clay and various landscaping materials to create the neglected patch of garden. All castings of birds and other creatures will be provided, and "life giving" paint techniques will be taught. Lots of scope for individual composition arrangement and expression. Definitely a fun project, don't miss out!
TIME: 36 hours. Completion is likely.
POWER TOOLS: moto tool
SKILL LEVEL: All levels
MATERIALS FEE: $70 to be collected at school
INSTRUCTOR: Bob Hurd, Artisan
COURSE: Furniture Construction
PROJECT: Hoosier Cabinet
This class is FULL.
A Hoosier cabinet is a type of cupboard or free standing cabinet that is a kitchen workstation with ingredient and equipment storage. It was popular in the early 20th century since most houses did not have built in kitchen cabinetry. The Hoosier Manufacturing Company of New Castle, Indiana, was one of the earliest and largest manufacturers of this product, causing the term "Hoosier cabinet" to become a generic term for that type of furniture.
The piece selected for this class includes two doors with glass panes, five raised panel doors, four drawers, and a recessed wooden work surface that slides out when in use. Shelves are in the base and upper section. The back of the exposed portion of the upper cabinet has vertically mounted beaded boards. There are wooden knobs on the drawers, doors and work surface. The knobs will be provided.
This piece provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn traditional construction methods such as mortise and tenon joinery and rabbets that are common to many furniture pieces. Elements the students will learn how to make include the beaded boards, raised panel doors, drawers, and the installation of glass panes in the doors in the upper section. The finish is acrylic paint. Some paint colors will be provided but students are welcome to bring any acrylic paint color of their choice. The appearance of the finished piece such as the degree of wear and distressing will be determined by the student’s creativity.
TIME: 36 hours. Completion is likely.
POWER TOOLS: table saw, drill press, milling machine
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate
MATERIALS FEE: $80 to be collected at school
INSTRUCTOR: Tine Krijnen, Fellow
COURSE: Bookbinding
PROJECT: The Model Menagerie Pop-Up Book and an Autograph Book
Students will make two books: the pop-up book, The Model Menagerie, from 1895 and an autograph book, with the title page design originally published in 1758. Techniques learned will be bookbinding, cutting, measuring, tooling and how to create a pop-up book.
Students will start with making the book block for the autograph book, Castine 2022. This is to understand and gain the knowledge as to how to sew a book block as a pre-study to be able to complete the process of the pop-up book block. They will not continue to work on their autograph book, but will start with cutting exercises to cut-out the cages and animals to create the six pop-up scenes on the pages of the pop-up book. When all the pages are completed with animals and cages and the pop-up mechanism, students will finish the pop-up book, by sewing the pages, endpaper and headband, and cover. The pop-up book is the main project. Making the model menagerie is an intensive exercise. The precision cutting, pasting and folding requires a lot of energy. Between cutting cages and animals, students will have pause/relax moments to practice gold tooling.
After finishing the pop-up book, students will focus on the cover of the autograph book. Choices of leather and design for gold tooling the cover, the end paper, and headband have to be made. Also, they can decide if they would like to add a closure strap.
TIME: 36 Hours. Completion is likely. Besides two lovely books, students will have the knowledge to bind miniature books at home. The more advanced students, when time permits, can work on other blank books and gold tooling.
POWER TOOLS: None
SKILL LEVEL: All levels. Students need to have good eye/hand coordination to be able to cut the pop-up scenes of the model menagerie. Working glasses/loupe and extra light is necessary.
MATERIALS FEE: $47 to be collected at school.
INSTRUCTOR: Deb Mackie, Artisan
COURSE: Leather Crafting
PROJECT: Tooled Leather Train Case
This class is FULL.
In the late 1920s, the emergence of sleek “streamliner” passenger trains enticed passengers to travel for leisure in elegance and style. While old fashioned “steamer” trunks were still somewhat in use, train passengers began taking smaller cases on board with them. These hard-sided cases usually had a mirror inside the lid, and many compartments for toiletries, hairbrushes and other incidentals. Sizes varied from a small, handbag-sized box for just a few items, to larger ones that could sit on the lap as a portable dressing table for freshening up while traveling. The train case was the original “carry-on” luggage, and remained a favorite even into the 1950s and 60s when travel by auto and airline became more popular. This class is based on an actual leather-covered case from the 1930s which will be available in class for reference.
Various leather crafting techniques will be taught, such as tooling, embossing, stitching, skiving (thinning the leather), and discussion will take place as to how they can be adapted for working in miniature. Dyeing, coloring and finishing techniques will also be taught. Students can choose alternate colors and tooling patterns if desired. No detail is overlooked, from the small mirror, decorative studs, and interior pockets, to the covered section inside. Included is gleaming brass hardware based on the actual antique case, custom-made for this class by Dr. G’s Brasshole.
TIME: 36 Hours. Completion is likely, depending on skill level.
POWER TOOLS: None
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate. Prior leather experience is not required, but experience with gluing jigs, fitting of tiny parts, sharp tools and overall precision miniature work is necessary.
MATERIALS FEE: $95 to be collected at school. All materials will be provided, with specialized leather tools available for use during class. A list of basic tools for students to bring will be sent prior to class.
INSTRUCTOR: Mark Murphy, Fellow
COURSE: Furniture Construction
PROJECT: Corner Cupboard
This class is FULL.
This “Turkey-Breast” corner cupboard was made in Columbia County Pennsylvania, circa 1820. The unusual feature of this piece is the way the front surface angles out slightly to the front. This cupboard can be used to display a collection of some of your favorite ceramic or pewter pieces.
The course is designed to teach the construction techniques needed to make this piece, including case construction, framed panel doors, glass doors with mullions, drawers with beaded front panel, scroll work on the feet, and making the moldings for the cornice and tiny edging detail. Students will also learn how to set hinges and apply the door and drawer hardware.
The piece will be made in cherry and students will have the option of finishing it with a natural wood finish or a painted and aged finish. Note that the original has a grained painted finish and this will not be part of the project. Because of limited class time the final finishing will need to be completed at home. This will give you time to develop the finish you desire and maybe try your hand at graining the piece.
Expect to complete all of the construction of the piece in class with final finishing to be completed at home.
TIME: 36 hours. Completion is likely.
POWER TOOLS: table saw, scroll saw, shaper and drill press
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate
MATERIALS FEE: $100 to be collected at school
INSTRUCTOR: Sandy Rubin, Fellow
COURSE: Flower Construction and Arrangement
PROJECT: Elegant French Arrangement
in Antique Urn
This class is FULL.
Students will create from a variety of scratch materials a French floral arrangement in an antique-style urn. The students will learn to cut, hand color, and use various techniques in the assembly and creation of David Austin English Roses, exquisite Eden Roses, Anemones, Cosmos, Dahlia Coccinea, graceful Camellias Oleifera, and tiny seed buds to add form, line, and style to the arrangement. Special techniques such as working with pastels, rubber stamp inks, watercolors, and various types of paints will be taught to enhance the blossoms and foliage within the floral arrangement. These techniques will be taught to specifically enhance each individual blossom. All blossoms will be anatomically correct, with the proper calyxes, leaves and stems to enhance each individual flower. Shaping of leaves and petals will be done completely by hand and in some instances, a pyrography machine will be utilized to create veins on leaves, folds on petals and other forms of shaping to create the most realistic blossoms possible. All these techniques have been developed by the instructor. When completed, each individual student will have an arrangement they can be proud to display.
TIME: 36 hours. Completion is likely.
POWER TOOLS: None
SKILL LEVEL: All levels. Comfort working with small pieces of paper.
MATERIALS FEE: $40 to be collected in advance of school
INSTRUCTOR: Jeanne Rullie, Artisan
COURSE: Doll Making
PROJECT: Gardening Granny
This class is FULL.
Create a 1/12 scale Granny character doll in polymer clay to go with all those flowers you have so painstakingly made. Doll making is only a series of steps and should not be feared. Even beginners can have success in this class.
Students will begin by making “studies” of the lips, nose and ears to be used as examples for sculpting the face of their doll. Students will then make a polymer clay impression from one of the instructor’s molds. This mold is of a basic face without expression. Students will bring these faces to “life” by developing character and expression with additional sculpting. The hands will be sculpted by students and techniques for veining and knuckles will be taught. Legs will then be sculpted and croc style shoes will be applied in the colored clay of choice. Once all parts are complete and wired, they will be painted with Genesis paints. The dolls will then be assembled and the instructor will work with students to create balance, allowing the doll to stand independently. Working from the instructor’s pattern the doll will be dressed in a blouse and overalls and hair will be applied. A pattern and materials for making hats will be supplied or a hat made by the instructor can be purchased for $20.00.
TIME: 36 hours. Completion is likely.
POWER TOOLS: None
SKILL LEVEL: All levels. Some hand sewing is required.
MATERIALS FEE: $70 to be collected at school. Students should bring a basket of flowers or gardening tool for their Granny to hold.
INSTRUCTOR: Troy Schmidt, Fellow
COURSE: Wheel-Thrown Pottery
PROJECT: Miniature Pottery
This class is FULL.
This is a general pottery class to learn the basic techniques of forming ceramic miniatures by centering, opening and shaping clay vessels using the Guild School’s micro-pottery wheels. The class will use both porcelain and stoneware clay bodies and explore various vessel forms to create pottery in a wide range of styles.
Students will also learn the basics of glazing their pieces using dozens of provided glazes in a range of colors; pieces will then be fired in an electric kiln. For those students who are interested in learning to fire their own work, they may be as involved as they wish in the firing process with further in-depth discussions regarding a range of firing techniques and practices. Students will also examine different methods to salvage fired pots that didn’t come out as expected such as fixing glaze runs and re-firing.
This class is open to all skill levels and students will progress at their own pace. First time students will learn the fundamentals of throwing miniature pottery on a small potter’s wheel while those students with experience will advance their abilities to create more intricate and sophisticated forms (thinner walls, greater refinement, more controlled glazing).
TIME: 36 hours. Completion is likely.
POWER TOOLS: micro pottery wheel
SKILL LEVEL: All levels
MATERIALS FEE: $35 to be collected at school