Pre-Conference Workshops Filling Up Quickly!

Head, Heart and Hand: The Arts and Crafts Motto

You cannot truly appreciate what has gone into a piece of Arts and Crafts furniture, textile, pottery, tile or metalware until you have rolled up your sleeves and sunk your hands into it. We can feel it with our heart, we can understand it with our head, but until you have actually worked on it with your hands, your Arts and Crafts experience will not be complete.

Each February, attendees at the National Arts and Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn overlooking Asheville, N.C., have the opportunity to take part in one of several workshops designed to enable them to experience what an Arts and Crafts artisan would have experienced. Class size is limited, so pre-registration is necessary for you to reserve a place and they’re already filling up quickly so call us today!

Here, then, are the 2014 Pre-Conference Workshops:

Arts and Crafts Coppersmithing (Two parts: Thursday the 20th, 2:00 – 5:00pm and Friday the 21st, 8:00 – 11:00am, $190) This two day workshop led by Roycroft Renaissance Master Artisan Frank Glapa will get you started on the basics of copper repousse techniques. Your materials will be waiting for you as Frank guides you through the process of hammering and shaping your copper “tile” into an incredible piece of Arts and Crafts metalwork.

Landscape Design (Friday the 21st, 8:30 – 11:00am, $90) Television host and author Paul Duchscherer returns to discuss with the class many of the various options you could incorporate into your landscape design that will bring the Arts and Crafts style outdoors, and he will work with you personally as you make your selections and begin planning your own Arts and Crafts yard.

Arts and Crafts Blockprinting (Two parts: Thursday the 20th, 2:00 – 5:00pm and Friday the 21st, 8:00 – 11:00am, $190) Renowned artist and printmaker Laura Wilder will take students back in time before ink jet printers and laptops with the latest photo editing programs even existed to learn the intricacies of linoleum cut printmaking. You will carve and print two linoleum blocks, to create several of your own 3” x 5” two-color note cards. Designs will be provided, or you can bring your own sketches.

Basic Arts and Crafts Embroidery (Friday the 21st, 8:30am – 3:00pm, $130) Noted textile curator, collector and teacher Ann Chaves is returning to the Arts and Crafts Conference to again lead a two-part class on Arts and Crafts embroidery and applique. This class is suited for both beginners and for individuals who have taken some of Ann’s previous classes. All students will be provided with the materials and a kit to learn some basic embroidery stitches used in decorating textiles.

Stains, Dyes & Finishes (Two parts: Thursday the 20th, 2:00 – 5:00pm and Friday the 21st, 8:00 – 11:00am, $150) Nationally-known restorer and craftsman Dennis Bertucci takes the mystery out of dyes, stains and finishes while you color and finish your own quartersawn oak frame for the conference poster. On Thursday afternoon Dennis will teach you how to color your frame using either stains or dyes, then you’ll leave it overnight to dry. On Friday morning Dennis will show you different Arts and Crafts finishes, one of which you will then apply to your frame.

For more detailed information, please go to www.Arts-CraftsConference.com

To register for a workshop, please call Bruce Johnson’s office at (828) 628-1915. Reservations are secured through our office and we accept all major credit cards.

See you there!