RENEE MAKES
Cattail Hand Bag Class at The Knitting Room
Windham NY
Saturday November12, 10am-5pm
This in an all-day intensive course designed to introduce you to several basketry techniques that you can use with cattail leaves. Each student will go home with a complete small handbag made entirely out of this local, wild and renewable resource. Class fee is 130$ + material fee (20$) Lunch is included!
Cattail and Grapevine Ribbed Basket at Culture Cream
Hudson, NY
Nov 11th & 18th,
Class fee is 120$
This two-day workshop is designed to introduce you to the structure of a ribbed basket, and to quickly dive into weaving a sturdy functional bowl-shaped basket with inset handles. Snacks and wine will be served.
Students will also learn how to harvest and prepare both grapevine and cattail leaves for weaving. At the end of the course, everyone will leave with a basket made entirely from local plants. Wine, snacks and all materials included. This workshop is suitable for complete beginners and for kids 12+ in age.
Needle Felting for Beginners
Windham NY
Sunday January 15 10:30am-12pm
This is a very approachable workshop to get you needle felting! Students will leave the workshop with a completed felt mushroom as well as their own felting needle and pad to use on future felt sculptures. This class is suitable for kids 8 and up. Course fee 45$ includes all materials.
Wet-felted Beret
(or Bowl)
Windham NY
Saturday March 4th 12:30pm- 4:30pm
This is workshop is a unique opportunity to make a finished garment from animal fibers in just one day. (100% local alpaca, no less). Wet felting allows for 3 dimensionally building seamless fabric. You'll leave with a finished 100% alpaca beret, and the knowledge of how to wet felt a hat or bowl. Wet felting requires some physical manipulation, much like kneading dough for 20 minutes would, so expect to work your arms and back as you turn fiber into fabric! Course fee is 120$, materials fee 20$.
Needle-Felted Embelishments
Windham, NY
Saturday, March 11th 1pm-3pm
Needle felting embelishments is a fun, quick way to add a decorative element to an existing item made from wool or other animal fiber (either knit or felted!). You can also use this as a chance to both repair and give new life to an old garment with holes. Either bring your own wool garment to embellish! You'll go home with two felting needles and felting pad plus the knowledge to felt your own designs onto more wool goods!
Needle-Felted Owl
Windham, NY
Saturday, January 28th 1pm-3pm
This two hour workshop will walk you through creating your own creature out of wool, wire and feathers. You'll leave with your own little owl, and the knowledge about how to create creatures from this natural and local fiber. Students will also receive a felting needle and felting pad included with the class. Course fee - 60$, includes all materials.
Wall-hanging Cattail Mesh Basket
Windham NY
Saturday February 11th 12:30pm- 4:30pm
plus optional drop-in studio
Sunday February 19th, 12pm-2pm
This is workshop will give you the skills and materials to weave this open-mesh basket completely out of foraged cattail leaves. You'll leave the course with a head start on a mesh basket, and the materials to finish it off at home. Optional drop-in studio hours the following weekend if you want to finish your basket or get extra help. Course fee is 130$, materials fee 15$.
Open Studio Willow Weaving Day
Catskill Outpost, Stamford, NY
Friday February 24th noon- 4pm
I'll be on site at Catskill Outpost weaving with wild-harvested willow. And there might even be some baskets there available to purchase. If you're curious about willow weaving, stop by and get a chance to see the process. No registration needed, just stop by and say hello!
Spring Forage Walk
West Kill, NY
Wednesday, April 29th 1pm
Stay tuned... signups coming soon!
Meet some local spring plants and fungi! The emergence of spring ephemerals is a magical time in a deciduous forest. I'll be talking about what I harvest this time of year and how to do so sustainably. (A hot topic, with lots of takes.) There will be snacks.
Liqueurs, Cordials & Infusions
Online Course
Sunday July 16, 2pm-4pm
Learn how to capture the fresh flavors of summer in a bottle. (Or several bottles). I'll be teaching how to turn some classic summer produce into liqueurs, cordials and infusions that you can enjoy all year long. Learn to turn your bumper crop of berries, flowers and herbs into elderflower liqueur (similar to St. Germain), Creme de Cassis, Creme de Menthe. This class will include drinks with and without alcohol. If you can't make the time, be sure to still register, and you will be able to watch the class later!
