Winter & Halloween Themed Column Style Doll

With Christine Shively Benjamin

Two Day Class
Sunday, August 30th – 9:00am to 4:00pm
Monday, August 31st – 9:00am to 4:00pm

Description
The student will create a small fabric and wool-blended felt doll with a column-style skirt with choices of Winter or Halloween themes. A solid, weighted column serves as the skirt for this slim and vertical style doll, simple mitten-style hands and easy stuffed fabric head. Structure creates an opportunity to tell a story all throughout the skirt, using reverse appliqué and additive embellishment techniques to develop a unique vision to be explored in the composition of the column skirt.

What will happen each day of the course?
Day 1: Students will construct, stuff and weight the body to have ready the following day. They will have a choice to sew the body parts in advance or pay for the basic parts in a pre-sewn kit.
Day 2: Will involve exploration of the costuming and embellishment opportunities of reverse appliqué and additive embellishment techniques. Construction of a simple top hat, face, and characterization of the figure will finish off this cute little doll.

Media Category: Fabric
Course Format: Full project
Skill level: Intermediate. Pattern will be supplied in advance. Basic hand sewing skills are required.

What will Students learn from this course?
The student will use a template and freezer paper technique to sew the body. By creating a vertical column that is weighted, the student will explore an extensive array of surface embroidery techniques to develop a layered composition that will convey the student’s personal vision for the small figure. Costuming will be demonstrated using simple shapes to appear more complicated when combined.

Supplies the teacher will provide: An assortment of wool-blended felt, and some extra embellishment tidbits will be provided at class time for students to supplement their supplies. The student can also request certain supplies that they are having trouble acquiring to be provided at class time.
Supply Kit Fee (optional): $20.00  – The teacher will collect payment during class.
– Includes: A pre-sewn body with head, arms, torso, column-style skirt-lower body, and fabric to form the bottom of the column. If the student opts to sew their own body parts, no kit fee will be collected. Advance notice will be required if the students want to purchase a pre-sewn body.
Printed materials provided: The pattern and an instructional PDF will be provided in advance of the class. The student will sew the basic parts of the doll in advance of the class to be ready to begin the first day of the class.
Students must bring: Hand sewing needles • Polyester fiber fill. The more wool-like fiberfill the firmer the pack, like Buffalo Snow • Threads to match the body and clothing • Paper and fabric scissors • Both sizes of Barbara Willis’s Stuffing Forks • Panel of wool blended felt for the column totem skirt • Aileen’s Tacky Glue and a Popsicle stick to spread the glue • Embroidery floss • Flat disks or Sequins for the eyes • Two long chenille stems • 20 gauge cloth covered floral wire • File folder
Class Size: Minimum 4, Maximum 12.

CLASS FEE

Installment Payments
Contact Stephanie at niadapayments if you would like to register for this class using our 3-payment installment plan.

The Language of Color: Dyeing Cloth for Art Dolls

With Ann Hord-Heatherley

Two Day Class
Sunday, August 30th – 1:00pm to 4:00pm
+ Sunday Evening – 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Monday, August 31st – 9:00am to 4:00pm

Description
This class offers a practical overview of natural dyes, fiber-reactive dyes, and acid dyes, with attention to the strengths and characteristics of each. We’ll talk about choosing dye methods that suit your materials, your working style, and the emotional tone you want your dolls to carry. Participants will learn basic principles of preparation, dyeing, and safety, and leave with a clearer understanding of how different dyes behave on cloth and fiber commonly used in dollmaking.

What will happen each day of the course?
Transportation will be coordinated from the hotel to Out in Jupiter Farm, where the classes will be held.
Day 1: We will discuss record keeping, plan our projects, set up dye stations, and prepare our cloth and fiber for dyeing. We will select dye colors and harvest flower heads for the natural dye pot.
Day 2: We will dye fabrics in each type of dye, with each participant dyeing their own samples to begin a dyeing notebook. Tips for altering colors after dyeing will also be discussed.

Media Category: Fabric
Course Format: Technique
Skill level: All levels welcome. No special skills required

What will Students learn from this course?
This is a foundational class in color and dyeing techniques. Students will learn to how color behaves in cloth, how to set up a basic dye station, and how to select appropriate fabrics and dyes.

Supplies the teacher will provide: All dyes and equipment will be provided.
Supply Kit Fee (required): $30.00 – The teacher will collect payment during class.
– Includes: All dyes, mordants, gloves, masks, fabrics, and locks.
Printed materials provided: Instructional handouts will be provided.
Students must bring: A sturdy apron (heavy canvas or moisture-resistant), pen, three ring binder.
Class Size: Minimum 4, Maximum 8.

CLASS FEE

Installment Payments
Contact Stephanie at niadapayments if you would like to register for this class using our 3-payment installment plan.

Cloth & Clay: Bringing Faces to Life

With Leslie O’Leary

Two Day Class
Sunday, August 30th – 9:00am to 4:00pm
Monday, August 31st – 9:00am to 4:00pm

Description
Leslie is well known for her distinctive clay faces overlaid with fabric. In this two-day workshop, she shares this approachable technique, guiding students through the expressive marriage of clay and cloth. Each participant receives two molded clay face fronts and a curated selection of fabrics to create finished, expressive faces with color. Emphasis is placed on skillful material handling and techniques that support subtle expression and refined results.

What will happen each day of the course?
Day 1: Focuses on fabric application and form-detailing.
Day 2: Brings the faces fully alive through shading and eye painting.

Media Category: Fabric
Course Format: Technique
Skill level: All levels welcome. Basic use and understanding of fabric and paints.

What will Students learn from this course?
Learn:
• Fabric-over-clay face techniques
• Preparing molded clay face fronts
• Selecting and layering fabric for expression
• Securing cloth while preserving form
• Shading and coloring fabric-overlaid faces
• Painting eyes to bring focus and life
Project:
• Two finished fabric-overlaid clay faces with color

Supplies the teacher will provide: All paints and chalks will be provided for use in class • Backdrop protection sheets for paints and glue • Water cups.
Supply Kit Fee (required): $40.00. The teacher will collect payment during class.
– Includes: Two molded face forms • three selections of hand-dyed fabric: cotton knit, woven cotton, and vintage silk • use of paints, pencils, and chalks • outline handout sheets.
Students must bring: Sharp pencil and eraser (a fabric eraser works best) • Alene’s white Tacky Glue (gold bottle-the newer, the better!) • ½” small, flat, stiff brush for applying glue (suggested—#8 or #10 flat) • Small Paint brushes: such as 4/0 round • Black and a brown colored pencil- sharp. Stanford/Berol brand works great • Chenille Needle for defining • Soft rubber-tipped manicure stick (if you have one) • Fabric scissors—any size • Small, sharp fabric scissors • Small palette for glue and paint • Washcloth/studio rag for wiping brush and hands, or paper towels • Black, brown, or auburn sewing thread for eyebrows and a sewing needle • Scrapbooking chalks: Decorator Chalks, Pebbles Classic Colors or Pastels (these are getting harder to find, I will have mine that you are welcome to use!)
Class Size: Minimum 4, Maximum 12.

CLASS FEE

Installment Payments
Contact Stephanie at niadapayments if you would like to register for this class using our 3-payment installment plan.

Hand-Felted Animal Head

With Deborah C Pope

Two Day Class
Sunday, August 30th – 9:00am to 4:00pm
Monday, August 31st – 9:00am to 4:00pm

Description
This is your opportunity to learn Deborah’s unique approach to sculptural felt making. We will combine traditional wet felting techniques with the use of contemporary needle sculpting. The artist will guide you through her step-by-step process to create your own captivating animal head.

What will happen each day of the course?
Day 1: Will be devoted to establishing the basic form of the animal head and wet felting it.
Day 2: Will concentrate on sculpting and refining the features. In addition, Deborah will demonstrate how she makes life-like animal eyes and flat felt to be used in making anthropomorphic hands.

Media Category: Fiber Art
Course Format: Full project
Skill level: Intermediate. It is helpful if students have basic wet felt-making experience, and basic sculpting, and sewing skills.

What will Students learn from this course?
Students will learn Deborah’s unique sculpting technique for making a lifelike animal head from animal fibers as well as tutorials on eye making and hand making tips.

Supplies the teacher will provide: Use of Deborah’s felt-making equipment and paint for eyes • artist brushes to be used on eyes • glue, glue brushes • wire for ears if needed • floral tape • wire cutters • acrylic gloss polyurethane
Supply Kit Fee (required): $30.00. The teacher will collect payment during class.
– Includes: Use of instructor’s supplies • Polyfil batting • stuffing wool • merino wool • specialty fibers (alpaca, camel if needed) • felting needles (2) • instruction booklet • and paperclay eye forms.
Printed materials provided: Instruction booklet
Students must bring: Reference photos of the animal head you wish to create (skull view, multiple views of animal head) • two old bath size towels • a pair of small, sharp embroidery scissors • chalks or pastels for facial coloring • one synthetic flat artist’s brush • Sakura Pigma Micro .05 pens for details (1 brown, 1 black).
Class Size: Minimum 4, Maximum 10.

CLASS FEE

Installment Payments
Contact Stephanie at niadapayments if you would like to register for this class using our 3-payment installment plan.

Create Your Own Story

With Marlaine Verhelst

Two + Half Day Class
Sunday, August 30 – 9:00am to 4:00pm
+ Sunday Evening – 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Monday, August 31 – 9:00am to 4:00pm

Description
Marlaine Verhelst has developed a course that teaches students how to create a fully personalized doll, built on a simple design with a posable head and hands.

Students will sculpt the head, hands, and body with Creative Paperclay and paint it with watercolors. The clothing is simple and requires minimal sewing skills. The colors, hair, hats, and accessories offer endless possibilities for variation.

What will happen each day of the course?
Day 1 + evening: we will sculpt everything and stuff the body.
Day 2: We will paint, put the doll together, dress, and embellish.

Media Category: Air Dry Clay, Mixed Media
Course Format: Full project
Skill level: All levels are welcome. No special skills required

What will Students learn from this course?
Besides the sculpting and painting technique, they will learn to personalize a doll.

Supplies the teacher will provide: Sculpting and painting tools • Glue • Paint and varnish • Stuffing.
Supply Kit Fee (required): $30.00. The teacher will collect payment during class.
– Includes: Body and base for the doll, Creative Paperclay, prepared bases for the head and the hands, prepared costumes in several colors, materials for hair, and hats, props and embellishments.
Students must bring: A basic hand sewing kit including scissors • A stuffing tool • Optional: personal props or embellishments • Bubble wrap to pack the doll.
Class Size: Minimum 4, Maximum 12.

CLASS FEE

Installment Payments
Contact Stephanie at niadapayments if you would like to register for this class using our 3-payment installment plan.

Make a Complete Doll: Prince

With Ankie Daanen

Three Day Class
Sunday, August 30th – 9:00am to 4:00pm
Monday, August 31st – 9:00am to 4:00pm
Tuesday, September 1st – 9:00am to 4:00pm

Description
Ankie will guide you through sculpting a face, legs, custom high heels, and hands. You’ll also learn how to paint and varnish each body part, assemble the 25″ tall doll, and dress it from head to toe—creating stockings, pants, a top, a collar, and added embellishments.

What will happen each day of the course?
Day 1: We will start sculpting all the parts.
Day 2: We will paint everything.
Day 3: We will assemble the body and costume the doll. Everybody goes home with a finished doll.

Media Category: Air Dry Clay
Course Format: Full project
Skill level: All levels welcome. No special skills required.

What will Students learn from this course?
The students will learn how to sculpt a face, hands, and long legs with high heels.
How to paint and varnish all body parts, how to assemble the body, and how to costume the complete doll.

Supplies the teacher will provide: Ankie will bring all the tools needed to sculpt the doll.
Printed materials provided: none
Supply Kit Fee (required): $50.00. The teacher will collect the kit fee one month before class.
– Includes: Everything needed to make the doll: baseforms for head, hands, and legs • wire • body shape • styrofoam • complete costume as shown on the example doll.
Students must bring: One package of Creative Paperclay • a small bottle of Fast Grab Tacky glue • a pair of sharp scissors • needles and pins • sewing thread: brown and cream • an apron.
Class Size: Minimum 4, Maximum 8.

CLASS FEE

Installment Payments
Contact Stephanie at niadapayments if you would like to register for this class using our 3-payment installment plan.

Patience and Fortitude : Making Your Own BJD!

With Meagan Lillich and Pat Lillich

Three Day Class
Sunday, August 30th – 9:00am to 4:00pm
Monday, August 31st – 9:00am to 4:00pm
Tuesday, September 1st – 9:00am to 4:00pm

Description
Exploring Asian Style Ball Jointed Doll making in Premier Airdry Clay. Students will learn to make different joints while sculpting a 16-inch fashion doll inspired BJD. Includes working from reference and discussions about developing your own personal style.

What will happen each day of the course?
Day 1: Go over the course kit and handouts. Sculpt the lower torso, upper torso, and upper legs. Dry pieces in toaster ovens.
Day 2: Discuss different joints. Sculpt upper and lower arms and lower legs. Add clay as needed to the pieces sculpted on Monday, start sanding and refining.
Day 3: Finishing the doll : refining pieces, sanding, coating, and discussing painting. Stringing the doll and working on fitting joints and refining the doll’s motion.

Media Category: Air Dry Clay
Course Format: Full project
Skill level: Intermediate. Basic sculpting skills.

What will Students learn from this course?
You will sculpt and assemble a complete, fully jointed doll, gain knowledge and experience on how to sculpt and joint this style of doll, and learn to work with Premier clay.

Supplies the teacher will provide: Baby powder • aluminum foil • paper towels • measuring tapes • small modeling tools • dremels • ball bits • drill bits • gesso and gofun • exacto blades • paint brushes • toothpicks • sanding blocks or foam • hemostats • pencils
Printed materials provided: Step-by-step how-to guide with supply resources, and a document showing more jointing types.
Supply Kit Fee (required): $50.00. The teacher will collect the kit fee one month before class.
– Includes: 2 pkgs Premier clay • printed resin head, hands, feet and joints • premier or flumo joints • sandpaper • dowels • spray bottles • s-hooks • elastic • wire • white glue • eyes • faux fur wig • stand • ziplock bags
Students can bring: If you have any small modeling tools you prefer, please bring them. If possible, bringing Dremels with ball bits, 1/8″ and 1/4″ drill bits, and hemostats would be appreciated.
Class Size: Minimum 2, Maximum 6.

CLASS FEE

Installment Payments
Contact Stephanie at niadapayments if you would like to register for this class using our 3-payment installment plan.