A National Historic Landmark and Rhode Island icon, Slater Mill is eager to establish the Community Guild Studios (CGS), a fiber arts center for the people of Rhode Island and Southeastern New England – something our community lacks despite our state’s long and rich history of textile design and manufacturing. This major initiative is unique in the country in that it will link the birthplace of textile manufacturing with our growing community of talented, professional craftspeople as well as members of the general public who enjoy fiber arts as a pastime or creative outlet.
Chair Caning
Course Description:
Students will learn basic skills to complete caning a chair of their own during the workshop.
Materials: Student must bring his/her own chair; a scissor or snips to trim or cut the cane, a small water pail or bucket to soak the cane, an ice pick, preferably thin and sharp, an old large towel, several snap clothespins to hold cane while soaking and a water spray bottle to wet the cane. Material fee: $15 due on first night.
Instructor:
Steve Emma Steve Emma was born in Rhode Island. He studied agriculture at the University of Rhode Island and received his BA in Music (piano) from Rhode Island College. In 1976 his creative direction evolved further and he began to carve sculpture, furniture, functional objects, wooden bowls and spoons. He is a known local artist and master chair caner.
Class meets 6:30 – 8:30PM Jan. 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17 & 24, Mar. 3
Fee: $65.00 for six 2-hour classes
Basket Making
Course Description:
Session One: Country Muffin Basket: Take home this simple, practical basket made of reed. You will learn the basic terms of basketry such as weaving, twining, "chicken feet," spokes and stakes, upsetting and lashing. This 7"x7"x3" is finished off with a country napkin. It is a guaranteed pleasure made by you to last.
Materials: varies according to project.
Session Two: This class is for the student with some basket making experience. The project is designed to advance the participant’s skill level. The project will be a Nantucket style basket.
Materials: varies according to project.
Instructor:
Ann Morris lives in nearby Attleboro, MA. Ann is a retired nurse and has spent
most of her professional career in all levels of nursing practice and
administration throughout the U.S.
Ann has been making baskets for the past 5 years under the tutelage of
Kate Conroy, owner of Stony Lane Basketry, Exeter, RI. During this
time, Ann has made all kinds of baskets from the purely decorative to
the surprisingly useful while using materials such as reed, hand-hewn
brown ash or hickory, shaker tape, waxed linen and other fibrous
materials. She acknowledges the practical field gathering baskets as
her particular favorite.
Ann is a member of the Northeast Basket makers Guild and currently
serves as Member-at-large on the NBG governing board.
Session One meets 6:30 – 8:30PM, Jan. 27, Feb. 3 & 10
Fee: $45.00
Session Two meets 6:30 – 8:30PM, Feb. 17, 23 & March 3
Fee: $45.00
Beginning Spinning
Course Description:
Learn the basics of spinning your own yarn. Includes basic wheel maintenance, overview of short and long drafting, plying, using a niddy-noddy and spinning from the fold.
Instructor:
Primarily self-taught, Jonne Gomes studied with Master Spinner, knitter, and weaving enthusiast Faith Wight, after beginning with Louise Walsh. He comes from an artistic background; his mother Rosalina was a sample embroiderer and his father a Master Carpenter/Furniture maker in (Funchal) Madeira, Portugal.
Class meets 6:30 – 8:30PM, Feb. 3, 10, 17 & 24
Fee: $85.00 for four 2 hour classes plus $20.00 for materials.
Intermediate Spinning
Course Description:
Designed to advance the skills beyond the basics, this class will cover such topics as drafting techniques, hand carding and blending.
Instructor:
same as above
Class meets 6:30 – 8:30PM, March 17, 24, 31 & April 7
Fee: $85.00 for four 2 hour classes plus $20.00 for materials due on first night.
Introduction to Weaving
Course Description:
Learn the basics of hand weaving: planning and winding a warp, threading the loom and weaving a scarf. Students will also learn the basics of fiber choices, how to read weaving drafts and the finishing and care of handwoven fabrics. Each student will design and weave a scarf in the fiber of their choice.
Instructor:
Jan Doyle is a full time fiber artist and teacher. She currently teaches weaving and special fiber projects at the University of Rhode Island and in her studio in Green Hill, RI.
Her works have been featured in Shuttle, Spindle and Dyepot, Weavers and Fiberarts Magazines.
She travels throughout the U.S. and Canada teaching Doubleweave pick-up, color theory, design, and Batik and Shibori dyeing to guilds and conferences.
Her works have been exhibited and commissioned in the US, Canada and the U.K. Most recently her works were featured at the Flaten Art Museum in St. Olaf Minnesota and the Artworks Gallery New Bedford, Massachusetts, and presently appear on “dmona.org” the digital museum of modern art on the web.
Class meets 6:30-8:30PM, Jan. 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 & March 3
Fee: $85.00 for six 2 hr. classes
Intermediate Weaving
Course Description:
This class is for the student who has progressed through the beginner stage. The class is designed to advance the student’s weaving skills and techniques by completing a project on the Jenks Education Center floor looms.
Instructor:
same as above
Class meets 6:30-8:30PM, Feb. 17 & 23, March 3, 10, 17 & 24
Fee: $85.00 for six 2 hr. classes
Learn to Quilt
Course Description:
This 6 week, 12 hour course, is taught by one or more certified quilting instructors, who are also members of the Industrial Revolution Quilt Guild, a Slater Mill Community Guild Partner.
In this course students will receive instruction in the use of current quilting tools (grid mats, rulers and rotary cutters) and basic patchwork piecing techniques and 1/4 inch seam mastery. Learning these skills will allow students to create accurately pieced, template-free quilt blocks and finished quilts.
Students enrolling in the course must have basic sewing skills and supply their own sewing machine in good working condition, and be familiar with its operation. Students must also provide all sewing supplies, fabrics and/or other materials for the class. A supply list will be provided after enrollment is complete.
Instructor:
Constance Witham was a teacher for 38 years in Massachusetts and Rhode Island schools. She has studied Color Theory at Bridgewater State College and Weaving and Textiles at Rhode Island School of Design. She taught Arts and Crafts for teens at the Urban Collaborative, Providence, Rhode Island and quilting in Lincoln and Cumberland RI. She has been an exhibitor at the
Arnold Mills Quilt Show and the Sayles Memorial Quilt Show. She is on the Executive Board of the Industrial Revolution Quilt Guild and is presently Vice President of that organization which is a Slater Mill Community Guild Partner. She has been a workshop presenter for the Industrial Revolution Quilt Guild as well as the Cumberland Friendship Quilt Guild.
Class meets 6:30 - 9:30PM, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 & April 7
Class fee: $85.00
Dyeing Workshop
Class Description:
Dye your own knitting yarn! Basic Washfast Acid Dyeing for wool and silk for those interested in learning to dye their own yarn. Students will learn the basics of dyeing and techniques for space dyeing already spun yarn. Students may bring their own yarn to dye or purchase suitable yarns at the workshop.
Instructor:
Jan Doyle is a full time fiber artist and teacher. She currently teaches weaving and special fiber projects at the University of Rhode Island and in her studio in Green Hill, RI. Her works have been featured in Shuttle, Spindle and Dyepot, Weavers and Fiberarts Magazines. She travels throughout the U.S. and Canada teaching Doubleweave pick-up, color theory, design, and Batik and Shibori dyeing to guilds and conferences.
Her works have been exhibited and commissioned in the US, Canada and
the U.K. Most recently her works were featured at the Flaten Art Museum
in St. Olaf Minnesota and the Artworks Gallery New Bedford,
Massachusetts, and presently appear on “dmona.org” the digital museum
of modern art on the web.
Class date: January 10 . 10AM – 3PM
Workshop fee: $45.00 for one 5-hour day.
Needle Felting Worshop
Class Description:
This four hour workshop takes the student through the basic techniques for needle felting by making a small useful object like a glasses case. Kits which include everything to complete a project will be available on the first night of class.
Class date: February 21 . 10AM – 2PM
Workshop fee: $45.00 for one 4-hour day. Kit fee: $20.
Silk Fabric Painting
Class Description:
Make a silk scarf as a smart addition to your winter wardrobe. Students will create a one-of-a-kind pattern on an 8”x54” scarf. In 2 four -hour lessons, students will have a scarf to take home. Lessons include applying resist, which sets the design; applying dyes, and color setting. All supplies included except brushes.
Instructor:
Kari Kline is a graduate of the Art Institute of Boston, Massachusetts, where she earned a Certificate in Fine Art. Ms. Kline furthered her education at the University of Pittsburgh and Community College of Allegheny County.
Originally a watercolor artist, Kari Kline felt the transition to silk painting a natural one. Kari uses the painter's approach to silk, viewing each piece of cloth as an empty canvas, waiting for the transformation of the painter's brush. She is particularly inspired by nature's magnificent patterns. Some of her favorites include the unceasing rhythmic line of ocean waves; naked November tree branches interlacing over a stark sky; the beauty and silence of a deep velvet star-laden winter sky; and the riot of color in a brilliant October landscape. These are the prime sources for Ms. Kline's designs.
Ms. Kline was introduced to silk painting in South Carolina. On a life-long quest to find her perfect medium, she found herself drawn to this "new" art form. The vibrancy of the silk dyes offered intense color, unlike any other medium she'd tried. Her first piece, which she transformed into a wall hanging, was promptly sold. Ms. Kline felt her quest had come to an end.
Kari is a member of the Blackstone Valley Art Association and the Pawtucket Artists Collaborative.
Class date: March 14 & 21 . 10AM – 2PM
Workshop fee: $55.00 for two 4-hour day. Materials fee: $15 due first night of class.
Quilting Workshop
Class Description:
Seasonal Wall Quilt: Spring- This little wall quilt features a floral and butterfly motif. The quilt finishes at approximately 15”x18” including the easy patchwork pieced border in various prints. Appliqued motifs are applied by the quick fuse method and are finished by hand using the blanket stitch.
This wall quilt is one in a series of four. There will be a Summer quilt workshop in May , Autumn quilt workshop in September and a Winter quilt workshop in November with dates to be determined.
Instructor:Patricia St. Germain has been sewing for most of her life but her love of color, design and
the desire to advance her creativity lead her to quilt making. She has been quilting for over 18 years and teaching quilting for the past 4 years. Currently she is a member and past president of the Industrial Revolution Quilt Guild, which is a Slater Mill Community Guild Partner. Pat has won a number of awards for her quilting with one of her works published in Country Home magazine. She is an enthusiastic teacher who finds it rewarding to share her knowledge, talents and creativity with other quilters.
Class date: March 14 . 10AM – 2PM
Workshop fee: $45 plus $15.00 for materials for one 4-hour day. Pattern is included.
Prerequisites:
Basic sewing skills are required and students must be able to operate a
sewing machine and bring their own machines in good working order to
class.
Level of skill: Adult; confident beginner quilting or sewing student.
Quilting Workshop
Class Description:
ConKer Cancer: A Case for Smiles - This class is planned for a parent and child*. ConKerr Cancer is a national charity which has distributed over 20,000 pillowcases to children with cancer. It was started at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia by Cindy Kerr who made a different pillowcase for each chemotherapy treatment her son underwent with the hopes of bringing a smile to his face. Participants will make one pillowcase for the organization and one for themselves. Fabric should be fun to select and suitable for girls or boys ages 2-17. Students will need a sewing machine in good working order which they know how to operate. Materials list will be sent after registration is complete.
Instructor:
(same as above)
Class Date: March 21 . 10AM – 2PM
Workshop fee: $45 for one 4-hour day.
*children should be 10 years or older for this activity
For more information email Ruth Sunn, Coordinator, Community Guild Studios, at