(Waldoboro, ME) Sara Hotchkiss at Old Point Comfort announces a series of spring and summer workshops for 2012. A variety of offerings, there is sure to be a class (or two—or more!) to please everyone. Early registration is recommended, as workshops fill up quickly.

Schedule:

Twig Workshops
Build a Tuteur: A Twig Pyramid for Your Climbing Plants with Susy Perrine
Simple materials and skills are all that is needed to create this very useful and attractive garden structure. Build a rustic plant support in a few hours to take home and place in your garden. You'll be the envy of your neighbors and have the knowledge to build a whole herd of them! Students may bring their own branches or purchase them from the instructor. A materials list will be sent upon registration.
Course runs Saturday, May 19th, rain or shine, from10:00am to 2:00 pm. The cost is $60 and there is a maximum of 8 students.

Learn to Weave a Twig Garden Structure with Susy Perrine
Using techniques that perform as well today as they did centuries ago, sturdy twigs and saplings form a strong framework for climbing vegetables and flowers. With sides and a roof, the shelter can serve as a charming spot to read a book or admire your garden while sipping lemonade. We will build a wattle garden structure on site to learn these simple techniques; you will leave with information and experience to build your own at home. Local green materials will be used in this one-day workshop. Bring garden clippers for cutting twigs, work gloves, and a lunch. Saturday, June 16th, (rain date is Sunday, June 17th). The class runs from 10:00 am to 3:00. The cost is $75 and there is a maximum of 8 students.

Twig Tapestry Loom with Sara Hotchkiss
The charming tapestry loom frames are made of twigs, which become part of the finished product, ready to hang on a wall or sit on a table. Learn a tapestry technique called "hills and valleys" to create interesting organic shapes and images. Looms and materials provided, and please bring a lunch. Wednesday, July 18th, rain or shine, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The cost is $75 and there is a maximum of 8 students.

Lavender Workshop
Lavender Workshop with Sara Hotchkiss
English lavender grows well in Maine if you take the time to understand this lovely plant and give it what it needs to thrive. Contented lavender will reward you with healing aroma, beautiful colorful blooms, very happy bees, a culinary herb, and potpourri to get you thru the winter months. With little extra care, lavender will come back year after year. The Class includes discussion and suggestions for growing lavender, plus hands on instruction for propagating lavender from cuttings; students will leave with 4 potted cuttings.
Class dates are : July 7, 11 and 14 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Limit 12 students. The $12 fee includes materials.

Weaving Workshops
Portable Tapestry Loom Weaving with Sara Hotchkiss
Learn the traditional techniques of this ancient textile art form on a small, portable loom using wool yarns. Shading, color, joining, diagonals, stripes, slits, textures, finishing will be covered. Students will leave with a sampler and ideas for future projects. A rentable loom and materials are provided. Please bring a lunch. The cost is $100, plus a refundable loom rental fee. There is a maximum of 8 students. Dates are: June 1st and 2nd from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm; August 15th and 16th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Weave a Rug/Color Your Home with Sara Hotchkiss
My goal is for you to feel relaxed and inspired by the craft of weaving, wonderful textiles, my colorful eclectic studio workspace, and the beautiful landscape that surrounds my home and gardens. We'll laugh, share stories, learn, and eat great food in my cozy sunroom or outdoors in the gardens. Leave all the arduous prep work to me! I will prepare each students' loom including the warping, threading, winding and tying on. You will be coached and guided thru the actual weaving process from beginning of rug to the end and you will go home with a beautiful, durable, custom designed rug to cherish for many years to come. Here's the special part: you will weave this rug in colors of your desire based on color references you provide to me ahead of time. A demonstration of a tapestry technique is included in this class and students are encouraged to add a section of tapestry to their rug. All materials and lunches are included in the price. There is a maximum of 3 students per class and the cost is $250. Dates to be announced, so please inquire.

Twig Tapestry Loom with Sara Hotchkiss (see also under Twig Workshops)
The charming tapestry loom frames are made of twigs, which become part of the finished product, ready to hang on a wall or sit on a table. Learn a tapestry technique called "hills and valleys" to create interesting organic shapes and images. Looms and materials provided, and please bring a lunch. Wednesday, July 18th, rain or shine, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The cost is $75 and there is a maximum of 8 students.

About Susy Perrine
Susy Perrine is an accomplished twig artist and workshop leader thru out New England. Her large twig hut was recently exhibited at the Inspired Hand V show at the Atrium Art Gallery at the University of Southern Maine in Lewiston. She is also an accomplished textile artist. For more information, please visit susanperrine.com.

About Sara Hotchkiss
Sara Hotchkiss owns Old Point Comfort Gallery. She mostly weaves area rugs and wall hangings when she is not distracted by her garden projects. Tapestry weaving has been her passion and practice for over 40 years. For more information, please visit sarahotchkiss.com.

Early registration is recommended. Please make checks payable to Old Point Comfort. Old Point Comfort is located at 28 Pitcher Road in Waldoboro, Maine. For more information please call 207-832-8133 or email Sara at sara@sarahotchkiss.com.