Monday, December 19, 2011
“Christmas wishes from the folk school”
The Villages Folk School board and staff wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas. As our thoughts turn towards the Christmas season we hope all of you will enjoy a safe and joyous time with your friends and loved ones.
Our folk school classes slated for January 2012 may be seen by logging into our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com and clicking on the calendar. Gift certificates are still available for those last minute presents and will be great stocking stuffers. We encourage you to experience a day with one of our artist instructors. Why not get some of your friends to come with you and spend the day learning the art of artisan bread making in Betty Printy’s historic Bentonsport home. If learning to quilt sounds like fun, Joy Hanson will teach you in her class at the historic Mason House Inn.
Living the arts in the Villages of Van Buren County is not just a one-day experience, it’s a way of life for many of our folk school instructors.
January classes for the new year are as follows:
2012 Schedule
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
7-Jan-2012 8-Jan-2012
Artisan Bread Making Made Easy
14-Jan-2012 -
7 Step Chair Caning
14-Jan-2012 -
Intermediate Knitting
14-Jan-2012 -
Container Candles
21-Jan-2012 -
Rug Weaving Workshop
21-Jan-2012 22-Jan-2012
Artisan Bread Making Made Easy
28-Jan-2012 -
Join us at the Villages Folk School as we share with you the thrill of living the arts by learning to be creative.
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011
“Simple treasures bring lasting pleasures”
A gift made with your own hands will bring years of pleasure to the recipient and become something they will treasure forever. The Villages Folk School has two classes that will still give you time before Christmas to complete that special gift. We want you to enjoy this season by joining our talented instructors in a class that will inspire you to complete a wonderful gift for your friend or family. Joy Hanson will teach you how to make a beautiful quilt while you enjoy a peaceful weekend at the Bentonsport Mason House Inn on Dec 17th and 18th. Another class you might enjoy is Jolene Tedrow’s “Beveled Glass Angels” where you will create an elegant work of art using beveled glass, solder and copper foil. This class will be held on December 17th at the Congregational Church parsonage in Keosauqua.
Creating works of art can be fun for everyone and we encourage you to take one of our many classes here at the Villages Folk School or perhaps you would like to make it possible for your family to enjoy. You can do that by giving them a Villages Folk School “gift certificate” good for any class they might want to experience. Call us today at (319) 592-3700 or go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com for information about purchasing a gift certificate.
Our classes for the remainder of December and for January are as follows:
Christmas Cards & Favors
8-Dec-2011 -
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
17-Dec-2011 18-Dec-2011
Beveled Glass Angels
17-Dec-2011 -
2012 Schedule
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
7-Jan-2012 8-Jan-2012
Artisan Bread Making Made Easy
14-Jan-2012 -
7 Step Chair Caning
14-Jan-2012 -
Intermediate Knitting
14-Jan-2012 -
Container Candles
21-Jan-2012 -
Rug Weaving Workshop
21-Jan-2012 22-Jan-2012
Artisan Bread Making Made Easy
28-Jan-2012 -
Come enjoy one of our classes as we celebrate the Christmas season.
Monday, December 5, 2011
“The Gift that keeps on Giving”
This is the season when we all think about giving as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. His humble birth in a manger surrounded by cattle and sheep surely would not be that of a man who would bring such a gift to the world. But His gift stirred the hearts of shepherds and wise men and continues even today.
Certainly we cannot give a gift of this magnitude but we can look for ways to share something with our friends and family that will endure for a lifetime. The Villages Folk School “gift certificate” will do just that as it starts them on a path of learning a new art form or just rekindles a love for art that has been buried for years. The opportunity to experience art hands-on with a gifted artist instructor will inspire them to follow their dreams and to be creative in a way that will encourage them to share the gift with others. Don’t miss out on this chance to give the gift that keeps on giving. Call the folk school office today at (319) 592-3700 for your gift certificates. Our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com is filled with information about our classes and includes a calendar of our class schedules for the remainder of 2011 and on into 2012.
There is still time to register for Joy Hanson’s quilt making class this month. Spend a weekend with Joy at the historic Mason House Inn in Bentonsport as she teaches you the proper steps to completing a wonderful handmade quilt.
This year we have added a new class, Christmas Cards & Favors, which will be taught by Sandi Dimmitt on December 8th from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Congregational Church parsonage in Keosauqua. Join Sandi for an evening making special cards and favors for this holiday season.
Only two classes left in 2011 and they are as follows:
Christmas Cards & Favors 8-Dec-2011
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
17-Dec-2011 18-Dec-2011
Our artist instructors are waiting to share their gift with you and your family so give a gift that keeps on giving by registering for a class or purchasing a gift certificate from the Villages Folk School. Call us today at (319) 592-3700 or go online to www.villagesfolkschool.com.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
“Folk School adds a personal touch to your Christmas gifts”
If you want to add a personal touch to your Christmas gifts this year the Villages Folk School classes will give you the proper one-on-one instruction. Joy Hanson will teach you how to make a container candle in your favorite cup or mug that looks and smells like a cup of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows. Are you thinking about crocheting a special gift but don’t feel confident in your crocheting ability? Join Meg King for leisurely day learning to crotchet.
Creating a beautiful quilt can be a challenging endeavor but with the help of our folk school instructor, Joy Hanson, you will be amazed at how quickly your task is completed. Spend a weekend with Joy at the historic Mason House Inn in Bentonsport as she teaches you the proper steps to completing a wonderful handmade quilt.
This year we have added a new class, Christmas Cards & Favors, which will be taught by Sandi Dimmitt on December 8th from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Congregational Church parsonage in Keosauqua. Join Sandi for an evening making special cards and favors for this holiday season.
For a look at what is happening at the Villages Folk School go to www.villagesfolkschool.com and see our class calendar. You may reach us by phone at (319) 592-3700 for any additional questions or help with class registration.
The following is a schedule of our remaining 2011 classes:
Container Candles
3-Dec-2011 -
Beginning Crocheting
3-Dec-2011
Christmas Cards & Favors 8-Dec-2011
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
17-Dec-2011 18-Dec-2011
Let the Villages Folk School be a part of your holiday planning by registering for a class or purchasing a gift certificate for your family and friends. Call us today at (319) 592-3700 or go online to www.villagesfolkschool.com.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
“Thankful in the Villages”
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving in the Villages of Van Buren County it offers us a chance to reflect on what seems commonplace and come to a realization of not only what we are thankful for but why we are thankful. The Villages Folk School board and staff want to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving and our hopes are that each of you has time to reflect as we do and enjoy this special time with your family and friends.
Our few remaining classes in this year will give you a chance to think of those friends and family as you prepare something special, made by you, that will be a gift to serve for years as a reminder of your love and friendship.
Join us here at the Villages Folk School and make a gift for that special someone in your life. Our artist instructors will guide you through every step. You will be amazed at what you can create as you ‘live the arts’ with a folk school instructor.
We have a new class, Christmas Cards & Favors, which will be taught by Sandi Dimmitt on December 8th from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Congregational Church parsonage in Keosauqua. Join Sandi for an evening making special cards and favors for this holiday season.
For a look at what is happening at the Villages Folk School go to www.villagesfolkschool.com and see our class calendar. You may reach us by phone at (319) 592-3700 for any additional questions or help with class registration.
The following is a schedule of our remaining 2011 classes:
Container Candles
3-Dec-2011 -
Beginning Crocheting
3-Dec-2011
Christmas Cards & Favors 8-Dec-2011
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
17-Dec-2011 18-Dec-2011
Register for one of our classes and put an added spark in your holiday season.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
“Location, Location, Location!”
Folk school artist, Gin Lammert, has recently released a series of pastels entitled “Along the Mormon Trail” and I believe it is some of her best work ever. She didn’t have to travel far for her subject because the Villages of Van Buren County that she travels through each day provided the fall palette from which she drew her inspiration. Her work will be on display at the Burns Gallery & Tea Emporium in Bonaparte through December 4th.
Coming to the folk school to take a class allows you to experience the villages in southeastern Iowa and discover why so many gifted artists have chosen to live the arts in this pristine Des Moines River valley. This fall has been an incredible display of nature as the turning from summer to winter continues its colorful array of ever changing scenery. Soon we will see the landscape covered in a blanket of white snow and enjoy yet another season here in Van Buren County. All of this can be experienced by coming to this southeastern Iowa paradise and enjoying a stay at one of our peaceful B & B’s while partaking in a class at the Villages Folk School.
This season why not make plans to take a class in an art form that you have always wanted to try. Our folk school artists will guide you through as you learn to create your very own masterpieces. Our class calendar can be found online at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office today at (319) 592-3700. For those of you without internet availability here is our schedule for the end of the year:
7 Step Chair Caning
19-Nov-2011 -
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011
Container Candles
3-Dec-2011 -
Beginning Crocheting
3-Dec-2011
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
17-Dec-2011 18-Dec-2011
Join in the fun at the Villages Folk School!
Monday, November 7, 2011
“Create your own holiday gifts”
As we approach the holiday season the thoughts begin to turn towards giving and those special people in our lives. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could create something made especially for them with our own hands? Our talented artist instructors have scheduled classes for this season that will help you create a holiday gift for that special someone in your life. Call our office at (319) 592-3700 or go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com and register for one of those classes. Each class is designed to help you complete a project that is ready for use or for giving. Whether it is Shaker Boxes, Container Candles, Chair Caning, Crocheting, or Quilting the folk school has a class designed just for you.
Here are the dates for each of those classes:
Shaker Boxes
12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011
7 Step Chair Caning
19-Nov-2011 -
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011
Container Candles
3-Dec-2011 -
Beginning Crocheting
3-Dec-2011
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
17-Dec-2011 18-Dec-2011
The work of folk school artist, Gin Lammert, will be the feature exhibit at the Burns Gallery & Tea Emporium in Bonaparte, Iowa from November 5th through December 5th. Stop in to see her wonderful collection of pastel paintings entitled “Along the Mormon Trail”. Meet this gifted artist at a special reception to be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 11th.
The Villages Folk School invites you to “live the arts” with us here in scenic Van Buren County. Make this holiday season a time to enjoy the arts “hands on” by taking a class at the folk school or by visiting the Burns Gallery & Tea Emporium where you can see paintings by Gin Lammert and bronze sculptures by Chris Bennett.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
“Students enjoying fall in the Villages”
Students from Iowa and Missouri take part in classes at the Villages Folk School and spend a weekend enjoying the beautiful fall weather here in the Villages of Van Buren County.
It was a “double header” in Bentonsport this past weekend as Betty Printy and April Ziegler taught simultaneous classes. Betty’s kitchen in her historic brick home was the stage for the “Artisan Bread Making Made Easy” class and the performance was breath taking. When I arrived, everyone was gathered around the working island in the center of the kitchen and taking turns applying the techniques Betty had just shared. I never tire of sitting in on the classes and snapping photographs of the continuing process. The class moves from the use of the yeast in preparing the dough to the hand kneading of the loaf and, for the grand finale, into the cloche and the oven for a spectacular finish. This class is always popular, a treat for those who attend, and leaves them with a pleasant trip home to share the excellent loaf of bread with their families. Betty’s bread recipes are among the best I have tasted and will become a delight at your dinner table for years to come.
A few paces north from Betty’s front door and you are at the front door of the log building where April Ziegler, Betty’s daughter, is teaching a class on rug weaving. April and her students were carefully “warping the beam” which is the process of properly loading the yarn onto the loom prior to beginning the weaving of the rug. The first day in class is spent selecting the color scheme and warping the beam. On the second day the students begin to weave their masterpiece and by the end of the day have completed a rug that can be proudly displayed at home.
Bread making and weaving are only two of the many classes offered year round at the Villages Folk School here in scenic southeastern Iowa. The winding river valley and lush hardwoods in this picturesque county which is home to our 30 folk school artists will become a refuge for you to come relax and enjoy the arts with our talented artist instructors.
Go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com and choose you next class from our class calendar. You may print out a registration form and mail it in to our office or simply call us today at (319) 592-3700 for more information and registration assistance. Our office is in Bonaparte, Iowa at the Opera House and is open from 8:30 to 12:30 Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. For those of you without internet access our upcoming class schedule as follows:
Natural Dyes in My Backyard
27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011
Container Candles
5-Nov-2011 -
Beginning Knitting
5-Nov-2011 -
Shaker Boxes
12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011
Tatting 12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011
7 Step Chair Caning
19-Nov-2011 -
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011
Call us today and register for a class at the Villages Folk School. We look forward to your visit.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
“Creating masterpieces in the oven and on canvas”
Students from around Iowa visited Van Buren County last weekend to learn the art of artisan bread making and painting the landscape from Villages Folk School instructors.
John Preston set his easel on the banks of the Des Moines River at Bonaparte and welcomed students from Ames, Cedar Rapids and Keosauqua who had come to learn the techniques of painting the landscape in oil and watercolor. John’s brilliance with shadow, color and perspective soon unfolds as his brush gently strokes the canvas and creates, as if by magic, the splendor of the surrounding landscape. I never tire of watching his seemingly effortless style of painting and hearing him express that gift to the students in tangible means so as to encourage them in their painting experience. If you have a desire to paint but just can’t find the right motivation to begin then I urge you to spend a day with John Preston. His “Painting the Landscape” class will set you on the right path and encourage you to draw from within yourself as you begin to create on canvas what is vividly displayed on nature’s panorama.
Betty Printy welcomed students to her historic Bentonsport home for a class in artisan bread making. Her class covers every aspect of the process from ingredients to proper mixing and baking and Betty shares little secrets of hers throughout the day. I, of course, excel in the “tasting” process and never pass up the opportunity to sample some of the day’s spectacular results. Students attending her class leave with a sense of accomplishment and all the skills needed to continue baking homemade bread on a daily basis.
Register for a class at the Villages Folk School and come enjoy a weekend in the historic Villages of Van Buren County. Our web site is www.villagesfolkschool.com or call us at (319) 592-3700 and discover for yourself the joy of “living the arts” with our artist instructors.
Our new office hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The following is our class calendar for the remainder of October and November:
Artisan Bread Making Made Easy
22-Oct-2011 -
Spring and Fall Birdwatching
22-Oct-2011 -
Rug Weaving Workshop
22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011
Natural Dyes in My Backyard
27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011
Container Candles
5-Nov-2011 -
Beginning Knitting
5-Nov-2011 -
Shaker Boxes
12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011
Tatting 12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011
7 Step Chair Caning
19-Nov-2011 -
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
“Weaving your way through the Villages?”
For those who traveled through the historic bypass and stopped in each of the villages here in Van Buren County it was a weekend of parades, vendors, car shows, good food, music and the historic splendor of this river valley. It is this “historic splendor” that will continue to draw people back to our simpler way of life. The Villages Folk School classes give people the opportunity to come to this beautiful county, stay in a historic hotel or inn, and enjoy the arts taught by gifted artist instructors who “live the arts” here in Van Buren County.
Classes are held year round and offer a chance for students to come enjoy all the seasons here in southeast Iowa. October and November are a good time to start thinking about gifts for Christmas and this year you could make your own with the help of an artist. Paint the Landscape with John Preston and discover your own creative side as John guides you through the steps. He makes it look so easy and his helpful guidance will have you painting masterpieces in no time. How about making your own gift basket complete with bread you learned to bake at the “Artisan Bread Making Make Easy” class taught by Betty Printy in her historic home. Add to that a container candle that you made by attending Joy Hanson’s “Container Candles” class at the historic Mason House in Bentonsport. Give handmade rugs, quilts, Shaker boxes, caned chairs, hand knitted items for the choice is yours as you browse through our calendar of classes on the web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com .
Visit or web site, pick a class, register by calling our office at (319) 592-3700 or print and mail your registration form and get ready to enjoy yourself at the Villages Folk School.
The following is our class calendar for October and November:
Artisan Bread Making Made Easy
15-Oct-2011 -
Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits
15-Oct-2011 -
Painting the Landscape
15-Oct-2011 -
Artisan Bread Making Made Easy
16-Oct-2011 -
Artisan Bread Making Made Easy
22-Oct-2011 -
Spring and Fall Birdwatching
22-Oct-2011 -
Rug Weaving Workshop
22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011
Natural Dyes in My Backyard
27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011
Container Candles
5-Nov-2011 -
Beginning Knitting
5-Nov-2011 -
Shaker Boxes
12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011
7 Step Chair Caning
19-Nov-2011 -
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011
See you soon at the Villages Folk School.
Monday, October 3, 2011
“Folk School classes on a fall palette”
Driving through the lush countryside of Van Buren County offers a chance for you to slow down, enjoy the beautiful fall colors, and savour the pace of life in this rural wonderland. The changing of the guard, if you will, as the greenery gives way to fall’s burst of color. I am still overcome by the spectacle nature provides as I travel to Villages Folk School classes in this scenic river valley devoid of stop lights and fast food restaurants. I invite you to experience the Villages of Van Buren County and all this southeastern Iowa County has to offer.
October at the Villages Folk School welcomes the return of Betty Printy’s popular “Artisan Bread Making Made Easy” class where you will learn the art of making bread in the historic Bentonsport home of Bill and Betty Printy. This class is always a treat for the many who travel to the villages to learn the art of baking bread. Call our folk school office at (319) 592-3700 or contact us by email at villagesfolkschool@gmail.com and make your reservations. For those of you with internet the class calendar is available on our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com.
John Preston’s “Painting the Landscape”, Raymond and Connie Morris’s “Fall Birdwatching”, and Pat Crawford’s “Natural Dyes in My Backyard” are classes that will take you into the fall splendor and give you a firsthand look at October in Van Buren County.
The following is our class calendar for October and November:
Artisan Bread Making Made Easy
15-Oct-2011 -
Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits
15-Oct-2011 -
Painting the Landscape
15-Oct-2011 -
Artisan Bread Making Made Easy
16-Oct-2011 -
Artisan Bread Making Made Easy
22-Oct-2011 -
Spring and Fall Birdwatching
22-Oct-2011 -
Rug Weaving Workshop
22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011
Natural Dyes in My Backyard
27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011
Container Candles
5-Nov-2011 -
Beginning Knitting
5-Nov-2011 -
Shaker Boxes
12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011
Tatting
12-Nov-2011
7 Step Chair Caning
19-Nov-2011 -
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011
We invite you to join us at the Villages Folk School as our artist instructors teach you to enjoy art commingled with history and nature.
Monday, September 26, 2011
“Folk School continues to bring students from outside Van Buren County”
Students from Corydon, Bettendorf, Pella and Keokuk enjoyed a stay in Van Buren County while attending a Villages Folk School class at the Iron & Lace in Bentonsport. Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer taught their students the basics of working with iron in a Beginning Blacksmithing class held in Bill’s academy. Each of the students receives not only classroom instruction but hands-on training at the forge. With Bill and Mark giving individual attention to the students as they work the forge and anvil, the process becomes a unique learning experience. The first day includes classroom instruction scheduled in such a way as to give time for testing what they have learned at their own forge. Bill and Mark move about the shop that includes five forges and offer constructive critique as the students test their skills with the hammer. The second day is an open workshop allowing the students to further apply what they have learned by spending the day at the forge.
Our folk school classes offer you a chance to experience art with an artist instructor while enjoying the peaceful surroundings of historic Van Buren County. Register today at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at (319) 592-3700. The class calendar is available on our web site but for those without internet access the following is a list of our upcoming classes.
Bonaparte Pottery Experience
1-Oct-2011 2-Oct-2011
Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits
15-Oct-2011 -
Painting the Landscape
15-Oct-2011 -
Spring and Fall Birdwatching
22-Oct-2011 -
Rug Weaving Workshop
22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011
Natural Dyes in My Backyard
27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011
Container Candles
5-Nov-2011 -
Shaker Boxes
12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011
7 Step Chair Caning
19-Nov-2011 -
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011
Join us for a fun-filled weekend at the Villages Folk School.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
“Get reacquainted with life in Van Buren County Iowa”
I’m sure many people keep a record of their days and weeks by writing in a journal, but how many have actually made the paper they are writing on? For Pat Crawford of Cantril it is an everyday event and she is making that opportunity available to you by teaching the art of paper making and binding it into a journal. Personalizing the very paper you write on is rewarding and Pat will take you step by step through the process. Registration is still open for the class that will be held Thursday and Friday, September 22nd and 23rd.
Have you ever thought about learning the art of forging iron in a blacksmith shop? Well now is your chance as Bill Printy fires up the forge and opens his academy for another exciting class in beginning blacksmithing at Iron and Lace in Bentonsport, Iowa. Bill and his apprentice, Mark Heisdorffer, will instruct you in the proper use of the forge, the anvil and each of the specific tools of the trade. Students come from all over the country to experience the everyday life of the blacksmith and learn from a master who has turned iron work into a fine art.
Call us today at (319) 592-3700 or go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com to register for the class of your choice.
The scenic river valley and colorful country side of Van Buren County has become the home of many artists because its splendor is a constant boost to their creative life. Those of us who live here often forget to enjoy the simple pleasure of a drive through the flowing hillsides of this southeastern Iowa county but we should be thankful for the quality of life it provides us. Spending a weekend with one of the folk school artists who make their living painting, blacksmithing, turning pottery, etc. will help you capture some of the motivation this area provides them as they live the arts in this beautiful river valley.
The peaceful surroundings of our historic villages provide a place for the arts to thrive and offer outsiders a chance to experience the history that is alive here in our county. That is why they continue to return for our folk school classes and a chance to escape the hectic lifestyles in the cities. We encourage those of you who call Van Buren County your home to take a class at the Villages Folk School and capture the thrill of living the arts.
Our class schedule is posted on the web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at (319) 592-3700.
The following is our upcoming class schedule:
Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making
22-Sep-2011 23-Sep-2011
Beginning Blacksmithing
24-Sep-2011 25-Sep-2011
Bonaparte Pottery Experience
1-Oct-2011 2-Oct-2011
Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits
15-Oct-2011 -
Painting the Landscape
15-Oct-2011 -
Spring and Fall Birdwatching
22-Oct-2011 -
Rug Weaving Workshop
22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011
Natural Dyes in My Backyard
27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011
Container Candles
5-Nov-2011 -
Shaker Boxes
12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011
7 Step Chair Caning
19-Nov-2011 -
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011
Register today for an experience of a lifetime at the Villages Folk School.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
“Art classes in the home and studio of Wendell Mohr”
It was an exciting weekend at the Villages Folk School as Gin Lammert taught her folk school class, Still Life Workshop in Pastel & Oil, in the historic Vernon schoolhouse. The building, constructed in 1868, became the home and studio of Wendell Mohr and his family in 1970. Wendell’s paintings reflected his love for people and his life experiences. He was well known to Van Buren County artists and although I never met the man, my conversations with those artists reveal the passion and love he had for painting and teaching. His daughter, Paula Mohr, told me how she looks forward to art classes being held in her late father’s studio. It is my hope that the students who come for our folk school art classes will also appreciate the history of the studio in which they learn and in doing so continue the legacy of Wendell Mohr.
Our folk school classes will continue through the winter and we encourage you to check our calendar for a class that might interest you. Our calendar is available at www.villagesfolkschool.com or you may call our office at (319) 592-3700. Contact us today for more information on the Villages Folk School.
List of coming classes:
Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave
17-Sep-2011 -
Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension
17-Sep-2011 18-Sep-2011
Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making
22-Sep-2011 23-Sep-2011
Beginning Blacksmithing
24-Sep-2011 25-Sep-2011
Bonaparte Pottery Experience
1-Oct-2011 2-Oct-2011
Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits
15-Oct-2011 -
Painting the Landscape
15-Oct-2011 -
Spring and Fall Birdwatching
22-Oct-2011 -
Rug Weaving Workshop
22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011
Natural Dyes in My Backyard
27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011
Container Candles
5-Nov-2011 -
Shaker Boxes
12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011
7 Step Chair Caning
19-Nov-2011 -
Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011
Join us for a fun weekend at the Villages Folk School.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
“1800 Degrees in a Top Hat”
What is in a degree? Certainly educators have labored to turn out some of the finest, most educated people in the world but that isn’t the degree we are discussing today, although these 1800 degrees turn out some of the finest looking pottery in the world. I am talking about Raku pottery and it happened this past weekend at Iron & Lace in the village of Bentonsport, Iowa. Fifteen students came from across the state and one of them from Pennsylvania to learn the art of Raku pottery from our folk school instructors, Bill and Betty Printy. The art of Raku which dates back to 16th-century Japan has become very popular here at the Villages Folk School. The beauty of this pottery is that your creation is completed in one class and can be taken home at the end of the day.
I am always excited to hear from our students and each time I do it reminds me of why we do what we do. The arts and the ability to be creative are something to be shared. I recently framed a pastel piece that was painted by one of our folk school students. It was her first pastel class but she shared with me how she had taken different classes that we offer at the folk school and enjoyed them but until now she hadn’t found one she was truly good at. The painting she did in pastel was of a tiger and it was beautiful. She has found a way to be creative and will share that with everyone she meets. Living the arts here in Van Buren County whether it be raku, sculpture, blacksmithing, hand-thrown pottery, painting, weaving, chair caning, painting barn quilts or paper making will bring you in contact with artists who get their inspiration from the very place they live.
Register for your first experience here at the Villages Folk School by calling 319-592-3700 or online at www.villagesfolkschool.com.
The following is our list of classes for September:
Still Life Workshop in Pastel & Oil
10-Sep-2011 11-Sep-2011
Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave
17-Sep-2011 -
Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension
17-Sep-2011 18-Sep-2011
Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making
22-Sep-2011 23-Sep-2011
Beginning Blacksmithing
24-Sep-2011 25-Sep-2011
We hope to see you soon at the Villages Folk School in historic Van Buren County Iowa.
Monday, August 29, 2011
“History comes alive in the Villages of Van Buren County”
Traveling through the beautiful landscapes of Van Buren County is only the canvas for the history that lives and breathes in these rolling hills and scenic river valley. As an artist touches the canvas with the first brush strokes, the final masterpiece lies only in his or her mind. But slowly the strokes begin to create form and the mind’s eye can see shape and beauty as the artist applies more and more to the canvas. The same is true of the sculptor who begins his work with only a block of clay or the potter who centers the clay on a wheel and begins the process of shaping a form as the clay spins beneath her fingers.
The Villages Folk School is not just another building or classroom but it is the portal through which you can step to not only see the past through the artist’s eye but actually experience the history that lives because of the unique opportunities afforded by our classes. Don’t just plan for a day painting or sculpting. Instead, enjoy a chance to step from your everyday life into the life of the artist who will take you back to the history of the art. Suddenly you will understand the joy of living the arts as the instructor helps you relive the history that has its roots here in southeast Iowa.
Come see for yourself as our September schedule rolls out. Pottery, sculpting, painting, chair caning, beginning blacksmithing, paper making! The class calendar is available to you online at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at 319-592-3700.
Our classes available in September are as follows:
Raku Pottery
3-Sep-2011
Bonaparte Pottery Experience
3-Sep-2011 4-Sep-2011
Still Life Workshop in Pastel & Oil
10-Sep-2011 11-Sep-2011
Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave
17-Sep-2011 -
Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension
17-Sep-2011 18-Sep-2011
Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making
22-Sep-2011 23-Sep-2011
Beginning Blacksmithing
24-Sep-2011 25-Sep-2011
Register today and learn the history of the arts in this great county. We look forward to seeing you at the Villages Folk School.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
“Back to school time in the Villages”
Teachers, students, and parents are busy preparing for the school year to begin and here at the Villages Folk School we continue our preparation for another month of classes. The folk school offers classes year round and allows time for each of you to come enjoy instruction in the arts. “Not knowing how” has become a thing of the past in the Villages as each of our artist instructors offers you beginning, intermediate and advanced classes in the art of drawing, painting, blacksmithing, pottery, weaving, knitting, and the list goes on and on. We encourage you to take a class at the Villages Folk School and find out what everyone is talking about. Our students come from Iowa and the surrounding states but you have only to drive across the county and join us for a class. Our desire is to offer each person in Van Buren County a chance to live the arts with one of our many gifted artists. Help us make this a reality and register for a class today. You will find our class schedule online at www.villagesfolkschool.com or give us a call at 319-592-3700 for assistance.
We ask you to help support our work as we grow the Villages Folk School by becoming a friend of the folk school. Sponsorship is easy by clicking on the link provided on our website. The level you choose is your decision but we want you all to know that we appreciate each and every one who chooses to support us.
If you have questions that have not been answered on our website please give us a call at the office, 592-3700, and Gloria will be happy to assist you.
Don’t let time slip away, join with us today and become a part of the Villages Folk School as we strive to improve the quality of life in Van Buren County. Visitors always comment on the beauty of our scenic river valley and the wildlife here in our county but we believe you, the people, are what make this a great place to live.
The Villages Folk School offers you the opportunity to learn from a gifted artist and find your way in the world of art right here in Van Buren County.
Our classes available in August and September are as follows:
Bonaparte Pottery Experience
20-Aug-2011 21-Aug-2011
Raku Pottery
3-Sep-2011
Bonaparte Pottery Experience
3-Sep-2011 4-Sep-2011
Still Life Workshop in Pastel & Oil
10-Sep-2011 11-Sep-2011
Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave
17-Sep-2011 -
Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension
17-Sep-2011 18-Sep-2011
Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making
22-Sep-2011 23-Sep-2011
Beginning Blacksmithing
24-Sep-2011 25-Sep-2011
Your very own experience in the arts awaits you at the Villages Folk School so what are you waiting for? Call us today at 592-3700.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
“A weekend at the Villages Folk School”
It’s Saturday morning, you awake to the birds singing, the sun shining in your window and even notice a fawn playing by his mother at the corner of your yard. This is a great prelude to what you will do today because your day will be spent painting the landscape with artist John Preston. Maybe you take time to paint once or twice a week or perhaps this is the first time you’ve held a brush to the canvas since school days. Whatever your background is, you are about to experience something that will inspire you and give you the confidence to paint. My wife hadn’t painted since high school and with the help and encouragement she received from John Preston in her first “Painting the Landscape” class she was able to complete what I thought was a very nice painting. John, with his soft spoken reassuring style, gave her the incentive to paint and the skills he subtly imparts to his students provided the knowledge to successfully complete the painting.
Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer awoke to the same sunshine and the still, peaceful quiet of a Saturday morning in Bentonsport, Iowa. Their day began with preparation for the Blacksmithing, Forge Welding class. Students will arrive by 9:00 a.m. so the forges must be fired up and ready for work. Bill and Mark greet their students with a fresh cup of coffee and usually something great to eat, like maybe some of Betty’s homemade bread. The class begins with Bill giving some classroom instruction on the process that will be learned at the forge. Usually some history of Blacksmithing and, if you are fortunate, he may share some of his background with the art. Mark Heisdorffer has worked as an apprentice to Bill and, like Bill, has learned the trade and the skills to be productive. The class will spend all of Saturday working the forge and the anvil with Bill and Mark alongside helping with constructive comments. Sunday the forges are hot and any students who desire may spend the day perfecting what they learned on Saturday.
A short trip north to the villages of Stockport and Carolyn Edwards is busy teaching her students to paint a barn quilt. Carolyn teaches the process of selecting a pattern, laying it out, sketching the detail lines and finally deciding on the color scheme and painting the barn quilt. Carolyn’s love of barn quilts is evident in her work and the variety of patterns she produces. Her students come away with a finished barn quilt of their own and the skills to design and produce more quilts as gifts or for their own enjoyment.
This weekend surely has something to offer for everyone as we find Verne Ramsey teaching 7-Step chair caning. Each of the students have refinished their heirloom chair, want to replace the broken cane seat and have found the Villages Folk School class that will provide them with the skills to make it just like the original. Verne teaches each of the chair caning processes and some of our students from out of state told us we are the only school offering classes on some of these techniques. Verne will take you systematically through the step by step process of chair caning and help you to achieve success with your chair project.
This is only one such weekend at the Villages Folk School and, as you can see, there is something for everyone. Whether you “Paint the Landscape” with John Preston, “Forge Weld” with Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer, “Paint a Barn Quilt” with Carolyn Edwards, or join Verne Ramsey for “7-Step Chair Caning”, we know you will have an experience that will last a lifetime.
All of these classes are available to you through the Villages Folk School here in the Villages of Van Buren County Iowa. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and register for the class of your choice. We look forward to answering any questions you might have so give us a call at 319-592-3700 and allow us to help you with your registration.
Classes coming up are as follows:
7 Step Chair Caning
13-Aug-2011 -
Barn Quilt Painting
13-Aug-2011 -
Blacksmithing: Forge Welding
13-Aug-2011 -
Painting the Landscape
13-Aug-2011 -
Bonaparte Pottery Experience
20-Aug-2011 21-Aug-2011
Raku Pottery
3-Sep-2011
Bonaparte Pottery Experience
3-Sep-2011 4-Sep-2011
Still Life Workshop in Pastel & Oil
10-Sep-2011 11-Sep-2011
Call us today and “live the arts” at the Villages Folk School.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
“Villages Folk School enriches life in Van Buren County”
Art and the process of “being creative” is only the beginning of what the folk school offers to its students. While people from outside our county and state find the beauty of our region appealing and the classes at the folk school inspiring, our main purpose is to provide a better quality of life for those who live in Van Buren County. We offer our classes as a place for you to “plug-in” and learn to be both creative and productive at the same time.
We encourage each of our Van Buren County residents to come experience the Villages Folk School and our artist instructors. It is a chance for you to ‘live the arts’ with those who make their living as a professional artist. It may sound like something you could never do, but the surprise that awaits you is the fact that each of us has the ability to be creative and the Villages Folk School will provide the catalyst for that to become a reality in your life.
Go to our website, www.villagesfolkschool.com, and see for yourself the many classes that are available to you. Call our office at 319-592-3700 and Gloria will help you with any questions you might have regarding classes and registration. The time is now so don’t hesitate. Classes are coming up in August and offer many options for your enjoyment.
The August schedule is:
7 Step Chair Caning
13-Aug-2011 -
Barn Quilt Painting
13-Aug-2011 -
Blacksmithing: Forge Welding
13-Aug-2011 -
Painting the Landscape
13-Aug-2011 -
Bonaparte Pottery Experience
20-Aug-2011 21-Aug-2011
We hope to see you soon at the Villages Folk School where there is something for everyone. Make it a family experience and enjoy the arts together.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
“Villages Folk School instructors at the J40 Farm Crawl”
Last weekend J40 was filled with traffic from Pittsburg to Lebanon and beyond as visitors traveled to each destination on Kim Blair’s J40 Farm Crawl. Folk school instructors were demonstrating their crafts at “Bloom and Bark” owned and operated by Tim and Kim Blair. This annual event gives visitors an opportunity to not only sample and purchase some of the products but to learn more about the history and process involved in producing them.
Pat and George Crawford demonstrated the art of making brooms and grinding corn meal. Her corn meal cookies dating back to our early settlers were delicious. George cut and tied brooms and was always willing to share the history of his process with every interested visitor.
Verne Ramsey sold honey straight from his working hives and shared with visitors his love for beekeeping. Vern and his wife Doris have worked the bee hives for 30 years and marked their honey in southeastern Iowa. Verne also teaches the art of chair caning for the Villages Folk School.
Our folk school offers a wide variety of classes which will give you the opportunity to choose something suited to your desires. The artist instructors who teach the classes will take you through the basics and on to intermediate and advanced study. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and learn more about our classes and instructors. A day at the Villages Folk School awaits you and we look forward to your visit. Find the class that interests you and register for the time of your life. For more information or for help with your registration process give us a call at 319-592-3700.
Classes for the next month are as follows:
7 Step Chair Caning
13-Aug-2011 -
Barn Quilt Painting
13-Aug-2011 -
Blacksmithing: Forge Welding
13-Aug-2011 -
Painting the Landscape
13-Aug-2011 -
Bonaparte Pottery Experience
20-Aug-2011 21-Aug-2011
See you soon at the Villages Folk School!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
“A weekend with Gin Lammert at the Villages Folk School”
Take any weekend; set aside some time for yourself; register for a folk school class in the fine arts; experience the passionate, creativity of Gin Lammert. Learning to paint is not only a step by step process through time honored skill sets but with Gin Lammert you look through the basics of art and experience the ability to release yourself onto the canvas. It is a gift that Gin will share with you here at the Villages Folk School.
Gin Lammert is best known for her years of creating custom portrait work for clients that live across the United States. Her landscape and still life paintings are included in both private and corporate art collections in the U.S., Europe and Japan. Since the beginning of her art career, Gin has taught basic drawing techniques to students in private lessons and group workshops that have been held across the state of Iowa. She recently has expanded to include her accumulated knowledge of soft pastels and oils for those interested in her method of painting. “Creating beautiful, joyous works of art that reflect my surroundings, dreams, and that invoke fond memories has become my passion and why I paint. It’s my way of providing food for the Soul.” ~Gin Lammert
We at the Villages Folk School are proud to have Gin Lammert as one of our artist instructors and look forward to your attendance and one of our many classes.
Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com to find out more about our classes and our artists. Our July and August schedule is filling up quickly so get your registrations in soon. Coming up at the Villages Folk school:
Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil
23-Jul-2011 24-Jul-2011
7 Step Chair Caning
13-Aug-2011 -
Barn Quilt Painting
13-Aug-2011 -
Blacksmithing: Forge Welding
13-Aug-2011 -
Painting the Landscape
13-Aug-2011 -
Bonaparte Pottery Experience
20-Aug-2011 21-Aug-2011
Call us today at 319-592-3700 and discover for yourself the thrill of ‘living the arts’ at the Villages Folk School.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
“What’s shakin’ at the Villages Folk School?”
Last weekend students learned the art of making Shaker boxes. The Shakers, a religious group which flourished until after the Civil War, began making oval boxes in 1798 and continued until the mid twentieth century. They were available in a wide variety of sizes and were used to store herbs, buttons, nails, medicines – anything but liquids! Their elliptical shape is pleasing to the eye, fits well in the hand and allows easy removal of the lid.
The instructor, Bob Ristow, has taught in Montana, Iowa and Minnesota and he and his wife, Bernice, reside in Hopkinton, Iowa. Students learned how to form the fingers, cut the bottom piece from laminated birch plywood, and after soaking the wood in water, wrapped it around the form and secured it with square pegs. The process includes the use of scroll saws, sanders and anvils for pinning the boxes. I guess the best sign of success in this class is that each student comes away with five different sizes of oval Shaker boxes and all of their fingers!
Classes at the folk school offer you a chance to experience many of the traditional arts as well as fine arts. The instructors at the Villages Folk School are working artists who have perfected their trade and enjoying sharing it with others. You will find our classes to be a relaxing yet challenging experience that will give you the tools and the knowledge to continue developing your personal skill level.
Go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com and see for yourself the many art forms that are offered. Choose one that you have always wanted to learn, register for the class, and get ready for a fun and exciting weekend at the Villages Folk School. If you have questions just call our office at 319-592-3700 and we will be happy to assist you in your registration process.
Our July and August schedule is filling up quickly so get your registrations in soon. The following is our schedule for the next two months:
Landscape Workshop in Pastel & Oil
16-Jul-2011 17-Jul-2011
Carving With David
16-Jul-2011 17-Jul-2011
Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil
23-Jul-2011 24-Jul-2011
7 Step Chair Caning
13-Aug-2011 -
Barn Quilt Painting
13-Aug-2011 -
Blacksmithing: Forge Welding
13-Aug-2011 -
Painting the Landscape
13-Aug-2011 -
Bonaparte Pottery Experience
20-Aug-2011 21-Aug-2011
Join us soon for a class in ‘living the arts’ at the Villages Folk School.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
“Arts in the Villages of Van Buren County”
The splendor of the scenic river valley and rolling hills of Van Buren County has become the home for many artists and offers the incentive for them to live the arts with passion. It is this motivation that burns in the hearts of the artist instructors at the Villages Folk School and it is our desire as a school to offer that experience to each of you through our classes. The opportunity to spend a day with one of our gifted artists is available to you on a schedule that will allow you to choose the day best for you. Our class sizes are held to a minimum so that your experience will be more of a one-on-one with the instructor. We believe this is important for your total experience and the overall outcome of your instruction and finished project. Our artist instructors provide classes for beginners to intermediate and advanced levels.
What are you waiting for? Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at 319-592-3700 and find the class that offers what you are looking for. Our website includes class descriptions and a short bio of the artist instructor.
The calendar is provided on our website and for those without internet access the following is a list of our July class schedule.
Barn Quilt Painting
2-Jul-2011 -
Raku Pottery
2-Jul-2011 -
Blacksmithing: Tool Making
9-Jul-2011 -
Landscape Workshop in Pastel & Oil
16-Jul-2011 17-Jul-2011
Carving With David
16-Jul-2011 17-Jul-2011
Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil
23-Jul-2011 24-Jul-2011
Register today for one of our classes and see what everyone is excited about. The chance to spend the day with one of our artist instructors here in beautiful Van Buren County awaits you at the Villages Folk School. Call us at 319-592-3700 and look forward to a great weekend!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
“Carving out a new face at the Villages Folk School”
With the threat of rain and wind last Saturday I began my morning with a drive across Van Buren County. I am always amazed with the ever-changing landscape of this scenic river valley. The overcast skies and fog banks offered a contrasting spectrum of color as I drove peacefully from Bonaparte west on J-40 to Keosauqua where David Ostrem of Green Lake, Wisconsin was teaching a folk school class on caricature carving. Upon arrival at the class I went to work snapping photos. The knives were razor sharp and I noticed the protective gloves and the finger wraps. David said he has learned over his 25 years of teaching this art that the need to protect the hands is critical because of the sharpness of the tools you are using. The table and floor were covered with wood chips (and no fingers!) which I took as a sign of a very enthusiastic and productive class. His students were working intently on their projects which were being carved from bass wood that had been previously band sawed to remove some of the larger areas thus facilitating carving the final details of their character. David had placed examples on the table that could be used for an outline for the finished piece. The students were learning the use of the proper knives and David carefully instructed them on how to hold the tool for the exacting cut that was required. This is something I have wanted to pursue for years and hope to excuse myself from behind the camera and take part as a student in one of his upcoming classes. If you want to learn the techniques of proper woodcarving then this is the class for you. David has taught at The Clearing and shared his talent with Boy Scouts and other groups in Wisconsin.
I bid goodbye to David and his class and headed for Ely’s Ford in Lacey Keosauqua State Park where John Preston was teaching a class on Painting the Landscape. Today the landscape was a bit difficult to paint because of the amount of rainfall from the sky. John’s talent certainly would allow him to paint the falling rain but it might be difficult holding it on a soaking wet canvas. By the time I arrived, the class had packed their easels and set off for the shelter in Bentonsport so I followed them across the rolling hills of J-40 and to the shelter near the old covered bridge. Here they would be able to work under the cover of the shelter as they viewed the landscape of the bridge across the Des Moines River. John’s careful placement of light and shadow on the canvas never ceases to amaze me as he can capture so much detail with so few brush strokes. He is truly gifted and his ability to share this with others makes for a great experience in his class on painting the landscape.
John Preston, David Ostrem and many more artists are available to you at the Villages Folk School by going to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and registering for one of their classes. The opportunities that exist at the Villages Folk School are for your enjoyment and we hope to see you soon at one of our classes. The class schedule is provided for you online but following is some of our upcoming classes:
Villages Folk School class schedule for remainder of June and July:
Clothing First Aide-Mending Patching
25-Jun-2011 -
Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension
25-Jun-2011 26-Jun-2011
Barn Quilt Painting
2-Jul-2011 -
Raku Pottery
2-Jul-2011 -
Blacksmithing: Tool Making
9-Jul-2011 -
Landscape Workshop in Pastel & Oil
16-Jul-2011 17-Jul-2011
Carving With David
16-Jul-2011 17-Jul-2011
Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil
23-Jul-2011 24-Jul-2011
We invite you to call us at 319-592-3700 and register for the class of your choice. Our classes are geared for your hands-on experience with the artist; making the class one that will allow you to complete a quality work while learning the process in detail. The chance to live the arts here in Van Buren County is available to you here at the Villages Folk School.
Join us soon!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
“Training loomed at the Villages Folk School”
Students from Iowa and Nebraska enjoyed the art of weaving on the loom at Betty Printy’s weaving class. Betty and her daughter, April Ziegler, were busy with students stringing the looms when I arrived on Saturday. The process takes nearly a full day and on Sunday they start weaving the rugs. For the thrill of weaving your own rug just contact the Villages Folk School office at 319-592-3700 and sign up for the next class.
Carolyn Edwards of Stockport was teaching students how to create their own barn quilts. The color choices, like those of the rug weaving, are endless. Each student gets to choose their own color scheme and design pattern. Carolyn carefully instructs them in the geometric layout and how to achieve the perfect results for their barn quilts. I love driving through the country side and seeing the many quilt patterns displayed with pride on the barns. These classes are both available to you at the Villages Folk School.
The opportunities to learn are endless at the folk school. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and see for yourself. The descriptions provided will help you understand the class formats and bio’s of the artists are also provided.
Villages Folk School class schedule for June:
Carving With David, 18-19 June; Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, 18 June; Clothing First Aide-Mending, Patching, 25 June; Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension, 25-26 June.
Plan a weekend of fun at the Villages Folk School. Go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com, or call us, 319-592-3700, to register and get ready for the time of your life as you ‘live the arts’ with the instructors at the Villages Folk School in scenic Van Buren County Iowa!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
“200 Students from Missouri visit the Villages Folk School”
Buses filled with 200 students from Clark County Missouri rolled into Bentonsport last Friday to enjoy an educational day at the Villages Folk School event which included Blacksmithing, Pottery, Bee Keeping, the Mason House, Contra Dancing and Tony’s Indian artifact museum. Teachers and students alike were intently listening and learning as they moved from presentation to presentation. The opportunity for students to learn from our many artist instructors has brought many student groups to the Van Buren County this year. The artists enjoy sharing their passion for the arts with students and each of them remember how they first learned the art form and over the years developed it into a lifestyle that allowed them to live their dream through the arts. Hearing them share this with students is always a pleasure as I witness that joy that takes them back to the first time they experienced the art.
You too can experience this same joy by joining us at the Villages Folk School for a class in the art form of your choice. Don’t hesitate to call us at 319-592-3700 and find out more about registration for our classes. You will find our class schedules and instructor information online at www.villagesfolkschool.com .
Villages Folk School class schedule for June:
Barn Quilt Painting, 11 June; Rug Weaving Workshop, 11-12 June; Carving With David, 18-19 June; Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, 18 June; Clothing First Aide-Mending, Patching, 25 June; Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension, 25-26 June.
Pick your class! Go online, www.villagesfolkschool.com, or call us, 319-592-3700, to register and get ready to have a great time at the Villages Folk School in scenic Van Buren County Iowa!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
“Van Buren County ‘Landscape’ on canvas”
Every day we drive through the beautiful countryside of Van Buren County we are surrounded by an ever-changing landscape. John Preston can teach you how to save that snapshot in your mind by placing it on canvas and framing it for all time. His ability to capture the landscape on canvas has resulted in commissioned works that are on display in the Federal Reserve building in Chicago and many other such accolades. John’s folk school class, “Painting the Landscape”, will give you the opportunity to learn from one of the best landscape artists in our country. Join us at the Villages Folk School and enjoy a day painting the landscape with John Preston. Call our office at 319-592-3700 and register for John’s next class.
Painting, Pottery, Blacksmithing, Knitting, Weaving, Carving, Bird Watching, Spinning are only a few of the classes available to you at the folk school. We invite you to join in the fun and come experience for yourself the joy of “living the arts” at the Villages Folk School.
Our class schedule is available for you online at www.villagesfolkschool.com or you may call our office at 319-592-3700 to register. If you do not have access to the internet the following is a list of our upcoming classes.
Villages Folk School class schedule for June:
Bonaparte Pottery Experience, 4-5 June; Story Telling for All Occasions, 4 June; Blacksmithing: Tool Making, 4 June; Barn Quilt Painting, 11 June; Rug Weaving Workshop, 11-12 June; Painting the Landscape, 18 June; Carving With David, 18-19 June; Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, 18 June; Clothing First Aide-Mending, Patching, 25 June; Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension, 25-26 June.
Pick your class! Go online, www.villagesfolkschool.com, or call us, 319-592-3700, to register and get ready to have a great time at the Villages Folk School in scenic Van Buren County Iowa!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
“Spring classes amongst the green of Van Buren County”
Taking a class at the Villages Folk School begins with a scenic drive through the rolling hills and twisting river valley of Van Buren County. Spring is in full bloom here in our beautiful southeast corner of Iowa and the many shades of green are beginning to capture my attention more than the colors of fall. My morning started with a five-mile drive from Bonaparte to Bentonsport where I visited the Blacksmith academy at Iron and Lace. The forges were all full of iron and students cranked the handles to keep the fire hot enough to bring their project to the proper temperature for another trip to the anvil as they skillfully hammered it into the correct shape. This was another “Tong Making” class and each of the students was enjoying the experience of working together with their instructor at the school. Mark Heisdorffer stayed busy as he moved from forge to forge giving his expert critique and helpful suggestions. This ‘instructor to student’ connection is the process I love the most when I visit the many folk school classes. This is what sets our classes apart from just working on any particular project. Not only do you come away with a quality finished product, but you take with you the knowledge that is imparted by the artist instructor. The class today included a father and son who were returning for their second class in a series of four classes in the blacksmithing trade.
After spending some time talking with each student and snapping pictures to create a memory for each of them I left for Keosauqua where Vern Ramsey was teaching a class on chair caning in fiber rush weave at the historic Congregational Church parsonage. His students today had come from Fairfield and were each concentrating on their chair project. Taking an old cane seat chair and restoring it to its original condition is an easy process when you have the help of our folk school instructor, Vern Ramsey. Vern offers classes in all three types of weave; 7-step, fiber rush weave and flat reed split. If you have an old chair that needs the cane replaced then why not register for our next chair caning class and learn the process for yourself.
Our class schedule is available for you online at www.villagesfolkschool.com or you may call our office at 319-592-3700 to register. If you do not have access to the internet the following is a list of our upcoming classes.
Villages Folk School class schedule for May & June:
Spring and Fall Birdwatching, 21 May; Painting the Landscape, 28 May; Bonaparte Pottery Experience, 4-5 May; Story Telling for All Occasions, 4 June; Blacksmithing: Tool Making, 4 June; Barn Quilt Painting, 11 June; Rug Weaving Workshop, 11-12 June; Carving With David, 18-19 June; Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, 18 June; Clothing First Aide-Mending, Patching, 25 June; Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension, 25-26 June.
Pick your class! Go online, www.villagesfolkschool.com, or call us, 319-592-3700, to register and get ready to have a great time at the Villages Folk School in scenic Van Buren County Iowa!
Monday, May 16, 2011
“Forty students enjoy a day at the Villages Folk School”
The weather is often unpredictable and last week was no exception as 40 homeschool students took part in a day at the folk school that included rug weaving, blacksmithing, pottery, natural dies, the artifact museum and the Mason house. Despite the 41 degree weather the students and their parents enjoyed the chance to learn from each of the teachers as they demonstrated their artistic talents. The natural dies class gave them the opportunity to try their hand at painting a t-shirt with dies made from native plants. A great day was had by all; including the teachers who love to share the arts with young people.
On Saturday Betty Printy had another one of her popular Raku pottery classes. The beauty of this class is the instant gratification since the pottery piece is completed and ready to take home at the end of the day. Many students have returned several times to enjoy the Raku process. It is one that never grows old and the finished product is always unique and something new to display at home or give for a gift.
We invite each of you to come take a class at the Villages Folk School and see for yourself the joy of working one on one with a gifted artist. Our instructors will make the experience one that you will not only enjoy, but come away feeling confident in the process. Once you have developed your own creative style you are on your way to a lifetime of fun with the arts.
You may register for a class by going to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or calling our office at 319-592-3700. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or to suggest at class subject that you would like to participate in. We are constantly looking for new instructors and subjects. If you are interested in being a teacher at the folk school just call us and schedule a time to discuss the opportunity.
Villages Folk School class schedule for May:
Blacksmithing (Tong Making), 14-15 May; Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, 14 May; Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil, 14-15 May; Spring and Fall Birdwatching, 21 May; Painting the Landscape, 28 May.
Go to www.villagesfolkschool.com and register today. We look forward to seeing you in one of our upcoming classes.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
“Experience ‘Art’ at the Villages Folk School”
By now I’m sure most of you have read about or at least heard about the Villages Folk School. Maybe your curiosity has been stirred but you haven’t taken that next step to register for one of the many classes offered. Well, what are you waiting for? Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and find the class that interests you most. Now you simply print the registration form online, fill it out, and mail it to our office at PO Box 51, Bonaparte, IA 52520. Or, for a more personal touch, call our office at 319-592-3700 and Gloria will help you with your registration. However you choose to do it, I assure you an experience of a lifetime awaits you at the Villages Folk School.
Maybe painting is something you always wanted to try. On May 14th and 15th we are offering a Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil taught by Gin Lammert. This is going to be a thrill for all of us here at the Villages Folk School as this workshop will be held at the historic Vernon schoolhouse in Wendell Mohr’s private studio where he created his many wonderful works of art. Don’t miss this opportunity to share the experience of painting in the very studio where Wendell Mohr painted!
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at pottery? Coming up on Saturday, May 7th is Betty Printy’s popular “Raku Pottery” class. In this class you will pick your pottery piece, do your very own glazing scheme, and carry it to the “top hat” kiln where it will be fired to perfection as you anxiously await the outcome. The uniqueness of each piece in Raku pottery adds to the thrill of the moment when they emerge from the kiln.
Maybe you would like to experience an archeological dig and discover 150 year old pieces of pottery. On May 7th and 8th you can do just that at the Bonaparte Pottery Experience. Some of the molds that have been discovered were used to pour new pieces, have been fired and are ready for you to glaze and complete in the kiln.
Like to try your hand at blacksmithing? Learn from one of the best as Bill Printy and his apprentice, Mark Heisdorffer, show you how to make your own tongs on the forges at Iron and Lace.
Do you have an old chair that needs the cane seat replaced? Vern Ramsey is teaching a class on chair caning with fiber rush weave this month at the folk school.
Maybe the great outdoors interests you! Raymond and Connie Morris will take you there as they show you where to see the birds that make scenic Van Buren County their migratory path.
On May 28th another great artist, John Preston, will teach you how to Paint the Landscape.
Villages Folk School class schedule for May:
Raku Pottery, 7 May; Bonaparte Pottery Experience, 7-8 May; Blacksmithing (Tong Making), 14-15 May; Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, 14 May; Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil, 14-15 May; Spring and Fall Birdwatching, 21 May; Painting the Landscape, 28 May.
Call us today at 319-592-3700 or go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and make your dream of ‘living the arts’ come alive.
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