“Folk School artist, John Preston, unveils work at the Sondheim”

     Saturday night, January 29, was a big night for John Preston as he greeted people at the Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts in Fairfield. What people were coming to see was the two paintings, each 8 x 6 ½ foot canvases, masterfully created by John. It was if I were looking out across the landscape in scenic Van Buren County, only it was captured on the two canvases hanging on the wall in front of me. I stood back just observing the people and their reactions to the work John was displaying. Some would stand silent, others would point out structures in the distance that brought back fond memories, and one man smiled as he recognized the distant steeple of the church where he and his wife were married. Each person was taking it in and enjoying for a moment this magical snapshot on canvas that will forever be frozen in time by John Preston’s skillful brush strokes. These works by John were commissioned by the Chicago Federal Reserve and will be moved to Chicago this week.

     The mastery reflected in John Preston’s work is surpassed only by the man himself. To meet John, with his endearing smile and his gentle, soft-spoken voice is truly a pleasure. We are very blessed to have John and his wonderful wife, Cynthia, be a part of the Villages Folk School. It is this caliber of artist that makes our folk school experience such a great opportunity.

     Classes are scheduled for 2011 and are underway. We invite you to check out our calendar on the website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at 319-592-3700. For those of you who do not have internet access to our calendar, here is a list of upcoming classes.

     In February, Joy Hanson will teach another “Container Candles” class on the 5th and on “Super Bowl” Sunday we have a special class planned for all of you ladies who are looking for something to do during the game. It is a special for Valentines Day so give us a call to find out about this “Super Bowl” Sunday event. The next two weekends, Feb 12 and 19, Betty Printy and April Ziegler will again teach their popular “Artisan Bread Making Made Easy” class. Completing this month of classes is Vern Ramsey and his “Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave” class. This is a great time to fix that chair with the broken cane seat! Just call the school and register for Vern’s class and learn to cane like a pro.

     2011 also features our first annual writer’s conference; The Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference 2011. This event being held on September 23, 24, & 25 will not only feature New York Times Best Selling Authors but literary agents, publishers and many other experts in the field of writing from around the country. We encourage you to get your registration in early because this event will have limited seating and we expect it to fill up quickly. Contact us at the folk school office for more information. Our phone number is 319-592-3700 or you may go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and check out our class descriptions, artist bios and more.

     The Villages Folk School invites you to “live the arts” with our artist instructors. Pick a class, pick a weekend and call us to register at 319-592-3700. It just may be the best decision of your life!

“Artisan Bread Making keeps the temperature rising”

                                                                                                                                                                               
     The snow crunched under my feet as I walked to the van last Saturday. The frigid temperatures were a sure sign that winter did not intend to give up just yet. I found solace in the fact that I was on my way up the river to visit another Artisan Bread Making Made Easy class at Betty Printy’s home in Bentonsport. There weren’t many people moving about as I headed up J40 for the bread making class, in fact other than one lonely fox, I didn’t see much movement of animals either. I guess they were huddled together wherever they could find a place to stay warm.

     I had soon arrived at the Printy home, let myself in the front door and headed for the kitchen where all the activity was taking place. Betty and her daughter, April Ziegler, had a class of four people and were busy teaching them the proper way to make Artisan Bread. Many items were discussed and each student was allowed his or her opportunity to make a loaf of bread using the techniques presented. Everyone appeared to be about their business and from the laughter and conversations I could tell they were enjoying themselves. It is always fun to shoot pictures at this class because Betty has sliced bread ready to sample even before the class starts. Gee! Maybe that has something to do with my liking the class so much. Nah! Couldn’t be!

     The middle part of the class time is not as exciting for those who are just spectators but the smell of fresh baked bread permeates the room and reminds us of the moment that is quickly approaching. Soon they will be opening the oven door to reveal those wonderful fresh baked loaves of bread. Each student waits with great anticipation and soon is marveling at the beautiful browned loaf that emerges from the cloche. Betty instructs them on how to measure the core temperature to assure properly baked bread and then the correct way to remove it safely from the oven. The satisfaction is written on every face as they proudly display their masterpiece. This is always a popular class and one that the men as well as the ladies enjoy.

     Coming up in the Villages Folk School schedule are two classes being offered Saturday, Jan 29; Meg King’s “Intermediate Knitting” class and Pat Crawford’s “Printmaking” class. In February, Joy Hanson will teach another “Container Candles” class on the 5th. The next two weekends, Feb 12 and 19, Betty Printy and April Ziegler will again teach their popular “Artisan Bread Making Made Easy” class. Completing this month of classes is Vern Ramsey and his “Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave” class. This is a great time to fix that chair with the broken cane seat! Just call the school and register for Vern’s class and learn to cane like a pro.

     2011 also features our first annual writer’s conference; The Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference 2011. This event being held on September 23, 24, & 25 will not only feature New York Times Best Selling Authors but literary agents, publishers and many other experts in the field of writing from around the country. We encourage you to get your registration in early because this event will have limited seating and we expect it to fill up quickly. Contact us at the folk school office for more information. Our phone number is 319-592-3700 or you may go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and check out our class descriptions, artist bios and more.

     The Villages Folk School offers you the chance to ‘live the arts’ in Van Buren County along side one of our gifted artist instructors. Call us at 319-592-3700, register for your class and get ready to experience the thrill of a lifetime.

“It’s cold outside but it’s warming up at the Villages Folk School”

 

     Too cold to play outside? Not a problem when you can register for one of our folk school classes and experience the thrill of living the arts in the warmth of our classrooms. We invite you to check out our calendar of classes on the website at www.villagesfolkschool.com. If you need assistance just call our office at 319-592-3700 for information on classes and registration.

     2011 also features our first annual writer’s conference; The Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference 2011. This event being held on September 23, 24, & 25 will not only feature New York Times Best Selling Authors but literary agents, publishers and many other experts in the field of writing from around the country. We encourage you to get your registration in early because this event will have limited seating and we expect it to fill up quickly. Contact us at the folk school office for more information. Our phone number is 319-592-3700 or you may go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and check out our class descriptions, artist bios and more.

     Classes scheduled through the end of January are Joy Hansen’s “Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting” class on the weekend of January 22 & 23. Two classes are being offered on Saturday, Jan 29; Meg King’s “Intermediate Knitting” class and Pat Crawford’s “Printmaking” class. In February, Joy Hanson will teach another “Container Candles” class on the 5th. The next two weekends, Feb 12 and 19, Betty Printy and April Ziegler will teach their popular “Artisan Bread Making Made Easy” class. Completing this month of classes is Vern Ramsey and his “Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave” class.

     Why not join us at the Villages Folk School for an experience in “living the arts” that may become the highlight of your year. Call us today at 319-592-3700.

“The Villages Folk School wishes you a very Merry Christmas”

     The first year of classes has come to a close at the Villages Folk School and we want to thank you all for your support of the folk school. We look forward to the coming year with great anticipation and will be offering even more in our class line-up.

     This is a great time for you to give a gift that will provide the opportunity for your friends and family to experience a class with one of our talented artist instructors. Gift certificates may be purchased at the Villages Folk School office in Bonaparte at the Opera House. Give us a call today at 319-592-3700. Our office is open from noon to 4 p.m. for your convenience. Put a Villages Folk School gift certificate under your tree and give the gift that opens up the world of creativity for your loved ones.

     A coming event for next year is the Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference 2011. This event on September 23, 24, & 25 will not only feature New York Times Best Selling Authors but literary agents, publishers and many other experts in the field of writing from around the country. We encourage you to get your registration in early because this event will have limited seating and we expect it to fill up quickly.

     To get a first hand look at our class calendar go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and check out our class descriptions, artist bios and more. If you need further assistance give us a call at the Villages Folk School office at 319-592-3700.

     From the Villages Folk School we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

“The Villages Folk School classes help to prepare for Christmas”

     The last class on our 2010 calendar will provide you with a perfect gift for Christmas.  Joy Hanson’s Container Candles class held on Saturday, December 18^th will help you to make the perfect candle in your favorite mug and it even looks and smells like hot chocolate.  The Villages Folk School also encourages you to give your friends and family a “gift certificate” that can be used for any of our 2011 classes.  Go to our website at http://www.villagesfolkschool.com/ for a complete listing with class descriptions and artist bios.  Gift certificates are available through our folk school office in the Bonaparte Opera House, we can be reached by telephone at 319-592-3700 or email us at villagesfolkschool@gmail.com.  Call us today to allow time for the gift certificates to arrive in your home prior to Christmas day.

  

     Our 2011 calendar begins in January with a new slate of class schedules that are designed to allow you the opportunity to live the arts with one of our artist instructors.  This is an experience that will provide you with the inspiration and skills to begin or enhance your creative life in the arts.  We invite you to join us and to share with others what you have experienced.  It is through the efforts of our Villages Folk School Board, the artist instructors and people like you that the creative arts will make their way back into our schools and our communities.  We ask you to join us by giving your monetary support through donations to our school.  Go to our website at http://www.villagesfolkschool.com/, click on “Become a Sponsor”, choose your level of support and either click on the “Donate” button for a secure PayPal payment or send your check to The Villages Folk School, PO Box 51, Bonaparte, IA  52620
.    

     We thank you for your continued support and look forward to a bright and prosperous future as we “live the arts” in Van Buren County, Iowa.

      

“Give a gift of Creativity this year”

    

     The Villages Folk School encourages you to give your friends and family a “gift certificate” that can be used for any of our folk school classes. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com for a complete listing of our 2011 classes. The class descriptions and artist bios are also provided for you. The holiday season is here and with our busy schedules we often find it difficult to include everything we would like to accomplish. We have just two classes left in our 2010 schedule and they are Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, Dec 11-12 and Container Candles, Dec 18, both taught by Joy Hanson. Joy can teach you how to make those beautiful quilts you see or, if you want something not quite so time consuming, your favorite hot chocolate mug filled with a candle that looks and smells like the real thing. Either of these classes would be a great gift this Christmas and would give you a handmade present for that special person in your life.

     Gift certificates are available through our folk school office. We can be reached by telephone at 319-592-3700 or email us a villagesfolkschool@gmail.com. Call us soon to allow time for the gift certificates to arrive in your home prior to Christmas day.

     The first year at the Villages Folk School has been a great one! We now have 28 artist instructors offering 51 different classes and have seen over 100 students from all around Iowa and from several surrounding states. All of this has added to our counties economy as these students come for the weekend and spend their money for food, lodging and gas. Our goal for sustainability is on track and as we offer more diversity in our class subjects we are forever aware of the need to promote the lifestyle in Van Buren County while at the same time striving to preserve our unique quality of life.

     The continued growth of the folk school relies on class enrollment, recruitment of artist instructors and, above all, the cooperative effort of all of us in the county. Our immediate goals for steady growth are being achieved and we are pleased with that, but our long range plans to bring the creative arts to the forefront in Van Buren County are still a slow process. We are in agreement with studies across the country linking the creative arts with scholastic achievement. Programs offering all of the arts to the students have seen dramatic improvement in aptitude testing on a national level. As a county I would like to see us join together to give more support to our students and our schools. When I was in my high school years there were parents actively supporting their students by coming together and forming what was called the “Band Boosters”. It was groups like this that raised money to purchase uniforms so that there was pride in belonging to the band. Bands as well as choirs all around the county would come together once a year for mass concerts. It is this kind of enthusiasm that we should be seeing in our programs for the kids. It is not always about money, but getting excited and showing the youth that we care about their futures may be a great start towards bringing all of us together to support the arts in our schools and our county. It starts with each of us and becomes the inspiration for all of us.

     Find a teacher or a school administrator this holiday season and tell them how much you appreciate them. The Villages Folk School is proud of our gifted artist instructors and hope to provide a consistant working environment for them as they “live the arts” here in Van Buren County.

     Your sponsorship help as a “Friend of the Villages Folk School” is always appreciated and we encourage each of you to think of our school as we prepare to meet the New Year. Our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com has a list of the sponsorship levels by which you may participate. No matter what your gift, it provides the needed funds to move us forward toward our goals. Call us today at 319-592-3700 and join with us as we seek to expand the arts and creativity in Van Buren County, Iowa.

“Villages Folk School making plans for the year 2011”

     The Villages Folk School is busy planning the class calendar for next year as well as the first annual Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference. The event is planned for September 23, 24, & 25, 2011. The three-day conference will include key note addresses by Robert Dugoni, multiple New York Times Best Selling Author; Elizabeth Lyons, Owner/Editor of Editing International; Noah Lukeman, Literary Agent and Best Selling Author; as well as workshops with panels comprised of leading scholars in the field of writing from around the country. Contact us to obtain your registration form and reserve your spot for the conference. Key note addresses, break-out sessions, and free time for reflection and enjoying the surrounding area all await you at the Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference 2011.

     Although the year 2010 is nearing an end, the folk school classes are still offering opportunities for you to participate. Taking the time to make something that becomes a keepsake or a special gift for friends and family is often a challenge so why not join one of our artist instructors and share in this rewarding experience that produces a high quality result.

     Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com to see a calendar for the remainder of this year and our new class schedule for 2011, then give us a call at 319-592-3700 to register for one of our exciting classes. Gloria and I are available to answer any questions you may have about the school and our classes.

     For those of you who may not have access to the website, here is a list of our classes coming up: Beginning Blacksmithing by Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer, Dec 4-5; Keepsakes-Gift Making by Sandi Dimmitt, Dec 4; Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, Dec 11-12; Container Candles by Joy Hanson, Dec 18.