“Beginning Blacksmithing at Iron & Lace”

     Students from Iowa, Illinois and Missouri converged on Bentonsport last weekend to experience the art of Blacksmithing. Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer had five students in the Beginning Blacksmithing class; the first of many such classes to be taught at Iron and Lace this year. Bill begins the day with some classroom time explaining the various processes involved with blacksmithing and then each student has an opportunity to work at their own forge. Bill and Mark work with each of the students as they work to heat and shape the iron; a process that Bill, with his years of experience, makes look easy. The day is filled with time at the forge and in the classroom for more instruction. Many of the students talked about how great the class was and how they planned to return for future classes.

     Call today and take the opportunity to learn blacksmithing or any of the many arts taught here at the Villages Folk School. Our phone number is 319-592-3700 or you may go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com, print the registration form and mail it to the Villages Folk School, PO Box 51, Bonaparte, Iowa 52620.

     In May, Gin Lammert will teach a workshop in Pastel & Oil at the Wendell Mohr studio in the historic Vernon schoolhouse. This will be a great opportunity for you to paint where Wendell created his many masterpieces.

     Find your class on the website calendar, register and come enjoy living the arts at the Villages Folk School. For those of you without internet the following is a list of classes available through May.

     Villages Folk School class schedule for April and May:

Printmaking, 29-30 April; 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.

     Contact us at 319-592-3700 or go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and prepare yourself for an exciting weekend at the Villages Folk School in Van Buren County Iowa.

“Follow the Rainbow to Van Buren County”

    

     It’s been said, “If you find the end of the rainbow you will discover a pot of gold.” Discovering the end of the rainbow is one thing, but how do I know if what I find is gold. I decided to research the dictionary for a true description of gold. Webster defined it as something valued as the finest of its kind. The refining process removes all of the impurities and what remains is pure gold. I believe the rainbow must have ended here in Van Buren County Iowa and my reason for coming to that conclusion is based on what I have observed.

     My observations have included both geographic and personal experiences. The state of Iowa is, for the most part, flat and fertile farm land but this southeast section of the state offers a much different look. The rolling hills, the lush hardwoods, the winding Des Moines River cutting its way through scenic valleys filled with wildlife and abundant life.

     It is not just the drives through this wonderful county that impress me and bring me to such conclusions but the people who live here. All of this has stirred the hearts of the people and it brings out the best in all of us. The constant refining that takes place as we live life here stirs the imagination and has given us such artists as Wendell Mohr who chose to make his life here and use the historic Vernon school as his home and studio; a place where his creative genius exploded on canvas and is evidenced by the many splendid watercolors we find in homes and businesses throughout the county and in galleries around the state.

     Van Buren County has become the home of many such artists and has been the influence for the Villages Folk School. It is through the genius of these artists that the folk school has been born and their constant quest for creating something beautiful in the art form they have chosen shines like pure gold. The experience of finding your “end of the rainbow” exists for you here at the Villages Folk School and we invite you to register for one of our many classes and witness it for yourself. Our May “Portrait Workshop in Pastel and Oil” will be held at the historic Vernon schoolhouse in Wendell Mohr’s studio.

     The calendar of classes is available for you online at www.villagesfolkschool.com and you many register by printing the form on our web site or calling our office at 319-592-3700. For those of you who don’t have access to the internet the following is a list of classes scheduled through May.

Villages Folk School class schedule for April and May:

     Intermediate Knitting, 23 April; Beginning Blacksmithing, 23-24 April; Printmaking, 29-30 April; 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.

     Contact us at 319-592-3700 or go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com and start your search for the end of the rainbow today.

“Piecing it all together at the Villages Folk School”

 

     Saturday morning I prepared my camera, filled my go cup with coffee and started the van for my trip to Bentonsport and Joy Hanson’s “Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting class. Driving past the Inn and the Retreat instantly had me thinking about long ago and the incredible history in this area. My next thoughts were of Joy’s class and how it ties in with all the history of Van Buren County. The countryside reminded me of a patchwork quilt with the greens of the grass and buds on the trees, the black soil being prepared for planting that would soon be hidden beneath a bountiful crop. Each trip through the county is a new and exciting experience as the colors change and the display of crops produces an ever changing palette filled with beauty and wildlife.

     I arrived at the historic Mason House in Bentonsport and introduced myself to our student who had come from Boone Iowa to experience a Villages Folk School class and enjoy a stay at the Mason House. I always enjoy visiting the classes because I have a chance to learn from the instructors as they teach their students. Joy and her student, Sally Tanner, sat at the table covered with fabric pieces cut into hexagon shapes and carefully stitched each one over a piece of stiff paper cut in the same shape. She told me of how the women traveling westward in the wagon trains would spend their days such as this preparing pieces of fabric to be stitched into useful quilts for the cool evenings. It seems that everywhere I go in this county there is a constant reminder of history and how in many ways it has affected our lives today. The arts have evolved from family to family and artist to artist and still provide a lifestyle that allows creativity to shape our character.

     Living the arts in Van Buren County can and will provide the catalyst needed to blend our lives together in such a way that others will want to experience it. This is what keeps them coming back to the folk school classes and enjoying life here in the villages.

     You can enjoy this same excitement by taking one of our many Villages Folk School classes. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and find the class that you have always wanted to experience. Call us today at 319-592-3700 and register for what may be the thrill of a lifetime. Enjoying a class with one of our gifted artist instructors will give you a first hand look at living the arts here in Van Buren County.


Villages Folk School class schedule for April and May:

7 Step Chair Caning, 16 April; Intermediate Knitting, 23 April; Beginning Blacksmithing, 23-24 April; Printmaking, 29-30 April; 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.

     We invite you to take a class at the Villages Folk School and see what so many from around the Midwest and the state of Iowa are raving about. Call our office at 319-592-3700 and register today.

“The Villages Folk School on Iowa Public Television”

     Last weekend the Villages Folk School segment of the “Iowa’s Simple Pleasures” program aired on Iowa Public Television. Dan Kaercher, editor-in-chief of Midwest Living magazine, who hosts the show enjoyed a day in classes at the Villages Folk School and was impressed with his experience. Dan’s comment was, “If Dan Kaercher can learn to draw at the Villages Folk School, then most of the rest of us can, too.” I have heard that resounding theme over and over again from our many folk school students. The ability to make the arts so easily adaptable to each individual student and to break it down to an understandable format is the gift I admire most in our artist instructors. Not only do they accomplish this in their classes, but they give freely of their years of experience to make the learning process one that will endure for years to come. This is not a simple task, to break 30 years of artistic talent and experience down to understandable context, but the opportunity for you to “live the arts” with these gifted artists is what the Villages Folk School provides for you.

     Our class schedule is available for you on our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or you can contact our office at 319-592-3700. The classes are designed to give you a hands-on learning experience with our artists and a chance to complete a quality project at the same time. Look through our class schedule and register for your first class. If you want to know more about the classes look at the class descriptions on the website and get to know your artist by browsing through their bio’s.

Villages Folk School class schedule for April and May:

     Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, 9-10 April; 7 Step Chair Caning, 16 April; Intermediate Knitting, 23 April; Beginning Blacksmithing, 23-24 April; Printmaking, 29-30 April; 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.

     Come see what many students from around Iowa and the Midwest are talking about. We look forward to having you join us at one of our next classes.

“Folk School classes held in Keosauqua last week”

     Last week our folk school instructor, Pat Crawford from Cantril, was teaching classes on spinning and scrimshaw carving. All three days of classes were held in the parsonage of the historic Congregational Church in Keosauqua. This was a perfect setting for the class as the living room offered a very natural setting for the spinning wheels. Thursday was spent discussing the types of wools and their preparation for spinning. Cleaning, combing, and dyeing require attention to the wool so that the end product will be a yarn perfect for knitting or crocheting. We had students from Davenport, Polk City, and Mount Pleasant, Iowa plus one student from Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin. They enjoyed the setting for the class and the beautiful scenic drive into Van Buren County. Their stay included eating at the various restaurants in Keosauqua plus a leisurely drive through the surrounding country side and state park.

     Saturday’s class taught the art of scrimshaw carving to the couple from Davenport. This was the second time for Jeanne Knape to visit us at the folk school and we are happy to see our students return for more classes.

     The focus of the Villages Folk School is to offer classes in each of the twelve villages so that students will have a chance to experience each village as well as trade in the local establishments. This spreads the tourist dollars around our county and provides income to the many businesses. The folk school board is constantly at work seeking to improve the number of classes and students we bring into our county. We invite you to join with us in this great endeavor by becoming a friend of the folk school. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com for more information. Your sponsorship dollars will help as we build our program to improve life for all of us here in Van Buren County.

     Taking a class at the Villages Folk School is a joy everyone needs to experience. The many classes we offer allow you to chose something you have always wanted to try and to spend the day learning from one of our talented folk school artist instructors. The registration process is easy so why not call us today at 319-592-3700 and start living the arts with us at the Villages Folk School. The class calendar is viewable on our website but please call us for any questions you may have.

     For those of you who don’t have internet access here is a list of our April classes:

Container Candles, 2 April; Shaker Boxes, 2-3 April; Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, 9-10 April; 7 Step Chair Caning, 16 April; Intermediate Knitting, 23 April; Beginning Blacksmithing, 23-24 April; Printmaking, 29-30 April.

     We regret to announce that the 2011 Writer’s Conference will be rescheduled due to a last minute withdrawal of our Keynote Speaker for personal reasons.

     Now is the time for you to come experience one of our classes at the Villages Folk School. Register today by calling 319-592-3700 or going to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and get ready for the time of your life!

     See us live on Iowa Public Television! The “Iowa's Simple Pleasures” show will air on March 31st at 8 pm and on April 2nd at 8:30 pm. and will include a segment filmed here in Van Buren County. It will also be available on the Iowa Public Television website.

“Three classes highlight last week’s folk school agenda”

     Ladies from Wayland and Winfield Iowa were in town on Thursday last week to take part in Betty Printy’s “Artisan Bread Making Made Easy” class. This is the third week for this class and it never ceases to amaze me as I witness the joy that our students exhibit when they spend the day in Betty’s kitchen learning to make and bake artisan bread. Not only is this a very popular class, but everyone is turning out some incredible loaves of bread. Students and teacher alike are having a fun time baking bread in this awesome class. You just have to experience it for yourself and you will soon be turning out your own loaves of fresh baked bread. Call our office today at 319-592-3700 and register for our next Artisan Bread Making class.

     On Saturday two classes were being taught at the Congregational church in Keosauqua. Joy Craig and Reni Pappin were teaching a class in needle felting. They had many items on display to show the versatility in this craft. I enjoy seeing the many different art forms as I visit the Villages Folk School classes.

     Vern Ramsey was teaching a class on chair caning with flat reed splits. His student who was from Des Moines told me that this was the only place she found in the state of Iowa that taught chair caning in flat reed splits. She was pleased to learn how to refurbish her antique chair with a new cane seat. I spend some time going from one class to the other and taking my photos. It was a great day as everyone enjoyed their class instruction.

     If you really want to have a great weekend just register for one of our many folk school classes and get ready to have some fun. You can find our class calendar on the website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at 319-592-3700 for more information.

     For those of you who do not have internet access here is a list of our upcoming classes: A Twist in Time Spinning I & II, 24-25 March; Needle Felting, 26 March; Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, 26-27 March; Container Candles, 2 April; Shaker Boxes, 2-3 April; 7 Step Chair Caning, 10 April; Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, 9-10 April; Intermediate Knitting, 23 April.

     We regret to announce that the 2011 Writer’s Conference will be rescheduled due to a last minute withdrawal of our Keynote Speaker for personal reasons.

     Our Villages Folk School is an experience in living the arts that will put you in touch with your creative side and give you an opportunity to learn from a gifted artist instructor. Call us today and make your reservation. We look forward to seeing you at the next folk school class.

“Wheels are turning at the Villages Folk School”

    

     The trip across the hills of Van Buren County is always a delight and this last weekend was not a disappointment as I drove to Betty Printy’s pottery studio in Bentonsport. The fields are showing even more of the greenery of spring and it reminded me of how much I love the changing seasons in southeast Iowa. The young fox I saw bounding across the road was also enjoying the early signs of summer and weather more suited for outdoor play. The wheels were turning when I arrived at the studio so I went to work snapping photos that serve to lock this moment in time for the students who attend our folk school classes. This was the second weekend of a five-session beginning pottery class that is always a fun time for the students. Betty never ceases to amaze me as she turns her years of experience into easy to understand segments and allows each student to internalize her knowledge in a way that makes sense to them. The work that they turn out is a perfect example of the quality instruction offered in this class.

     March is only half gone and we have many more classes to offer you. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and see for yourself the many classes available to you. If you have any questions give us a call at 319-592-3700 and Gloria will be happy to help you.

     For those of you without internet access here is a list of our upcoming classes for March: Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, 19 March; A Twist in Time Spinning I & II, 24-25 March; Needle Felting, 26 March; and Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, 26-27 March.

     We regret to announce that the 2011 Writer’s Conference will be rescheduled due to a last minute withdrawal of our Keynote Speaker for personal reasons.

     The Villages Folk School invites you to join us for a weekend experience in one of our many classes. Our campus is 485 sq. miles as we include all 12 of the villages in Van Buren County for our class sites. Register for a class and get ready to have the time of your life as you live the arts at the Villages Folk School.