Basket Making~ NEW

Little "Hairy" Basket
This is a class for anyone, with or without previous basket making experience. Students will learn how to start a 10 spoke base, using natural and dyed rattan seed. Color, texture, and pattern possibilities will be explored as students weave up the sides of their baskets. The instructor Kati Lonning has been weaving professionally for the last 30 years. She exhibits baskets nationally, as well as in the Ironwood Gallery here in Ridgefield. The instructor will supply materials for which a fee of approximately $10 will be collected at class. Each person can expect to finish a basket.
2 Sessions $48 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $24)
Wed., 4/23 & 30; 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.; ERMS

Cake Decorating

Cake Decorating for Beginners
Learn how to decorate cakes that look great. We will make a bakery style cake, a colorful character cake, a patchwork sheet cake, a doll cake, and a special cake sculpture. Using a pastry bag, learn how to make stars, borders, ruffles, basket weave, flower garden and more. After the first instruction session, students will bring a baked cake each week to decorate in class with icing prepared at home. Have fun. Supply list provided at first class. Class limit 12. Theresa Obert is a former academic teacher who has been teaching cake decorating in lower Fairfield County for several years just for fun. She has worked in various creative arts with people of all ages from pre-schoolers to senior citizens.
6 Sessions $98 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $49)
Thur., 5/1, 8, 15, 22, 29 & 6/5; 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; Veterans Park School NOTE: location is changed to Veterans Park School

Art and Antique History

400 Years of Antiques
Explore 400 years of antique furniture design beginning with early American and ending with Art Deco. Learn how to recognize period styles by noting characteristics in the elements of design, the woods commonly used and the furniture forms. The 1st session will discuss Jacobean, William and Mary, Queen Anne, Georgian, Chippendale, Federal, and American Empire style including designs by Adams, Hepplewhite, and Sheraton. The 2nd session will focus on Revival style furniture as well as Eastlake, Mission, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco furniture. Students who have any questions about their antique furniture are welcome to bring one or two photos to the last session for class discussion. Participants will also receive a book list and suggestions for how to research antique furniture using the internet. Taught by Katherine Yellen. Katherine Yellen has been awarded her ISA CAPP status by the International Society of Appraisers. She is a Certified Appraiser of Personal Property in Antiques & Residential Contents having undertaken intensive studies and exams in appraisal principles, theory and practice.
2 Sessions $32 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $16)
Wed., 4/2 & 9; 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; ERMS

Card Making

Card and Envelope Creativity and Design
Creative card making and envelope addressing is an exciting way to experiment with new ideas, practice skills, develop new layout possibilities and just have fun! A wide variety of techniques using handmade tools, household items, and various materials will be shown. Through organized “activity packets,” participants will spend the evening experimenting with materials and creating cards and envelopes! Materials to bring with you: glue stick, assorted markers (broad-edged and pointed), 10 sheets of 8 ½ x 11” paper (various colors of good paper) scissors, ruler, X-acto knife, miscellaneous envelopes, and addresses. Materials Fee payable to instructor: $10 covers handouts and activity packetsTaught by Liz Doty. Lizabeth Doty, a professional educator for over 35 years, has taught knitting to students of all ages. She is a former teacher. Lizabeth Doty’s interest in card-making was sparked while in high school. As a teacher, school administrator, and free-lance calligrapher, Ms. Doty has been involved with bookbinding, marbling, calligraphy, sign design and related graphics for over 40 years.
1 Session $24 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $12) + $ Mtls.
Tue., 4/1; 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.
Tue., 4/8; 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.
Tue., 6/17; 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Healing Cards
Why buy ready made cards in a shop. Making them yourself is much more personal and - in the case of this workshop - even therapeutic. Creating healing cards is an active meditation. It will focus your activity, increase your life energy, center yourself, dissolve stress, relax and enhance your health. And this effect will occur in everyone who looks at your card. This workshop will teach you how to use watercolors and pastels and how to frame your cards therapeutically. And when you give these cards as holiday greetings, birthday wishes, etc., you’ll know you’ll be giving not only greetings but healing. A $10 materials fee is payable to the instructor at class. Taught by Brigitte Pohl-Knijff. Brigitte Pohl-Knijff has a degree in Health Arts and Science. Her Healing Cards are an active meditation to create and therapeutic for the recipient.
1 Session $17 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $9) + $ Mtls.
Mon., 4/7; 8:00-9:30 p.m.; ERMS

Soul Collage ~ Reclaiming Your Inner Artist & Intuition
SoulCollage cards are beautiful, fun to make, and bring us useful insights about ourselves and our lives. Images that you gather from magazines will speak to parts of yourself, your family and community; parts that connect with universal principles, and parts that connect with the animal kingdom. These images will be glued to matboard, making beautiful SoulCollage cards, creating a personal deck for accessing your inner wisdom. The four suits in this deck will come to represent different parts of your life. You will discover how the cards can help you access the intuitive wisdom you have for yourself. Anyone can do this (you don’t have to be an ‘artist’). $12 materials fee payable to instructor at first class. The instructor Dana Michie has an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, MS in Education, and BA in English. She has led workshops in for over 20 years.
3 Sessions $71 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $36) + $ Mtls.
Mon., 4/21, 28; 5/5; 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.; ERMS

Faux Finishing and Decorative Painting

Faux Finishing
Paint is a marvelously versatile substance and can be manipulated different ways to create interesting textures and looks. Come learn how to make walls look like old stucco, sandstone, or aged aged paint. We will work with paint and glaze to learn the techniques of ragging, sponging, and layering, and will also experiment with tissuing, marbling, and combing. A materials fee of approximately $15-20 is payable to the instructor at class. Taught by Nancy Maxwell, an experienced teacher, who has been working with gold leafing and a variety of finishes for a number of years.
2 Sessions $32 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $16)
Tue., 5/13 & 20; 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Applying Composition - Gold Leafing
An introduction to the basic steps in applying metallic leaf to surfaces. Students will prepare a surface with gesso and size and apply composition leaf. Final finishes will be explained. Please bring one wooden object (small, ideally with no finish applied), another piece will be provided by the instructor. A materials fee is payable to the instructor at class. Taught by Nancy Maxwell, an experienced teacher, who has been working with gold leafing and a variety of finishes for a number of years.
1 Session $19 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $10)
Tue., 5/27; 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.