Happy Spring Crafting Spring has officially sprung here in Colfax! We enjoyed a weekend of beautiful weather and a fun and informative class by Hannah Stephens of Dirty Boots Floral. Hannah taught us how to make calendula infused facial oil and salve and we each created a custom scent by adding essential oils. I took the class as a student, and was so engrossed in the instruction I almost forgot to take pictures! I did snap a shot of the Easter themed cupcakes baked by my husband Chris, who...
11 days ago • 4 min read
Sharing Homemade Remedies What a week it has been at Craftfolk Collective! We were thrilled to welcome so many new and returning students through our doors, and the energy in the school has been inspiring. In our elderberry syrup making workshop this past weekend, we learned about the power packet berries, herbs and spices that go into the elixir and their herbal actions. We enjoyed elderberry mocktails, made a huge batch of syrup, and everyone brought home two big bottles. Part of why I...
18 days ago • 5 min read
Meeting Paper People and What's Coming Up at Craftfolk I just returned from the Chicago Stationery Fest and had such a wonderful time. I was invited by my dear pen pal Kristine, who sent me a postcard about it. We've been writing to each other for 8 years now and there is something so special about putting handwritten words to paper and the slow cadence of snail mail correspondence. I bough way too many stickers, cards, pens, and journals at the show, and left with new pen pals and friends. I...
26 days ago • 5 min read
What We've Been Making — and What's Coming Up We had such a fun time making leather-bound journals this past Tuesday evening. Everyone learned the basics of bookbinding (planning a book design, creating signatures, bookbinding stitches, and finishing) and came home with a custom-made book to use for journaling, scrapbooking, photos, and more. We will add a hard cover bookbinding workshop sometime this summer to continue the bookmaking fun! Craft Club resumes this Thursday and there are still...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Crafting is more fun with friends! I made a quick trip to the Bay this past weekend for a reunion of sorts with dear friends I met on a textile tour in Transylvania a few years ago. We've been meeting up for quarterly craft weekends ever since, and together have made everything from leather shoes and marbled papers, to naturally dyed textiles, soap, watercolor pigments, and more. These weekends carve out devoted time to create together, and I look forward to them every season. This time we...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
From tree pruning to punch needle...the spring calendar is filling up fast! We had such a wonderful time this past weekend making fire cider together. Fire cider is an herb-infused vinegar used as a folk remedy for cold and flu prevention. We packed our jars with fresh horseradish, ginger, garlic, onion, jalapeños, and other herbs and spices. I taught the class, sharing my own recipe rooted in the tradition first popularized by influential herbalist Rosemary Gladstar in the 1970s. It was a...
about 2 months ago • 6 min read
Workshops, wellness, and community craft...see what's coming up this week. We got quite a bit of snow last week but were happy to open back up for Saturday's watercolor class with Nicole. We painted a winter tree scene, which felt just right for the weather! This week we're focused on herbal folk remedies and this coming Saturday's Fire Cider workshop is sold out! Thanks to everyone who's already come through the studio for your enthusiasm and willingness to dive in. We still have space in...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
One Week In and Craftfolk Already Feels Like Community! Thanks to everyone who came out for our first week of classes, we have an amazingly diverse and talented group of makers in our community! I was blown away by the variety of projects represented at Thursday’s Craft Club, which included paper quilling, block printing, watercolor painting, natural pigment making, spinning, knitting, crochet, wire wrapping, punch needle, knife making, embroidery, paper arts, ornament making, and more. The...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Craftfolk Collective opens February 12th! We’re getting ready to open our doors this week for Craftfolk’s first classes and events, and we’d love to welcome you in! We hope you can join us for our free Community Craft Club to kick things off on Thursday, February 12 from 4–6pm. Bring your own project and come ready to craft. We’ll provide the space, warm mugs of tea, and light snacks for all to enjoy. Community Craft Club will be a weekly offering, and we hope you can join us alongside...
2 months ago • 2 min read