Join our mailing list to learn about upcoming workshops and events at Craftfolk Collective. We offer free and paid in-person experiences at our schoolhouse in Colfax, CA. We also share stories about makers and craft traditions across the globe through our semi-monthly newsletters.
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Week of Feb 16th: Classes and Events at Craftfolk
Published 2 months ago • 4 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 space is already feeling full of creativity and community.
We are getting ready for our first major snowstorm of the season here in Colfax, and we will reach out this week if we need to postpone or cancel any classes due to the anticipated severe weather.
In the meantime, please take a look at our calendar of classesfor February and March. We are adding more workshops every week and would love to hear what you want to learn. You can fill out our class interest survey to share your ideas as we build out our first season of workshops together.
Lastly, we had a small glitch with our website registration this week, and a few of you experienced trouble signing up for classes. It’s now resolved, but I want to make sure no registrations were lost in the shuffle. If you believe you signed up for a workshop, please check your email for a confirmation message. If you did not receive one, visit our website and check your cart in the upper right corner. You may still need to complete checkout to finalize your registration.
I am so grateful for this growing community and looking forward to all that’s ahead.
Hope to see you soon, Gretchen
Gretchen Boyce Founder, Craftfolk Collective
Focused participants at Thursday's first Community Craft Club! Join us Thursdays, 4-6pm.
Craft Club participant's landscape scene, painted using watercolor pigments from local plants.
We celebrated Valentine's Day on Saturday with Hearts & Crafts: Collaged Valentines.
Teacher Mary Prassinos (center) guided us through knitting tips and tricks including: how to read your knitting, increasing stitches for sweaters, math help for selecting the right yarn for your project, and tensioning issues. The group decided to make this a recurring monthly event!
February/March Events & Workshops:
Thursdays, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/19 & 3/26 - Community Craft Club (FREE!)
Please note: No Craft Club on 3/12.
Join us for an informal gathering of makers, neighbors, and friends. Bring your own project and work in the company of community. We offer the space, hot mugs of tea, and light snacks to enjoy.
Saturday, 2/21 Aspen Trees in Winter: Mixed Media Watercolor + Pen
This watercolor and pen class invites students to create a serene winter scene featuring aspen trees while learning loose watercolor washes, simple pen work, and techniques for building depth, contrast, and texture. We’ll explore winter color palettes, layering, negative space, and approachable mixed-media techniques. All levels are welcome. All materials are provided for use in class.
Saturday, 2/28 Winter Wellness: Community Fire Cider Making
Only 4 spots left!
Join us for a hands-on workshop making fire cider, a traditional herbal tonic infused with apple cider vinegar, warming roots, citrus, herbs, and spices. We’ll learn about common ingredients, their traditional uses, and how to customize a blend. Participants will make their own jar of fire cider to take home. No experience necessary. All materials are provided. Children ages 10–17 are welcome with a registered, participating parent or guardian.
Saturday, 3/7 Winter Fruit Tree Pruning & Care 101
Learn the basics of winter fruit tree pruning in this hands-on workshop for home orchardists and gardeners. We’ll cover when and why to prune during the dormant season, how to make thoughtful cuts, and what to look for in a healthy, well-structured tree, along with essential winter care practices for a strong spring. After a brief indoor overview, we’ll walk to a nearby community garden to practice pruning together. No experience needed. Tools provided (feel free to bring your own pruners or gloves).
Learn to make a hand-stitched, leather-bound journal for writing or sketching. Students will select and custom-cut leather for their covers, hand stitch paper signatures for the interior pages, and assemble their journals using a choice of decorative binding stitches. All materials and tools are provided. Each participant will leave with a completed leather journal.
Discover the art of natural perfumery in this hands-on, beginner-friendly workshop. Each participant will create a 30 mL all-natural eau de toilette using a curated palette of 30 botanical notes. You’ll learn how to evaluate individual scents, understand top, heart, and base notes, and blend them into a balanced, personal fragrance using high-quality essential oils and extracts. Natural perfumes are made entirely from plant-based aromatic materials, without synthetic fragrance ingredients. No experience needed. All materials provided.
Learn the basics of beading and jewelry assembly while creating a wearable pair of brass beaded hoop earrings. Instructor Teresa Gibson of Creature of Habitat will guide you through foundational techniques, from working with beads and findings to assembling and finishing a matching pair. Students will choose their own bead colors, so each design reflects your personal style. Each participant will leave with one finished pair of earrings, plus the skills and basic tools to continue making at home. No experience needed. All materials provided.
Craftfolk is a community craft school rooted in local connection, lifelong learning, and the joy of making by hand. We are seeking skilled, thoughtful teachers to lead small-group workshops in a focused, supportive environment. We are currently scheduling classes for the spring and fall. If you are interested in teaching, please fill out our survey.
a gathering place for creative community in the Sierra Foothills.
Join our mailing list to learn about upcoming workshops and events at Craftfolk Collective. We offer free and paid in-person experiences at our schoolhouse in Colfax, CA. We also share stories about makers and craft traditions across the globe through our semi-monthly newsletters.
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