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 23rd: Classes and Events at Craftfolk
Published about 2 months ago • 5 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 our Winter Fruit Tree Pruning & Care Workshop on Saturday, March 7. Meredith will be teaching us the basics of winter fruit tree care and then we will take a short walk to Colfax's beloved Outfielders Community Garden for some hands-on pruning.
We continue to add workshops each week and have a full calendar shaping up for the spring. We've highlighted our upcoming workshops below and you can view all the available workshops and events on our calendar of classes.
We're scheduling topics based on your feedback, so if you haven't yet, please take a moment to fill out our class interest survey. We'd love to know what you want to learn.
And lastly, we hope you'll stop by for our freeCommunity Craft Club this Thursday from 4 to 6pm. Bring whatever project you're working on and we'll provide tea, light snacks, and space to gather.
Wishing you a creative week and hope to see you soon, Gretchen
Gretchen Boyce Founder, Craftfolk Collective
Student work from last weekend's Aspen Trees in Winter watercolor + mixed media workshop.
Thanks to watercolor instructor Nicole for a wonderful workshop!
Enjoying the techniques Nicole taught us, including a creative masking technique for the trees and adding detail and shadow with pen.
Snowy trees outside provided inspiration for our winter landscape scene.
February/March Events & Workshops:
Thursdays, 4-6pm: 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.
Free! Bring your own materials/projects. Please RSVP.
Saturday, 3/7, 1-3pm Winter Fruit Tree Pruning & Care 101 with Meredith Cherry
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).
Tuesday, 3/10, 6-8:30pm Leather Bound Journals with Gretchen Boyce
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.
Saturday, 3/21, 1-4pm Introduction to Natural Perfumery with Loreto Remsing
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.
Sunday, 3/22, 10am - Noon Knitting Clinic with Mary Prassinos
This low-cost, skill-focused knitting clinic offers a supportive space for knitters of all levels to work on their own projects alongside experienced knitters who are available for one-on-one help with troubleshooting, technique questions, and pattern navigation. Tea and light snacks are provided. Bring your own materials and projects. All levels welcome.
Saturday, 3/28, Beaded Brass Hoop Earrings with Teresa Gibson
Only 5 spots left!
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.
Sunday, 3/29, 1-3pm Elderberry Syrup Making with Gretchen Boyce
Make your own elderberry syrup, a traditional herbal remedy crafted with elderberries, warming spices, and honey. We’ll explore key ingredients, taste a prepared batch, and learn safe preparation and storage practices. Each participant will take home a 16 oz bottle of syrup plus a printed recipe handout. All materials provided. No experience needed.
Tuesdays, 3/31 and 4/7, 6-8pm Learn to Crochet: Make a Hat in 2 Evenings! with Rebecca Navarro
Learn to crochet a cozy merino wool beanie over two class sessions! This class is perfect for true beginners, anyone who wants to brush up on their skills, or those who simply enjoy working on a project with some guidance. Materials kits are available for purchase at registration, or students are welcome to bring their own.
Saturday, 4/11, 10am - Noon Goat Milk Soap: A Beginner's Workshop with Sergio Navarro
Learn to make handcrafted soap from scratch using nourishing raw goat milk for a gentle, creamy lather that's kind to the skin. Students will take home a full batch (10 bars) of homemade soap, scented with their personal choice of essential oils. Students will also take home the tools needed to cure and cut their soap at home. Please bring or wear a shirt with long sleeves to this class.
Tuesday, 4/14, 6-8:30pm Painting With Tissue Paper on Glass with Gail Weger
Learn how to create luminous, layered images on glass using torn or cut tissue paper, a simple glue mixture, and approachable color theory. In this 2.5-hour workshop, Gail will demonstrate and guide you in designing permanent or removable designs that can be adapted to the seasons, your mood, or your home. Please bring your own glass surface to embellish (vase, jar, framed window, mirror, or lamp; more than one is fine). All other materials are provided. No experience needed.
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.
We are scheduling classes for the spring and summer based on your feedback! Please fill out our survey and tell us what you want to learn at Craftfolk.
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.
No Kidding! Spring Classes are Here This past Saturday, a group of us learned how to make soap from Sergio and Rebecca Navarro of The Astral Farm in Grass Valley. Rebecca and Sergio brought raw goats milk from their small herd of goats and a variety of organic oils and butters for us to use and we each crafted a custom-scented batch to take home to cure. The group had a wonderful time blending and stirring as Sergio and Rebecca took us step-by-step through the process of creating our own...
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...
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...
