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 March 2nd: Classes and Events at Craftfolk
Published about 2 months ago • 6 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 full house, and everyone went home with a large jar of fire cider to continue infusing at home and share with friends and family. If you missed the class and would like to learn to make fire cider, reply to this email and let me know. If there's enough interest, I'll schedule another one!
This is exactly the kind of class I had in mind when I was dreaming about Craftfolk. My goal is to empower our community with the skills and confidence to make things at home, whether that's remedies like fire cider and elderberry syrup, skills like pruning fruit trees and crocheting a hat, or making useful everyday items like soap, perfume, and journals. There is so much richness in sharing practical skills and traditional knowledge together, and I'm excited that we are just getting started.
This week, we continue our weekly Community Craft Clubon Thursday from 4-6pm. Bring a project you want to work on and we will provide snacks and good company. (Please RSVP here so we know how many scones to bake!)
On Saturday, March 7, we'll be heading outside for our Winter Fruit Tree Pruning & Care Workshop. We'll cover the seasonal care steps fruit trees need right now, then take a short walk down the street to Outfielders Community Garden for some hands-on pruning. There is still space available and we'd love to have you join us.
We just added three new workshops to the calendar this spring. We have so many talented instructors in our region and I am thrilled to introduce you all to these amazing teachers! See the end of the email for more details.
Our March workshops are listed below and you can view all the available workshops and events on our calendar of classes.
Wishing you a creative week and hope to see you soon, Gretchen
Gretchen Boyce Founder, Craftfolk Collective
P.S. Special thanks to Marie Granado for taking wonderful photos of our fire cider class!
Students learning how to make fire cider this past Saturday.
There was lots of chopping and peeling to prepare our ingredients.
Honey for preservation (and sweetness!). Photo by Marie Granado.
Happy new fire cider experts. Photo by Marie Granado
March Events & Workshops:
Thursdays, 4-6pm: 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, 1-5pm 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, 4/4, 1-3pm Herbal Infused Skincare: Make Your Own Oils and Salves with Hannah Stephenson
Learn to make your own herbal infused oil and salve using traditional methods, exploring the benefits of common herbs and how to use them in natural skincare. You'll take home both finished products along with recipes to keep making on your own. A wonderful starting point for anyone curious about herbalism.
All materials are provided. No experience necessary.
Saturday, 4/18, 1-4pm Resin Earrings With Pressed Flowers & Local Materials with Teresa Gibson
Join instructor Teresa Gibson of Creature of Habitat for a hands-on introduction to resin jewelry making. Using local pressed flowers and American River sand, you'll create your own pair of earrings chosen from multiple original designs. No prior experience needed. All materials provided.
Saturday and Sunday, 4/25 & 4/26 9am-noon each day Punch Needle Rug Hooking: A Beginner's Two-Day Workshop
Join Oxford Certified instructor Melissa Vorndran for a two-day beginner workshop in punch needle rug hooking, a textile art dating back to the 1880s. Working from one of four original patterns, Melissa will guide you through every step of completing a mug rug coaster from start to finish. All levels welcome. Includes materials kit.
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.
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