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 May 25th: Classes and Events at Craftfolk
Published 15 days ago • 4 min read
This month I'm trying to revive my home garden, which I have neglected as I've been getting Craftfolk off the ground. In between weeding sessions, I'm enjoying the last flush of spring roses and have been harvesting and drying fresh petals each week to save for tea and other uses through the summer and fall.
I am expecting a shipment of fresh rose petals from the Sonoma County Herb Exchange (an amazing resource for fresh organic herbs) this week in preparation for The Rose Apothecary workshop on Sunday. I'll be teaching all about the beloved rose, known for its beautiful flowers as well as its sharp thorn medicine. I'll be sharing about rose's folklore and folk uses, and home preparations to infuse rose magic into your daily routines. We will be drinking fresh rose tea, making rose infused honey, rose lip balm, and a rose tea blend to take home. I'm thrilled to be able to share my favorite rose preparations with our community and hope you will consider joining us for this seasonal class. There are still a few spaces left and registration closes on Friday in case you want to join us.
I recently visited my friend Sami's flower and medicinal herb farm, Feral Folk Farm, in Sonoma County. I met Sami many years ago in Ariella Daly's women's beekeeping apprenticeship program and we've also taken herbal medicine classes together for many years through our beloved teacher Liz Migliorelli of Sister Spinster. We're both passionate about the plants, their folklore, and how to align with the cycles of the plants each each season. It's been so amazing watching Sami and her partner build the farm from the ground up, putting in tons of sweat equity to convert the land from conventional farming into a thriving and regenerative ecosystem.
Foxglove and wildflower meadow at Feral Folk Farm.
Sami makes incredible seasonal offerings of herbal infused soaps, block printed artwork, pottery, and other preparations from the farm. Each offering is a poem to the plants at their peak. I was reminded on my visit of how fast the spring flowers and herbs come upon us and how we must tend to the plants when they are ready, no matter what else pulls at our attention. Learn more by following Sami's Substack.
Recent seasonal soaps and embossed charms from Feral Folk Farm.
You are invited to join us for Craft Club this Thursday at the Colfax Farmer's Market. We will have tables set up at the end of the market near Coco's and the Colfax Theater on South Main Street from 4-6pm. Please bring your own chair and project to work on. We will bring light snacks to share. More details here>>
Louisa stitching on botanical printed fabric at last week's Craft Club.
Wishing you a creative week and hope to see you soon, Gretchen
Gretchen Boyce Founder, Craftfolk Collective
Featured Workshop:
Sunday, June 7, 1-4pm: Block Printing Basics
There is still space in Jill McCann's Block Printing Basics class on June 7. Registration closes tomorrow (5/26) so we have time to prepare the materials kits. This promises to be a great class!
Curious about printmaking but not sure where to start? This beginner-friendly workshop introduces the fundamentals of rubber block printing. You'll learn how to transfer a design onto a rubber block, then carve, ink, and print using foundational techniques. Along the way, we'll cover safe carving practices, tool handling, and printing methods — with plenty of time to experiment and ask questions.
No prior experience needed. This class is perfect for anyone curious about printmaking, interested in creating handmade cards or art prints, or looking to add a new process to their creative toolkit.
The materials fee includes all in-class supplies plus a take-home kit with rubber carving blocks, a set of carving tools, an ink tray, baren, and paper.
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 a chair and your own materials/projects.
New Location! Colfax Farmers Market, South Main Street, Colfax.
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.
Yesterday we explored the basics of block printing with Jill McCann. Jill introduced us to the tools of the trade, including brayers, cutting tools, barrens, rubber blocks, and inks/paints. She showed us how to cut sample blocks using an assortment of lines and textures, and then we each cut a design of our choice to stamp on various papers and fabric. I've always wanted to learn this craft and will definitely be incorporating it into my collage and sewing practices (I'm dreaming of hand-made...
Yesterday's The Rose Apothecary workshop was a full rose immersion! We surrounded ourselves with fresh rose petals, drank cold infused rose tea; and made rose honey, rose tea blends, rose infused oil and lip balm. We explored all parts of the rose, its petals, hips and thorns. We talked about how information about plants was passed down through generations via the oral tradition in fairytales and folktales. Rose is featured prominently in Sleeping Beauty (aka. Little Brier Rose, first...
Last week we enjoyed the first outdoor Craft Club of the season at the Colfax Farmer's Market. The group convened under the shade of a nearby tree and enjoyed chatting with the market patrons who stopped by the see what we were up to this week: painting, wire wrapping, scrap booking, knitting, and temari thread wrapping. It was a perfect spring evening to spend out and about in Colfax and we hope you will join us this week on Thursday. We will have tables set up at the end of the market near...