Author: jsharp

CLASS LOCATION IS THE HILLSBORO CLASSROOM, 37 HILL ST. HILLSBORO, WV

Pour painting is a technique that many people have described as soothing, restful, and a fantastic way to just create with as little stress as possible.  It’s always a surprise to see where the colors will go and discover the new colors created by the natural mixing that happens when the paint flows on the canvas.

Our instructor for this class is Tonja Madison Armstrong, a full time teacher’s aid, full time farmer, and a full time Mom of two teenagers!  She obviously has quite a lot of energy, too!  She loves this art form and has found it to be the perfect creative expression for her busy life!

Tonja will supply all the paint and canvas.  Participants do not need to bring anything except an eagerness to learn a new art form.

If that title for a quilt design doesn’t pique your interest, I don’t know what will.  Merry Mayhem’s Case #13!   Lisa Gandy is the instructor for this quilt project, and she is known for teaching easy quilt patterns that look crazy hard!  Don’t we all like to make easy projects that inspire awe and admiration?  Here are the specifics.  You choose what size you want to make.  Lisa says this quilt is suitable for all skill levels.

Four-patch flip quilt-. The secret of success is being sufficiently bold with your additional fabric. You need the stars surrounding the dark four patch blocks to stand out.  You need contrast between the dark and light four patch blocks.  Lunch is being provided by your instructor or you may choose to bring a bag lunch.

Lisa Gandy took first quilting class 2007.  In 2009 entered a quilt in York, PA and won 3rd place in first time quilt category.  She started teaching classes in 2011; Mystery Quilt, Simplicity Quilt design, Bargello, Dancing Stars and Busy Lizzie Quilt.  Originally from Baltimore, MD. Seattle, WA , York, PA and now Marlinton, WV.  Now almost the entire family is residing in West Virginia.  She was formerly the credit manager for a roofing supply company.  She loves camping and anything outdoors.  She got hooked on quilting with the first quilt she made, Japanese Lap Quilt made in a class.

WHEELS OF WHIMSY wall hanging.  Here is another quilter’s delight, a complicated looking pattern that is actually simple to make!  Instructor is Lisa Gandy.

Participants will need to bring the following materials to the class:

Fabrics:  3/4 yard white print,  5/8 yard colorful print (Lisa used red, you choose your favorite color), 1 yard black print, 1/3 yard solid black for binding, 1 and 1/8 yard of backing fabric, 38 inch square of batting

Tools:  rotary cutter, small cutting mat if you have one, scissors, and basic sewing supplies.  Sewing machine and small iron and board if you have it.

Lisa Gandy took first quilting class 2007.  In 2009 entered a quilt in York, PA and won 3rd place in first time quilt category.  She started teaching classes in 2011; Mystery Quilt, Simplicity Quilt design, Bargello, Dancing Stars and Busy Lizzie Quilt.  Originally from Baltimore, MD. Seattle, WA , York, PA and now Marlinton, WV.  Now almost the entire family is residing in West Virginia.  She was formerly the credit manager for a roofing supply company.  She loves camping and anything outdoors.  She got hooked on quilting with the first quilt she made, Japanese Lap Quilt made in a class.

Participants will learn to make hot tamales!  The tamale dish dates back to ancient civilizations in Mexico as early 4000 BC.  Many historians believe the tamales were first made by the Aztecs Ten thousand years ago.  Since the early 1900’s, the tamale has made its way across the United States and morphed into a unique culinary  staple in the Mississippi Delta, the hot tamale!  They are delicious, not too spicy, and reminiscent of corn enchiladas.   In other words, if you love Mexican food (and who doesn’t) you will love making and eating hot tamales!

Sally Cobb, who came to our area from New Orleans where she was a restaurant owner, will be our instructor for this fun class. Sally will give participants the knowledge of how to make this Mexican delicacy from scratch.  You will take home your own hand made hot tamales and sauce.  Dinner to go!  Sally says there is no need to bring anything, just your sense of adventure in creating these culinary delights.

Take a simple Dresden plate to the next level  using strings (strips) to make the wedges.  This project is relatively straight forward, but looks complicated and is likely to impress!  Our favorite kind of project!

Materials:  Basic sewing and quilting supplies:  threaded sewing machine, cutting board, rotary cutter, pins, (small iron and pad if you have it), a wedge ruler (9″) if you have it, otherwise you will use a cardboard template that I will make for you. Straight edge ruler for cutting strips.  6″ cardboard circle template for the center of your Dresden plates.  I will make this template for you.

If you’ve ever been shy about English paper piecing, this class is for you!  This is an easy approach that utilizes only hand needles….no machine!  Once you have learned this technique, you can create variations of your own creation.

The instructor for this class is Debbie Walker, former owner of Deb Ann’s Fabrics and co founder of the “Spring into Quilting” and “Fall into Quilting” festivals.  Debbie is a veteran instructor who has taught such classes as: disappearing pinwheel, half square triangles, jelly roll race, panel enhancing, and many more.

For this English Paper Piecing class participants will need to bring:

twenty four 3 1/2 inch squares (8 of these will be for the flower; 16 will be the background)  Please come to class with your squares already cut!  Bring hand needles and thread!  You will not need your sewing machine.  Oh and bring a thimble!

Have you ever admired a painting and wished you had some knowledge about how to create that three dimensional illusion?  How did the artist make that water look so real?  Sometimes it’s a question of learning to see with the artist’s eye and that takes technique.  In this class, you will learn a step by step approach to creating a simple landscape.  It’s fun and the teacher is patient and understanding.  This would be an excellent beginner class or a reentry for those who have gotten rusty with their artwork.  Paint a simple landscape with acrylic paints (water soluble

Acrylic paints, canvases, and brushes will be provided by the instructor!  You simply bring your sense of adventure!

Class instructor is Melissa Totten, former owner of Melissa’s Knit and Hobby Shop where she taught many classes including: crochet, knitting, and acrylic painting.  She is an excellent teacher for those who are a little intimidated by approaching a new art form.  Melissa plays piano for her church, enjoys singing and performing with her Hefner family, and can pick and pluck on a banjo, too!  She occasionally helps her dad, Bill Hefner, build guitars in his workshop!

Many of us have not worked with clay since we were children.  In this class, each participant will be given a lump or two or three of clay and instructed by one of the pros (Tracy Walker) on molding the lumps into three usable items for your home; a bottle cap catcher (really cute) and a casserole dish.  The class is in two sessions, the first being the actual class to form the clay and the second at Tracy’s home in Hillsboro, to glaze and fire your creations!

No need to bring anything to the class except a willingness to learn something fun and rewarding.

Tracy Walker is a renowned jewelry and clay artist.  She has exhibited her creations in many festivals throughout West Virginia and beyond, in addition to selling her wares in several high market gift shops in the Greenbrier and Pocahontas County areas.  We are delighted that she will share some basic pottery techniques with our community.

Learn to crochet a basic granny square and explore various options.  With a little practice you will be ready to complete an afghan one square at a time!

All the materials you need will be provided by your instructor!  If you want to bring your own materials, you will need the following:   yarn-variety of colors or just one color and crochet hook (g,h,or j easiest, but any size will work)….

Class will be taught by Sue Hollandsworth who has taught many beginners to crochet.  Sue is a former teacher, principal at Hillsboro Elementary and current president of the Pocahontas County Board of Education. She is a soft spoken and patient teacher, too!  She is a quilter, too!