Pre-Conference Workshops

Workshop Registration Open Starting Monday, October 23rd!

In keeping with the Arts & Crafts philosophy of Head, Heart and Hand, each year we offer individuals who are planning to arrive early to the National Arts & Crafts Conference the opportunity to take a pre-conference workshop. These workshops are hands-on and are designed to give you the chance to make something for you or your home.

Space in these workshops is limited and registration is done on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t delay!

Sign-up must be done over the phone to the office of the National Arts and Crafts Conference & Shows at (828) 628-1915 during the office hours of 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM EASTERN.

Please note: all workshops are two half day courses, you must take both parts of the workshops to finish your piece.

Please note: the Conference Events Pass and Grove Park Inn weekend packages do not include registration for any Pre-Conference workshops.  

Due to the high cost incurred by our workshop instructors in providing their time and supplies, cancellation of workshop participation must be done by February 1st to receive a full refund.

In the event that the minimum number of students is not reached for any workshop, refunds will be given in full.

If you have any questions about any aspect of these workshops, please call the office of the National Arts and Crafts Conference at 828-628-1915. Detailed descriptions of our workshops are below.

*New offering*

White Line Printmaking

with Gay Bryant

John C. Campbell Folk School teacher

Thursday, February 15th

2:00 pm -5:00 pm

Friday, February 16th

8:00 am – 11:00 am

Price per registrant: $225.00

It’s woodblock relief prints in watercolor!

The white-line woodcut (or Provincetown print) is a hand-painted wood block printing technique that eliminates the need for carving separate blocks to register each color. In this workshop, you’ll learn the basics of this technique including transferring your image to the woodblock and carving, painting your block with watercolor and burnishing it onto printing paper. When finished, you’ll have a unique monotype to frame or to use as a card. Learn color theory, basic relief printing, and watercolor techniques.  You can use your own image or use the provided images from Arts-and-Craft style tiles, wallpapers, and works to carve into the woodblock to print.

White-line printmaking originated in 1915 in Provincetown, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in 1915 toward the end of the Arts and Crafts movement and is the only form of printmaking that is truly original to America.  It’s easy and fun!

Click here to read Gay Bryant’s bio!

Images above are courtesy of Gay Bryant, showing past students’ work from her December 2022 and May 2023 classes.

Call (828) 628-1915 to register. Have a credit card ready to purchase the registration fee.

Coppersmithing:

Arts & Crafts Style

with Frank Glapa

Thursday, February 15th

2:00 pm -5:00 pm

Friday, February 16th

8:00 am – 11:00 am

Price per registrant: $225.00

This two-part workshop led by Roycroft Renaissance Master Artisan Frank Glapa will get you started on the basics of copper repousse techniques. Your materials will be waiting for you as Frank guides you through the process of hammering and shaping your copper “tile” into an incredible piece of Arts & Crafts metalwork. Classic designs will be provided to fit the 4×4 copper tile.

At the end of the workshop, take home your finished copper tile and continue to master your metalworking skills wherever you are! Professional coppersmithing tools are available for purchase at an additional cost. Register today for what promises to be an Arts & Crafts experience of a lifetime!

Call (828) 628-1915 to register. Have a credit card ready to purchase the registration fee.

“Tulips” – the 2024 Embroidery project.

SOLD OUT!

Arts & Crafts Embroidery

with Natalie Richards

Thursday, February 15th

2:00 pm -5:00 pm

Friday, February 16th

8:00 am – 11:00 am

Price per registrant: $225.00 (includes take home kit)

Roycroft Master Artisan and instructor, Natalie Richards will lead a two-part workshop on Arts & Crafts embroidery at this year’s National Arts & Crafts Conference. The class will be geared toward not only individuals new to embroidery but attendees that have taken previous embroidery workshops. The class will focus on perfecting prominent stitches present in historic Arts & Crafts textiles. Each participant will receive a kit that includes linen with marked design, amble embroidery thread, photographs, written instructions and illustrated instructions. The different stitches will be demonstrated in class followed by hands-on application with assistance from Natalie.  Attendees will leave with the confidence to complete any embroidery project they select.

The new design for the upcoming workshop project will be posted here in the winter season, closer to conference time.

Call (828) 628-1915 to register. Have a credit card ready to purchase the registration fee.

SOLD OUT!

Creating Your Hand-Hammered

Cylinder Vase

with Ron VanOstrand

Thursday, February 15th

2:00 pm -5:00 pm

Friday, February 16th

8:00 am – 11:00 am

Price per registrant: $225.00

Let this workshop take you back to the golden age of copper craft. Ron will walk you through the steps of making a cylinder vase while you craft your own arts and crafts pencil vase. Students are provided prepared material with a pre soldered base. Using tools authentic to the period you will learn chasing on a curved surface.  Multiple designs are provided or you can design your own motif. Class size is limited to guarantee all students receive the highest level attention. Tools remain property of the instructor but your completed project goes home with you!

Ron VanOstrand is a Roycroft Renaissance Master Artisan in metal, and an art teacher with two decades of teaching experience. He has been a seminar presenter on Art Metal techniques twice in recent years at the conference.

All materials are provided and students will leave with at least one completed project. Tools provided remain the property of the instructor.

Call (828) 628-1915 to register. Have a credit card ready to purchase the registration fee.