1800 House
Courses for 2008
Four Botanical Fruit Theorems with Grained Frames, Come and learn the 1850s art of Theorem Painting, a skill taught by itinerant stencilers of the nineteenth century to young women as part of their domestic-arts educations. Students will create all four botanicals–the apple, the pears, the cherries, and the peach–and then faux grain their frames, complete the framing, and leave with a complete set ready to hang. Even if you have never painted before, you will be able to accomplish these four pieces; they were designed with beginning painters in mind, and you will receive step-by-step instruction. Don’t be fooled or frightened by using oil paints on cotton velveteen. . . . It’s easier than you think.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Bee Shay has been a folk artist and oil painter for almost thirty years, teaching theorem painting, stenciling, and faux finishes nationally since 1991. She has apprenticed under members of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration. For nearly ten years she was actively involved in Stencil Artisans League, Inc., (SALI) a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching and furthering traditional American Folk art. Currently, Bee is a resident of Nantucket and continues teaching nationally.
Chair Caning and Fiber Rush, with Peter Wilson
Wednesday, May 28, to Friday, May 30: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $200; Nonmember $250
Reclaim your favorite chair. Participants will bring their own chairs and learn how to ready them for repair; select the proper size cane; and, in seven steps, restore the original seat pattern. Or, depending upon your chair, learn the fiber-rush method of weaving using twisted rush to weave from the outside of a frame toward the center. Upon registration, students will arrange with Peter to examine chairs before the class to determine appropriate materials and any necessary repairs.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 6
Peter Wilson has worked in cabinetmaking and antique-furniture restoration since 1972. His work involves all aspects of wood repair and replacement and often requires making missing parts of a piece.
Sailors Valentines, with Elizabeth Braun
Tuesday, June 3, to Thursday, June 5: 4–7 p.m.
Member $425; Nonmember $475
Learn the skills needed to create these shell collage souvenirs of days gone by. Several pattern choices and a wide selection of shells will be available to create a unique, personal valentine. Participants will be provided with a handcrafted, octagon-shaped cherry box, a wide variety of seashells, and the tools and instructions necessary to create a prized keepsake.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 12
Elizabeth Braun has been creating sailors valentines for more than fifteen years; they can be seen at Nantucket Looms. Her work has blended the early techniques and designs with a contemporary approach to color and texture.
Geometric Needlepoint Brick, with Patsy Ernst
Mondays, June 9, 16, 23 & 30: 9 a.m.–Noon
Member $175; Nonmember $225
The geometric brick design was originally inspired by the desire to use the leftover wools and patterns of old rugs. It is a geometric combination of color and texture. Canvas will be offered in either 13-count or 18-3count mesh and Silk and Ivory thread will be used for the stitching. Students will be able to choose their own colors to create their individual finished product. Some needlework experience would be helpful.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Patsy Ernst, a longtime summer resident of Nantucket, has a background in early-elementary education and years of needlepoint experience. Her original designs are inspired by the patterns and textures of old rugs. She has adapted them to the geometry of a brick cover, and her patterns are perfect for using leftover materials. Her Patterson Design bricks are available at Janis Aldridge, Inc., on Nantucket.
Folk Art Painting on Tin, with Diana Mihaltse
Tuesday, June 24, to Thursday, June 26: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $250; Nonmember $300
With a piece of tin, possibly a piece reclaimed from an old barn, and using techniques developed and refined specifically for this medium, students will have the opportunity to complete several projects of painted-tin folk art. Participants will learn about the processes for reclaiming the tin from old roofs and for tin cutting. Selections of subject are limitless and include a whale wall hanging and a mermaid ornament.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Diana Mihaltse is a folk artist using new tin-plated sheet metal and old, rusted barn-roof tin as the surfaces for painted tin-folk art. She has developed patterns of her own design from traditional, early-American styles including weathervanes, decoys, and sculptures. Diana is a certified art teacher with an M.F.A. Her work has been featured in Early American Life, House Beautiful, Country Life, and other magazines. Her creations have been widely displayed across the United States, including at the Museum of American Folk Art in New York City.
Sailors Valentines, with Sandi Blanda
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, June 30, July 1 & July 3: 9 a.m.– 1 p.m.
Member $750; Nonmember $800
Learn to recreate these souvenirs of the Caribbean favored by Nantucket whalemen during the nineteenth century. Participants will be provided with a beautifully handcrafted mahogany box and a variety of colored shells. All tools and glues will be provided, along with complete instructions necessary to construct this distinctive keepsake and future heirloom.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 12
Sailors Valentines Advanced Shadowbox Workshop, with Sandi Blanda
Wednesday, July 2: 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Member $275; Nonmember $325
Previous students of Sandi Blanda’s are invited to enroll in an advanced workshop. Students will have an opportunity to assemble flowers, both previously taught and new creations, in an 8" x 10" shadowbox. Using this less-restrictive format gives the student an opportunity to focus on creative composition. These newfound skills are clearly transferable to designing other sailors valentines.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 12
Sandi Blanda saw her first sailors valentine in 1983 and has been designing and creating examples of this romantic folk art in her personal style ever since. Her designs have been exhibited at the famed Sanibel Shell Show in Florida as well as in numerous prestigious galleries in the U.S. and abroad. She also teaches her techniques at the Cahoon Museum of Art in Cotuit, Massachusetts.
Bentwood Willow Chair, with Rick Pratt
Wednesday, July 2, and Thursday, July 3: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Member $325; Nonmember $375
Create a bentwood chair using a variety of willow saplings and trees, starting with the frame and then bending shoots to form the arms, back, and seat. The class will require hammering, sawing, and bending and a good sense of humor. No two chairs will be alike, as you will be able to show personality with each piece you use. Expect some scratches and sore muscles, but the result will be worth it!
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 10
Rick Pratt has been building twig furniture since 1980 and is one of America’s leading makers of traditional and contemporary twig furnishings. His family business, Around the Bend, is in a renovated hog barn on a nine-acre farm near Wooster, Ohio.
Web Site: http://aroundthebendwillowfurniture.com/
Embellished & Appliquéd Baltimore Quilt Block, with Tricia Cevoli
Mondays, July 7, 14, 21 & 28: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $175; Nonmember $225
This traditional Baltimore Album block will be appliquéd using nontraditional fabrics as well of fabrics from your own stash. The uses of color, texture, and placement will be discussed. Embellishments will be provided, but do bring your own favorite beads, satin ribbon, crewel yarn, and ink pens to discover the creativity of embellishing a traditional, early-American quilt block. This block can be finished as a single project or be the first square of a future Baltimore Album Quilt. This workshop is designed for students with previous needlework experience.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Tricia Cevoli holds a B.S.Ed. and is a high school art teacher. She has over twenty years of quilting experience and more that ten years of teaching all aspects of quilting in classrooms, workshops, and private lessons. Her quilts have garnered top awards in quilt shows throughout New England. Her work includes hand-piecing, paper-piecing, hand appliqué, machine appliqué, and all aspects of 3-D embellishments.
Primitive Painting on a Fireboard, with Helen Howard
Monday, July 7, to Wednesday July 9: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $225; Nonmember $275
Create a folk-art painting with step-by-step instruction appropriate for both beginner and advanced students. This course will focus on the painting of a whimsical, nautical scene in the folk-art style. Students will receive instruction in how to compose and paint a wooden fireboard using water-based paints. The completed project will be ready for use.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Helen Howard is an accomplished folk artist whose thirty years in the antiques business have given her a love for nineteenth-century American folk painters. She specializes in floorcloths, watercolor theorems, and marine paintings.
"Golden Basket with Flowers” Gold Work,
with Edith Bouriez
Wednesdays, July 9, 16, 23 & 30: 9 a.m.–Noon
Member $225; Nonmember $275
The lightship basket, made of wooden staves and woven cane has become iconic in Nantucket, even being replicated in real gold. In this “Golden Basket” needlework design, gold thread of lustrous cotton as well as a variety of real and synthetic metallic threads and basic crewel stitches are used. The class will include instruction of gold-embroidery techniques using couched Japanese gold, sequins, pearl purl, bullion, laying cords, soutache, braid and more in a tradition that dates back centuries to ecclesiastical embroidery. The work is always done on a frame, as some stitches are worked exclusively on the surface of the fabric. This class is designed for intermediate to advanced students. Please bring a notebook and embroidery scissors.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 6
Edith Lynch Bouriez, longtime Nantucket summer resident, was principal needlework teacher for Erica Wilson for twenty years, managed her shop in New York, organized her Nantucket Needlework Seminars, and has taught workshops in a variety of disciplines nationally and internationally. She holds a teaching certificate in crewel from the Embroiderers Guild of America, Inc., and has taught extensively in Paris and southwest France.
Decoupage on Glass, with Virginia Mead
Wednesday, July 9, to Friday, July 11: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $250; Nonmember $300
Applying paper imagery onto various objects has long been used in the decorative arts to make unique and lovely home accessories. Participants will learn cutting, pasting, and placement techniques and the importance of image selection while découpaging a glass cylinder for a lamp base or glass plates for a beautiful table. Choose from provided paper with patterns of flowers and shells or bring favorites from home. Wrapping paper, pages from books, or laser printouts can all be découpaged. Students complete their work with a background color of their choice.
All other materials included. Maximum class size: 8
Virginia Mead teaches découpage at the Handicraft Club in Providence, Rhode Island. She enjoys the creative arts as a painter, needlepointer, knitter, and seamstress and has a Master Seamstress Certificate from the University of Rhode Island Extension.
Penwork One-Day Workshop, with Mary Emery Lacoursiere
Friday, July 11: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $125; Nonmember $175
Penwork was a popular art form from the late 1700s and developed in response to expensive etched ivory being imported from India. Decoration is applied with pen and ink to boxes, frames, tea caddies, and small furniture. Students will use motifs from the NHA scrimshaw collections as inspiration for decorating a small box. All the steps of this delicate historical art form, from preparation of the surface to final finishing, will be taught in this One Day Workshop.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 10
Mary Emery Lacoursiere graduated from Pratt Institute with an M.F.A. in printmaking and painting. She had a studio in New York City for fifteen years, specializing in hand-painted sisal rugs, murals, and restoring historical painting. A member of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration since 1978, Mary has been a contributing artist for Lifetime Television and Hearst Entertainment and currently owns and operates Emery Design here on Nantucket
Silhouette Collages One-Day Workshop, with Alison Shriver
Monday, July 14: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $125; Nonmember $175
Using silhouette cutting techniques, students will have the opportunity to create a unique work. Choose your subject. Then combine this with a selection of antique, styled papers, wax seals, and found objects to complete the handiwork. Your unique work will then be completed in a wood-grained frame.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Alison Shriver holds a B.F.A. from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Her silhouette collages and artwork have been exhibited in many art shows, museum shops, and stores in the United States and Europe. Her work has also appeared in publications such as Country Living, Home, and Coastal Living magazines.
“Father Christmas” One-Day Workshop, with Bee Shay
Tuesday, July 15: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $125; Nonmember $175
Christmas in the summer! Be prepared for this year’s holiday by creating this non-traditional theorem painting of Father Christmas. Don’t be apprehensive about using oil paints on cotton velveteen. . . . It’s easier than you think. Designed by the instructor this ever-popular class will teach you all the basic theorem techniques. This class is designed with beginning painters in mind, and you will receive step-by-step instructions. The frame is not included in the class, but finished frames will be available for purchase.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Bee Shay has been a folk artist and oil painter for almost thirty years, teaching theorem painting, stenciling, and faux finishes nationally since 1991. She has apprenticed under members of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration. For nearly ten years she was actively involved in Stencil Artisans League, Inc., (SALI) a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching and furthering traditional American folk art. Currently, Bee is a resident of Nantucket and continues teaching nationally.
Pierced Lampshades, with Deanna Van Schagen
Tuesday, July 15, to Thursday, July 17: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $225; Nonmember $275
Turn a simple lampshade into an intricate work of art using these centuries-old techniques. Participants will learn all aspects of design, paper cutting, and finishing to construct a shade in their choice of size, design, and style. Students can choose morning or evening sessions; students will choose a shade size upon registration.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Deanna Van Schagen studied color and design with Pat Lambert at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. She has been designing and creating oriental rugs since the early 1970s and has worked in custom-designed, cut-and-pierced lampshades for many years. She currently teaches at the Handicraft Club in Providence, Rhode Island.
Wooden Whirligig, with Charlie Munro
Wednesday, July 16, to Friday, July 18: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $225; Nonmember $275
For years, nautical whirligigs have been put on pedestals for their worth as works of art by folk-art carvers. This is a beginner’s workshop designed for the do-it-yourselfer. Bring your favorite carving knife, or we will provide one for you to use and choose from several rough-cut patterns of miniature sailors. Students will have the opportunity to paint and finish their ‘gig’ to take home!
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 10
Charlie Munro has been a woodcarver and folk artist for more than twenty-five years. His work has received national recognition and has been included in many museum exhibitions including the L.A. County Museum, the Smithsonian, the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Fenimore Art Museum.
Punch Needle Embroidery One- Day Workshop,
with Cece Braun
Friday, July 18: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $125; Nonmember $175
The art of punch-needle embroidery is an old form of needle art that has become “new” again. It is worked on weaver’s cloth in an embroidery hoop with floss and needle-like tool. Tiny loops of thread are formed, creating your design. The pattern designed for this class incorporates Sankaty Lighthouse with a beautiful seascape background. The finished pieces are small and resemble tiny hooked rugs. The technique is easy to learn and can be enjoyed by all ages.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Cece Braun is an information-technology manager by day but by night she enjoys the creative fiber world. Knitting since age six, she also enjoys quilting, beading, and needlework. She lives in Stow, Massachusetts, with her husband, two boxers, and lots of yarn. She has studied with Nancy Bush and Beth Brown-Reinsel and currently teaches privately.
Sailors Valentines, with Sandy Moran
Mondays, July 21 & 28: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Member $750; Nonmember $800
Learn the skills needed to create these souvenirs favored by Nantucket whalemen of the nineteenth century. Participants will be provided with a handcrafted mahogany box, a wide variety of seashells, and the tools and instructions necessary to create a prized keepsake. Bring a lunch.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 12
Sandy Moran enjoys a reputation as one of the most accomplished artists in the growing field of sailors valentine design and creation. She is currently artistic chairperson for the renowned Sanibel Shell Show in Florida. Her work has been featured in Coastal Living and Martha Stewart magazines and displayed in galleries in Cape Cod; Nantucket; and Naples, Florida.
Variegated Thread Needlework on a Ring Box,
with Elizabeth Gilbert
Tuesday July 22 & Thursday, July 24: 9 a.m.–Noon
Member $150; Nonmember $200
Create the top of an unusual and special small wooden box with a four-way needlepoint design. Using exquisite hand-painted variegated threads and beautiful silks on 18-count canvas, students will create a finished piece to mount on the top of an oak miniature box. This class features the techniques of using these threads to their fullest effect. Instructions and all materials, including the ring box, necessary for completing the project are included.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Elizabeth Gilbert earned her teacher’s certification in canvas work and crewel embroidery at the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia, and her teacher’s certification in Advanced Professional Studies in the Textile Arts at the American Institute of Textile Arts at Pine Manor College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. She owned and operated a retail needlework business, The Crafts Centre, in Nantucket for nearly thirty years. She continues to be a designer, teacher, lecturer, and consultant, and her work is in collections nationwide.
Decoupage Paperweight One-Day Workshop,
with Mary Emery Lacoursiere and Elizabeth Braun
Tuesday, July 22, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $125; Nonmember $175
This One-Day Workshop allows students to experience all the steps in producing a finished decoupage project on a small scale. Glass paperweights will be provided as well as a wide selection of images. Students are encouraged to bring personal items they might like to include in their project. All tools and materials and instructions are included to complete this treasure in the single workshop.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Mary Emery Lacoursiere graduated from Pratt Institute with an M.F.A.. in printmaking and painting. She had a studio in New York City for fifteen years, specializing in hand-painted sisal rugs, murals, and restoring historical painting. A member of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration since 1978, Mary has been a contributing artist for Lifetime Television and Hearst Entertainment and currently owns and operates Emery Design here on Nantucket
Elizabeth Braun has been creating sailors valentines for more than fifteen years; they can be seen at Nantucket Looms. Her work has blended the early techniques and designs with a contemporary approach to color and texture.
“Nantucket Nautical” Hooked Rug, with Polly Minick
Wednesday, July 23, to Friday, July 25: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $575; Nonmember $625
This three-day rug-hooking workshop will be informal and action packed. Students will have the opportunity to learn all the techniques required to complete a rug that will forever remind them of Nantucket and its beauty. The rug pattern, designed for this class, will be drawn on a linen burlap backing and the 100% dyed, washed wool will be included. Tools will be provided for use and can be purchased by first-time students. The class is designed to be fun and rewarding for both the beginner and the experienced artist.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 12
Polly Minick
“Sailor” Penny Rug, with Laurie Simpson
Wednesday, July 23, to Friday, July 25: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $425; Nonmember $475
This class will use new materials to make a “Sailor” Penny Rug, the original wool table toppers, penny rugs were made from vintage WWII Navy blankets. Students will use techniques of this age-old fiber art to turn recycled fabrics into art. The “Sailor” Penny Rug was designed specifically for this 1800 House class. Your finished works will surely become a family heirloom.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 12
Laurie Simpson is a lifelong needle artist; her quilts grace galleries and private collections. Her work has been featured in Country Home, Coastal Living, and Architectural Digest as well as in many quilting publications. Laurie spends her time quilting, creating, teaching, writing, and designing fabric for Moda Fabrics with her design partner, Polly Minick.
Catboat Half-Model, with Mark Sutherland
Tuesday, July 29, to Friday, August, 1: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $300; Nonmember $350
The catboat Francis, which was owned on Nantucket for the first half of the twentieth century, is now preserved at Mystic Seaport Museum. Participants in this class will be instructed in building a half-hull model of this classic boat. Instruction will include direction in layout and planning the model, cutout and assembly, carving and shaping, and the final finishing. As time allows, discussion will encompass the history and art of these beautiful models. All tools and materials will be provided, but experienced students should bring their favorite tools.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Mark Sutherland has been a professional craftsman since 1979, specializing in models of the nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century ships and boats, scrimshaw artifacts, and decorative ship carving and figureheads. He began building ship models at age eleven and began his professional career on Nantucket with commissions for models in bone and repair work. He has developed a unique style of half-hull modeling, based on the nineteenth-century “shipping office” style. In 1997 he was awarded the New England Foundation of the Arts Fellowship Grant Award. His work can be found in several shops on Nantucket.
Web site: http://www.geocities.com/ship_models/
Band Boxes, with Fran Phillips
Tuesday, July 29, to Thursday, July 31: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $175; Nonmember $225
Bandboxes were a familiar form of storage for nearly a hundred years, beginning in the mid-eighteenth century. This early form of carry-on luggage was too fragile for the newer, developing modes of transportation and was banished to attics. Students will have the opportunity to produce boxes, large and small, in several shapes, and complete them with a choice of papers. All materials will be provided and all tools will be available.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Frances E. Phillips is the Phillips half of Mulligan & Phillips, Decorative Painters, Boomfield, New Jersey and is an adjunct art professor at Seton Hall University; long interested in American folk art and decorative arts, she teaches such skills as tramp art, bandboxes, vinegar graining, gilding, and tinsel painting. She has taught at the American Museum of Folk Art in New York City, at the Queens Museum of Art, and at historical and crafts organizations. Her work has been shown in Country Living and Today’s Homeowner.
Tin Smith Workshop, with Don Carpentier
Monday, August 4: 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Member $125; Nonmember $175
Don Carpentier
“Nantucket” Scherensnitte, with Bee Shay
Tuesday, August 5, to Thursday, August 7: 9 a.m.–1 p.m..
Member $225; Nonmember $275
Looking for a nice way to pass the summer days on Nantucket? Why not make a memorable keepsake of your island visit (or for your island home). Using both traditional and nontraditional techniques, we will create a paper cutting designed specifically for the NHA’s 1800 House. It will only be taught here. The piece was designed by the instructor using familiar icons of the island including whales, whaling ships, Sankaty Light, whirligigs, and a quarterboard that you can use to personalize your piece. The class includes learning the faux-graining process to make your frame and instruction on putting it all together, leaving you with a piece suitable for gracing the walls of your island home, give as a wedding present, or take home with you to remind you of your island stay.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Bee Shay has been a folk artist and oil painter for almost thirty years, teaching theorem painting, stenciling, and faux finishes nationally since 1991. She has apprenticed under members of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration. For nearly ten years she was actively involved in Stencil Artisans League, Inc., (SALI) a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching and furthering traditional American folk art. Currently, Bee is a resident of Nantucket and continues teaching nationally.
Floor Cloths, with Pauline DuMontier Campbell
Tuesday, August 5, to Friday, August 8: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $250; Nonmember $300
Painted floor cloths were first introduced to America from Britain in the late eighteenth century; they were used by the wealthy to decorate entries, hallways, and dining rooms and to protect expensive rugs. The technique involves stenciling onto a heavy-grade, pre-sized canvas and then sealing the piece for durability. Students will choose from authentic New England designs, colors, and finish size of 2' x 3'or 5'x 7' to create a custom floor covering. Additional supply list will be available upon registration.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Pauline Dumontier Campbell holds a certificate in Decorative Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design and has more than ten years of teaching experience in decorative painting. Her painted floor cloths are sold in Nantucket Looms and to private clients throughout New England. Her work also includes painted decorative furniture, faux finishes, and wall finishes.
Miniature Sailors Valentine One-Day Workshop, with Elizabeth Braun
Friday, August 8: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $125; Nonmember $175
The craft of sailors valentines is made small. Using the techniques of the shell collages of the whaling days and small shells with a range of natural colors, students will create patterns and texture to fill the small 3" papier-mâché boxes. These little treasures, in ornament-size boxes, can be used for gifts, decorations, or keepsakes of your own.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 10
Elizabeth Braun has been creating sailors valentines for more than fifteen years; they can be seen at Nantucket Looms. Her work has blended early techniques and designs with a contemporary approach to color and texture
Rufus Porter–Style Nautical Miniature Mural One-Day Workshop, with Bee Shay
Monday, August 11: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $125; Nonmember $175
Pure, simple, and romantic. . . .That was Rufus Porter’s style; he was an itinerant stenciler of the nineteenth century. This simple piece will be executed in water based paints on an antique door panel and will depict in the romantic style, Nantucket at her best. No painting experience? No worries; we will be using a variety of stencils and all you have to do is copy the sample or create your own landscape with stencils provided. A few strokes added here and there and you’ll have the basics you need to do a whole wall in your own home!
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 10
Bee Shay has been a folk artist and oil painter for almost thirty years, teaching theorem painting, stenciling, and faux finishes nationally since 1991. She has apprenticed under members of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration. For nearly ten years she was actively involved in Stencil Artisans League, Inc., (SALI) a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching and furthering traditional American Folk art. Currently, Bee is a resident of Nantucket and continues teaching nationally.
Long- and Short-Stitch Workshop, with Elizabeth Gilbert
Tuesday, August 12, and Thursday, August 14: 9 a.m.–Noon
Member $150; Nonmember $200
The Long and Short Stitch is one of the most beautiful of all crewel embroidery stitches, yet seems to give many stitchers cause for grief! This course will introduce students to the secrets of “painting with your needle.” A pansy design will be worked on fine linen with crewel wools on top of an elegant porcelain bowl. Full directions and all supplies will be provided. Please bring a small wooden embroidery hoop.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Elizabeth Gilbert earned her teacher’s certification in canvas work and crewel embroidery at the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia, and her teacher’s certification in Advanced Professional Studies in the Textile Arts at the American Institute of Textile Arts at Pine Manor College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. She owned and operated a retail needlework business, The Crafts Centre, in Nantucket for nearly thirty years. She continues to be a designer, teacher, lecturer, and consultant, and her work is in collections nationwide.
A Nest of Shaker Boxes, with John Kellogg
Tuesday, August 12, and Wednesday, August 13: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Member $375; Nonmember $425
Through discussion, demonstration, and individual practice, students will develop skills in boxmaking, employing many of the same techniques of wood bending and joinery as used by the Shaker communities dating back to the 1700s. The workshop is designed for both novice and seasoned woodworkers. All tools, equipment, and materials needed to complete a nest of six Shaker boxes will be provided for each participant.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 12
Intermediate Workshop of Shaker Boxes, with John Kellogg
Wednesday, August 13: 6–8 p.m.
Thursday, August 14, and Friday, August 15: 9 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Member $375; Nonmember $425
This workshop is designed for individuals who have previously taken the Shaker Oval Box workshop. Participants will tailor their class by selecting more advanced projects from a variety of styles and woods of oval boxes and tray inserts. Additional project materials will be available to purchase at the workshop for participants who complete their initial project and would like further work.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 12
John Kellogg, long an admirer of the elegant simplicity of the Shaker style, left the corporate world in 1993 and joined forces with John Wilson, commonly recognized as a leading emissary of all things Shaker. They formed a partnership focusing on the instructional information, tools, and materials for Shaker oval-box craftsmen. He became ambassador, lecturer, and instructor of the oval-boxmaking craft, conducting workshops in the central and eastern United States.
Web site: shakerovalbox.com
Faux Marble Finish One-Day Workshop, with Mary Emery
Monday, August 18: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $125; Nonmember $175
Learn a new twist on traditional techniques. In this workshop students work with Early American tools and materials used to create faux marble finishes. Students will use a range of color and traditional tools and natural Nantucket materials to create a painted surface that could fool the toughest critic. Boxes and frames are provided, but bring any small-to-medium objects, chests, or tables of your own.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 10
Mary Emery Lacoursiere graduated from Pratt Institute with an M.F.A.. in printmaking and painting. She had a studio in New York City for fifteen years, specializing in hand-painted sisal rugs, murals, and restoring historical painting. A member of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration since 1978, Mary has been a contributing artist for Lifetime Television and Hearst Entertainment and currently owns and operates Emery Design here on Nantucket.
“Sconset Bikers” Primitive Painting, with Jan Munro
Tuesday, August 19, to Thursday, August 21: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $250; Nonmember $300
Learn to express yourself with paint in the manner of a folk artist. This workshop is designed for those who have always wanted to explore their own hidden talents. Students will learn by following step-by-step techniques to complete a folk-art landscape. The class will discuss color, balance and drawing, mixing colors, composition and finishing with detail. All students will leave with a finished painting to be proud of.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 15
JAN MUNRO is an internationally recognized folk artist whose work is included in many major collections and museums. A few include the Smithsonian, New York State Historical Association, and Sotheby’s. The Nantucket Whaling Museum is privileged to have had Jan and Charlie Munro contribute a mural on a wall in the Discovery Room.
Shell Mirror, with Mary Emery Lacoursiere and Elizabeth Braun
Tuesday, August 26, to Thursday, August 28: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $250; Nonmember $300
Using a handmade hickory frame and seashells from far and wide, students will have the opportunity to create a decorative mirror. The wide wooden frames, made from hand-hewn wood, provide a perfect background surface for seashells. Many of the techniques used in sailors valentines are transferable, and there is plenty of room for expanding creative ideas. Shells from all over the world will be provided, but students are encouraged to bring their own treasures to include in their masterpiece.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 10
Mary Emery Lacoursiere graduated from Pratt Institute with an M.F.A. in printmaking and painting. She had a studio in New York City for fifteen years, specializing in hand-painted sisal rugs, murals, and restoring historical painting. A member of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration since 1978, Mary has been a contributing artist for Lifetime Television and Hearst Entertainment and currently owns and operates Emery Design here on Nantucket.
Elizabeth Braun has been creating sailors valentines for more than fifteen years; they can be seen at Nantucket Looms. Her work has blended the early techniques and designs with a contemporary approach to color and texture.
Chair Caning and Fiber Rush, with Peter Wilson
Monday, September 8, to Wednesday, September 10: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $200; Nonmember $250
Reclaim your favorite chair. Participants will bring their own chairs and learn how to ready them for repair; select the proper size cane; and, in seven steps, restore the original seat pattern. Or, depending upon your chair, learn the fiber-rush method of weaving using twisted rush to weave from the outside of a frame toward the center. Upon registration, students will arrange with Peter to examine chairs before the class to determine appropriate materials and any necessary repairs.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 6
Peter Wilson has worked in cabinetmaking and antique-furniture restoration since 1972. His work involves all aspects of wood repair and replacement and often requires making missing parts of a piece.
Painting on Needlepoint Canvas, with Elizabeth Gilbert
Tuesday, September 9, and Thursday, September 11: 9 a.m. –Noon
Member $150; Nonmember $200
Students will learn to draw and paint their own canvases. Using acrylic paints on 14-count monoweave canvas, you will create this purple iris design, which can be worked in threads and stitches of your own choosing. Canvas, paints, brushes, and all necessary items will be provided. Bring a notebook and pencil.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Elizabeth Gilbert earned her teacher’s certification in canvas work and crewel embroidery at the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia, and her teacher’s certification in Advanced Professional Studies in the Textile Arts at the American Institute of Textile Arts at Pine Manor College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. She owned and operated a retail needlework business, The Crafts Centre, in Nantucket for nearly thirty years. She continues to be a designer, teacher, lecturer, and consultant, and her work is in collections nationwide.
Scrimshaw, with Lee Papale
Thursday, September 11, and Friday, September 12: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $425; Nonmember $475
Explore one of Nantucket’s most familiar and recognized folk arts. Learn the traditional “blackwork” method as well as inking with other colors. Using the supplied materials, participants will create three unique pieces.
All materials included. Maximum class size: 8
Lee Ann Papale, a Nantucket native scrimshaw artist, comes from a family of master artisans that includes Nancy A. Chase, Phyllis Chase Burchell, and Susan Chase Ottison. She is best known for her colorful island scenes, most notably the Nantucket silhouette in wildflowers. Lee maintains a studio year-round at 170 Orange Street.
Shorebird Woodcarving, with Bill Sarni
Tuesday, September 16, to Friday, September 19: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $250; Nonmember $300
Participants will have the opportunity to carve a traditional-style yellowlegs shorebird decoy. The methods used will be in the style used in Nantucket and along the New England coast in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The birds will be constructed from native white pine, using hand tools and acrylic paint. All materials and tools are as consistent as possible with those used by the decoy makers of the period.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Bill Sarni is well known for his decoy carvings, with their meticulous attention to detail, and his restoration work. He began carving as a boy, learning his craft from many celebrated decoy carvers. He has been featured in several publications and selected for interview by the Folk Arts and Heritage Program initiated by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. His work has been widely exhibited throughout New England.
Reverse Painting on Glass,
with Margaret Emery and Mary Emery Lacoursiere
Monday, September 22, to Friday, September 26: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $325; Nonmember $375
In the early nineteenth century, reverse painting on glass was a common decoration applied to mirrors and clock tablets. This seminar, designed for all levels, will cover all aspects of reverse painting, stenciling, gilding, and eglomise (etched gold leaf). Students will work on 7" x 9" glass, or may choose a size for a specific frame. All painting and stenciling will be done in oil. Advanced materials will be available for experienced students.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 10
Margaret J. Emery graduated from Wellesley College and has been teaching for over fifty years in her own studio and in seminars throughout the Northeast, Midwest, and Australia. She is a member of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration and is a certified teacher in American country painting and reverse painting on glass. Her book, Techniques in Reverse Glass Painting, is in its second printing.
Mary Emery Lacoursiere graduated from Pratt Institute with an M.F.A. in printmaking and painting. She had a studio in New York City for fifteen years, specializing in hand-painted sisal rugs, murals, and restoring historical painting. A member of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration since 1978, Mary has been a contributing artist for Lifetime Television and Hearst Entertainment and currently owns and operates Emery Design here on Nantucket.
Painted Sisal Rug, with Mary Emery Lacoursiere
Tuesday, October 7, to Thursday, October 9: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Member $325; Nonmember $375
Using sisal, the strongest natural fiber, students will learn to create a beautiful and functional floor covering. The natural color of this material, with its rich textures, make an ideal surface for hand painted designs. Using traditional floor stencils, students will make a 3'x5' area rug in a pattern and color of their own choosing. All painting is done with oil-based paint and all materials and tools are provided.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 8
Mary Emery Lacoursiere graduated from Pratt Institute with an M.F.A. in printmaking and painting. She had a studio in New York City for fifteen years, specializing in hand-painted sisal rugs, murals, and restoring historical painting. A member of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration since 1978, Mary has been a contributing artist for Lifetime Television and Hearst Entertainment and currently owns and operates Emery Design here on Nantucket
Sailors Valentines, with Elizabeth Braun
Tuesday, October 14, to Thursday, October 16: 4–7 p.m.
Member $425; Nonmember $475
Learn the skills needed to create these shell collage souvenirs of days gone by. Several pattern choices and a wide selection of shells will be available to create a unique, personal valentine. Participants will be provided with a handcrafted, octagon-shaped cherry box, a wide variety of seashells, and the tools and instructions necessary to create a prized keepsake.
All materials provided. Maximum class size: 12
Elizabeth Braun has been creating sailors valentines for more than fifteen years; they can be seen at Nantucket Looms. Her work has blended the early techniques and designs with a contemporary approach to color and texture.
