TH1 - Country Sunflowers
Donna Eckel

Learn how to make 10 beautiful sunflowers and then arrange them in a bronze watering can. This finished arrangement would be perfect for any outdoor scene and would certainly add a special touch to any country kitchen.  This is a fun and easy class.

This small home on a cobbled street has 2 floors, each with its own fireplace.  The first floor is tiled in a herringbone brick pattern and decorated with a floral bouquet tile painting on the wall.  The 2nd floor has a wooden floor and French door opening onto a small balcony, perfect to show off a future potted garden.  The roof and chimney are topped with variegated tiles.  Emphasis will be on learning to do the aged plaster over stone technique, making antique looking windows and simple floral window boxes.  This is the companion piece to an earlier Provence house.

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: ¼" Cost: $87

Learn how to make this popular blooming plant in purples and whites using all natural materials and paints.  Make as many as time allows.  You are promised one completed pot and plant.  No paper punching; easy on the hands and eyes.   All you need to bring are 10 flat alligator clips, small paint brushes, white glue, #10 flat square brush and small sharp scissors.

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: 1" or ½" Cost: $47

What better way to spend a cozy night in your thatched Irish cottage but by the table with a bowl of hot mutton stew and a slice of traditional Irish soda bread washed down with a tall glass of Guinness.  You can even snack on an apple by the fireplace. Learn to work with resin, Fimo, liquid Fimo, soft pastels and apply texture to bread.  
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Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: 1" Cost: $62

The drill press can be used for much more than just drilling holes.  Using hands-on Dremel and Cameron drill presses, learn to cut: perfect circles; rabbets, mortise/tenons, and dados for joinery; cove/dovetails for tops/bases; and custom moulding.  Also learn to make a pin routing jig to cut perfect odd-shapes, and how to make your own custom jigs for pin routing even cabriole legs. 

Minimum skill level: Beginner
All Scales Cost: $84

This class has always sold out.  Learn to ‘throw’ a pot.  Even though it is merely a ‘taste,’ virtually everyone makes 6-12 pots.  We take your pots through the next 8 steps: trimming, bisque firing, glazing, re-firing to 2300 degrees, etc.  We spend about 4 times as much time finishing your pots and should have them to you by the Banquet.  Wheels for class use only. 

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: 1" Cost: $201

Construct a basic straw hat and vary it to create a variety of historical headgear. By changing the width and shape of the brim, the shape and height of the crown, the same construction techniques may be used to create hats of many periods and styles such as the brimless toque, the 1950’s cartwheel, the Edwardian boater, etc. Trimming techniques employing vintage ribbonwork, paper flower construction, feathers, beads and findings will be demonstrated, accompanied by written instructions.  Materials will be provided for several hats and 1 hat stand is included.  Please bring small sharp scissors, pointed tweezers and magnifiers, if needed.  Doll heads not included.

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: 1 " Cost: $62

Create this sewing area with a cluttered, ‘at work’ look.  Lightly distress the ‘working’ sewing machine and the chair.  Accessories to make/finish include a thimble waste basket, thread caddy, thread spools, scissors, and a sign (not shown).  Also provided are tape measure, thimble, pin cushion, fabric and trims.  In this fun class, learn aging techniques and how to give a lived-in feel to miniatures. 

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: 1" Cost: $87

Assemble a 1/144th scale English Flint and Brick Cottage.  Flint is plentiful in areas of England so has been used from the 13th century until today in buildings.  The cottage is laser-cut and opens in the back.  Included are 2 fireplaces, laser-etched wood flooring, preprinted brick and flint paper and a plastic box to display your finished house.  We will do some simple landscaping to embellish the cottage.  Good eyesight is helpful.  Magnification or a small light is optional.  Bring your basic toolkit and I will supply the rest. 

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: 1/144 " Cost: $70

In this workshop, students will assemble the Jester and Bauble.  The cheerful figures will then be dressed and trimmed, creating the perfect addition to any castle scene.
The furniture is not included.

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: 1" Cost: $137

Where do you store all those bits and pieces that don’t have a home?  Why, in the attic, of course!  Greenfield Creations’ Attic Room Box, to be precise.  Make your attic in our 4-hr workshop in 1” or ½” scale.  If you prefer, the same room box can be an attic bedroom.    

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: 1" or ½" Cost: $62

Whether in your castle or your cottage, this combination chair table will be appropriate.  The chair table is made of cherry and functions as a chair with the top flipped up or as a table with the top flipped down.  There’s even a drawer under the seat to house mini essentials.  The 4 legs will be turned ahead of time and you will spend your class time assembling this unique piece.  The original piece that this was modeled from was made about 1675. 

Minimum skill level: Intermediate
Scale: 1" Cost: $72

3-D Decoupage with a TWIST!  Using paper cutting techniques to create a 3-D effect, you will transform detailed picture of a thatched cottage with a colorful English garden into a 3_D vignette.  The scene is surrounded by a black and rose floral border.  The cut paper pieces will be embellished with laces, greenery, floral pieces, gravel and more to enhance the 3-D effect.  The completed scene is 2” deep in a decorative 5 x 7 frame.  Class includes everything shown.  The paper cutting and embellishing techniques you learn can be applied to projects you want to try on your own.  Cottage is approximately 1/144th scale. 
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Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: 1/144" Cost: $82

Come visit the Queen’s Workroom where she waves her magic wand and all her mini projects are complete!  Ah, such a fairy tale!  Class will construct the wall, desk, bookshelf and decorate accessories. 

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: ¼" Cost: $61

Construct a bakers or wine rack, side table, dining table and 2 chairs - finish with acrylic ‘glass top’ or stained wood.  Furniture is laser-cut from 1/32” plywood so it is very sturdy.  Student will receive rugs, wallpaper and flooring but will NOT construct scene during workshop - furniture only. 

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: ¼" - Cost: $67

Create your Japanese koi water garden with its simple wood footbridge, “stone” pagoda and torri, a wooden sign symbolizing the gate between the physical and spiritual worlds.  Begin the transformation by learning easy landscaping techniques.  Next, prepare the pond with several koi, a sprinkling of “coins,” a solemn great blue heron and your bamboo plant - the main focus of the class.  In its creation, you’ll learn simple plant-making and paint shading skills.  After pouring resin into your realistic pond and surrounding it with shrubs, the oriental ambience and serenity will be complete. 

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale 1" - Cost: $97

Learn the English Paper Piecing technique for hand sewing miniature quilts where corners match and figures can be highlighted.  You will be taught the technique by making pillows and can then choose one of the many different quilt kits, included in the price of the class.  Many different kits are available and more are being developed.  All supplies are included in the class and you only need to bring a paper scissors, fabric scissors and thimble.  You can finish the pillow tops in class with good instructions, patterns and notes on making and finishing your selected quilt kit. 

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: 1" Cost: $37

Have you been keeping your miniatures in the dark?  Now is the time to learn how to electrify your projects using a mixture of tape and hard wiring.  No more brads or eyelets.  You will learn how to solder the necessary connections on a “work board” which, along with written and pictorial instructions, you take home, allowing you to reference when you electrify your next project.  All items shown in the photograph go home with you.  You only need bring an Xacto #11 knife and whatever magnification you normally use to class with you. 

Minimum skill level: Beginner
All Scales - Cost: $77

This class is for former students or those with a background in baskets, wicker or weaving.  We will make a large, lidded basket in class, either a chicken basket or a hamper.  The chicken basket has a flat lid with a center handle; the hamper has a lid that comes down over the basket with a center handle.  Other advanced baskets will be display, discussed, and the instructions will be included for the log (or flower) basket, the large wall basket, the French laundry basket, the melon, egg (or butt) basket and more.   Bring scissors, glue, ruler and wire cutter.  

Minimum skill level: Intermediate
Scale: 1" Cost: $57

Join me in preparing a cozy cottage dinner of beef stew with cornbread and blueberry pie, along with some nice cold milk to wash it all down.  Can’t you just taste the comfort food and feel the warmth of Mom or Grandma’s kitchen on a cold night?  Learn how to use Fimo brand polymer clay along with resin, paint, glass stain and sand to make this realistic looking meal.  You will be able to use the skills learned in class to create more fabulous foods after you return home. 

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: 1" Cost: $42

Have fun making this tiny train and track inside a test tube measuring 1” by 6”.  You’ll have people wondering how you got all that inside there.   

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: 1/144" Cost: $47

This “Savonarola Chair” is modeled after Italian Renaissance designs, but is an original collaboration by the teacher and Susan Karatjas of sdk miniatures.  Easy to assemble and a stunning addition to your castle, the finished chair will include a pillow and tassels (choice of colors and patterns in silk fabric). 

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: 1" Cost: $57

Fill an urn to overflowing with lush annuals.  Learn easy techniques for making realistic petunias, geraniums and alyssum 

Minimum skill level: Beginner
Scale: 1" Cost: $37