The Craft Center is always adding new classes in such areas as pottery, weaving, quilting, jewelry, and others. To get a list of current classes, email appalachianartscenter@gmail.com, call the Center at 865-494-9854, or stop by the Center at 2716 Andersonville Highway 61, one mile east of I-75 Clinton/Norris Exit 122, across from the Museum of Appalachia.

If you would like to receive occasional email updates about classes or other events at the Center, please email appalachianartscenter@gmail.com. Or consider becoming a member and receive out monthly newsletter with class listings and other information and $10 off class fees. See our membership page.

 CURRENT CLASSES (as of 1/31/2012)

HAND-BUILDING WITH CLAY, with Janet McCracken
Five Thursdays: February 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2012, plus one
other Thursday to be determined, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This is for students new to clay who want to see if it’s a craft they’d like to pursue, as well as for students who have had some experience with clay but would like to try more techniques in hand-building. Long-time potter and teacher Janet McCracken will cover several techniques like pinching, coil, and slab, and students will get to make several pieces over the first four sessions. Members of the class will decide on a mutually acceptable date where everyone can come back and glaze the pieces. This is a good class for students to have before exploring pottery on the wheel. Registration deadline January 31.
Earlybird Cost: Register and pay by January 17 and the cost is $40 for Craft Center members, $50 for nonmembers. After January 17 Cost: $50 for Craft Center members; $60 for nonmembers. All students must also pay a $30 studio fee to the Pottery Department on the first day for clay, glaze and firing. Beginning.

HOT CHOCOLATE AND COOL CRAFTS
Saturday, February 4, 2-5 p.m.
Celebrate mid-winter with a cozy afternoon of hot chocolate and other warm drinks and chocolate desserts, while learning some cool new crafts. Talented Craft Center members will be at several stations where you can get started with knitting, play with paper crafts, make a simple beaded jewelry piece, and more surprises. Try them all or stick with one – or just enjoy the chocolate and camaraderie – all for the cool low price of $10. Registration deadline February 3.
$10 for everyone, which includes food and crafts

BEADED HEART JEWELRY CLASS with Kathy Seely
Saturday, February 11, 2-4 p.m.

Beaded Heart Earrings (for Valentines Day)

Students will construct a small heart from seed beads using the brick stitch technique. These little hearts can be a necklace or earrings or embellishment for a valentine. Brick stitch is one of the most useful bead-stitching techniques to have in your repertoire and can be used to create everything from jewelry to sculpture. Kathy Seely is an internationally recognized seed bead artist whose work has appeared in many books on the subject of bead art. She has been beading for more than 20 years and has taught at bead retreats and bead shows around the country. She is a member of Southern Highland Craft Guild, Foothills Craft Guild, and the Appalachian Arts Craft Center, and has her work in galleries throughout the area. This class is open to all levels, from the absolute beginner to those who already have some experience beading. Note that some of the beads will be very small; students may want to bring reading glasses or a magnifier. Registration deadline February 6.
Earlybird Cost: Register and pay by January 24 and the cost is $30 for Craft Center members, $40 for nonmembers. After January 24 Cost: $40 for Craft Center members; $50 for nonmembers. This price includes most supplies, however students who sign up will be given a supply list for a few basic supplies to bring, or they can be purchased from the teacher at the class. All levels.

Featured Tennessee Artist Workshop!

EXPLORING PATTERNS FOR HAND-BUILDING WITH SLABS, with Jane Cartwright
Saturday-Sunday, March 3-4, 2012, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day

This two-day workshop is designed for pottery students who would like to learn more about using patterns to make hand-built pieces from rolled slabs. Students will start out by designing a pattern for an unusual piece like a vase or bottle. Surface treatments like texture, sgraffito, and sprigs will be explored, as well as handles and feet. The second day will be for finishing up and perhaps starting a second project. Pieces can be fired after the class and picked up later. Jane Cartwright is a graphic designer and illustrator-turned-potter who for the past twelve years has taken great delight in exploring clay. Her work consists of quirky functional and sculptural pieces that often feature carved or “painted” animals. She teaches hand-building classes at the Oak Ridge Art Center and is a member of Foothills Craft Guild and Terra Madres. (See janecartwrightpottery.blogspot.com). Students should bring a lunch each day. This workshop is part of our Featured Tennessee Artists series, funded in part by the East Tennessee Foundation and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Registration deadline February 28.
Earlybird Cost: Register and pay by February 10 and the cost is $40 for Craft Center members, $50 for nonmembers. After February 10 Cost: $45 for Craft Center members; $55 for nonmembers. All students must also pay a studio fee of $30 to the Pottery Studio at the class. Students should have at least some experience working with clay.

STAINED GLASS SUN-CATCHER WORKSHOP, with Teresa Arrington
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, March 12, 14, and 16, 6-9 p.m.
During this workshop, students will learn the basics of stained glass technique by making two sun-catchers. Students will cut glass, copper foil the glass, solder pieces together, and patina (color) the solder. Basic information will also be shared on doing more elaborate stained glass pieces and using the tools (breakers, grinders, etc.). Students should be able to finish two sun-catchers by the end of Friday’s class. Teresa Arrington has been working in stained glass and fused glass for seven years. She has been teaching classes for the last five years and does stained glass contract work and commissions as well. Registration deadline March 7.
Earlybird Cost: Register and pay by February 24 and the cost is $80 for Craft Center members, $90 for nonmembers. After February 24 Cost: $90 for Craft Center members; $100 for nonmembers. Prices include all materials and use of tools. Beginning.

KNITTING IS FUN! with Sheri Burns
Four Tuesdays, March 13, 20, and 27, and April 3, 6-8 p.m.
Seems like just about everybody’s got the knitting bug these days. Why? Because it’s fun. If you’d like to get in on that fun, come to one or more of these Tuesday knitting night sessions and get started. Beginning needles and yarn will be provided. Sheri Burns is a basket-maker, knitter, and extreme crafter. She’s director of our summer Kids Craft Camp and has been teaching crafts for many years. The cost is only $5.00 per session, and you can come to one or all. Registration is required. Deadline March 9.
Cost: $5 per session. All Levels.

Featured Tennessee Artist Workshop! 

BEGINNING BROOM-MAKING,
with Annie and Steve Bell
Saturday-Sunday, March 17-18, 2012, 1-4:30 p.m. each day

After a long winter holed-up inside, it will be time to get out and try something new — like learning to create your own homemade broom. Join celebrated broom-makers Annie and Steve Bell in this two-day workshop where students will first learn to make a simple cobweb broom, then a hearth broom from broomcorn. Annie Bell has been growing broomcorn and making brooms in East Tennessee for 30 years. She is featured on the Heartland Series and tapes and has brooms in several permanent displays. Her husband, Steve Bell, also designs and creates brooms. Both have been teaching for many years, and are members of the Southern Highlands Handicraft Guild and Foothills Craft Guild. This workshop is part of our Featured Tennessee Artists series, funded in part by the East Tennessee Foundation and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Registration deadline March 12.
Earlybird Cost: Register and pay by February 27 and the cost is $20 for Craft Center members, $30 for nonmembers. After February 27 Cost: $30 for Craft Center members; $40 for nonmembers. All students must also pay a materials fee of $20 to the teachers at the class and bring some basic supplies (a list will be given to those who register). Beginning.

POTTERY FOR THE WHEEL, with Sandra McEntire
Four Saturdays, March 17, 24, 31, and April 21, 2012, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This pottery class is for beginners to the wheel as well as those who have had one or two classes and want to learn more. It will concentrate on the basics of wheel work: centering, opening, pulling up, and trimming and a final class on glazing. There will be three classes, a break of two weeks to allow for drying and initial firing, and a final class for glazing completed pieces. This is generally an adult class, but we will accept students as young as 14. Sandra McEntire is a long-time potter and teacher. Students should bring a lunch. Registration deadline March 12.
Earlybird Cost: Register and pay by February 27 and the cost is $70 for Craft Center members, $80 for nonmembers. After February 27 Cost: $80 for Craft Center members; $90 for nonmembers. Students must also pay a $15 materials fee for clay and firing to the Pottery Dept. at the first class. Students should also bring a beginners pottery tool kit available from art supply stores or purchase one at the class for $10. Beginning / Advanced Beginning.

Featured Tennessee Artist Workshop!

Nuno Felting, with Geri Forkner
Saturday, March 31, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Geri Forkner’s Nuno Felting workshop last fall was so popular, we’ve invited her back. Nuno felting is a wet felting process that laminates wool fleece to a base cloth resulting in textures, puckers, and ruffles that are lightweight, drapeable, and simply gorgeous. This class will be open to beginners who want to learn the basics of nuno felting, as well as those who have already taken a class and want to try more. All students will make a scarf using silk chiffon for the base cloth as well as several samples. Geri Forkner creates felted and woven works of art from her studio in Sweetwater, Tennessee. She exhibits and teaches fiber arts internationally to both children and adults, and is an Artist in Residence in Tennessee schools. A member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, Geri cherishes the old traditions and skills while using fibers in innovative ways. This class is part of our 2011-12 Featured Tennessee Artists series, when we bring in well known Tennessee crafters for special workshops. This series is funded in part by the East Tennessee Foundation and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Students should bring a lunch. Registration deadline March 26.
Earlybird Cost: Register and pay by March 12 and the cost is $35 for Craft Center members, $45 for nonmembers. After March 12 Cost: $45 for Craft Center members; $55 for nonmembers. Students must also pay a materials fee of $15 to the teacher at the class and bring a few basic supplies. All Levels.

IRIS FOLDING CARD with Sheri Burns
Monday, April 2, 6-8 p.m.

Learn to make beautiful handmade cards featuring the technique of iris folding. This paper craft technique involves folding strips of colored paper into a design, the center of which forms an “iris” like the diaphragm of a camera lens. It originated in Holland but is gaining popularity with paper crafters all over. Sheri Burns is a basket-maker, knitter, teacher, and the director of our summer Kids Craft Camp. She will amaze you with her skills and enthusiasm. Students can make several cards with an Easter or other type theme. Registration deadline March 29.
Cost for everyone: $10, which includes all supplies. All Levels.

 Featured Tennessee Artist Workshop!

MINIATURE FABRIC LANDSCAPE, with Tone Haugen-Cogburn
Saturday, April 21, 10 am to 3 pm
We’re glad to welcome award-winning fiber artist Tone Haugen-Cogburn of Maryville as part of our Featured Tennessee Artists series. In this class students will learn to turn their favorite post cards or photos into wonderful miniature quilts. They will use a fusible web for minimal sewing. This is a great way to use up scrap material. Machine or hand embroidery and embellishment can be added later, though this is optional. Originally from Norway, Tone has been quilting for more than 20 years and teaches workshops throughout the country. She is a member of the Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild. This class is part of our 2011-12 Featured Tennessee Artists series, when we bring in well known Tennessee crafters for special workshops. This series is funded in part by the East Tennessee Foundation and the Tennessee Arts Commission . Students should bring a lunch. Registration deadline April 16.
Earlybird Cost: Register and pay by April 2 and the cost is $35 for Craft Center members, $45 for nonmembers. After April 2 Cost: $45 for Craft Center members; $55 for nonmembers. A supply list will be given to students who register. This class is for the confident beginner up to more advanced students.

Featured Tennessee Artist Workshop!

SPLINT REED SEAT WEAVING, with Betty Newman
Saturday, April 28, 1-5 pm
In this class, students will learn the art of seat weaving with splint reed in a traditional herringbone pattern. Students will weave a seat on a footstool, which they will be able to take home with them. Betty Newman has been featured on HGTV’s Country Time series and is often a featured demonstrator at the Foothills Craft Guild shows. She teaches caning and writes and speaks on the subject. She provides top quality craftsmanship through creative custom framing, chair caning and wicker repair at her studio in Kodak, Tennessee. (See her web site at www.newmanvalley.com.) This class is part of our 2011-12 Featured Tennessee Artist series, when we bring in well known Tennessee crafters for special workshops. This series is funded in part by the East Tennessee Foundation and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Registration deadline April 23.
Earlybird Cost: Register and pay by April 13 and the cost is $20 for Craft Center members, $30 for nonmembers. After April 13 Cost: $30 for Craft Center members; $40 for nonmembers. All students must also pay $50 to the teacher at the class to pay for the footstool. Beginning.

ONGOING CLASSES:

WEAVING with Carol Pritcher
Tuesdays, 10 am to 2 pm (six classes)

For anyone interested in gaining knowledge of the loom and beginning weaving. Classes can be scheduled on an individual basis by calling Carol on Tuesdays at 494-9854.
$100 members  ($110 non-members) plus a small materials fee. Beginning-Intermediate.

HAND-SEWING DAY with the Quilting Department
Wednesdays, 10 am to 2 pm
Bring your hand-sewing project or help out with the group quilting project with a wonderful group of ladies which meets each Wednesday to quilt, laugh, and enjoy lunch together. No need to call ahead; just bring your lunch.
No Cost.

MAKE YOUR OWN CLASS
To be scheduled
Got a craft you want to learn? The Craft Center has access to numerous talented craft teachers in a variety of subjects. Gather up your friends and let’s plan your own class. Five or more students are needed. For more information or to just get ideas, call Liz McGeachy at 865-494-9854.
Price to be determined.