Workshops
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Mosaic Pendant and Earrings (9/11) —FULL
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Introduction to Fused Glass: Sea Life (9/19) —FULL
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Introduction to Gelli Printing (9/25) —FULL
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Introduction to Eco Printing on Paper and Fabric (9/26) —FULL
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Needle Felt Painting: Somebody’s Watching Me! (10/2 & 10/3)
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Introduction to Eco Printing on Paper and Fabric (10/9) —FULL
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Introduction to Tapestry Weaving (10/10)
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Knitting for Beginners: Shawl (10/12 & 11/2) —FULL
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Encaustic Collage (10/23 & 10/24)
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Mosaic Mirror (11/13) —NEW!
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Introduction to Block Printing (11/14) —NEW!
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Knit Along with Jeannie: Make a Hat! (11/16 & 11/30) —NEW!
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Pressed Flower Art (11/20) —NEW!
Mosaic Pendant and Earrings (FULL)
Date: Friday, 9/11
Time: 1:00–5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $77 (Members); $85 (Non-Members)
Supply Fee: $20 (To be collected day of workshop; cash, check, or Venmo only)
Instructor: Linda Girardi
Skill Level: All
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Pendant and earring blanks, necklace chain, earring hooks, beads, charms, stained glass tiles, and other mosaic materials
Supplies Students Should Bring: An apron or clothes that can be stained
Note: This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Learn how to apply the ancient art of mosaics to a piece of wearable art! In this fun and easy workshop, mosaic artist Linda Girardi will show how to create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind pendant and set of earrings using a variety of beads, charms, stained glass tiles, and more!
Linda will demonstrate the process first, and then you’ll practice:
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Designing a mini mosaic pendant and/or a set of earrings
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Choosing appropriate materials for your jewelry
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Transferring materials and adhering them to a substrate
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Cleaning up and finishing your jewelry
You’ll also learn tips and tricks for working with different types of mosaic materials.
You’ll walk away with a beautiful pendant and a set of earrings (or two pendants or two sets of earrings if you prefer) that you can keep for yourself or give to a special friend or family member.
No prior glass experience needed!
Note: Moderate hand dexterity and good eyesight required.
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Introduction to Fused Glass: Sea Life (FULL)
Date: Saturday, 9/19
Time: 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $59 (Members), $65 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $35 (To be collected day of workshop; cash, check, or Venmo only)
Instructor: Linda Girardi
Skill Level: Beginner
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Fused glass bases, stringers, frit, murrini, glass sheets, glue, and gclass cutting tools.
Supplies Students Should Bring: All supplies provided; however, students are encouraged to bring their own glass cutters, running pliers, breaking pliers, and tile nippers if they have them.
Note: This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Fused glass is a beautiful and versatile art form that involves layering and melting pieces of glass to create intricate, colorful designs. In this beginner-friendly workshop, glass artist Linda Girardi will teach you all the basics of this exciting medium!
Over the course of an afternoon, you’ll learn the different types of fusible glass and how fusing works. You’ll also gain experience cutting, layering, and gluing glass to prepare a piece for the kiln.
In addition to instruction and demos, Linda will provide a pre-fused glass base and lots of fun fused glass materials (stringers, frit, murrini, and more!) so you can create your own beautiful sea life tile that can be displayed in your home or given as a gift.In addition to instruction and demos, Linda will provide a pre-fused glass base and lots of fun materials (flowers, insects, animals, and more!) so you can create your own beautiful garden or sea life tile that can be displayed in your home or given as a gift.
At the end of the workshop, Linda will take your piece home and fire it in her kiln. You’ll return to Purple Crayon a few days later to pick up your work.
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Introduction to Gelli Printing (FULL)
Date: Friday, 9/25
Time: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $77 (Members), $85 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $10 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Kristen Grady
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Paper, acrylic paint, brayer
Supplies Students Should Bring: 8”x10” gelli plate and an apron. All other materials will be provided; however, students are encouraged to bring a few of their favorite acrylic paints and a brayer, if they have one. (We can loan you a brayer for class, but it’s better to practice your technique using your own tool.)
Note: This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Gelli printing is an easy, innovative way to create vibrant, one-of-a-kind monoprints. The results are striking, and all you need is a gelli plate, acrylic paint, and some kind of substrate (paper, fabric, etc.). In this fun, hands-on workshop, paper artist Kristen Grady will teach you everything you need to get started with this super versatile process.
Among other techniques, you’ll learn how to build multiple layers of design, create textures and an “old wall” look, and add stenciling and shimmer to your prints. Kristen will also teach you how to create two-sided prints, work with multiple prints at the same time, create a theme for your prints, use thick and thin paints in different ways, print on different weights of paper, and find your color palette.
There will be plenty of time to practice each technique, and you’ll complete at least four, two-sided prints. You’ll also leave with plenty of ideas on how to use your finished prints and how to care for and store your gelli plate.
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Introduction to Eco Printing on Paper and Fabric
Date: Saturday, 9/26
Time: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (includes an hour break for lunch)
Workshop Fee: $113 (Members), $125 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $25 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Joyce Tromba
Skill Level: Beginner
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Botanicals, 8-1/2” x 11” mixed media paper, 11” x 60” silk scarf
Supplies Students Should Bring: Waterproof gloves and an apron or clothes that can be stained. All other supplies will be provided; however, students are encouraged to bring additional botanicals if they’d like. (Instructor will provide a list of suitable botanicals prior to the workshop.)
Eco printing is a process that uses the leaves and flowers of fresh or dried plants to make a permanent image. Each print is unique, and the results are always a surprise! You'll learn how to print on both paper and fabric in this exciting one-day workshop.
Local fiber artist Joyce Tromba will begin by discussing the best plant material to use for eco printing and show you how to prepare mixed media paper and bamboo rayon material for optimal results. Then, you’ll spend the morning making a collection of eco printed papers.
After lunch, Joyce will show you how to adapt the eco printing process to fabric, and you’ll create a beautiful, 11” x 60” silk scarf.
Most eco printing workshops focus on just one substrate: paper or fabric. Because this class gives you the opportunity to practice printing on BOTH, you’ll leave the workshop with the knowledge to pursue whichever direction most calls to you!
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Needle Felt Painting: Somebody's Watching Me!
Date: Friday, 10/2, and Saturday, 10/3
Time: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM both days
Workshop Fee: $149 (Members), $165 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $20 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Irene Heckel-Volpe
Skill Level: Confident Beginner to Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Prefelt bear template, wool roving, felting needles, felting pad
Supplies Students Should Bring: All materials provided.
If you spend any time in our beautiful mountains, it’s not uncommon to feel like somebody’s watching you—and they just might be! Fortunately, the “somebodies” are usually bears, not humans, and our curious friends are just checking us out. In this fun, 8-hour class, join fiber artist Irene Heckel-Volpe as she teaches you how to create a beautiful needle felt painting of these special moments.
You’ll begin with a sheet of partially felted wool and a simple photo of a curious bear. Then, you’ll attempt to recreate the picture by “painting it” in fiber—using your creative license, of course! You’ll learn how to shade the bear by using carders/brushes to blend colors of fiber and show texture and depth by using subtle increases and decreases in colors. Then, you’ll give your bear personality by working on details: eyelids, ears, and, especially, eyes.
You’ll leave the class with a beautiful 8”x10” painting that can be matted with an 11 x 14 mat and framed.
Note: Minimal time will be spent reviewing needle felting basics. While confident beginners may participate, some experience with needle felting is preferred.
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Introduction to Eco Printing on Paper and Fabric (FULL)
Date: Friday, 10/9
Time: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (includes an hour break for lunch)
Workshop Fee: $113 (Members), $125 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $25 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Joyce Tromba
Skill Level: Beginner
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Botanicals, 8-1/2” x 11” mixed media paper, 11” x 60” silk scarf
Supplies Students Should Bring: Waterproof gloves and an apron or clothes that can be stained. All other supplies will be provided; however, students are encouraged to bring additional botanicals if they’d like. (Instructor will provide a list of suitable botanicals prior to the workshop.)
Note: This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Eco printing is a process that uses the leaves and flowers of fresh or dried plants to make a permanent image. Each print is unique, and the results are always a surprise! You'll learn how to print on both paper and fabric in this exciting one-day workshop.
Local fiber artist Joyce Tromba will begin by discussing the best plant material to use for eco printing and show you how to prepare mixed media paper and bamboo rayon material for optimal results. Then, you’ll spend the morning making a collection of eco printed papers.
After lunch, Joyce will show you how to adapt the eco printing process to fabric, and you’ll create a beautiful, 11” x 60” silk scarf.
Most eco printing workshops focus on just one substrate: paper or fabric. Because this class gives you the opportunity to practice printing on BOTH, you’ll leave the workshop with the knowledge to pursue whichever direction most calls to you!
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Introduction to Tapestry Weaving
Date: Saturday, 10/10
Time: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (includes 1 hour break for lunch)
Workshop Fee: $113 (Members), $125 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $30 (To be collected day of workshop; cash, check, or Venmo only)
Instructor: Jeannie Thomma
Skill Level: Beginner
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Loom, pickup stick, shuttles, tapestry needle, comb, dowel, cotton yarn for warp, various weft materials (e.g., yarn, raffia, fabric strips, wool roving)
Supplies Students Should Bring: Scissors, a tape measure, and a pen or pencil. Students are also encouraged to bring favorite yarn, fabric, and/or other materials they’d like to incorporate into their piece, as well as inspirational images or color palettes that they’d like to use as a reference for their design.
Do you have a hard time throwing out scraps of yarn, fabric, paper, and other leftover crafting materials? If so, tapestry weaving might be the perfect solution! Not only does it produce beautiful 2D and 3D artworks, but pretty much anyone can do it, and the process is meditative and fun!
In this one-day workshop, local fiber artist Jeannie Thomma will teach you everything you need to get started with this enjoyable and practical artform. You’ll learn how to:
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Warp (set up) your loom
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Do basic tapestry stitches, such as plain weave, rya knots, and soumak
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Plan a simple design
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Shape, shade, and add textural effects to your piece
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Finish and display your work
This workshop is perfect for complete beginners, as well as those looking to refresh their skills.
By the end of the day, you’ll complete one or more small woven tapestries that will be ready to hang on your wall—or gifted to a friend! You’ll also have all the tools and know how you need to continue exploring this wondrous medium!
No prior weaving experience necessary; just a curious mind and a willingness to play!
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Knitting for Beginners: Shawl (FULL)
Date: Mondays, 10/12 & 11/2
Time: 10:30 AM–12:30 PM
Workshop Fee: $77 (Members), $85 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: None
Instructor: Jeannie Thomma
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: None
Supplies Students Should Bring: 500 yards of bulky yarn that calls for a US 13 needle (see yarn label for yardage), US 13 circular knitting needles (between 29”-36” length), scissors
Note: This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Knitting isn’t rocket science, but, like any art or craft, it does require practice and discipline to increase your skills AND finish projects. If you enjoy knitting—or think you’d enjoy knitting—Jeannie Thomma’s “knit-alongs” may be just what you’re looking for!
Each series of classes focuses on a particular project—a cowl, shawl, hat, etc. —and includes a review of basic knitting stitches, stitch combinations, and techniques (as necessary), as well as introduces new ones. Class size is limited to 10 students to allow ample time for individual attention, as we know that, even as knitters get better at their craft, mistakes are a given. Although the sessions are designed to help beginner to intermediate knitters complete a specific project, more advanced knitters are welcome to join to have access to Jeannie's vast knitting experience--and, of course, to participate in community!
In this two-week session, Jeannie will guide you through the process of making a beautiful shawl. You’ll learn or review casting on, forming knit and/or purl stitches, and binding off. You’ll also learn “increase” and “decrease” methods, which create the lovely crescent shape of this piece. Finally, you’ll be introduced to a decorative picot bid-off, which adds a fun detailed trim.
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Encaustic Collage
Date: Fri, 10/23 & Sat, 10/24
Time: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Friday (includes hour break for lunch); 1:00-5:00 PM Saturday
Workshop Fee: $185.00 (Members), $205.00 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $60 (To be collected day of workshop; cash, check, or Venmo)
Instructor: Denby Dale
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Practice panels, 1, 8” x 8” and 1, 9" x 12” cradled wooden panel pre-coated with encaustic, water-soluble artist crayons, colored and graphite pencils, chalk pastel, graphite, India inks, collage papers, fibers, color and black-and-white toner-based photocopies, small heat gun, burnishing tool, X-acto knife, lightweight carving tools, stencils
Supplies Students Should Bring: An apron or clothes that can be stained. All other supplies provided, though students are encouraged to bring their own lightweight carving and cutting tools/mat, collage papers, fibers, color and/or black-and-white images, pencil or charcoal drawings, and stencils.
Want to take your collage skills to another level, quite literally? In addition to having archival qualities, encaustic (a wax-based “paint”) acts as both an adhesive and a medium, enabling you to reposition or remove collage elements easily, as well as add depth, translucency, and unique textural elements to your work.
In this playful, two-day workshop, mixed media artist Denby Dale will introduce you to some of the basic properties of encaustic (and collage) without any intimidation or fussy studio set-up!
Through demos and experimentation, you’ll learn how to:
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Prep flat wood panels with clear encaustic wax
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Create encaustic collage by:
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Adding color to encaustic panels using water-soluble artist crayons, colored pencils, chalk pastel, graphite, and India inks
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Adding texture to encaustic panels using an X-acto knife, lightweight carving tools, stencils and various imprinting materials
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Adding collage papers and fibers to encaustic panels
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Transferring toner-based images onto encaustic panels
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Layer clear wax over your collage elements to produce “floating” and textured effects
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Fuse layers of wax to seal your marks and imagery into the wax and create cohesive layers
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Remove wax to reveal underlying elements
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Reposition or remove unwanted elements
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Play with color and composition to create visually pleasing collages
In addition to several small sample panels, students will leave the workshop with two original encaustic collages that incorporate various mark making techniques, collage papers, fibers, and/or transferred images.
This workshop is perfect for complete beginners, as well as those looking to refresh their skills.
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Mosaic Mirror
Date: Friday, 11/13
Time: 1:00–5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $77 (Members), $85 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $50 (To be collected day of workshop; cash, check, or Venmo only)
Instructor: Linda Pannullo
Skill Level: Beginner
Supplies Provided by Instructor: 12” round prepared wooden substrate with 8” round beveled mirror insert, mosaicking materials (millefiori, stained glass tiles, etc.), adhesive, design ideas
Supplies Students Should Bring: An apron or clothes that can be stained and closed-toed shoes. All other supplies provided, though students are encouraged to bring any additional mosaicking materials they’d like to embellish their piece.
Add a personal touch to your home by creating a beautiful, one-of-a-kind, mosaic wall mirror. In this fun and engrossing workshop, you’ll learn mosaicking fundamentals as you use millefiori, stained glass tiles, and other mosaicking materials to create your unique piece. Mosaic artist Linda Pannullo will teach you how to:
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Design a mosaic mirror
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Choose appropriate materials for your piece
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Transfer materials and adhere them to a wooden substrate
You’ll walk away with a beautiful 12” round mosaic mirror that you can keep for yourself or give to a special friend or family member.
This is a great workshop for beginners, as there’s no glass cutting or grouting required!
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Introduction to Block Printing
Date: Saturday, 11/14
Time: 1:00-5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $77 (Members), $85 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $20 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Kelly Reese
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Carving block, ink, cards and envelopes, printmaking paper, pencils, tracing paper, sample designs
Supplies Students Should Bring: Carving tool with multiple V and U nibs, such as this one from Michaels or this one from Amazon. All other supplies provided.
Block printing is an amazing and versatile medium that’s great for beginners and experienced artists alike. The designs can be used to create pretty much anything, from paper arts, like wall prints, personal journals, and cards, to wearable fashions and home décor. If you can dream it, you can make it with this technique! Join artist and printmaker, Kelly Reese, as she shows you how to get started on this fun and foolproof craft.
Kelly will demonstrate how to design and carve a basic relief block print, as well as how to roll ink and regulate printing pressure. After practicing techniques, you’ll design (or use one of the winter-themed designs Kelly will provide), carve, and print a set of matching block printed cards and prints. You’ll go home with a useful gift for yourself or a friend and the knowledge and supplies to make more block prints.
No drawing skills required. All you need is a desire to try something new—and have a great time!
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Knit Along with Jeannie: Make a Hat!
Date: Mondays, 11/16 & 11/30
Time: 10:30 AM–12:30 PM
Workshop Fee: $77 (Members), $85 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: None
Instructor: Jeannie Thomma
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner to Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: None
Supplies Students Should Bring: 1 skein Malabrigo Rasta yarn*, scissors, measuring tape, plastic embroidery needle, US #13 circular knitting needles (16” length), 1 set of double pointed #13 needles.
*Students should wind their skein into a ball prior to class (video tutorial—see timestamp 4.00), or plan to arrive 15-20 minutes early to use the instructor’s winder.
Knitting isn’t rocket science, but, like any art or craft, it does require practice and discipline to increase your skills AND finish projects. If you enjoy knitting, Jeannie Thomma’s “knit-alongs” may be just what you’re looking for!
In this two-week session, Jeannie will guide you through the process of making a beautiful hat. You’ll review casting on, forming knit and purl stitches, and binding off. You’ll also learn the rib stitch, the “decrease” method, and how to knit in the round. And, for the icing on the cake, we'll provide instructions on how to make a pom-pom for the top of your hat!
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Pressed Flower Art
Date: Friday, 11/20
Time: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $77 (Members), $85 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $20 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Susan McChesney
Skill Level: Beginner
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Pressed flowers, paper, cardboard, wood, gel medium, lamination sheets, mat, sleeves for presentation and storage, resource sheet, take-home package including pressing packet
Supplies Students Should Bring: All materials provided.
Need a break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season? Pressed Flower Art (aka “Oshibana”) is a relaxing, centuries-old Japanese technique that transforms delicate botanicals into stunning works of art through careful pressing, artistic arrangement, and sealing to prevent color degradation.
Join local artist Susan McChesney as she demonstrates—and then you’ll practice—how to select, press, unpress, and store a variety of botanical materials and then arrange them into a beautiful, laminate-sealed, matted, and sleeved 5”x7” 2D collage. Susan will also show you how to seal pieces using gel medium on cardboard and wood.
Pressed flower art is perfect for gift giving, and you’ll leave the workshop with all the techniques and resources you need to continue working with this medium on your own!
No prior experience necessary; just an enthusiasm to explore this gentle art form!
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