Workshops
Please be sure to check our Calendar page for a complete list of workshops and events.
Go to...
-
Girls' Night (or Day) Out (Online)
-
Introduction to Barn Quilt Painting (Members-Only; 5/23) —FULL
-
Introduction to Textile Collage (Members-Only; 6/11) —FULL
-
Drawing for Absolute Beginners (Online; 6/16, 6/23, 6/30 & 7/7)
-
Sharpie Silk Scarf (6/26)
-
Introduction to Wire Wrapping: Copper Bangle Bracelet (7/10)
-
Introduction to Wet Felting (7/24)
Note: When you successfully register for a workshop, a receipt for your purchase will be emailed to you. If you do not receive a receipt, your registration is NOT confirmed. Please contact us.
COVID-19 Update: We are excited to be offering IN-PERSON workshops again at the studio! To keep our students, instructors, and members safe, we are continuing to follow CDC and local guidelines until further notice. These include limiting class size to allow for social distancing and requiring all students, instructors, and members to wear masks and refrain from eating while inside the studio. Sharing of materials will be permitted when necessary, but students will be encouraged to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer regularly if they do so.
Girls' Night (or Day) Out (Online)
Date: Ongoing
Time: Varies with workshop
Workshop Fee: Varies with workshop
Instructor: Varies with workshop
Skill Level: All
Materials & Tools Needed: Varies with workshop
Note: Due to COVID-19, we have temporarily suspended in-person GNO bookings until late June, 2021.
Looking for something a little different for your next Girls' Night (or Day) Out? Consider scheduling a private arts and crafts party at Purple Crayon! We've got lots of great workshops to choose from, and, if you don't see what you're looking for, we'll be happy to try to find an instructor! More...
Introduction to Barn Quilt Painting (Members-Only) —FULL
Date: Sunday, 5/23
Time: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $65
Instructor: Nancy Grindstaff
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials & Tools Provided: 1 painted and sanded 2’x2’, 3/4” thick exterior plywood board; exterior paint for design
Materials & Tools Needed: 1 roll of 3/4"-1" Scotch blue painters tape; 1 angled paint brush (1-1/2” wide is ideal, but anything in the 1”-2” range will work); 1 angled trim brush (1/4” is ideal, but something slightly larger will work); yard stick; pencil (mechanical draws a thinner line); soft eraser such as art gum type; hair dryer
Note: Due to COVID-19, we are restricting this workshop to Purple Crayon members only. If you are not a PC member and would like to be notified when this workshop is offered to the public, please email pam@purplecrayonavl.com.
Description: Join the barn quilt movement by creating your own painted Electric Fan quilt block! These beautiful outdoor pieces are popping up everywhere—and typically cost upwards of $100-$150! Once you learn the process, however, you can make them for a whole lot less, as Barn Quilt Painting artist Nancy Grindstaff has discovered. Follow along as she teaches you her process.
You’ll start with a 2’x2’ pre-primed board. Since preparing your quilt board can take a couple of days, Nancy has done the work for you, but she’ll explain what she did so you can do it next time.
Instead of messing with the prep work, you’ll get to dive in from the beginning, spending most of your time working on your design. Nancy will take you through each step, from drafting to taping to painting, and will provide several different paint colors you can use for your quilt. You are also welcome to bring your own paint, but please make sure that it’s a high-quality exterior satin paint. At the end of the workshop, Nancy will discuss hanging options based on your situation.
You’ll leave the workshop with a beautiful, finished quilt block that you can use to adorn your own home—or barn, if you’re lucky enough to have one!
Introduction to Textile Collage (Members-Only) —FULL
Date: Friday, 6/11
Time: 10 AM-1 PM
Workshop Fee: $45
Instructor: Christy Ammerman
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials & Tools Supplied: Fabric scraps, embellishments, thread, needles, hoops
Materials & Tools Needed: Fabric scraps and embellishments that are meaningful to you (Optional)
Note: Due to COVID-19, we are restricting this workshop to Purple Crayon members only. If you are not a PC member and would like to be notified when this workshop is offered to the public, please email pam@purplecrayonavl.com.
Description: Do you enjoy creating paper collages but wish there were a way to add more texture to your work? Are you drawn to textiles but aren’t interested in creating garments or quilts? Do you find hand stitching—or watching someone hand stitch—relaxing? If so, this workshop is for you!
In just a few hours, Mixed Media artist Christy Ammerman will show you how to transform bits of discarded (but, perhaps, memory-filled) fabric, trim, and thread into something new, personal, and beautiful.
You’ll start by learning how to source and prepare found material. Then, Christy will demonstrate how to pick a focal piece and weave a story around it by carefully selecting, positioning, and layering fabric scraps, trim, and other embellishments.
After you create your design, Christy will give you options for assembling your piece and teach basic hand-stitching techniques. Finally, you’ll learn how to finish and display your one-of-a-kind masterpiece!
Drawing for Absolute Beginners (Online)
Date: Wednesdays, 6/16-7/7
Time: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $120 (Non-Members); $108 (Members)
Instructor: Terrilynn Dubreuil
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials & Tools Needed: List of materials and tools for Drawing for Absolute Beginners (.pdf)
Description: Drawing is not a talent; it’s a skill anyone can learn. Whether you’re an aspiring painter, graphic designer, illustrator, or any other kind of artist, veteran instructor Terrilynn Dubreuil will teach you everything you need to get started.
You'll begin by learning the true basics: what materials are ideal to have versus what materials you actually NEED; how to hold your drawing tools, etc. Then, you’ll learn how to draw simple 2D shapes (circles, squares, and triangles) using a photograph. Next, you’ll move onto drawing simple 3D shapes (spheres, cylinders, cubes, cones, and pyramids), again using a photograph. In the third lesson, you’ll begin pulling everything together by drawing 3D shapes from “life objects.” Finally, you’ll wrap up the course by drawing a simple still life composition that encourages you to notice proportions and relationships between objects, as well as experiment with varied lines to indicate weight and light.
You’ll leave the class with knowledge and techniques that can be applied to any object, landscape, or portrait!
Note: This workshop will be conducted using Zoom, an online meeting tool. You must have access to a computer, tablet, smart phone, or other internet-accessible device, as well as the internet. Instructions for accessing the workshop will be provided after registration.
Sharpie Silk Scarf
Date: Saturday, 6/26
Time: 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $32 (Members), $35 (Non-Members)
Instructor: Pam Robbins
Skill Level: All
Materials & Tools Needed: Apron or clothes that can be stained. All other materials supplied.
Description: Love wearing one-of-a-kind, handmade, dyed scarves but don't love their price tag? We understand! Not only are these scarves beautiful and economical (compared to dying with alcohol inks), but they’re super easy and fun to make!
Join Purple Crayon owner, Pam Robbins, as she shows you how to use Sharpie markers and isopropyl alcohol to transform an ordinary piece of silk into an extraordinary silk scarf. You’ll be amazed at the beautiful colors and fluid patterns you can create with just a few simple lines. If you can doodle, you can do this!
No dyeing, drawing, or painting experience necessary!
Note: If you would prefer to dye another piece of clothing (e.g., a t-shirt or canvas sneakers), in addition to or instead of a silk scarf, you are welcome to bring it to the workshop. The results will vary based on the material, but the dying process will be the same.
Introduction to Wire Wrapping: Copper Bangle Bracelet
Date: Saturday, 7/10
Time: 1:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Workshop Fee: $64 (Members), $70 (Non-Members)
Instructor: Nadine Fidelman
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials & Tools Needed: All materials supplied.
Description: Have you always wanted to make your own professional-looking jewelry? In this introductory wire wrapping workshop, Jewelry Designer Nadine Fidelman will show you how to create a beautiful copper bangle bracelet in just a few hours!
You’ll begin by choosing a size bracelet. Then, Nadine will show you how to prepare square wire and half round “wrapping wire” by cutting and straightening it. Next, you’ll learn how to twist square wire and attach side square wires using wrapping techniques. Finally, you’ll form your bracelet to your wrist, tumble it, and finish your piece by patinating and sanding it to your desired color.
No previous jewelry-making experience required, but you should have good eyesight and a steady hand.
Introduction to Wet Felting
Date: Saturday, 7/24
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $51 (Members), $55 (Non-Members)
Instructor: Camille Daunno
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials & Tools Needed: All materials supplied.
Description: Wet felting, the process of applying water to layers of wool and repeatedly agitating them until the fibers weave together, has become very popular in the past few years. It’s fun, easy, and can be very useful!
In just a few hours, Fiber Artist Camille Daunno will teach you how to make a sheet of felt using only wool fibers, soap, water, and good old fashioned “elbow grease.” Then, she’ll show you how to turn your sheet into a beautiful bowl, or, if you’d rather, give you suggestions for manipulating it into something else: clothing, bags, or other decorative items.
