Living The Arts

“Christmas wishes from the folk school”

2011-12-19T12:10:00.009-06:00

     The Villages Folk School board and staff wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas. As our thoughts turn towards the Christmas season we hope all of you will enjoy a safe and joyous time with your friends and loved ones.

     Our folk school classes slated for January 2012 may be seen by logging into our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com and clicking on the calendar. Gift certificates are still available for those last minute presents and will be great stocking stuffers. We encourage you to experience a day with one of our artist instructors. Why not get some of your friends to come with you and spend the day learning the art of artisan bread making in Betty Printy’s historic Bentonsport home. If learning to quilt sounds like fun, Joy Hanson will teach you in her class at the historic Mason House Inn.

     Living the arts in the Villages of Van Buren County is not just a one-day experience, it’s a way of life for many of our folk school instructors.

January classes for the new year are as follows:

2012 Schedule

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

7-Jan-2012 8-Jan-2012

Artisan Bread Making Made Easy

14-Jan-2012 -

7 Step Chair Caning

14-Jan-2012 -

Intermediate Knitting

14-Jan-2012 -

Container Candles

21-Jan-2012 -

Rug Weaving Workshop

21-Jan-2012 22-Jan-2012

Artisan Bread Making Made Easy

28-Jan-2012 -

Join us at the Villages Folk School as we share with you the thrill of living the arts by learning to be creative.

.

“Simple treasures bring lasting pleasures”

2011-12-13T16:38:00.002-06:00

     A gift made with your own hands will bring years of pleasure to the recipient and become something they will treasure forever. The Villages Folk School has two classes that will still give you time before Christmas to complete that special gift. We want you to enjoy this season by joining our talented instructors in a class that will inspire you to complete a wonderful gift for your friend or family. Joy Hanson will teach you how to make a beautiful quilt while you enjoy a peaceful weekend at the Bentonsport Mason House Inn on Dec 17th and 18th. Another class you might enjoy is Jolene Tedrow’s “Beveled Glass Angels” where you will create an elegant work of art using beveled glass, solder and copper foil. This class will be held on December 17th at the Congregational Church parsonage in Keosauqua.

     Creating works of art can be fun for everyone and we encourage you to take one of our many classes here at the Villages Folk School or perhaps you would like to make it possible for your family to enjoy. You can do that by giving them a Villages Folk School “gift certificate” good for any class they might want to experience. Call us today at (319) 592-3700 or go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com for information about purchasing a gift certificate.

Our classes for the remainder of December and for January are as follows:

Christmas Cards & Favors

8-Dec-2011 -

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

17-Dec-2011 18-Dec-2011

Beveled Glass Angels

17-Dec-2011 -

2012 Schedule

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

7-Jan-2012 8-Jan-2012

Artisan Bread Making Made Easy

14-Jan-2012 -

7 Step Chair Caning

14-Jan-2012 -

Intermediate Knitting

14-Jan-2012 -

Container Candles

21-Jan-2012 -

Rug Weaving Workshop

21-Jan-2012 22-Jan-2012

Artisan Bread Making Made Easy

28-Jan-2012 -

Come enjoy one of our classes as we celebrate the Christmas season.

“The Gift that keeps on Giving”

2011-12-05T13:55:00.002-06:00

     This is the season when we all think about giving as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. His humble birth in a manger surrounded by cattle and sheep surely would not be that of a man who would bring such a gift to the world. But His gift stirred the hearts of shepherds and wise men and continues even today.

     Certainly we cannot give a gift of this magnitude but we can look for ways to share something with our friends and family that will endure for a lifetime. The Villages Folk School “gift certificate” will do just that as it starts them on a path of learning a new art form or just rekindles a love for art that has been buried for years. The opportunity to experience art hands-on with a gifted artist instructor will inspire them to follow their dreams and to be creative in a way that will encourage them to share the gift with others. Don’t miss out on this chance to give the gift that keeps on giving. Call the folk school office today at (319) 592-3700 for your gift certificates. Our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com is filled with information about our classes and includes a calendar of our class schedules for the remainder of 2011 and on into 2012.

     There is still time to register for Joy Hanson’s quilt making class this month. Spend a weekend with Joy at the historic Mason House Inn in Bentonsport as she teaches you the proper steps to completing a wonderful handmade quilt.

     This year we have added a new class, Christmas Cards & Favors, which will be taught by Sandi Dimmitt on December 8th from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Congregational Church parsonage in Keosauqua. Join Sandi for an evening making special cards and favors for this holiday season.

Only two classes left in 2011 and they are as follows:

Christmas Cards & Favors 8-Dec-2011

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

17-Dec-2011 18-Dec-2011

     Our artist instructors are waiting to share their gift with you and your family so give a gift that keeps on giving by registering for a class or purchasing a gift certificate from the Villages Folk School. Call us today at (319) 592-3700 or go online to www.villagesfolkschool.com.

“Folk School adds a personal touch to your Christmas gifts”

2011-11-30T09:54:00.008-06:00

     If you want to add a personal touch to your Christmas gifts this year the Villages Folk School classes will give you the proper one-on-one instruction. Joy Hanson will teach you how to make a container candle in your favorite cup or mug that looks and smells like a cup of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows. Are you thinking about crocheting a special gift but don’t feel confident in your crocheting ability? Join Meg King for leisurely day learning to crotchet.

     Creating a beautiful quilt can be a challenging endeavor but with the help of our folk school instructor, Joy Hanson, you will be amazed at how quickly your task is completed. Spend a weekend with Joy at the historic Mason House Inn in Bentonsport as she teaches you the proper steps to completing a wonderful handmade quilt.

     This year we have added a new class, Christmas Cards & Favors, which will be taught by Sandi Dimmitt on December 8th from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Congregational Church parsonage in Keosauqua. Join Sandi for an evening making special cards and favors for this holiday season.

     For a look at what is happening at the Villages Folk School go to www.villagesfolkschool.com and see our class calendar. You may reach us by phone at (319) 592-3700 for any additional questions or help with class registration.

The following is a schedule of our remaining 2011 classes:

Container Candles

3-Dec-2011 -

Beginning Crocheting

3-Dec-2011

Christmas Cards & Favors 8-Dec-2011

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

17-Dec-2011 18-Dec-2011

     Let the Villages Folk School be a part of your holiday planning by registering for a class or purchasing a gift certificate for your family and friends. Call us today at (319) 592-3700 or go online to www.villagesfolkschool.com.

“Thankful in the Villages”

2011-11-23T18:46:00.000-06:00

     As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving in the Villages of Van Buren County it offers us a chance to reflect on what seems commonplace and come to a realization of not only what we are thankful for but why we are thankful. The Villages Folk School board and staff want to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving and our hopes are that each of you has time to reflect as we do and enjoy this special time with your family and friends.

     Our few remaining classes in this year will give you a chance to think of those friends and family as you prepare something special, made by you, that will be a gift to serve for years as a reminder of your love and friendship.

     Join us here at the Villages Folk School and make a gift for that special someone in your life. Our artist instructors will guide you through every step. You will be amazed at what you can create as you ‘live the arts’ with a folk school instructor.

     We have a new class, Christmas Cards & Favors, which will be taught by Sandi Dimmitt on December 8th from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Congregational Church parsonage in Keosauqua. Join Sandi for an evening making special cards and favors for this holiday season.

     For a look at what is happening at the Villages Folk School go to www.villagesfolkschool.com and see our class calendar. You may reach us by phone at (319) 592-3700 for any additional questions or help with class registration.

The following is a schedule of our remaining 2011 classes:

Container Candles

3-Dec-2011 -

Beginning Crocheting

3-Dec-2011

Christmas Cards & Favors 8-Dec-2011

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

17-Dec-2011 18-Dec-2011

Register for one of our classes and put an added spark in your holiday season.

“Location, Location, Location!”

2011-11-15T19:57:00.003-06:00

     Folk school artist, Gin Lammert, has recently released a series of pastels entitled “Along the Mormon Trail” and I believe it is some of her best work ever. She didn’t have to travel far for her subject because the Villages of Van Buren County that she travels through each day provided the fall palette from which she drew her inspiration. Her work will be on display at the Burns Gallery & Tea Emporium in Bonaparte through December 4th.

     Coming to the folk school to take a class allows you to experience the villages in southeastern Iowa and discover why so many gifted artists have chosen to live the arts in this pristine Des Moines River valley. This fall has been an incredible display of nature as the turning from summer to winter continues its colorful array of ever changing scenery. Soon we will see the landscape covered in a blanket of white snow and enjoy yet another season here in Van Buren County. All of this can be experienced by coming to this southeastern Iowa paradise and enjoying a stay at one of our peaceful B & B’s while partaking in a class at the Villages Folk School.

     This season why not make plans to take a class in an art form that you have always wanted to try. Our folk school artists will guide you through as you learn to create your very own masterpieces. Our class calendar can be found online at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office today at (319) 592-3700. For those of you without internet availability here is our schedule for the end of the year:

7 Step Chair Caning

19-Nov-2011 -

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011

Container Candles

3-Dec-2011 -

Beginning Crocheting

3-Dec-2011

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

17-Dec-2011 18-Dec-2011

Join in the fun at the Villages Folk School!

“Create your own holiday gifts”

2011-11-07T19:30:00.000-06:00

     As we approach the holiday season the thoughts begin to turn towards giving and those special people in our lives. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could create something made especially for them with our own hands? Our talented artist instructors have scheduled classes for this season that will help you create a holiday gift for that special someone in your life. Call our office at (319) 592-3700 or go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com and register for one of those classes. Each class is designed to help you complete a project that is ready for use or for giving. Whether it is Shaker Boxes, Container Candles, Chair Caning, Crocheting, or Quilting the folk school has a class designed just for you.

Here are the dates for each of those classes:

Shaker Boxes

12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011

7 Step Chair Caning

19-Nov-2011 -

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011

Container Candles

3-Dec-2011 -

Beginning Crocheting

3-Dec-2011

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

17-Dec-2011 18-Dec-2011

     The work of folk school artist, Gin Lammert, will be the feature exhibit at the Burns Gallery & Tea Emporium in Bonaparte, Iowa from November 5th through December 5th. Stop in to see her wonderful collection of pastel paintings entitled “Along the Mormon Trail”. Meet this gifted artist at a special reception to be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 11th.

     The Villages Folk School invites you to “live the arts” with us here in scenic Van Buren County. Make this holiday season a time to enjoy the arts “hands on” by taking a class at the folk school or by visiting the Burns Gallery & Tea Emporium where you can see paintings by Gin Lammert and bronze sculptures by Chris Bennett.

“Students enjoying fall in the Villages”

2011-10-27T14:55:00.000-05:00

     Students from Iowa and Missouri take part in classes at the Villages Folk School and spend a weekend enjoying the beautiful fall weather here in the Villages of Van Buren County.

     It was a “double header” in Bentonsport this past weekend as Betty Printy and April Ziegler taught simultaneous classes. Betty’s kitchen in her historic brick home was the stage for the “Artisan Bread Making Made Easy” class and the performance was breath taking. When I arrived, everyone was gathered around the working island in the center of the kitchen and taking turns applying the techniques Betty had just shared. I never tire of sitting in on the classes and snapping photographs of the continuing process. The class moves from the use of the yeast in preparing the dough to the hand kneading of the loaf and, for the grand finale, into the cloche and the oven for a spectacular finish. This class is always popular, a treat for those who attend, and leaves them with a pleasant trip home to share the excellent loaf of bread with their families. Betty’s bread recipes are among the best I have tasted and will become a delight at your dinner table for years to come.

     A few paces north from Betty’s front door and you are at the front door of the log building where April Ziegler, Betty’s daughter, is teaching a class on rug weaving. April and her students were carefully “warping the beam” which is the process of properly loading the yarn onto the loom prior to beginning the weaving of the rug. The first day in class is spent selecting the color scheme and warping the beam. On the second day the students begin to weave their masterpiece and by the end of the day have completed a rug that can be proudly displayed at home.

     Bread making and weaving are only two of the many classes offered year round at the Villages Folk School here in scenic southeastern Iowa. The winding river valley and lush hardwoods in this picturesque county which is home to our 30 folk school artists will become a refuge for you to come relax and enjoy the arts with our talented artist instructors.

     Go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com and choose you next class from our class calendar. You may print out a registration form and mail it in to our office or simply call us today at (319) 592-3700 for more information and registration assistance. Our office is in Bonaparte, Iowa at the Opera House and is open from 8:30 to 12:30 Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. For those of you without internet access our upcoming class schedule as follows:

Natural Dyes in My Backyard

27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011

Container Candles

5-Nov-2011 -

Beginning Knitting

5-Nov-2011 -

Shaker Boxes

12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011

Tatting 12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011

7 Step Chair Caning

19-Nov-2011 -

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011

     Call us today and register for a class at the Villages Folk School. We look forward to your visit.

“Creating masterpieces in the oven and on canvas”

2011-10-20T17:41:00.000-05:00

     Students from around Iowa visited Van Buren County last weekend to learn the art of artisan bread making and painting the landscape from Villages Folk School instructors.

     John Preston set his easel on the banks of the Des Moines River at Bonaparte and welcomed students from Ames, Cedar Rapids and Keosauqua who had come to learn the techniques of painting the landscape in oil and watercolor. John’s brilliance with shadow, color and perspective soon unfolds as his brush gently strokes the canvas and creates, as if by magic, the splendor of the surrounding landscape. I never tire of watching his seemingly effortless style of painting and hearing him express that gift to the students in tangible means so as to encourage them in their painting experience. If you have a desire to paint but just can’t find the right motivation to begin then I urge you to spend a day with John Preston. His “Painting the Landscape” class will set you on the right path and encourage you to draw from within yourself as you begin to create on canvas what is vividly displayed on nature’s panorama.

     Betty Printy welcomed students to her historic Bentonsport home for a class in artisan bread making. Her class covers every aspect of the process from ingredients to proper mixing and baking and Betty shares little secrets of hers throughout the day. I, of course, excel in the “tasting” process and never pass up the opportunity to sample some of the day’s spectacular results. Students attending her class leave with a sense of accomplishment and all the skills needed to continue baking homemade bread on a daily basis.

     Register for a class at the Villages Folk School and come enjoy a weekend in the historic Villages of Van Buren County. Our web site is www.villagesfolkschool.com or call us at (319) 592-3700 and discover for yourself the joy of “living the arts” with our artist instructors.

     Our new office hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

     The following is our class calendar for the remainder of October and November:

Artisan Bread Making Made Easy

22-Oct-2011 -

Spring and Fall Birdwatching

22-Oct-2011 -

Rug Weaving Workshop

22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011

Natural Dyes in My Backyard

27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011

Container Candles

5-Nov-2011 -

Beginning Knitting

5-Nov-2011 -

Shaker Boxes

12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011

Tatting 12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011

7 Step Chair Caning

19-Nov-2011 -

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011

“Weaving your way through the Villages?”

2011-10-12T13:43:00.000-05:00

     For those who traveled through the historic bypass and stopped in each of the villages here in Van Buren County it was a weekend of parades, vendors, car shows, good food, music and the historic splendor of this river valley. It is this “historic splendor” that will continue to draw people back to our simpler way of life. The Villages Folk School classes give people the opportunity to come to this beautiful county, stay in a historic hotel or inn, and enjoy the arts taught by gifted artist instructors who “live the arts” here in Van Buren County.

     Classes are held year round and offer a chance for students to come enjoy all the seasons here in southeast Iowa. October and November are a good time to start thinking about gifts for Christmas and this year you could make your own with the help of an artist. Paint the Landscape with John Preston and discover your own creative side as John guides you through the steps. He makes it look so easy and his helpful guidance will have you painting masterpieces in no time. How about making your own gift basket complete with bread you learned to bake at the “Artisan Bread Making Make Easy” class taught by Betty Printy in her historic home. Add to that a container candle that you made by attending Joy Hanson’s “Container Candles” class at the historic Mason House in Bentonsport. Give handmade rugs, quilts, Shaker boxes, caned chairs, hand knitted items for the choice is yours as you browse through our calendar of classes on the web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com .

     Visit or web site, pick a class, register by calling our office at (319) 592-3700 or print and mail your registration form and get ready to enjoy yourself at the Villages Folk School.

The following is our class calendar for October and November:

Artisan Bread Making Made Easy

15-Oct-2011 -

Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits

15-Oct-2011 -

Painting the Landscape

15-Oct-2011 -

Artisan Bread Making Made Easy

16-Oct-2011 -

Artisan Bread Making Made Easy

22-Oct-2011 -

Spring and Fall Birdwatching

22-Oct-2011 -

Rug Weaving Workshop

22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011

Natural Dyes in My Backyard

27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011

Container Candles

5-Nov-2011 -

Beginning Knitting

5-Nov-2011 -

Shaker Boxes

12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011

7 Step Chair Caning

19-Nov-2011 -

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011

See you soon at the Villages Folk School.

“Folk School classes on a fall palette”

2011-10-03T13:59:00.000-05:00

     Driving through the lush countryside of Van Buren County offers a chance for you to slow down, enjoy the beautiful fall colors, and savour the pace of life in this rural wonderland. The changing of the guard, if you will, as the greenery gives way to fall’s burst of color. I am still overcome by the spectacle nature provides as I travel to Villages Folk School classes in this scenic river valley devoid of stop lights and fast food restaurants. I invite you to experience the Villages of Van Buren County and all this southeastern Iowa County has to offer.

     October at the Villages Folk School welcomes the return of Betty Printy’s popular “Artisan Bread Making Made Easy” class where you will learn the art of making bread in the historic Bentonsport home of Bill and Betty Printy. This class is always a treat for the many who travel to the villages to learn the art of baking bread. Call our folk school office at (319) 592-3700 or contact us by email at villagesfolkschool@gmail.com and make your reservations. For those of you with internet the class calendar is available on our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com.

     John Preston’s “Painting the Landscape”, Raymond and Connie Morris’s “Fall Birdwatching”, and Pat Crawford’s “Natural Dyes in My Backyard” are classes that will take you into the fall splendor and give you a firsthand look at October in Van Buren County.

The following is our class calendar for October and November:

Artisan Bread Making Made Easy

15-Oct-2011 -

Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits

15-Oct-2011 -

Painting the Landscape

15-Oct-2011 -

Artisan Bread Making Made Easy

16-Oct-2011 -

Artisan Bread Making Made Easy

22-Oct-2011 -

Spring and Fall Birdwatching

22-Oct-2011 -

Rug Weaving Workshop

22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011

Natural Dyes in My Backyard

27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011

Container Candles

5-Nov-2011 -

Beginning Knitting

5-Nov-2011 -

Shaker Boxes

12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011

Tatting

12-Nov-2011

7 Step Chair Caning

19-Nov-2011 -

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011

     We invite you to join us at the Villages Folk School as our artist instructors teach you to enjoy art commingled with history and nature.

“Folk School continues to bring students from outside Van Buren County”

2011-09-26T14:52:00.000-05:00

     Students from Corydon, Bettendorf, Pella and Keokuk enjoyed a stay in Van Buren County while attending a Villages Folk School class at the Iron & Lace in Bentonsport. Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer taught their students the basics of working with iron in a Beginning Blacksmithing class held in Bill’s academy. Each of the students receives not only classroom instruction but hands-on training at the forge. With Bill and Mark giving individual attention to the students as they work the forge and anvil, the process becomes a unique learning experience. The first day includes classroom instruction scheduled in such a way as to give time for testing what they have learned at their own forge. Bill and Mark move about the shop that includes five forges and offer constructive critique as the students test their skills with the hammer. The second day is an open workshop allowing the students to further apply what they have learned by spending the day at the forge.

     Our folk school classes offer you a chance to experience art with an artist instructor while enjoying the peaceful surroundings of historic Van Buren County. Register today at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at (319) 592-3700. The class calendar is available on our web site but for those without internet access the following is a list of our upcoming classes.

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

1-Oct-2011 2-Oct-2011

Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits

15-Oct-2011 -

Painting the Landscape

15-Oct-2011 -

Spring and Fall Birdwatching

22-Oct-2011 -

Rug Weaving Workshop

22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011

Natural Dyes in My Backyard

27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011

Container Candles

5-Nov-2011 -

Shaker Boxes

12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011

7 Step Chair Caning

19-Nov-2011 -

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011

Join us for a fun-filled weekend at the Villages Folk School.

“Get reacquainted with life in Van Buren County Iowa”

2011-09-21T09:34:00.000-05:00

I’m sure many people keep a record of their days and weeks by writing in a journal, but how many have actually made the paper they are writing on? For Pat Crawford of Cantril it is an everyday event and she is making that opportunity available to you by teaching the art of paper making and binding it into a journal. Personalizing the very paper you write on is rewarding and Pat will take you step by step through the process. Registration is still open for the class that will be held Thursday and Friday, September 22nd and 23rd.

Have you ever thought about learning the art of forging iron in a blacksmith shop? Well now is your chance as Bill Printy fires up the forge and opens his academy for another exciting class in beginning blacksmithing at Iron and Lace in Bentonsport, Iowa. Bill and his apprentice, Mark Heisdorffer, will instruct you in the proper use of the forge, the anvil and each of the specific tools of the trade. Students come from all over the country to experience the everyday life of the blacksmith and learn from a master who has turned iron work into a fine art.

Call us today at (319) 592-3700 or go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com to register for the class of your choice.

     The scenic river valley and colorful country side of Van Buren County has become the home of many artists because its splendor is a constant boost to their creative life. Those of us who live here often forget to enjoy the simple pleasure of a drive through the flowing hillsides of this southeastern Iowa county but we should be thankful for the quality of life it provides us. Spending a weekend with one of the folk school artists who make their living painting, blacksmithing, turning pottery, etc. will help you capture some of the motivation this area provides them as they live the arts in this beautiful river valley.

     The peaceful surroundings of our historic villages provide a place for the arts to thrive and offer outsiders a chance to experience the history that is alive here in our county. That is why they continue to return for our folk school classes and a chance to escape the hectic lifestyles in the cities. We encourage those of you who call Van Buren County your home to take a class at the Villages Folk School and capture the thrill of living the arts.

     Our class schedule is posted on the web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at (319) 592-3700.

The following is our upcoming class schedule:

Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making

22-Sep-2011 23-Sep-2011

Beginning Blacksmithing

24-Sep-2011 25-Sep-2011

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

1-Oct-2011 2-Oct-2011

Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits

15-Oct-2011 -

Painting the Landscape

15-Oct-2011 -

Spring and Fall Birdwatching

22-Oct-2011 -

Rug Weaving Workshop

22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011

Natural Dyes in My Backyard

27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011

Container Candles

5-Nov-2011 -

Shaker Boxes

12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011

7 Step Chair Caning

19-Nov-2011 -

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011

Register today for an experience of a lifetime at the Villages Folk School.

“Art classes in the home and studio of Wendell Mohr”

2011-09-14T17:19:00.000-05:00

     It was an exciting weekend at the Villages Folk School as Gin Lammert taught her folk school class, Still Life Workshop in Pastel & Oil, in the historic Vernon schoolhouse. The building, constructed in 1868, became the home and studio of Wendell Mohr and his family in 1970. Wendell’s paintings reflected his love for people and his life experiences. He was well known to Van Buren County artists and although I never met the man, my conversations with those artists reveal the passion and love he had for painting and teaching. His daughter, Paula Mohr, told me how she looks forward to art classes being held in her late father’s studio. It is my hope that the students who come for our folk school art classes will also appreciate the history of the studio in which they learn and in doing so continue the legacy of Wendell Mohr.

Our folk school classes will continue through the winter and we encourage you to check our calendar for a class that might interest you. Our calendar is available at www.villagesfolkschool.com or you may call our office at (319) 592-3700. Contact us today for more information on the Villages Folk School.

List of coming classes:

Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave

17-Sep-2011 -

Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension

17-Sep-2011 18-Sep-2011

Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making

22-Sep-2011 23-Sep-2011

Beginning Blacksmithing

24-Sep-2011 25-Sep-2011

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

1-Oct-2011 2-Oct-2011

Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits

15-Oct-2011 -

Painting the Landscape

15-Oct-2011 -

Spring and Fall Birdwatching

22-Oct-2011 -

Rug Weaving Workshop

22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011

Natural Dyes in My Backyard

27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011

Container Candles

5-Nov-2011 -

Shaker Boxes

12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011

7 Step Chair Caning

19-Nov-2011 -

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011

Join us for a fun weekend at the Villages Folk School.

“1800 Degrees in a Top Hat”

2011-09-07T10:19:00.000-05:00

     What is in a degree? Certainly educators have labored to turn out some of the finest, most educated people in the world but that isn’t the degree we are discussing today, although these 1800 degrees turn out some of the finest looking pottery in the world. I am talking about Raku pottery and it happened this past weekend at Iron & Lace in the village of Bentonsport, Iowa. Fifteen students came from across the state and one of them from Pennsylvania to learn the art of Raku pottery from our folk school instructors, Bill and Betty Printy. The art of Raku which dates back to 16th-century Japan has become very popular here at the Villages Folk School. The beauty of this pottery is that your creation is completed in one class and can be taken home at the end of the day.

     I am always excited to hear from our students and each time I do it reminds me of why we do what we do. The arts and the ability to be creative are something to be shared. I recently framed a pastel piece that was painted by one of our folk school students. It was her first pastel class but she shared with me how she had taken different classes that we offer at the folk school and enjoyed them but until now she hadn’t found one she was truly good at. The painting she did in pastel was of a tiger and it was beautiful. She has found a way to be creative and will share that with everyone she meets. Living the arts here in Van Buren County whether it be raku, sculpture, blacksmithing, hand-thrown pottery, painting, weaving, chair caning, painting barn quilts or paper making will bring you in contact with artists who get their inspiration from the very place they live.

     Register for your first experience here at the Villages Folk School by calling 319-592-3700 or online at www.villagesfolkschool.com.

The following is our list of classes for September:

Still Life Workshop in Pastel & Oil

10-Sep-2011 11-Sep-2011

Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave

17-Sep-2011 -

Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension

17-Sep-2011 18-Sep-2011

Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making

22-Sep-2011 23-Sep-2011

Beginning Blacksmithing

24-Sep-2011 25-Sep-2011

We hope to see you soon at the Villages Folk School in historic Van Buren County Iowa.

“History comes alive in the Villages of Van Buren County”

2011-08-29T16:02:00.000-05:00

     Traveling through the beautiful landscapes of Van Buren County is only the canvas for the history that lives and breathes in these rolling hills and scenic river valley. As an artist touches the canvas with the first brush strokes, the final masterpiece lies only in his or her mind. But slowly the strokes begin to create form and the mind’s eye can see shape and beauty as the artist applies more and more to the canvas. The same is true of the sculptor who begins his work with only a block of clay or the potter who centers the clay on a wheel and begins the process of shaping a form as the clay spins beneath her fingers.

     The Villages Folk School is not just another building or classroom but it is the portal through which you can step to not only see the past through the artist’s eye but actually experience the history that lives because of the unique opportunities afforded by our classes. Don’t just plan for a day painting or sculpting. Instead, enjoy a chance to step from your everyday life into the life of the artist who will take you back to the history of the art. Suddenly you will understand the joy of living the arts as the instructor helps you relive the history that has its roots here in southeast Iowa.

     Come see for yourself as our September schedule rolls out. Pottery, sculpting, painting, chair caning, beginning blacksmithing, paper making! The class calendar is available to you online at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at 319-592-3700.

Our classes available in September are as follows:

Raku Pottery

3-Sep-2011

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

3-Sep-2011 4-Sep-2011

Still Life Workshop in Pastel & Oil

10-Sep-2011 11-Sep-2011

Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave

17-Sep-2011 -

Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension

17-Sep-2011 18-Sep-2011

Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making

22-Sep-2011 23-Sep-2011

Beginning Blacksmithing

24-Sep-2011 25-Sep-2011

Register today and learn the history of the arts in this great county. We look forward to seeing you at the Villages Folk School.

“Back to school time in the Villages”

2011-08-18T09:49:00.000-05:00

     Teachers, students, and parents are busy preparing for the school year to begin and here at the Villages Folk School we continue our preparation for another month of classes. The folk school offers classes year round and allows time for each of you to come enjoy instruction in the arts. “Not knowing how” has become a thing of the past in the Villages as each of our artist instructors offers you beginning, intermediate and advanced classes in the art of drawing, painting, blacksmithing, pottery, weaving, knitting, and the list goes on and on. We encourage you to take a class at the Villages Folk School and find out what everyone is talking about. Our students come from Iowa and the surrounding states but you have only to drive across the county and join us for a class. Our desire is to offer each person in Van Buren County a chance to live the arts with one of our many gifted artists. Help us make this a reality and register for a class today. You will find our class schedule online at www.villagesfolkschool.com or give us a call at 319-592-3700 for assistance.

     We ask you to help support our work as we grow the Villages Folk School by becoming a friend of the folk school. Sponsorship is easy by clicking on the link provided on our website. The level you choose is your decision but we want you all to know that we appreciate each and every one who chooses to support us.

     If you have questions that have not been answered on our website please give us a call at the office, 592-3700, and Gloria will be happy to assist you.

     Don’t let time slip away, join with us today and become a part of the Villages Folk School as we strive to improve the quality of life in Van Buren County. Visitors always comment on the beauty of our scenic river valley and the wildlife here in our county but we believe you, the people, are what make this a great place to live.

     The Villages Folk School offers you the opportunity to learn from a gifted artist and find your way in the world of art right here in Van Buren County.

Our classes available in August and September are as follows:

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

20-Aug-2011 21-Aug-2011

Raku Pottery

3-Sep-2011

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

3-Sep-2011 4-Sep-2011

Still Life Workshop in Pastel & Oil

10-Sep-2011 11-Sep-2011

Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave

17-Sep-2011 -

Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension

17-Sep-2011 18-Sep-2011

Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making

22-Sep-2011 23-Sep-2011

Beginning Blacksmithing

24-Sep-2011 25-Sep-2011

     Your very own experience in the arts awaits you at the Villages Folk School so what are you waiting for? Call us today at 592-3700.

“A weekend at the Villages Folk School”

2011-08-10T23:29:00.000-05:00

     It’s Saturday morning, you awake to the birds singing, the sun shining in your window and even notice a fawn playing by his mother at the corner of your yard. This is a great prelude to what you will do today because your day will be spent painting the landscape with artist John Preston. Maybe you take time to paint once or twice a week or perhaps this is the first time you’ve held a brush to the canvas since school days. Whatever your background is, you are about to experience something that will inspire you and give you the confidence to paint. My wife hadn’t painted since high school and with the help and encouragement she received from John Preston in her first “Painting the Landscape” class she was able to complete what I thought was a very nice painting. John, with his soft spoken reassuring style, gave her the incentive to paint and the skills he subtly imparts to his students provided the knowledge to successfully complete the painting.

     Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer awoke to the same sunshine and the still, peaceful quiet of a Saturday morning in Bentonsport, Iowa. Their day began with preparation for the Blacksmithing, Forge Welding class. Students will arrive by 9:00 a.m. so the forges must be fired up and ready for work. Bill and Mark greet their students with a fresh cup of coffee and usually something great to eat, like maybe some of Betty’s homemade bread. The class begins with Bill giving some classroom instruction on the process that will be learned at the forge. Usually some history of Blacksmithing and, if you are fortunate, he may share some of his background with the art. Mark Heisdorffer has worked as an apprentice to Bill and, like Bill, has learned the trade and the skills to be productive. The class will spend all of Saturday working the forge and the anvil with Bill and Mark alongside helping with constructive comments. Sunday the forges are hot and any students who desire may spend the day perfecting what they learned on Saturday.

     A short trip north to the villages of Stockport and Carolyn Edwards is busy teaching her students to paint a barn quilt. Carolyn teaches the process of selecting a pattern, laying it out, sketching the detail lines and finally deciding on the color scheme and painting the barn quilt. Carolyn’s love of barn quilts is evident in her work and the variety of patterns she produces. Her students come away with a finished barn quilt of their own and the skills to design and produce more quilts as gifts or for their own enjoyment.

     This weekend surely has something to offer for everyone as we find Verne Ramsey teaching 7-Step chair caning. Each of the students have refinished their heirloom chair, want to replace the broken cane seat and have found the Villages Folk School class that will provide them with the skills to make it just like the original. Verne teaches each of the chair caning processes and some of our students from out of state told us we are the only school offering classes on some of these techniques. Verne will take you systematically through the step by step process of chair caning and help you to achieve success with your chair project.

     This is only one such weekend at the Villages Folk School and, as you can see, there is something for everyone. Whether you “Paint the Landscape” with John Preston, “Forge Weld” with Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer, “Paint a Barn Quilt” with Carolyn Edwards, or join Verne Ramsey for “7-Step Chair Caning”, we know you will have an experience that will last a lifetime.

     All of these classes are available to you through the Villages Folk School here in the Villages of Van Buren County Iowa. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and register for the class of your choice. We look forward to answering any questions you might have so give us a call at 319-592-3700 and allow us to help you with your registration.

Classes coming up are as follows:

7 Step Chair Caning

13-Aug-2011 -

Barn Quilt Painting

13-Aug-2011 -

Blacksmithing: Forge Welding

13-Aug-2011 -

Painting the Landscape

13-Aug-2011 -

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

20-Aug-2011 21-Aug-2011

Raku Pottery

3-Sep-2011

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

3-Sep-2011 4-Sep-2011

Still Life Workshop in Pastel & Oil

10-Sep-2011 11-Sep-2011

Call us today and “live the arts” at the Villages Folk School.

“Villages Folk School enriches life in Van Buren County”

2011-08-02T09:15:00.000-05:00

     Art and the process of “being creative” is only the beginning of what the folk school offers to its students. While people from outside our county and state find the beauty of our region appealing and the classes at the folk school inspiring, our main purpose is to provide a better quality of life for those who live in Van Buren County. We offer our classes as a place for you to “plug-in” and learn to be both creative and productive at the same time.

     We encourage each of our Van Buren County residents to come experience the Villages Folk School and our artist instructors. It is a chance for you to ‘live the arts’ with those who make their living as a professional artist. It may sound like something you could never do, but the surprise that awaits you is the fact that each of us has the ability to be creative and the Villages Folk School will provide the catalyst for that to become a reality in your life.

     Go to our website, www.villagesfolkschool.com, and see for yourself the many classes that are available to you. Call our office at 319-592-3700 and Gloria will help you with any questions you might have regarding classes and registration. The time is now so don’t hesitate. Classes are coming up in August and offer many options for your enjoyment.

The August schedule is:

7 Step Chair Caning

13-Aug-2011 -

Barn Quilt Painting

13-Aug-2011 -

Blacksmithing: Forge Welding

13-Aug-2011 -

Painting the Landscape

13-Aug-2011 -

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

20-Aug-2011 21-Aug-2011

     We hope to see you soon at the Villages Folk School where there is something for everyone. Make it a family experience and enjoy the arts together.

“Villages Folk School instructors at the J40 Farm Crawl”

2011-07-27T08:57:00.000-05:00

     Last weekend J40 was filled with traffic from Pittsburg to Lebanon and beyond as visitors traveled to each destination on Kim Blair’s J40 Farm Crawl. Folk school instructors were demonstrating their crafts at “Bloom and Bark” owned and operated by Tim and Kim Blair. This annual event gives visitors an opportunity to not only sample and purchase some of the products but to learn more about the history and process involved in producing them.

     Pat and George Crawford demonstrated the art of making brooms and grinding corn meal. Her corn meal cookies dating back to our early settlers were delicious. George cut and tied brooms and was always willing to share the history of his process with every interested visitor.

     Verne Ramsey sold honey straight from his working hives and shared with visitors his love for beekeeping. Vern and his wife Doris have worked the bee hives for 30 years and marked their honey in southeastern Iowa. Verne also teaches the art of chair caning for the Villages Folk School.

     Our folk school offers a wide variety of classes which will give you the opportunity to choose something suited to your desires. The artist instructors who teach the classes will take you through the basics and on to intermediate and advanced study. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and learn more about our classes and instructors. A day at the Villages Folk School awaits you and we look forward to your visit. Find the class that interests you and register for the time of your life. For more information or for help with your registration process give us a call at 319-592-3700.

Classes for the next month are as follows:

7 Step Chair Caning

13-Aug-2011 -

Barn Quilt Painting

13-Aug-2011 -

Blacksmithing: Forge Welding

13-Aug-2011 -

Painting the Landscape

13-Aug-2011 -

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

20-Aug-2011 21-Aug-2011

See you soon at the Villages Folk School!

“A weekend with Gin Lammert at the Villages Folk School”

2011-07-20T10:24:00.000-05:00

     Take any weekend; set aside some time for yourself; register for a folk school class in the fine arts; experience the passionate, creativity of Gin Lammert. Learning to paint is not only a step by step process through time honored skill sets but with Gin Lammert you look through the basics of art and experience the ability to release yourself onto the canvas. It is a gift that Gin will share with you here at the Villages Folk School.

     Gin Lammert is best known for her years of creating custom portrait work for clients that live across the United States. Her landscape and still life paintings are included in both private and corporate art collections in the U.S., Europe and Japan. Since the beginning of her art career, Gin has taught basic drawing techniques to students in private lessons and group workshops that have been held across the state of Iowa. She recently has expanded to include her accumulated knowledge of soft pastels and oils for those interested in her method of painting. “Creating beautiful, joyous works of art that reflect my surroundings, dreams, and that invoke fond memories has become my passion and why I paint. It’s my way of providing food for the Soul.” ~Gin Lammert

     We at the Villages Folk School are proud to have Gin Lammert as one of our artist instructors and look forward to your attendance and one of our many classes.

     Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com to find out more about our classes and our artists. Our July and August schedule is filling up quickly so get your registrations in soon. Coming up at the Villages Folk school:

Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil

23-Jul-2011 24-Jul-2011

7 Step Chair Caning

13-Aug-2011 -

Barn Quilt Painting

13-Aug-2011 -

Blacksmithing: Forge Welding

13-Aug-2011 -

Painting the Landscape

13-Aug-2011 -

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

20-Aug-2011 21-Aug-2011

     Call us today at 319-592-3700 and discover for yourself the thrill of ‘living the arts’ at the Villages Folk School.

“What’s shakin’ at the Villages Folk School?”

2011-07-13T10:08:00.000-05:00

     Last weekend students learned the art of making Shaker boxes. The Shakers, a religious group which flourished until after the Civil War, began making oval boxes in 1798 and continued until the mid twentieth century. They were available in a wide variety of sizes and were used to store herbs, buttons, nails, medicines – anything but liquids! Their elliptical shape is pleasing to the eye, fits well in the hand and allows easy removal of the lid.

     The instructor, Bob Ristow, has taught in Montana, Iowa and Minnesota and he and his wife, Bernice, reside in Hopkinton, Iowa. Students learned how to form the fingers, cut the bottom piece from laminated birch plywood, and after soaking the wood in water, wrapped it around the form and secured it with square pegs. The process includes the use of scroll saws, sanders and anvils for pinning the boxes. I guess the best sign of success in this class is that each student comes away with five different sizes of oval Shaker boxes and all of their fingers!

     Classes at the folk school offer you a chance to experience many of the traditional arts as well as fine arts. The instructors at the Villages Folk School are working artists who have perfected their trade and enjoying sharing it with others. You will find our classes to be a relaxing yet challenging experience that will give you the tools and the knowledge to continue developing your personal skill level.

     Go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com and see for yourself the many art forms that are offered. Choose one that you have always wanted to learn, register for the class, and get ready for a fun and exciting weekend at the Villages Folk School. If you have questions just call our office at 319-592-3700 and we will be happy to assist you in your registration process.

     Our July and August schedule is filling up quickly so get your registrations in soon. The following is our schedule for the next two months:

Landscape Workshop in Pastel & Oil

16-Jul-2011 17-Jul-2011

Carving With David

16-Jul-2011 17-Jul-2011

Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil

23-Jul-2011 24-Jul-2011

7 Step Chair Caning

13-Aug-2011 -

Barn Quilt Painting

13-Aug-2011 -

Blacksmithing: Forge Welding

13-Aug-2011 -

Painting the Landscape

13-Aug-2011 -

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

20-Aug-2011 21-Aug-2011

Join us soon for a class in ‘living the arts’ at the Villages Folk School.

“Arts in the Villages of Van Buren County”

2011-06-29T09:38:00.000-05:00

     The splendor of the scenic river valley and rolling hills of Van Buren County has become the home for many artists and offers the incentive for them to live the arts with passion. It is this motivation that burns in the hearts of the artist instructors at the Villages Folk School and it is our desire as a school to offer that experience to each of you through our classes. The opportunity to spend a day with one of our gifted artists is available to you on a schedule that will allow you to choose the day best for you. Our class sizes are held to a minimum so that your experience will be more of a one-on-one with the instructor. We believe this is important for your total experience and the overall outcome of your instruction and finished project. Our artist instructors provide classes for beginners to intermediate and advanced levels.

     What are you waiting for? Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at 319-592-3700 and find the class that offers what you are looking for. Our website includes class descriptions and a short bio of the artist instructor.

     The calendar is provided on our website and for those without internet access the following is a list of our July class schedule.

Barn Quilt Painting

2-Jul-2011 -

Raku Pottery

2-Jul-2011 -

Blacksmithing: Tool Making

9-Jul-2011 -

Landscape Workshop in Pastel & Oil

16-Jul-2011 17-Jul-2011

Carving With David

16-Jul-2011 17-Jul-2011

Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil

23-Jul-2011 24-Jul-2011

     Register today for one of our classes and see what everyone is excited about. The chance to spend the day with one of our artist instructors here in beautiful Van Buren County awaits you at the Villages Folk School. Call us at 319-592-3700 and look forward to a great weekend!

“Carving out a new face at the Villages Folk School”

2011-06-22T09:21:00.000-05:00

     With the threat of rain and wind last Saturday I began my morning with a drive across Van Buren County. I am always amazed with the ever-changing landscape of this scenic river valley. The overcast skies and fog banks offered a contrasting spectrum of color as I drove peacefully from Bonaparte west on J-40 to Keosauqua where David Ostrem of Green Lake, Wisconsin was teaching a folk school class on caricature carving. Upon arrival at the class I went to work snapping photos. The knives were razor sharp and I noticed the protective gloves and the finger wraps. David said he has learned over his 25 years of teaching this art that the need to protect the hands is critical because of the sharpness of the tools you are using. The table and floor were covered with wood chips (and no fingers!) which I took as a sign of a very enthusiastic and productive class. His students were working intently on their projects which were being carved from bass wood that had been previously band sawed to remove some of the larger areas thus facilitating carving the final details of their character. David had placed examples on the table that could be used for an outline for the finished piece. The students were learning the use of the proper knives and David carefully instructed them on how to hold the tool for the exacting cut that was required. This is something I have wanted to pursue for years and hope to excuse myself from behind the camera and take part as a student in one of his upcoming classes. If you want to learn the techniques of proper woodcarving then this is the class for you. David has taught at The Clearing and shared his talent with Boy Scouts and other groups in Wisconsin.

     I bid goodbye to David and his class and headed for Ely’s Ford in Lacey Keosauqua State Park where John Preston was teaching a class on Painting the Landscape. Today the landscape was a bit difficult to paint because of the amount of rainfall from the sky. John’s talent certainly would allow him to paint the falling rain but it might be difficult holding it on a soaking wet canvas. By the time I arrived, the class had packed their easels and set off for the shelter in Bentonsport so I followed them across the rolling hills of J-40 and to the shelter near the old covered bridge. Here they would be able to work under the cover of the shelter as they viewed the landscape of the bridge across the Des Moines River. John’s careful placement of light and shadow on the canvas never ceases to amaze me as he can capture so much detail with so few brush strokes. He is truly gifted and his ability to share this with others makes for a great experience in his class on painting the landscape.

     John Preston, David Ostrem and many more artists are available to you at the Villages Folk School by going to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and registering for one of their classes. The opportunities that exist at the Villages Folk School are for your enjoyment and we hope to see you soon at one of our classes. The class schedule is provided for you online but following is some of our upcoming classes:

Villages Folk School class schedule for remainder of June and July:

Clothing First Aide-Mending Patching

25-Jun-2011 -

Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension

25-Jun-2011 26-Jun-2011

Barn Quilt Painting

2-Jul-2011 -

Raku Pottery

2-Jul-2011 -

Blacksmithing: Tool Making

9-Jul-2011 -

Landscape Workshop in Pastel & Oil

16-Jul-2011 17-Jul-2011

Carving With David

16-Jul-2011 17-Jul-2011

Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil

23-Jul-2011 24-Jul-2011

     We invite you to call us at 319-592-3700 and register for the class of your choice. Our classes are geared for your hands-on experience with the artist; making the class one that will allow you to complete a quality work while learning the process in detail. The chance to live the arts here in Van Buren County is available to you here at the Villages Folk School.

Join us soon!

“Training loomed at the Villages Folk School”

2011-06-15T09:32:00.000-05:00

     Students from Iowa and Nebraska enjoyed the art of weaving on the loom at Betty Printy’s weaving class. Betty and her daughter, April Ziegler, were busy with students stringing the looms when I arrived on Saturday. The process takes nearly a full day and on Sunday they start weaving the rugs. For the thrill of weaving your own rug just contact the Villages Folk School office at 319-592-3700 and sign up for the next class.

     Carolyn Edwards of Stockport was teaching students how to create their own barn quilts. The color choices, like those of the rug weaving, are endless. Each student gets to choose their own color scheme and design pattern. Carolyn carefully instructs them in the geometric layout and how to achieve the perfect results for their barn quilts. I love driving through the country side and seeing the many quilt patterns displayed with pride on the barns. These classes are both available to you at the Villages Folk School.

     The opportunities to learn are endless at the folk school. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and see for yourself. The descriptions provided will help you understand the class formats and bio’s of the artists are also provided.

Villages Folk School class schedule for June:

Carving With David, 18-19 June; Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, 18 June; Clothing First Aide-Mending, Patching, 25 June; Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension, 25-26 June.

     Plan a weekend of fun at the Villages Folk School. Go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com, or call us, 319-592-3700, to register and get ready for the time of your life as you ‘live the arts’ with the instructors at the Villages Folk School in scenic Van Buren County Iowa!

“200 Students from Missouri visit the Villages Folk School”

2011-06-08T22:40:00.000-05:00

Buses filled with 200 students from Clark County Missouri rolled into Bentonsport last Friday to enjoy an educational day at the Villages Folk School event which included Blacksmithing, Pottery, Bee Keeping, the Mason House, Contra Dancing and Tony’s Indian artifact museum. Teachers and students alike were intently listening and learning as they moved from presentation to presentation. The opportunity for students to learn from our many artist instructors has brought many student groups to the Van Buren County this year. The artists enjoy sharing their passion for the arts with students and each of them remember how they first learned the art form and over the years developed it into a lifestyle that allowed them to live their dream through the arts. Hearing them share this with students is always a pleasure as I witness that joy that takes them back to the first time they experienced the art.

You too can experience this same joy by joining us at the Villages Folk School for a class in the art form of your choice. Don’t hesitate to call us at 319-592-3700 and find out more about registration for our classes. You will find our class schedules and instructor information online at www.villagesfolkschool.com .

Villages Folk School class schedule for June:

Barn Quilt Painting, 11 June; Rug Weaving Workshop, 11-12 June; Carving With David, 18-19 June; Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, 18 June; Clothing First Aide-Mending, Patching, 25 June; Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension, 25-26 June.

Pick your class! Go online, www.villagesfolkschool.com, or call us, 319-592-3700, to register and get ready to have a great time at the Villages Folk School in scenic Van Buren County Iowa!

“Van Buren County ‘Landscape’ on canvas”

2011-06-01T09:18:00.000-05:00

     Every day we drive through the beautiful countryside of Van Buren County we are surrounded by an ever-changing landscape. John Preston can teach you how to save that snapshot in your mind by placing it on canvas and framing it for all time. His ability to capture the landscape on canvas has resulted in commissioned works that are on display in the Federal Reserve building in Chicago and many other such accolades. John’s folk school class, “Painting the Landscape”, will give you the opportunity to learn from one of the best landscape artists in our country. Join us at the Villages Folk School and enjoy a day painting the landscape with John Preston. Call our office at 319-592-3700 and register for John’s next class.

     Painting, Pottery, Blacksmithing, Knitting, Weaving, Carving, Bird Watching, Spinning are only a few of the classes available to you at the folk school. We invite you to join in the fun and come experience for yourself the joy of “living the arts” at the Villages Folk School.

     Our class schedule is available for you online at www.villagesfolkschool.com or you may call our office at 319-592-3700 to register. If you do not have access to the internet the following is a list of our upcoming classes.

Villages Folk School class schedule for June:

     Bonaparte Pottery Experience, 4-5 June; Story Telling for All Occasions, 4 June; Blacksmithing: Tool Making, 4 June; Barn Quilt Painting, 11 June; Rug Weaving Workshop, 11-12 June; Painting the Landscape, 18 June; Carving With David, 18-19 June; Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, 18 June; Clothing First Aide-Mending, Patching, 25 June; Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension, 25-26 June.

     Pick your class! Go online, www.villagesfolkschool.com, or call us, 319-592-3700, to register and get ready to have a great time at the Villages Folk School in scenic Van Buren County Iowa!

“Spring classes amongst the green of Van Buren County”

2011-05-18T23:10:00.000-05:00

     Taking a class at the Villages Folk School begins with a scenic drive through the rolling hills and twisting river valley of Van Buren County. Spring is in full bloom here in our beautiful southeast corner of Iowa and the many shades of green are beginning to capture my attention more than the colors of fall. My morning started with a five-mile drive from Bonaparte to Bentonsport where I visited the Blacksmith academy at Iron and Lace. The forges were all full of iron and students cranked the handles to keep the fire hot enough to bring their project to the proper temperature for another trip to the anvil as they skillfully hammered it into the correct shape. This was another “Tong Making” class and each of the students was enjoying the experience of working together with their instructor at the school. Mark Heisdorffer stayed busy as he moved from forge to forge giving his expert critique and helpful suggestions. This ‘instructor to student’ connection is the process I love the most when I visit the many folk school classes. This is what sets our classes apart from just working on any particular project. Not only do you come away with a quality finished product, but you take with you the knowledge that is imparted by the artist instructor. The class today included a father and son who were returning for their second class in a series of four classes in the blacksmithing trade.

     After spending some time talking with each student and snapping pictures to create a memory for each of them I left for Keosauqua where Vern Ramsey was teaching a class on chair caning in fiber rush weave at the historic Congregational Church parsonage. His students today had come from Fairfield and were each concentrating on their chair project. Taking an old cane seat chair and restoring it to its original condition is an easy process when you have the help of our folk school instructor, Vern Ramsey. Vern offers classes in all three types of weave; 7-step, fiber rush weave and flat reed split. If you have an old chair that needs the cane replaced then why not register for our next chair caning class and learn the process for yourself.

     Our class schedule is available for you online at www.villagesfolkschool.com or you may call our office at 319-592-3700 to register. If you do not have access to the internet the following is a list of our upcoming classes.

Villages Folk School class schedule for May & June:

Spring and Fall Birdwatching, 21 May; Painting the Landscape, 28 May; Bonaparte Pottery Experience, 4-5 May; Story Telling for All Occasions, 4 June; Blacksmithing: Tool Making, 4 June; Barn Quilt Painting, 11 June; Rug Weaving Workshop, 11-12 June; Carving With David, 18-19 June; Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, 18 June; Clothing First Aide-Mending, Patching, 25 June; Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension, 25-26 June.

     Pick your class! Go online, www.villagesfolkschool.com, or call us, 319-592-3700, to register and get ready to have a great time at the Villages Folk School in scenic Van Buren County Iowa!

“Forty students enjoy a day at the Villages Folk School”

2011-05-16T14:15:00.000-05:00

The weather is often unpredictable and last week was no exception as 40 homeschool students took part in a day at the folk school that included rug weaving, blacksmithing, pottery, natural dies, the artifact museum and the Mason house. Despite the 41 degree weather the students and their parents enjoyed the chance to learn from each of the teachers as they demonstrated their artistic talents. The natural dies class gave them the opportunity to try their hand at painting a t-shirt with dies made from native plants. A great day was had by all; including the teachers who love to share the arts with young people.

     On Saturday Betty Printy had another one of her popular Raku pottery classes. The beauty of this class is the instant gratification since the pottery piece is completed and ready to take home at the end of the day. Many students have returned several times to enjoy the Raku process. It is one that never grows old and the finished product is always unique and something new to display at home or give for a gift.

     We invite each of you to come take a class at the Villages Folk School and see for yourself the joy of working one on one with a gifted artist. Our instructors will make the experience one that you will not only enjoy, but come away feeling confident in the process. Once you have developed your own creative style you are on your way to a lifetime of fun with the arts.

     You may register for a class by going to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or calling our office at 319-592-3700. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or to suggest at class subject that you would like to participate in. We are constantly looking for new instructors and subjects. If you are interested in being a teacher at the folk school just call us and schedule a time to discuss the opportunity.

Villages Folk School class schedule for May:

Blacksmithing (Tong Making), 14-15 May; Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, 14 May; Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil, 14-15 May; Spring and Fall Birdwatching, 21 May; Painting the Landscape, 28 May.

     Go to www.villagesfolkschool.com and register today. We look forward to seeing you in one of our upcoming classes.

“Experience ‘Art’ at the Villages Folk School”

2011-05-04T08:23:00.000-05:00

     By now I’m sure most of you have read about or at least heard about the Villages Folk School. Maybe your curiosity has been stirred but you haven’t taken that next step to register for one of the many classes offered. Well, what are you waiting for? Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and find the class that interests you most. Now you simply print the registration form online, fill it out, and mail it to our office at PO Box 51, Bonaparte, IA 52520. Or, for a more personal touch, call our office at 319-592-3700 and Gloria will help you with your registration. However you choose to do it, I assure you an experience of a lifetime awaits you at the Villages Folk School.

     Maybe painting is something you always wanted to try. On May 14th and 15th we are offering a Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil taught by Gin Lammert. This is going to be a thrill for all of us here at the Villages Folk School as this workshop will be held at the historic Vernon schoolhouse in Wendell Mohr’s private studio where he created his many wonderful works of art. Don’t miss this opportunity to share the experience of painting in the very studio where Wendell Mohr painted!

     Have you ever wanted to try your hand at pottery? Coming up on Saturday, May 7th is Betty Printy’s popular “Raku Pottery” class. In this class you will pick your pottery piece, do your very own glazing scheme, and carry it to the “top hat” kiln where it will be fired to perfection as you anxiously await the outcome. The uniqueness of each piece in Raku pottery adds to the thrill of the moment when they emerge from the kiln.

     Maybe you would like to experience an archeological dig and discover 150 year old pieces of pottery. On May 7th and 8th you can do just that at the Bonaparte Pottery Experience. Some of the molds that have been discovered were used to pour new pieces, have been fired and are ready for you to glaze and complete in the kiln.

     Like to try your hand at blacksmithing? Learn from one of the best as Bill Printy and his apprentice, Mark Heisdorffer, show you how to make your own tongs on the forges at Iron and Lace.

     Do you have an old chair that needs the cane seat replaced? Vern Ramsey is teaching a class on chair caning with fiber rush weave this month at the folk school.

     Maybe the great outdoors interests you! Raymond and Connie Morris will take you there as they show you where to see the birds that make scenic Van Buren County their migratory path.

     On May 28th another great artist, John Preston, will teach you how to Paint the Landscape.

Villages Folk School class schedule for May:

Raku Pottery, 7 May; Bonaparte Pottery Experience, 7-8 May; Blacksmithing (Tong Making), 14-15 May; Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, 14 May; Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil, 14-15 May; Spring and Fall Birdwatching, 21 May; Painting the Landscape, 28 May.

     Call us today at 319-592-3700 or go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and make your dream of ‘living the arts’ come alive.

“Beginning Blacksmithing at Iron & Lace”

2011-04-25T17:11:00.000-05:00

     Students from Iowa, Illinois and Missouri converged on Bentonsport last weekend to experience the art of Blacksmithing. Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer had five students in the Beginning Blacksmithing class; the first of many such classes to be taught at Iron and Lace this year. Bill begins the day with some classroom time explaining the various processes involved with blacksmithing and then each student has an opportunity to work at their own forge. Bill and Mark work with each of the students as they work to heat and shape the iron; a process that Bill, with his years of experience, makes look easy. The day is filled with time at the forge and in the classroom for more instruction. Many of the students talked about how great the class was and how they planned to return for future classes.

     Call today and take the opportunity to learn blacksmithing or any of the many arts taught here at the Villages Folk School. Our phone number is 319-592-3700 or you may go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com, print the registration form and mail it to the Villages Folk School, PO Box 51, Bonaparte, Iowa 52620.

     In May, Gin Lammert will teach a workshop in Pastel & Oil at the Wendell Mohr studio in the historic Vernon schoolhouse. This will be a great opportunity for you to paint where Wendell created his many masterpieces.

     Find your class on the website calendar, register and come enjoy living the arts at the Villages Folk School. For those of you without internet the following is a list of classes available through May.

     Villages Folk School class schedule for April and May:

Printmaking, 29-30 April; Raku Pottery, 7 May; Bonaparte Pottery Experience, 7-8 May; Blacksmithing (Tong Making), 14-15 May; Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, 14 May; Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil, 14-15 May; Spring and Fall Birdwatching, 21 May; Painting the Landscape, 28 May.

     Contact us at 319-592-3700 or go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and prepare yourself for an exciting weekend at the Villages Folk School in Van Buren County Iowa.

“Follow the Rainbow to Van Buren County”

2011-04-20T09:23:00.000-05:00

     It’s been said, “If you find the end of the rainbow you will discover a pot of gold.” Discovering the end of the rainbow is one thing, but how do I know if what I find is gold. I decided to research the dictionary for a true description of gold. Webster defined it as something valued as the finest of its kind. The refining process removes all of the impurities and what remains is pure gold. I believe the rainbow must have ended here in Van Buren County Iowa and my reason for coming to that conclusion is based on what I have observed.

     My observations have included both geographic and personal experiences. The state of Iowa is, for the most part, flat and fertile farm land but this southeast section of the state offers a much different look. The rolling hills, the lush hardwoods, the winding Des Moines River cutting its way through scenic valleys filled with wildlife and abundant life.

     It is not just the drives through this wonderful county that impress me and bring me to such conclusions but the people who live here. All of this has stirred the hearts of the people and it brings out the best in all of us. The constant refining that takes place as we live life here stirs the imagination and has given us such artists as Wendell Mohr who chose to make his life here and use the historic Vernon school as his home and studio; a place where his creative genius exploded on canvas and is evidenced by the many splendid watercolors we find in homes and businesses throughout the county and in galleries around the state.

     Van Buren County has become the home of many such artists and has been the influence for the Villages Folk School. It is through the genius of these artists that the folk school has been born and their constant quest for creating something beautiful in the art form they have chosen shines like pure gold. The experience of finding your “end of the rainbow” exists for you here at the Villages Folk School and we invite you to register for one of our many classes and witness it for yourself. Our May “Portrait Workshop in Pastel and Oil” will be held at the historic Vernon schoolhouse in Wendell Mohr’s studio.

     The calendar of classes is available for you online at www.villagesfolkschool.com and you many register by printing the form on our web site or calling our office at 319-592-3700. For those of you who don’t have access to the internet the following is a list of classes scheduled through May.

Villages Folk School class schedule for April and May:

     Intermediate Knitting, 23 April; Beginning Blacksmithing, 23-24 April; Printmaking, 29-30 April; Raku Pottery, 7 May; Bonaparte Pottery Experience, 7-8 May; Blacksmithing (Tong Making), 14-15 May; Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, 14 May; Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil, 14-15 May; Spring and Fall Birdwatching, 21 May; Painting the Landscape, 28 May.

     Contact us at 319-592-3700 or go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com and start your search for the end of the rainbow today.

“Piecing it all together at the Villages Folk School”

2011-04-11T15:48:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning I prepared my camera, filled my go cup with coffee and started the van for my trip to Bentonsport and Joy Hanson’s “Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting class. Driving past the Inn and the Retreat instantly had me thinking about long ago and the incredible history in this area. My next thoughts were of Joy’s class and how it ties in with all the history of Van Buren County. The countryside reminded me of a patchwork quilt with the greens of the grass and buds on the trees, the black soil being prepared for planting that would soon be hidden beneath a bountiful crop. Each trip through the county is a new and exciting experience as the colors change and the display of crops produces an ever changing palette filled with beauty and wildlife.

     I arrived at the historic Mason House in Bentonsport and introduced myself to our student who had come from Boone Iowa to experience a Villages Folk School class and enjoy a stay at the Mason House. I always enjoy visiting the classes because I have a chance to learn from the instructors as they teach their students. Joy and her student, Sally Tanner, sat at the table covered with fabric pieces cut into hexagon shapes and carefully stitched each one over a piece of stiff paper cut in the same shape. She told me of how the women traveling westward in the wagon trains would spend their days such as this preparing pieces of fabric to be stitched into useful quilts for the cool evenings. It seems that everywhere I go in this county there is a constant reminder of history and how in many ways it has affected our lives today. The arts have evolved from family to family and artist to artist and still provide a lifestyle that allows creativity to shape our character.

     Living the arts in Van Buren County can and will provide the catalyst needed to blend our lives together in such a way that others will want to experience it. This is what keeps them coming back to the folk school classes and enjoying life here in the villages.

     You can enjoy this same excitement by taking one of our many Villages Folk School classes. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and find the class that you have always wanted to experience. Call us today at 319-592-3700 and register for what may be the thrill of a lifetime. Enjoying a class with one of our gifted artist instructors will give you a first hand look at living the arts here in Van Buren County.

Villages Folk School class schedule for April and May:

7 Step Chair Caning, 16 April; Intermediate Knitting, 23 April; Beginning Blacksmithing, 23-24 April; Printmaking, 29-30 April; Raku Pottery, 7 May; Bonaparte Pottery Experience, 7-8 May; Blacksmithing (Tong Making), 14-15 May; Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, 14 May; Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil, 14-15 May; Spring and Fall Birdwatching, 21 May; Painting the Landscape, 28 May.

     We invite you to take a class at the Villages Folk School and see what so many from around the Midwest and the state of Iowa are raving about. Call our office at 319-592-3700 and register today.

“The Villages Folk School on Iowa Public Television”

2011-04-06T14:23:00.000-05:00

     Last weekend the Villages Folk School segment of the “Iowa’s Simple Pleasures” program aired on Iowa Public Television. Dan Kaercher, editor-in-chief of Midwest Living magazine, who hosts the show enjoyed a day in classes at the Villages Folk School and was impressed with his experience. Dan’s comment was, “If Dan Kaercher can learn to draw at the Villages Folk School, then most of the rest of us can, too.” I have heard that resounding theme over and over again from our many folk school students. The ability to make the arts so easily adaptable to each individual student and to break it down to an understandable format is the gift I admire most in our artist instructors. Not only do they accomplish this in their classes, but they give freely of their years of experience to make the learning process one that will endure for years to come. This is not a simple task, to break 30 years of artistic talent and experience down to understandable context, but the opportunity for you to “live the arts” with these gifted artists is what the Villages Folk School provides for you.

     Our class schedule is available for you on our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or you can contact our office at 319-592-3700. The classes are designed to give you a hands-on learning experience with our artists and a chance to complete a quality project at the same time. Look through our class schedule and register for your first class. If you want to know more about the classes look at the class descriptions on the website and get to know your artist by browsing through their bio’s.

Villages Folk School class schedule for April and May:

     Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, 9-10 April; 7 Step Chair Caning, 16 April; Intermediate Knitting, 23 April; Beginning Blacksmithing, 23-24 April; Printmaking, 29-30 April; Raku Pottery, 7 May; Bonaparte Pottery Experience, 7-8 May; Blacksmithing (Tong Making), 14-15 May; Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, 14 May; Portrait Workshop in Pastel & Oil, 14-15 May; Spring and Fall Birdwatching, 21 May; Painting the Landscape, 28 May.

     Come see what many students from around Iowa and the Midwest are talking about. We look forward to having you join us at one of our next classes.

“Folk School classes held in Keosauqua last week”

2011-03-30T09:59:00.000-05:00

Last week our folk school instructor, Pat Crawford from Cantril, was teaching classes on spinning and scrimshaw carving. All three days of classes were held in the parsonage of the historic Congregational Church in Keosauqua. This was a perfect setting for the class as the living room offered a very natural setting for the spinning wheels. Thursday was spent discussing the types of wools and their preparation for spinning. Cleaning, combing, and dyeing require attention to the wool so that the end product will be a yarn perfect for knitting or crocheting. We had students from Davenport, Polk City, and Mount Pleasant, Iowa plus one student from Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin. They enjoyed the setting for the class and the beautiful scenic drive into Van Buren County. Their stay included eating at the various restaurants in Keosauqua plus a leisurely drive through the surrounding country side and state park.

     Saturday’s class taught the art of scrimshaw carving to the couple from Davenport. This was the second time for Jeanne Knape to visit us at the folk school and we are happy to see our students return for more classes.

     The focus of the Villages Folk School is to offer classes in each of the twelve villages so that students will have a chance to experience each village as well as trade in the local establishments. This spreads the tourist dollars around our county and provides income to the many businesses. The folk school board is constantly at work seeking to improve the number of classes and students we bring into our county. We invite you to join with us in this great endeavor by becoming a friend of the folk school. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com for more information. Your sponsorship dollars will help as we build our program to improve life for all of us here in Van Buren County.

     Taking a class at the Villages Folk School is a joy everyone needs to experience. The many classes we offer allow you to chose something you have always wanted to try and to spend the day learning from one of our talented folk school artist instructors. The registration process is easy so why not call us today at 319-592-3700 and start living the arts with us at the Villages Folk School. The class calendar is viewable on our website but please call us for any questions you may have.

     For those of you who don’t have internet access here is a list of our April classes:

Container Candles, 2 April; Shaker Boxes, 2-3 April; Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, 9-10 April; 7 Step Chair Caning, 16 April; Intermediate Knitting, 23 April; Beginning Blacksmithing, 23-24 April; Printmaking, 29-30 April.

     We regret to announce that the 2011 Writer’s Conference will be rescheduled due to a last minute withdrawal of our Keynote Speaker for personal reasons.

     Now is the time for you to come experience one of our classes at the Villages Folk School. Register today by calling 319-592-3700 or going to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and get ready for the time of your life!

     See us live on Iowa Public Television! The “Iowa's Simple Pleasures” show will air on March 31st at 8 pm and on April 2nd at 8:30 pm. and will include a segment filmed here in Van Buren County. It will also be available on the Iowa Public Television website.

“Three classes highlight last week’s folk school agenda”

2011-03-23T10:29:00.000-05:00

Ladies from Wayland and Winfield Iowa were in town on Thursday last week to take part in Betty Printy’s “Artisan Bread Making Made Easy” class. This is the third week for this class and it never ceases to amaze me as I witness the joy that our students exhibit when they spend the day in Betty’s kitchen learning to make and bake artisan bread. Not only is this a very popular class, but everyone is turning out some incredible loaves of bread. Students and teacher alike are having a fun time baking bread in this awesome class. You just have to experience it for yourself and you will soon be turning out your own loaves of fresh baked bread. Call our office today at 319-592-3700 and register for our next Artisan Bread Making class.

On Saturday two classes were being taught at the Congregational church in Keosauqua. Joy Craig and Reni Pappin were teaching a class in needle felting. They had many items on display to show the versatility in this craft. I enjoy seeing the many different art forms as I visit the Villages Folk School classes.

     Vern Ramsey was teaching a class on chair caning with flat reed splits. His student who was from Des Moines told me that this was the only place she found in the state of Iowa that taught chair caning in flat reed splits. She was pleased to learn how to refurbish her antique chair with a new cane seat. I spend some time going from one class to the other and taking my photos. It was a great day as everyone enjoyed their class instruction.

     If you really want to have a great weekend just register for one of our many folk school classes and get ready to have some fun. You can find our class calendar on the website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at 319-592-3700 for more information.

     For those of you who do not have internet access here is a list of our upcoming classes: A Twist in Time Spinning I & II, 24-25 March; Needle Felting, 26 March; Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, 26-27 March; Container Candles, 2 April; Shaker Boxes, 2-3 April; 7 Step Chair Caning, 10 April; Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, 9-10 April; Intermediate Knitting, 23 April.

     We regret to announce that the 2011 Writer’s Conference will be rescheduled due to a last minute withdrawal of our Keynote Speaker for personal reasons.

     Our Villages Folk School is an experience in living the arts that will put you in touch with your creative side and give you an opportunity to learn from a gifted artist instructor. Call us today and make your reservation. We look forward to seeing you at the next folk school class.

“Wheels are turning at the Villages Folk School”

2011-03-16T12:25:00.000-05:00

     The trip across the hills of Van Buren County is always a delight and this last weekend was not a disappointment as I drove to Betty Printy’s pottery studio in Bentonsport. The fields are showing even more of the greenery of spring and it reminded me of how much I love the changing seasons in southeast Iowa. The young fox I saw bounding across the road was also enjoying the early signs of summer and weather more suited for outdoor play. The wheels were turning when I arrived at the studio so I went to work snapping photos that serve to lock this moment in time for the students who attend our folk school classes. This was the second weekend of a five-session beginning pottery class that is always a fun time for the students. Betty never ceases to amaze me as she turns her years of experience into easy to understand segments and allows each student to internalize her knowledge in a way that makes sense to them. The work that they turn out is a perfect example of the quality instruction offered in this class.

     March is only half gone and we have many more classes to offer you. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and see for yourself the many classes available to you. If you have any questions give us a call at 319-592-3700 and Gloria will be happy to help you.

     For those of you without internet access here is a list of our upcoming classes for March: Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, 19 March; A Twist in Time Spinning I & II, 24-25 March; Needle Felting, 26 March; and Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, 26-27 March.

     We regret to announce that the 2011 Writer’s Conference will be rescheduled due to a last minute withdrawal of our Keynote Speaker for personal reasons.

     The Villages Folk School invites you to join us for a weekend experience in one of our many classes. Our campus is 485 sq. miles as we include all 12 of the villages in Van Buren County for our class sites. Register for a class and get ready to have the time of your life as you live the arts at the Villages Folk School.

“Folk School classes continue as Spring begins to invade Van Buren County”

2011-03-09T09:09:00.000-06:00

The classes at the Villages Folk School seem to be the only constant as the weather ducks in and out of winter and spring. Last weekend I enjoyed my drive west, out J40 from Bonaparte, to the village of Bentonsport where Betty Printy was teaching one of her five segment classes on Beginning Pottery. The drive stirred up my desire for spring as I could see patches of field grass already beginning their change to the lush green of summer. “It won’t be long”, I said to myself as I envisioned the fields of green and the leaves that form the summer canopy of the lush hardwood trees. Soon the animals will come out of their winter slumber and be visible to the passer-by as we travel throughout Van Buren County.

I arrived at Betty’s pottery studio and prepared my camera for the action. Her student, Jacklyn Smith from Brighton, Iowa, was at the pottery wheel learning how to center clay and form the bowl shape while Betty stood next to her offering her constructive remarks to assure the correct procedure. This is always a treat for me to witness as the students experience the years of knowledge Betty conveys in each remark. The end results are always pleasing, but the process of getting to that place is what the folk school experience is all about. This is not about rushing through a list of procedures, but about taking the time to internalize everything the instructor is sharing and then applying it through your own artistic talents. Learning to be creative and establishing some correct disciplines in an art form will make your personal experience in the arts one that will endure the sands of time. For Jacklyn this is just beginning and will continue to blossom as she moves through each phase of the beginning pottery classes. I think the excitement in watching this unfold is nearly as appealing as the experience itself. We will be back again next weekend to watch as the class continues.

     I completed my pictures and loaded up my camera for the drive back to Bonaparte where Meg King was teaching an intermediate knitting class. Her two students today were not new to our classes as they were here last year in the beginning knitting class. It is great to see the students return to take their skills to a higher level. Meg told me she enjoys the quiet time of sitting in the old Victorian parlor and knitting while she shares her knowledge with the students. I think the students enjoy it as much as Meg as they are always talkative and smiling as they go about their work. I am often reminded of songs as I experience life and today I was thinking of Mac Davis’s “Stop and Smell the Roses”. Surely this was what was going on in the parlor as the ladies knitted, shared with each other and enjoyed each others company. Yes, indeed you’ve got to stop and smell the roses along the way and the Villages Folk School in scenic Van Buren County Iowa is a great place to do just that!

     If you would like to know more about our school you can visit our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at 319-592-3700. Our website offers you a complete listing with artist bio’s and class descriptions for each of our class subjects. We hope you take the time to look through our website and discover for yourself the many opportunities our folk school offers. For a firsthand look at some of our past classes click on our Blog link on the bottom of the home page and see for yourself. On the right hand side of the blog page is a series of slideshows that may be accessed “full screen” by simply clicking on the picture. Any questions you have may be directed to our office by phone or by email at villagesfolkschool@gmail.com

     For those of you without internet access here is a list of our upcoming classes for March: Container Candles, 5 March; Scrimshaw a Pendant, 5 March; Beginning Knitting, 12 March; Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, 19 March; A Twist in Time Spinning I & II, 24-25 March; Needle Felting, 26 March; and Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, 26-27 March.

     We regret to announce that the 2011 Writer’s Conference will be rescheduled due to a last minute withdrawal of our Keynote Speaker for personal reasons.

     We are proud of our school and the many fine artists who live in this county and share their talents as instructors at the Villages Folk School. Their life has become one of “living the arts” and the beauty of the Villages of Van Buren County serves as an inspiration to their creative spirits. We invite you to join them for what may be the most fun-filled experiences of your life. Call us today at 319-592-3700 and reserve your place in our next class.

“Living the Arts at the Villages Folk School”

2011-03-04T16:22:00.000-06:00

The Villages Folk School is not just a destination spot for taking a class, but an opportunity for you to relax in scenic Van Buren County Iowa and experience a way of life through the eyes of one of our folk school artists. The art form that you decide is right for you will be shared through the eyes of an instructor who lives it every day in his or her profession. The arts truly come alive when you experience them in this way. One of our 27 artist instructors will break down their daily schedule and take you through the process in a way that will prepare you for your own success as an artist. If you only wish to enjoy the class and return again and again to experience the many different art forms we teach then that is also possible. Joining us this past weekend were students from Moline, Illinois and from Keokuk, Iowa. It was another chance for Betty Printy and April Ziegler to share the process of making Artisan Bread and at the same time another group of ladies were enjoying a crotchet class taught by Meg King.

     As always, I set out to visit the classes and get a chance to welcome the students to our folk school. Of course I never go away empty handed at the bread making class. Betty never fails to have fresh bread available for sampling and I enjoy the treat of trying the different recipes. You should join us some weekend and learn how easy it is to make and bake your own Artisan bread. Students in each class always remark about how easy it is to produce a quality loaf of bread once they have spent a day in Betty’s kitchen. Betty’s daughter, April Ziegler, is on hand to help with the class and provide more instructor time for each of the students. You’ll have to try this class! We guarantee it will be a fun experience and how can you go wrong when you have learned to produce your own fresh bread.

     Meg King was busy teaching her group to crotchet. The class is held in the parlor of an 1865 Victorian home which offers the perfect ambiance for this activity. The ladies have time to learn the crotchet craft as well as visit for the entire day. Meg said she always enjoys the time in the house as she also teaches the art of knitting. Several students have progressed from beginning students to intermediate level work. The classes are designed so as to give you solid instruction that will increase your level of expertise and help you become very proficient at the craft.

     Call us at 319-592-3700 and register for one of our classes or go online to www.villagesfolkschool.com and see for yourself the many classes available to you at the Villages Folk School.

     2011 also features our first annual writer’s conference; The Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference 2011. This event being held on September 23, 24, & 25 will not only feature New York Times Best Selling Authors but literary agents, publishers and many other experts in the field of writing from around the country. We encourage you to get your registration in early because this event will have limited seating and we expect it to fill up quickly. Contact us at the folk school office for more information. Our phone number is 319-592-3700 or you may go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and check out our class descriptions, artist bios and more.

     Don’t hesitate to register for your class and join us for an experience in living the arts here at the Villages Folk School.

“Everyone was loafing at the Villages Folk School”

2011-02-22T09:36:00.000-06:00

     Loafing is a good thing when it involves the Villages Folk School class of Artisan Bread Making Made Easy. I never tire of seeing the smile of satisfaction on their faces as the students remove their loaf of bread from the oven. This moment they have anticipated all day at the class is always a highlight and it comes with a feeling of accomplishment that is enhanced by the fact that they are turning out a loaf of bread that will be the talk of the house when they return home. I have watched as this process repeats itself from class to class. Men, women and even couples together have taken this class and the result is always the same. It is not just the beautiful loaf of bread but the knowledge of being able to complete this process over and over at home that makes this class such a hit. You may want to learn this process and there is no better place to do that than enjoying a day in Betty Printy’s kitchen in historic Bentonsport, Iowa.

     Shelly Brenneman, from Fairfield and a student in the class last weekend, had this to say about the Villages Folk School class; “At first I didn’t think I had any time in my chaotic, busy schedule to get away and take a Villages Folk School class. But as soon as I made it to the winding country roads of Van Buren County I felt myself relax, my mind ease, and I enjoyed the scenery in the warm spring sun. I had always wanted to see the inside of one of the historic homes of Bentonsport and to be able to spend the whole afternoon in Betty Printy’s 1860’s brick home was a treat, especially since I was able to experience the art of artisan bread making with the baker in her home kitchen. How often do you get to spend time learning from an artist in their own space? It makes the learning experience much deeper, more memorable and meaningful since we became a part of the life of the artist for the afternoon. We were able to sit around Betty’s kitchen table as we learned and we enjoyed the ambience of the historic home complete with beautiful antiques including the 1930’s stove where we baked our breads. We saw Betty’s baking art first-hand; we watched her using her own tools in her own kitchen and we learned her art in the most hands-on way. We each took a turn with her tools, special ingredients, and time tested, delicious baking techniques. My afternoon was a truly authentic, real and relaxing experience in this hurried technological world. I was very glad I made the time to experience this truly unique and authentic Villages Folk School class. Thank you!”

     This is just one of the stories we constantly here from our folk school students. We invite you to do like Shelly and take the time to step away from your busy life for a day and join us here at the Villages Folk School. We offer many classes that give you an opportunity to step into the life of the artist instructor and join them as they ‘live the arts’ here in scenic Van Buren County. Registering for a class may be done with a simple phone call to our office at 319-592-3700 or go online to www.villagesfolkschool.com and download our registration form. We look forward to your visit and invite you to enjoy the scenery of the beautiful Des Moines River valley here in our county as you travel to your class destination. Our classes are held throughout the twelve villages so your experience will bring you in contact with all of what nature has to offer here in the Villages of Van Buren County.

     If you do not have access to the internet here is a list of our coming classes: February 25, Betty Printy starts a 5 session Beginning Pottery Class; Meg King teaches a Beginning Crocheting class on February 26; and Joy Hanson teaches a weekend two-day class in Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting on February 26 & 27.

     2011 also features our first annual writer’s conference; The Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference 2011. This event being held on September 23, 24, & 25 will not only feature New York Times Best Selling Authors but literary agents, publishers and many other experts in the field of writing from around the country. We encourage you to get your registration in early because this event will have limited seating and we expect it to fill up quickly. Contact us at the folk school office for more information. Our phone number is 319-592-3700 or you may go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and check out our class descriptions, artist bios and more.

     Call us today at the Villages Folk School office and allow us to introduce you to a wonderful new experience in the arts. Our office is available for your questions at 319-592-3700. Register for classes online or by phone.

     Give yourself the opportunity to live the arts with us here at the Villages Folk School.

“Temperatures are rising in the Villages”

2011-02-17T10:45:00.000-06:00

With the rise of temperatures comes birds singing on the hillsides, animals playing in the sunshine, and ovens at the proper degrees for making that perfect loaf of bread. I sit at my computer writing this article each week and today, for the first time since the falling temperatures of winter, I spotted our neighborhood squirrel on his favorite branch basking in the warm sunshine. Truly Summer is on its way and the surrounding Des Moines River valley will awaken from its frigid slumber to become a stage for natures production that brings forth the colorful presentation of Spring and its cast of flowers and woodland animals.

Although I enjoy the beauty of the snow upon the trees and the stark white snow covered fields, the traverse through Van Buren County visiting the many Villages Folk School classes is always inhanced by the splendor of nature as Summer invades the Villages.

     Here at the folk school our artists look forward with great anticipation to the burst of Spring as they continue to offer their many classes. One such artist is Betty Printy who, for the first time in several years, has offered her classes straight through the winter. Rumor has it she didn’t go into hybernation this winter! You may be surprised to find such an opportunity in early February but on the 19th Betty will be firing up the stoves again as she and her daughter, April Ziegler, offer you an experience in baking bread in our popular Artisan Bread Making Made Easy class here at the Villages Folk School. Other classes we offer this month are as follows: Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave taught by Vern Ramsey on February 19; February 25, Betty Printy starts a 5 session Beginning Pottery Class; Meg King teaches a Beginning Crocheting class on February 26; and Joy Hanson teaches a weekend two-day class in Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting on February 26 & 27.

     Registration for classes can be done by going to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or calling our office at 319-592-3700. We are here to make your experience in ‘living the arts’ one that will satisfy that longing for creating your own masterpiece. Whether it be bread baking, painting, sculpting, writing, blacksmithing, candle making, knitting, or quilting there is something offered here at the Villages Folk School for you and your creative desires.

     2011 also features our first annual writer’s conference; The Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference 2011. This event being held on September 23, 24, & 25 will not only feature New York Times Best Selling Authors but literary agents, publishers and many other experts in the field of writing from around the country. We encourage you to get your registration in early because this event will have limited seating and we expect it to fill up quickly. Contact us at the folk school office for more information. Our phone number is 319-592-3700 or you may go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and check out our class descriptions, artist bios and more.

     Call us today at the Villages Folk School office and allow us to introduce you to a wonderful new experience in the arts. Our office is available for your questions at 319-592-3700. Register for classes online or by phone.

     We look forward to seeing you soon!

“Folk School artist, John Preston, unveils work at the Sondheim”

2011-02-04T18:51:00.000-06:00

     Saturday night, January 29, was a big night for John Preston as he greeted people at the Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts in Fairfield. What people were coming to see was the two paintings, each 8 x 6 ½ foot canvases, masterfully created by John. It was if I were looking out across the landscape in scenic Van Buren County, only it was captured on the two canvases hanging on the wall in front of me. I stood back just observing the people and their reactions to the work John was displaying. Some would stand silent, others would point out structures in the distance that brought back fond memories, and one man smiled as he recognized the distant steeple of the church where he and his wife were married. Each person was taking it in and enjoying for a moment this magical snapshot on canvas that will forever be frozen in time by John Preston’s skillful brush strokes. These works by John were commissioned by the Chicago Federal Reserve and will be moved to Chicago this week.

     The mastery reflected in John Preston’s work is surpassed only by the man himself. To meet John, with his endearing smile and his gentle, soft-spoken voice is truly a pleasure. We are very blessed to have John and his wonderful wife, Cynthia, be a part of the Villages Folk School. It is this caliber of artist that makes our folk school experience such a great opportunity.

     Classes are scheduled for 2011 and are underway. We invite you to check out our calendar on the website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at 319-592-3700. For those of you who do not have internet access to our calendar, here is a list of upcoming classes.

     In February, Joy Hanson will teach another “Container Candles” class on the 5th and on “Super Bowl” Sunday we have a special class planned for all of you ladies who are looking for something to do during the game. It is a special for Valentines Day so give us a call to find out about this “Super Bowl” Sunday event. The next two weekends, Feb 12 and 19, Betty Printy and April Ziegler will again teach their popular “Artisan Bread Making Made Easy” class. Completing this month of classes is Vern Ramsey and his “Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave” class. This is a great time to fix that chair with the broken cane seat! Just call the school and register for Vern’s class and learn to cane like a pro.

     2011 also features our first annual writer’s conference; The Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference 2011. This event being held on September 23, 24, & 25 will not only feature New York Times Best Selling Authors but literary agents, publishers and many other experts in the field of writing from around the country. We encourage you to get your registration in early because this event will have limited seating and we expect it to fill up quickly. Contact us at the folk school office for more information. Our phone number is 319-592-3700 or you may go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and check out our class descriptions, artist bios and more.

     The Villages Folk School invites you to “live the arts” with our artist instructors. Pick a class, pick a weekend and call us to register at 319-592-3700. It just may be the best decision of your life!

“Artisan Bread Making keeps the temperature rising”

2011-01-26T10:11:00.000-06:00

The snow crunched under my feet as I walked to the van last Saturday. The frigid temperatures were a sure sign that winter did not intend to give up just yet. I found solace in the fact that I was on my way up the river to visit another Artisan Bread Making Made Easy class at Betty Printy’s home in Bentonsport. There weren’t many people moving about as I headed up J40 for the bread making class, in fact other than one lonely fox, I didn’t see much movement of animals either. I guess they were huddled together wherever they could find a place to stay warm.

     I had soon arrived at the Printy home, let myself in the front door and headed for the kitchen where all the activity was taking place. Betty and her daughter, April Ziegler, had a class of four people and were busy teaching them the proper way to make Artisan Bread. Many items were discussed and each student was allowed his or her opportunity to make a loaf of bread using the techniques presented. Everyone appeared to be about their business and from the laughter and conversations I could tell they were enjoying themselves. It is always fun to shoot pictures at this class because Betty has sliced bread ready to sample even before the class starts. Gee! Maybe that has something to do with my liking the class so much. Nah! Couldn’t be!

     The middle part of the class time is not as exciting for those who are just spectators but the smell of fresh baked bread permeates the room and reminds us of the moment that is quickly approaching. Soon they will be opening the oven door to reveal those wonderful fresh baked loaves of bread. Each student waits with great anticipation and soon is marveling at the beautiful browned loaf that emerges from the cloche. Betty instructs them on how to measure the core temperature to assure properly baked bread and then the correct way to remove it safely from the oven. The satisfaction is written on every face as they proudly display their masterpiece. This is always a popular class and one that the men as well as the ladies enjoy.

     Coming up in the Villages Folk School schedule are two classes being offered Saturday, Jan 29; Meg King’s “Intermediate Knitting” class and Pat Crawford’s “Printmaking” class. In February, Joy Hanson will teach another “Container Candles” class on the 5th. The next two weekends, Feb 12 and 19, Betty Printy and April Ziegler will again teach their popular “Artisan Bread Making Made Easy” class. Completing this month of classes is Vern Ramsey and his “Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave” class. This is a great time to fix that chair with the broken cane seat! Just call the school and register for Vern’s class and learn to cane like a pro.

     2011 also features our first annual writer’s conference; The Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference 2011. This event being held on September 23, 24, & 25 will not only feature New York Times Best Selling Authors but literary agents, publishers and many other experts in the field of writing from around the country. We encourage you to get your registration in early because this event will have limited seating and we expect it to fill up quickly. Contact us at the folk school office for more information. Our phone number is 319-592-3700 or you may go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and check out our class descriptions, artist bios and more.

     The Villages Folk School offers you the chance to ‘live the arts’ in Van Buren County along side one of our gifted artist instructors. Call us at 319-592-3700, register for your class and get ready to experience the thrill of a lifetime.

“It’s cold outside but it’s warming up at the Villages Folk School”

2011-01-20T21:49:00.000-06:00

     Too cold to play outside? Not a problem when you can register for one of our folk school classes and experience the thrill of living the arts in the warmth of our classrooms. We invite you to check out our calendar of classes on the website at www.villagesfolkschool.com. If you need assistance just call our office at 319-592-3700 for information on classes and registration.

     2011 also features our first annual writer’s conference; The Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference 2011. This event being held on September 23, 24, & 25 will not only feature New York Times Best Selling Authors but literary agents, publishers and many other experts in the field of writing from around the country. We encourage you to get your registration in early because this event will have limited seating and we expect it to fill up quickly. Contact us at the folk school office for more information. Our phone number is 319-592-3700 or you may go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and check out our class descriptions, artist bios and more.

     Classes scheduled through the end of January are Joy Hansen’s “Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting” class on the weekend of January 22 & 23. Two classes are being offered on Saturday, Jan 29; Meg King’s “Intermediate Knitting” class and Pat Crawford’s “Printmaking” class. In February, Joy Hanson will teach another “Container Candles” class on the 5th. The next two weekends, Feb 12 and 19, Betty Printy and April Ziegler will teach their popular “Artisan Bread Making Made Easy” class. Completing this month of classes is Vern Ramsey and his “Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave” class.

     Why not join us at the Villages Folk School for an experience in “living the arts” that may become the highlight of your year. Call us today at 319-592-3700.

“The Villages Folk School wishes you a very Merry Christmas”

2010-12-21T20:18:00.000-06:00

     The first year of classes has come to a close at the Villages Folk School and we want to thank you all for your support of the folk school. We look forward to the coming year with great anticipation and will be offering even more in our class line-up.

     This is a great time for you to give a gift that will provide the opportunity for your friends and family to experience a class with one of our talented artist instructors. Gift certificates may be purchased at the Villages Folk School office in Bonaparte at the Opera House. Give us a call today at 319-592-3700. Our office is open from noon to 4 p.m. for your convenience. Put a Villages Folk School gift certificate under your tree and give the gift that opens up the world of creativity for your loved ones.

     A coming event for next year is the Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference 2011. This event on September 23, 24, & 25 will not only feature New York Times Best Selling Authors but literary agents, publishers and many other experts in the field of writing from around the country. We encourage you to get your registration in early because this event will have limited seating and we expect it to fill up quickly.

     To get a first hand look at our class calendar go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and check out our class descriptions, artist bios and more. If you need further assistance give us a call at the Villages Folk School office at 319-592-3700.

     From the Villages Folk School we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

“The Villages Folk School classes help to prepare for Christmas”

2010-12-15T22:15:00.000-06:00

The last class on our 2010 calendar will provide you with a perfect gift for Christmas. Joy Hanson’s Container Candles class held on Saturday, December 18^th will help you to make the perfect candle in your favorite mug and it even looks and smells like hot chocolate. The Villages Folk School also encourages you to give your friends and family a “gift certificate” that can be used for any of our 2011 classes. Go to our website at http://www.villagesfolkschool.com/ for a complete listing with class descriptions and artist bios. Gift certificates are available through our folk school office in the Bonaparte Opera House, we can be reached by telephone at 319-592-3700 or email us at villagesfolkschool@gmail.com. Call us today to allow time for the gift certificates to arrive in your home prior to Christmas day.

Our 2011 calendar begins in January with a new slate of class schedules that are designed to allow you the opportunity to live the arts with one of our artist instructors. This is an experience that will provide you with the inspiration and skills to begin or enhance your creative life in the arts. We invite you to join us and to share with others what you have experienced. It is through the efforts of our Villages Folk School Board, the artist instructors and people like you that the creative arts will make their way back into our schools and our communities. We ask you to join us by giving your monetary support through donations to our school. Go to our website at http://www.villagesfolkschool.com/, click on “Become a Sponsor”, choose your level of support and either click on the “Donate” button for a secure PayPal payment or send your check to The Villages Folk School, PO Box 51, Bonaparte, IA 52620
.

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to a bright and prosperous future as we “live the arts” in Van Buren County, Iowa.

“Give a gift of Creativity this year”

2010-12-07T20:54:00.000-06:00

     The Villages Folk School encourages you to give your friends and family a “gift certificate” that can be used for any of our folk school classes. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com for a complete listing of our 2011 classes. The class descriptions and artist bios are also provided for you. The holiday season is here and with our busy schedules we often find it difficult to include everything we would like to accomplish. We have just two classes left in our 2010 schedule and they are Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, Dec 11-12 and Container Candles, Dec 18, both taught by Joy Hanson. Joy can teach you how to make those beautiful quilts you see or, if you want something not quite so time consuming, your favorite hot chocolate mug filled with a candle that looks and smells like the real thing. Either of these classes would be a great gift this Christmas and would give you a handmade present for that special person in your life.

     Gift certificates are available through our folk school office. We can be reached by telephone at 319-592-3700 or email us a villagesfolkschool@gmail.com. Call us soon to allow time for the gift certificates to arrive in your home prior to Christmas day.

     The first year at the Villages Folk School has been a great one! We now have 28 artist instructors offering 51 different classes and have seen over 100 students from all around Iowa and from several surrounding states. All of this has added to our counties economy as these students come for the weekend and spend their money for food, lodging and gas. Our goal for sustainability is on track and as we offer more diversity in our class subjects we are forever aware of the need to promote the lifestyle in Van Buren County while at the same time striving to preserve our unique quality of life.

     The continued growth of the folk school relies on class enrollment, recruitment of artist instructors and, above all, the cooperative effort of all of us in the county. Our immediate goals for steady growth are being achieved and we are pleased with that, but our long range plans to bring the creative arts to the forefront in Van Buren County are still a slow process. We are in agreement with studies across the country linking the creative arts with scholastic achievement. Programs offering all of the arts to the students have seen dramatic improvement in aptitude testing on a national level. As a county I would like to see us join together to give more support to our students and our schools. When I was in my high school years there were parents actively supporting their students by coming together and forming what was called the “Band Boosters”. It was groups like this that raised money to purchase uniforms so that there was pride in belonging to the band. Bands as well as choirs all around the county would come together once a year for mass concerts. It is this kind of enthusiasm that we should be seeing in our programs for the kids. It is not always about money, but getting excited and showing the youth that we care about their futures may be a great start towards bringing all of us together to support the arts in our schools and our county. It starts with each of us and becomes the inspiration for all of us.

     Find a teacher or a school administrator this holiday season and tell them how much you appreciate them. The Villages Folk School is proud of our gifted artist instructors and hope to provide a consistant working environment for them as they “live the arts” here in Van Buren County.

     Your sponsorship help as a “Friend of the Villages Folk School” is always appreciated and we encourage each of you to think of our school as we prepare to meet the New Year. Our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com has a list of the sponsorship levels by which you may participate. No matter what your gift, it provides the needed funds to move us forward toward our goals. Call us today at 319-592-3700 and join with us as we seek to expand the arts and creativity in Van Buren County, Iowa.

“Villages Folk School making plans for the year 2011”

2010-12-01T20:14:00.000-06:00

     The Villages Folk School is busy planning the class calendar for next year as well as the first annual Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference. The event is planned for September 23, 24, & 25, 2011. The three-day conference will include key note addresses by Robert Dugoni, multiple New York Times Best Selling Author; Elizabeth Lyons, Owner/Editor of Editing International; Noah Lukeman, Literary Agent and Best Selling Author; as well as workshops with panels comprised of leading scholars in the field of writing from around the country. Contact us to obtain your registration form and reserve your spot for the conference. Key note addresses, break-out sessions, and free time for reflection and enjoying the surrounding area all await you at the Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference 2011.

     Although the year 2010 is nearing an end, the folk school classes are still offering opportunities for you to participate. Taking the time to make something that becomes a keepsake or a special gift for friends and family is often a challenge so why not join one of our artist instructors and share in this rewarding experience that produces a high quality result.

     Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com to see a calendar for the remainder of this year and our new class schedule for 2011, then give us a call at 319-592-3700 to register for one of our exciting classes. Gloria and I are available to answer any questions you may have about the school and our classes.

     For those of you who may not have access to the website, here is a list of our classes coming up: Beginning Blacksmithing by Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer, Dec 4-5; Keepsakes-Gift Making by Sandi Dimmitt, Dec 4; Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, Dec 11-12; Container Candles by Joy Hanson, Dec 18.

“Students are taught to heel at the Villages Folk School”

2010-11-23T22:44:00.000-06:00

     Last weekend the students returned to our Victorian home to spend another day learning to knit socks. This was the second of three classes in this subject because of the time required for each student to work their project in preparation for the next command; “learning to heel”. No, it wasn’t obedience school for their dogs it was time to knit the “heel” on their sock project. Their homework from the last class was to knit from the top of the sock to a length of 8 inches. Today’s class would provide them instruction for properly completing the heel of the sock. Karen Land and her students once again retired to the parlor to go about the process of making a proper heel on their knitted socks. I am not one to knit, but it does appear to get pretty involved. I always figured you just started knitting and “voila” there’s a sock. But I soon realized it was not quite that simple. I think the ladies in the class were also realizing that, but they were having such a great time together they didn’t give it much thought.

     Christmas is only a month away and for those of you who would like to make a personal gift for that special person in your life we have some classes to help you do just that. Joy Hanson can guide you through the process of making a candle in a mug that smells and looks like hot chocolate. Join her class this weekend and see how it’s done. You will come away with the satisfaction of making your own gift and with the knowledge to make more of the same. Maybe you would like to make a keepsake gift instead. Register for Sandi Dimmitt’s class in Keepsakes-Gift Making and make one of your own. The Villages Folk School class calendar is available for you on our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com. You can also email the school at villagesfolkschool@gmail.com for more information. Gloria will be out of the office this week but will be checking the emails.

     Here is a list of our classes coming up: Container Candles by Joy Hanson, Nov 27; Vintage Card Making by Sandi Dimmitt, Nov 27; Beginning Blacksmithing by Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer, Dec 4-5; Keepsakes-Gift Making by Sandi Dimmitt, Dec 4; Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, Dec 11-12; Container Candles by Joy Hanson, Dec 18.

     We at the Villages Folk School wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving.

“The Rush is on at the Villages Folk School”

2010-11-16T23:25:00.000-06:00

     The wind was howling as I started the van and headed for our Villages Folk School class at the Congregational church in Keosauqua. Today was the chair caning class taught by Vern Ramsey. His student’s work today was on an antique chair in the fiber rush weave pattern. The different styles of caning are each unique and Vern teaches all of them. If you think about it, probably most of us have one of those antique chairs that have been in the family for years but because of the deteriorated weave it has been tucked away in the attic or closet. Well now is the time to get that old chair back into good-as-new condition. Before you register for a class, however, there is some preparation that needs to be completed prior to re-caning the seat. If the chair is in need of refinishing or replacement of any broken parts, that must be done before coming to class. Once the chair is fitted with the new cane it is ready to take its rightful place in your home. I’m sure stories will be told as you recall grandpa or grandma sitting in that chair. This series of classes taught by Vern Ramsey for the Villages Folk School will restore those family heirlooms and at the same time bring your ancestral history back to life. Go to our folk school website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and make plans to have your chair project ready for the next caning class. Registration is easily done by printing the online form or by calling our office at 319-592-3700.

     The holidays are fast approaching and it is time to start thinking about those Christmas gifts for family and friends. Here is a great idea for you; why not make something special this year. We have some creative classes coming up that will help you to do just that! See for yourself by going to the website and checking them out. Maybe you would like to make a container candle in their favorite mug, or something that becomes a keepsake. It is all very easy if you have the proper instruction. The next few weeks of classes will offer that opportunity for you. See for yourself by reading through the class descriptions or calling our office for any additional information you might need.

     Here is a list of our classes coming up: Container Candles by Joy Hanson, Nov 27; Vintage Card Making by Sandi Dimmitt, Nov 27; Beginning Blacksmithing by Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer, Dec 4-5; Keepsakes-Gift Making by Sandi Dimmitt, Dec 4; Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting, Dec 11-12; Container Candles by Joy Hanson, Dec 18.

     We hope to make your holiday season very special by offering you a class with an instructor who will guide you through the steps required to create a very special gift that you can be proud to give. If not for a gift, then something creative that will be the perfect decoration for your home this year and in years to come.

     Register for that special holiday class by going to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or by calling our office at 319-592-3700. Make this year very special for someone in your family; perhaps that someone is you!

“Iowa Public Television films folk school classes in Van Buren County”

2010-11-11T13:47:00.000-06:00

     This past weekend was not your average weekend of classes for the Villages Folk School. There was a little more excitement in the air as the Iowa Public Television camera crew rolled into town. The filming is in preparation for a special that will air in the Spring. First on the agenda was Gin Lammert’s “Still Life in Soft Pastels” class in the town hall at Cantril. I met the crew at the town hall and watched as they set up the set to interview Gin Lammert. The host of the program, Dan Kaercher, not only interviewed Gin but he took part in the class. The camera was rolling as she started her presentation and continued as each of the students moved to their respective easels and began to paint. Gin moved from student to student watching them as they worked on their masterpieces and giving her expert critic and helpful suggestions. It is a joy to watch as she seems to guide their projects down the right path with only her comments. I love this part of the folk school classes. Sometime you need to just stop in at one of our classes and watch as the artists work with their students. It is an awesome experience!

     It was time for the crew to move on so they packed all the camera gear and off we went for Bentonsport and Bill Printy’s blacksmith shop at Iron and Lace. We arrived at the shop and found Bill working at the forge. After some introductions they set about their work. Several angles for pictures were discussed and the camera man set up for the shoot. Bill began cranking the bellows and the coals were soon engulfed in a searing flame.

     The iron he had placed in the coals was glowing hot as Bill swiftly drew it from the forge and placed it on the anvil. With purposely directed blows he began to shape the tip. As the hammer came down upon the iron the sparks flew in every direction. You could see the iron cooling as the sparks grew less and less. Bill was keenly aware of the proper moment for the iron to be returned to the fire and once again the bellows were cranked to produce the proper flame. Bill makes this look so easy, but, after all, it has been his life for the past thirty some years. What was once a straight piece of iron from the mill was now a perfectly formed poker and Bill smiled with satisfaction as he displayed his finished work. Dan Kaercher moved over next to Bill and the camera man set his lens and microphone for the interview portion of the filming. Bill is always the humble blacksmith but he has truly turned the working of iron into a fine art. Working of iron has been passed down from generation to generation in Bill’s family but his passion for the arts has brought this trade to a new level that results in custom work seldom found in other shops. Classes are offered throughout the year in beginning blacksmithing, tool making, tong making and forge welding. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com for dates and times. If you have always wanted to learn the blacksmithing trade; what are you waiting for? This is an opportunity you won’t want to pass up. Working along side Bill Printy is his assistant Mark Heisdorffer and the two of them provide you with all the instructor / student time you will need to not only learn the proper methods but to turn out a quality piece of work.

     We were soon out of time and packing up to leave for the next class shoot. This was Meg King’s beginning knitting class being held in the parlor of our 1865 Victorian brick in Bonaparte.

One of the students was a young lady and I could tell she was nervous with the camera so close but soon she was engrossed in her knitting and not paying attention to the camera. We soon had to move on so the camera gear was packed and off we went.

     The last location for the coming broadcast was from the top of the hill where J40 starts down into Bentonsport. This overlook is so indicative of the beautiful rolling hills and scenic river valley of Van Buren County. The camera was set and Dan, with the valley as a back drop, began his rap up of the day’s events. We are thrilled to have such coverage of our beautiful Van Buren County and look forward with much enthusiasm as the Villages Folk School continues to bring attention to this area.

     We invite you to join us in our endeavor to make the Villages Folk School into a premier year-round folk school. By becoming a Friend of the Folk School your sponsorship dollars will help with the advertising and marketing needed to reach out to the surrounding areas for students and keep our artists working to support their families and this area. Information for sponsorship is available on our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at 319-592-3700 for assistance.

     Here is a list of our upcoming classes: Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, Nov 13; Fried Fiction Workshop, Nov 13-14; Container Candles, Nov 27; Beginning Blacksmithing, Dec 4-5; Hand Piecing Appliqué & Quilting, Dec 11-12; Container Candles, Dec 18.

     Taking a class at the Villages Folk School is more than just spending a little time with a craft; it is a chance to experience firsthand the life of living the arts in Van Buren County, Iowa. As the holidays approach and you are thinking about presents for friends and family wouldn’t it be fun to give a gift that you made? There are some classes coming soon that will allow you to do just that. Container candles are made in your favorite mug and would make a wonderful gift. We hope to see you here for one of our classes and look forward to your participation.

“Days are getting shorter but the Villages Folk School is in full swing”

2010-11-03T19:29:00.000-05:00

     Two trips around the Villages of Van Buren County can take all day. That is, if you stop to listen in on one or two of the folk school classes. There is always something to learn and when it is being taught by a gifted artist the whole process is a delightful experience. In finding an art subject that fulfills a desire you have always kept inside, I think you will agree with me when I say, “Doing is so much better than watching!” Now, with the help of our instructors, artists who are inspired by the very land they have chosen to make their home, you can make it a reality. We have a treasure in Van Buren County that has not only attracted the artists but has offered them a palette for their work and livelihood. Going about their trade on a daily basis has spawned a culture that lives the arts here in Van Buren County, Iowa.

     The benefit to those who come from outside our county to take a class at the Villages Folk School is twofold. They experience not only the beauty and serenity of this Des Moines River valley, but they connect with their inner self as they create a newfound art form under the instruction of a folk school artist.

     Those of us who live here have but to journey outside of our county to soon realize what we have in Van Buren County. Living here is wonderful, as I think we all agree. What we haven’t all realized is that getting in touch with our creative side through the arts and then living it here in the villages opens our eyes in so many areas. That goes for young and old alike. Allow yourself to experience the Villages Folk School and encourage your children to do so. The arts and being creative will spill over into every aspect of your life. It is a thrill that keeps getting better and better.

     Come join us for one of our exciting classes. Call our office at 319-592-3700 or go online to www.villagesfolkschool.com and register for your class. You will find the classes and their times on our calendar.

     We invite you to help us grow by becoming a “Friend of the Villages Folk School”. The sponsorship information is listed for you on our website and a secure PayPal site is available for your convenience.

     Here is a list of our upcoming classes: Still Life in Soft Pastels, Nov. 6; Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, Nov 13; Fried Fiction Workshop, Nov 13-14; Container Candles, Nov 27.

     It’s not too late to register for one of our many classes. Then get ready for the thrill of a lifetime as you live the arts with one of our artist instructors.

“Knit one, pearl two, make a pair of socks but if you don’t knead, the bread still rocks!”

2010-10-26T22:21:00.000-05:00

You guessed it; the Villages Folk School is teaching people how to knit their own socks. It was a pretty awesome spectacle to see Karen Land and her students sitting in our parlor, knitting and enjoying the peace and quiet. Obviously they were savoring both the experience of the class and each others company. I found myself wanting to take the pictures in black and white as it must have appeared 150 years ago in this house when the ladies would gather together on a Saturday afternoon to enjoy the visit with friends and time to knit another pair of socks for the family. I continued taking pictures for awhile and excused myself to head up river to the bread class.

I crested the hill leading down into Bentonsport and simply had to stop the vehicle along the side of the road. This picture was one I had to capture on my camera. Below me lay the Des Moines River valley as it cut its way down river towards Bonaparte. The trees were spectacular and I could see the historic covered bridge, now a walking path, which spans from the village Bentonsport to Vernon. I snapped a few pictures and sat there just taking it all in. Driving through the Villages of Van Buren County is an experience I never tire of. I started my vehicle again and wound down the hill into Bentonsport and the home of Bill and Betty Printy where the class was taking place. Four students from both Iowa and Illinois were intently listening as Betty and her daughter April made the initial presentation of the class and what they could expect. Betty’s enthusiasm always inspires the students and makes the whole experience an exciting one. Now, with the help of her daughter, April Ziegler, they were getting even more hands-on instruction from the teachers. This has been a very popular class here at the folk school as it seems everyone wants to learn the art of making bread; especially bread that tastes like this bread! “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing” will be your statement after tasting the bread that comes from Betty’s kitchen. Experience it once and you will be hooked for life. You may want to contact the school while the ovens are hot!!

Give us a call at 319-592-3700 or go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and register for this and other exciting Villages Folk School classes.

Once the dough had been mixed and made ready for the ovens I returned to the sock knitting class in Bonaparte. They were working away and having a great time together. I spent some time watching and listening as they continued their projects. This class will convene again on November 20th to deal with the issue of knitting heals in their socks. Each student has until then to get to that point in their process. Time slows to a crawl here in the villages and makes afternoons like this one a truly relaxing experience.

The time was nearing for the loaves of bread to come out of the ovens so I jumped in the van and returned to the bread making class. This is the time I enjoy most; watching the expression on the face of each student as they see their newly baked loaf of bread for the first time. The smiles on their faces and the obvious look of satisfaction tell it all as they remove their loaves of bread from the oven. Today was “true-to-form” as four perfectly baked loaves emerged from the oven. It is difficult to improve on perfection but this class always finds a way. Not only the expert instruction, but watching the students as they put their personal touches on each dough recipe always ads a unique element to each finished loaf of bread. Happy with finished product, Betty sat the students down to cover some last minute details before dismissing them and their newly baked loaves of bread for their return trips home. I said my goodbyes and returned to the office to put this day of classes down on paper while the details of each class were still fresh in my mind.

Whatever the class, wherever the location, and whoever is teaching it, the Villages Folk School offers an exciting opportunity for you to find your creative side and take it to new heights as you experience “living the arts” with our gifted artist instructors.

The decision to take a class with us is purely up to you and we at the Villages Folk School want to assure you that the choice you make to take a class will be one of the greatest choices of your life. Come join us for a fun-filled weekend and let yourself in on an experience that will change your life!

The Villages Folk School class schedule can be found on our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call us today at 319-592-3700. We are here to answer any questions you might have or to assist you with your class registration. PayPal invoices can be emailed to you for your convenience.

Here is a list of our upcoming classes: Natural Dyes in My Backyard, Oct 28-29; 7 Step Chair Caning, Oct 30; Still Life in Soft Pastels, Nov 6; Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, Nov 13; Fried Fiction Workshop, Nov 13-14; Container Candles, Nov 27.

We look forward to seeing you at the Villages Folk School classes.

“Pulp Play, Bird watching, landscapes captured on canvas, and the dough is rising!”

2010-10-20T19:31:00.000-05:00

     Last Thursday and Friday at the Cantril Town Hall Pat Crawford was busy teaching her student all about making paper and creating a journal. Various fibers were utilized to make paper on the first day and on Friday they created a journal for keeping memorable information. I spent some time taking pictures of the process and listening in as Pat described the procedure to her student, April Ziegler. They seemed to be having a great time and the paper was something that would be unique to her personal journal. April was enjoying every moment!

     Saturday morning began as normal as any other Villages Folk School class morning but this day was to be especially exciting. I ate breakfast, filled the commuter cup with coffee, loaded the camera and paperwork in the van and headed for the wetlands of Mt. Sterling, Iowa. The drive was peaceful and I noticed even more color beginning to show in the trees.

     I arrived in Mt. Sterling and drove to the community building where Raymond and Connie Morris were giving their introductory information for the fall bird watching class. I introduced myself to the students and took a seat to enjoy Raymond’s presentation. It is really all about retraining your mind to be more aware of the many birds that are around you every day. The students were all very excited about getting out to the wetlands to start their search and after a short presentation we jumped in the vehicles and headed out. This was my first trip into the wetlands at Mt. Sterling and, I must admit, they were beautiful. Our anticipation was soon satisfied as an Egret unfurled his huge wings and soared across the water. Soon after that the group spotted a large Pelican. As we drove along I looked to my left and just above the tree line I noticed a Rough-legged Hawk suspended in the air, flapping his wings until he plunged swiftly to the ground to attack his prey. I thought to myself, “Yesterday I would have never seen him or known what kind of bird he was.” Raymond had just talked about him in the classroom and because of his explanation of what the Rough-legged Hawk looked like in flight I was able to quickly identify him. I think I could learn to enjoy this! But like all great classes at the Villages Folk School, I had to tear myself away and move on to the next class site. I bid ‘good day’ to the students and their instructor and headed for Bentonsport on the Des Moines River to find John Preston and his “Painting the Landscape” class.

     Arriving in Bentonsport I soon found John and his four students. They had set their easels in place along the river and were beginning to paint. John had also set his easel and was working on his own painting intermittently as he moved from student to student lending his expertise and constructive advice. I went about my business taking pictures. This area was a great choice for the class because the fall palette was beautiful as a backdrop for the river and the bridge to the west. Each student had identified a segment of the landscape and was at work capturing it on canvas. I walked from student to student taking pictures and enjoying their creations on canvas. While I stood admiring some of the work, I noticed John’s easel. He had just come back to it and was starting to put some brushstrokes to the painting. I know that he picks his colors and places the brush with careful precision but when you watch him at work it appears to be effortless. “Oh, to be able to paint like that”, I thought to myself. Each time I see John at work I develop even more respect for the man, his gift, and the ease in which he shares it. If you like to paint or have a desire to learn this would be a great class to take. I had one more class to visit so it was off to the bread making class.

     I arrived at the home of Bill & Betty Printy where I found Betty and her daughter, April Ziegler, just starting the Artisan Bread Making Made Easy class. I have visited this class several times previously and always enjoy the process. The best part for me is towards the end when they begin to slice the fresh loaves of warm bread. Of course, I must lend my expert opinion by tasting as many as humanly possible. A little butter, which jam should I use on this one? So many decisions to make! Betty never allows me to go away hungry and, of course, I’m not complaining. As you’ll see when you visit our folk school website and blog, the pictures tell the story. Every loaf of bread comes from the oven with a wonderful brown crust, just picture perfect! This has been a very popular class as we have registrations for three more classes and calls continue to come in. Men, if you’re smart, you’ll send your wife to this one and then begin to enjoy fresh baked bread at home. It’s great!!!

     To find more information about our classes go to www.villagesfolkschool.com and discover a world of art at your fingertips. Each subject carefully prepared and taught by a gifted artist instructor who has honed their skills by ‘living the arts’ in Van Buren County, Iowa. The Villages Folk School offers classes to young and old with a setting located in each of the twelve villages.

     Congratulations to Diana Hootman of Douds, Iowa who was the winner of our $20 gift certificate last week at the Women’s Health Fair held at the Van Buren County Hospital.

     If you are one of our readers without access to the internet, we have published the following class list for your convenience: Beginner’s Lightweight Sock Knitting, 23 Oct and 20 Nov; Natural Dyes in My Backyard, 28-29 Oct; 7 Step Chair Caning, 30 Oct; Still Life in Soft Pastels, 6 Nov; Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, 13 Nov; Fried Fiction Workshop, 13-14 Nov; Container Candles, 27 Nov.

     Register for a class at the Villages Folk School and get ready for an experience that starts you on your way to living the arts!

“Folk School artists busy at the Scenic Drive Festival”

2010-10-12T20:37:00.000-05:00

     Every year the Villages of Van Buren County hold a Scenic Drive Festival that brings thousands of tourists to the twelve villages. This year was no exception and as I drove through the county I was astonished at the number of people. As I recall last year was very cold and blustery but still the people came. This year with the weather being perfect the county was full of people traveling from village to village enjoying the many artisans, crafts, music, and other events. Since the artists who teach at the Villages Folk School make their homes here, this was a weekend that found them busy with their trade.

     Classes will resume this week on Thursday and Friday with Pat Crawford’s class in Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making. Then on Saturday, October 16 the following classes will be held: Vern Ramsey’s Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits which will be a great class to take that chair with the cane seat you have always wanted to get repaired. Now you can have the satisfaction of repairing the chair and developing the skill for the job; next is John Preston’s Painting the Landscape class. John, who is a premier artist here in the villages, will share with you the art of capturing the landscape on canvas; Raymond and Connie Morris take you on an exciting Birdwatching tour that allows you to spot and recognize the many birds that are not only common to this area but those that use this region as a migratory path. Two great classes are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, October 16 and 17; Artisan Bread Making Made Easy will once again be taught by Betty Printy. My wife took that class and men, I have to tell you, it was great reaping the benefits! We now enjoy some incredible homemade bread baked in one of Betty’s famous pottery Cloches. You just have to taste it to believe it! Ladies this class makes the art of bread making something anyone can learn to master; the other two-day class for you to enjoy is the Fried Fiction Workshop by S.L. Harryman. Ms. Harryman will help you take all those ideas you’ve had for a book and put them down on paper. This will be a very informative weekend for all of you struggling authors.

     On October 23 Karen Land will teach a class in Beginner’s Lightweight Sock Knitting which is the first of two sessions for this class. The student should be an advanced beginner knowing how to knit and purl well with small thread. The second session for this class will be on November 20 which will allow time in between for the student to work on their project.

     October 23 and 24 is another weekend of making and baking bread as Betty Printy fires up the ovens once again with her Artisan Bread Making Made Easy class.

     Pat Crawford teaches Natural Dyes in My Backyard on October 28 and 29. Learn what to look for to make different colored dyes. This class will cover various dye stuffs and how to harvest and prepare the materials. The student will also learn how to prepare fabric and natural yarns to accept dyes. She will be using only alum base mordants to keep the process natural and safe.

     On October 30 Vern Ramsey teaches another caning class. This class will learn the 7 Step Chair Caning process. Vern’s work is amazing. Your old chair will look like the day it was manufactured, maybe even better! If you plan on taking this class it is best to have any refinishing work that needs to be done on the chair already completed. That way the cane stays pristine and your completed chair will serve you for years to come.

     Taking a class at the Villages Folk School is easy. Just go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com, print the registration form, fill it out and mail it with your check to the Villages Folk School, P.O. Box 51, Bonaparte, Iowa 52620. Or call us at 319-592-3700 and Gloria will assist you with your class registration and any other questions you might have.

     Join us soon for an exciting folk school class. Maybe you would like to give a Christmas gift this year that was made by you. Let us help you with that project! See you soon at the Villages Folk School.

“Shades of fall appear as we prepare for another month at the Villages Folk School”

2010-10-07T00:18:00.000-05:00

     I have noticed by the dipping temperatures and the coloration of the leaves on the trees beginning to turn that fall has most certainly arrived. I love the changing seasons and fall is one of my favorites! But even with a weekend off from teaching, the artist instructors here at the folk school are busy preparing for their October classes. There are ten classes in all throughout the month and each one offers something uniquely different. I continue to be amazed by the number of people who comment on our classes and the beautiful surroundings of our county. Truly this part of the country offers something seldom experienced elsewhere. A peace and serenity that lingers with you long after you’ve returned to your home. It is the magical twisting river valley we see here that draws gifted artists and feeds their souls with a heartfelt desire to paint the landscape, turn the pottery at the wheel, shape the iron into creations of beauty, sculpt lifelike figures from bronze, and turn pastels on canvas into colorful still lifes.

     A life so tuned to its surroundings cannot be described any other way but “living the arts”. People from outside of Van Buren County recognize this when they come to share a brief moment in time with our artist instructors. They journey to this quiet tract of land with its trees and rolling hills undulating about the mighty Des Moines river and when they leave a piece of this region goes with them. They return home to their fast paced lives in the cities but the memory of this solitude lingers on and draws them back again and again. Though we continue to advertise throughout the state nothing else can accomplish what the enthusiasm and word of mouth of our students provides. Not only do they make plans for returning to take more classes but they bring their friends and neighbors along to capture some of what they have tried to share.

     For those of you who live throughout Van Buren County we invite you to join with us in this great endeavor. By becoming a “Friend of the Folk School” you will be taking an active part in the continued success of our school and the increasing stream of visitors to the businesses in the county. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and click the “Become a Sponsor” section on the lower right corner of the home page. Here you may choose the level at which you wish to sponsor the folk school. For your convenience you may click the ‘Donate’ button to access a secure Pay Pal site for credit card transactions. If you do not wish to pay online you may simply choose your sponsorship level, write a check for the amount to the Villages Folk School and mail it to our office at PO Box 51, Bonaparte, Iowa 52620. For additional questions we may be reached at 319-592-3700. Office hours are Tuesday to Friday, noon to 4 p.m. in the Bonaparte Opera House.

     We invite you to come join us for one of our classes. The list of classes and their scheduled times are on the website but for those without internet access here is our October schedule:

Oct 14 & 15       Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making

Oct 16              Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits

                        Painting the Landscape

                        Fall Bird watching

Oct 16 & 17       Artisan Bread Making Made Easy

                        Fried Fiction Workshop

Oct 23               Beginner’s Lightweight Sock Knitting

Oct 28               Natural Dyes in My Backyard

Oct 30               7 Step Chair Caning

     Come enjoy a class with one of our gifted artist instructors and get ready for an experience that will start you on your way to “living the arts” in Van Buren County, Iowa. We look forward to seeing you.

“The Villages Folk School draws tourists from outside our county”

2010-09-29T09:38:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, like every other Folk School classes weekend, had me on the road to more exciting classes around the county. Three classes were in full swing so my first stop was the Congregational church in Keosauqua. Jeff Nayadley was teaching music on the hammered dulcimer an instrument dating back into early American history. Learning to play a new instrument is always challenging but having the personal one on one with a seasoned instructor helps to make that journey a more pleasant one. I listened in on the class while I took a few pictures. I have had the pleasure of hearing Jeff play and the melodious music he produces with the hammered dulcimer is pleasing to the ear. My taste in music covers a wide variety of music genre but I find the sounds of this instrument to be perplexingly satisfying. Our student for this class came from Galesburg, Illinois. She enjoyed a stay at the Manning hotel in Keosauqua and ate at several of the local restaurants.

I left the hammered dulcimer class and headed out across the river toward Bentonsport where two more classes were being held. I stopped first at the historic Odd Fellows hall where Betty Printy and her daughter, April, were teaching the art of rug weaving to two ladies who had come for the weekend. I will never ask my wife again, “Why is that rug so expensive?” After visiting the class on Saturday and again on Sunday I found the answer to that question. The making of a rug is not as simple as one may assume; especially when the process is done by hand on a wooden loom. The two ladies attending the class were presented with the first day’s agenda. Pick a pattern layout, choose your color scheme, pick the yarn that you will be using, now load the warp strings to the back of the loom being careful not to cross them over each other. This process took most of the first day. As I was told by Betty, “the first day is the ‘work day’ and the second is the fun day.” I can certainly see why. When I arrived on day two they were obviously into a rhythm as three looms were in full swing producing rugs. Now they had wound the weft around a shuttle that was to be passed through the warp threads in a back and forth pattern. This was all becoming very confusing for me but the ladies were all having a great time so I decided it must have something to do with the Mars and Venus thing between men and women. Do you think that could be? I guess it must be time for me to drive over to the next class.

     My last stop for the day was Bill Printy’s beginning blacksmithing class at the Iron and Lace anvil academy. This was going to be the fix for my confusion over weft and warp and whatever else it was those ladies were trying to get through my head. Iron, hammers and fire; just what a guy needs! Bill and his assistant, Mark Heisdorffer, had a full class of four students. The forges were fired up, the iron was hot and the men were forming their work on the anvil. All this action can get your adrenaline going! This wasn’t the first blacksmithing class for me to visit but after a visit with the mother of one of the students I soon found a wonderful human interest story that bears repeating. One of the students was a thirteen year old boy from Minnesota who had come to Bentonsport especially for this class. His mother shared with me that when he read about the class and asked if he could participate she decided to let him register. It was what she told me next that made this student so special and this day such a meaningful one for his mother and for Bill Printy. Just a block west from the Iron and Lace buildings stands a one story historic brick structure that housed the first blacksmith in town and was home to a woodcarver in the mid twentieth century who was instrumental in bringing Bill to Bentonsport to start his blacksmithing trade. That man was none other than the great grandfather to Garrett, the thirteen year old boy who was now heating up the iron and pounding it into shape on the anvil as Bill Printy looked on with great pride. Life often comes full circle and it is wonderful to witness that here in the Villages Folk School.

     As we continue to build our school here in Van Buren County it is evident that what has been the ongoing focus for the Villages of Van Buren, that of tourism, is being bolstered by the influx of students to our folk school. This last weekend of classes brought students from Albert Lea, Minnesota; Galesburg, Illinois; Hopkinton, Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; Hamilton, Illinois; Iowa City, Iowa; and Delphos, Ohio. Those students stayed for the weekend at the Bonaparte Inn, the Hotel Manning, and the Mason House and ate their meals in several restaurants in our county. They went shopping in our many businesses and purchased the gasoline to drive back to their homes. All of that produces income for our business establishments and tax base for our county. Each of them will return home and share the news of this beautiful area and the fun they had in the classes. Many of them will return again and again for future classes and their friends will come with them. We are happy to see the ongoing registrations for our classes and hope to continue to grow over the coming years.

     We invite you to join us in this endeavor by becoming a Sponsor of the Villages Folk School at some level. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and click on the link to “Become a Sponsor”. Here you will find several levels by which to sponsor us and a “Donate” button that will allow you to use your credit card on a secure Pay Pal window. We hope you can catch the vision with us and help to continue our growth of the Villages Folk School and our support of Van Buren County.

     October classes are listed for you on the website but for those without internet access here is a list of those upcoming classes: Bonaparte Pottery Experience, Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making, Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, Painting the Landscape, Fall Bird Watching, Fried Fiction Workshop, Beginner’s Lightweight Sock Knitting, Natural Dyes in My Backyard, & 7 Step Chair Caning. Call our office today at 319-592-3700 and register for your next exciting class here at the Villages Folk School. We look forward to sharing this wonderful experience of “living the arts” with you.

“Weekend excitement at the Bonaparte Pottery Experience”

2010-09-21T10:29:00.000-05:00

     People from Iowa and Illinois came to Bonaparte last weekend to go back in history. No, it wasn’t by walking through a “time warp” but by touring the historic buildings of the Bonaparte Pottery that date back to the 1860’s. Not only were they treated to a guided tour of the buildings, excavations, and 150 year old molds but they had an opportunity to witness the pouring of clay utilizing those same molds. This weekend held another treat for the visitors. Several of the fired bowls and crocks were available for them to try their hand at glazing a piece of pottery that was formed from those historic molds. Mothers, fathers, children and grandparents were all taking their turn at the glazing process. I really don’t know who had the most fun. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves! It wasn’t just the brushing on of the glazing compound but the selection of the final color scheme that grabbed their attention. Now that they had chosen their colors and covered their work with three coats of glaze it was a waiting game to see the final results. Each piece will be unique and the culmination of their individual selections and applications. I must return to the pottery to witness the opening and unloading of the kiln. What an exciting process!

     Marilyn Thomas, who owns the pottery, is considering holding continuing weekend classes to allow people to come experience the joy of glazing their own pottery piece. This is something that is enjoyable for all ages. Come join her at the pottery and complete your own piece of historic art. Families could come and each complete a piece to create a set of bowls. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!

     Joining us at the Villages Folk School is something that doesn’t require your being an expert artist. It is more about having a desire to learn from one of our artist instructors and then finding the passion to make it your own. This is an experience that can change the way you approach everything in your life. Come ‘live the arts’ with us and find out for yourselves what many of our resident artists have already come to know. Art is not just a process, but an opportunity to develop your very own creative lifestyle.

     Contact us at the Villages Folk School office by calling 319-592-3700 or by email at villagesfolkschool@gmail.com. For a descriptive list of our many classes go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com. The time is now and the opportunity is yours so what are you waiting for? Join us for the time of your life. We look forward to seeing you.

     Coming classes yet this month are Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making, Beginning Blacksmithing, Beginning Hammered Dulcimer and a Rug Weaving Workshop. Call us today to make your reservations. Villages Folk School at 319-592-3700.

“Villages Folk School seeks to recruit new artist instructors”

2010-09-16T23:07:00.000-05:00

           (Bill Printy / Blacksmith, artist instructor)

     The heartbeat of a folk school is the passion of those who teach and the intensity in which they share their art form in the classroom. We are so blessed to have not only a nucleus of such artists who teach here at the school but a Folk School Board who governs with the same passion.

     We are actively seeking other artists who would like to become an instructor at the Villages Folk School. The beauty of our school schedule is that it allows for each instructor to set their own pace. We don’t schedule classes merely for the sake of scheduling classes but to allow for each artist to work their trade and also enjoy time to share their skills with others in a relaxed environment. The class sizes are such that each student has a true one-on-one experience with their instructor.

     If you are an artist who would like to teach please contact our office at 319-592-3700. Students who want to register for one of our classes offered on select weekends each month please check the calendar at www.villagesfolkschool.com.

     Many exciting classes are coming up this month and throughout the rest of the year and are sure to provide you with a great experience as you “live the arts” with one of our gifted artist instructors.

     For those of you without internet access the following is a list of our upcoming classes:

Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits Sept 18

Sculpture Portrait in Three Sept 18-19
Dimension

Pulp Play (Paper Making) & Journal Sept 23-24
Making

Beginning Hammered Dulcimer Sept 25

Beginning Blacksmithing Sept 25-26

Rug Weaving Workshop Sept 25-26

Bonaparte Pottery Experience Oct 2-3

     As we continue to grow we also must have the support of those who would consider becoming a friend of the Villages Folk School. Our donors will be invited from time to time to join with us in special events. As you choose a level at which to donate we want you to know that we appreciate your support no matter what the monetary amount. It is help such as yours that allows us to build our program so that all of us in Van Buren County can benefit from the Villages Folk School. We are excited to see the many students who continue to come from outside our county and even outside our state. We have seen students from Missouri, Illinois, and Alabama and from many Iowa cities outside our county. The continued growth of the school means additional dollars for Van Buren County and we, along with the Villages of Van Buren County, are constantly striving to increase this tourism base. We recognize the need for more dollars into our economy but, at the same time, also remain constantly aware of the need for balance so that the lifestyle that is so inviting here in Van Buren County is not altered but enhanced.

     We invite you to come with us on this journey we have set upon and help others to see the potential this has for creating an even more beautiful life here in the Villages of Van Buren County. Talk to your friends and neighbors about the Villages Folk School and encourage friends and family from afar to come join us here for a folk school class that will allow them for a short while to experience the serene beauty and peace of this pristine river valley and come to understand why living the arts has become a way of life for the many artists who reside here.

“It’s Labor Day weekend and pottery classes are on the agenda”

2010-09-04T22:10:00.000-05:00

     I awoke Saturday, grabbed some breakfast and my go cup of coffee and set my compass for Bentonsport and Betty Printy’s Raku pottery class. This class is one of the very popular classes in pottery because the students pick their project and take it from start to finish in one day. Most pottery classes require a much longer wait for the finished piece of art. This is because of the drying times required before the clay can be fired, then the glaze is added and another trip to the kiln. The beauty of the Raku process is that the bisque fired pieces are complete and ready to be glazed and fired. Raku leaves each student with a unique piece because the time in the kiln produces a different result each time. Students are always surprised and amazed at the beautiful colors and crazing effects on their projects. However, I am convinced that the most excited one of all is the instructor, Betty Printy. After all her years of being a potter she is still like “a child on Christmas morning” when the pieces are taken from the kiln and cleaned to reveal their beauty. This is truly what we mean when we say “living the arts” here at the Villages Folk School. The artists you encounter in your classes are taking you by the hand and leading you into their art form so that you can capture that passion while acquiring the skills it requires to achieve that end result.

     Learning a skill in the arts is always a chance for you to recapture the child within you and enjoy something that opens the door to a creative lifestyle that will enhance every aspect of your life. Join us here at the Villages Folk School and start the experience anew with one of our gifted artists. Now is the time for you to rediscover the creative arts!

     If you have access to the internet you can find out all about our classes and times on our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at 319-592-3700. We look forward to seeing you at one of our classes.

     For those of you without internet access the following is a list of our upcoming classes:

Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits     Sept 18

Sculpture Portrait in Three     Sept 18-19
Dimension

Pulp Play (Paper Making) & Journal    Sept 23-24
Making

Beginning Hammered Dulcimer     Sept 25

Beginning Blacksmithing     Sept 25-26

     We are always looking for artists to join our folk school instructors. If you are interested, give us a call and set an appointment to further discuss your many opportunities with the Villages Folk School. If you aren’t interested in teaching but would like to help with your financial support towards the growth of the school we invite you to become a Villages Folk School donor. Information is available on our website or you may call the folk school office at 319-592-3700.

We are growing and are excited about what this means for Van Buren County.

“Class diversity is a Villages Folk School trademark”

2010-08-31T22:21:00.000-05:00

     Last weekend was one of our first classes in creative writing. The instructor, Adam Whitlatch, is a published author living in rural Bonaparte with his wife, Jessica, and their two sons. He has written two novels and is currently working on a third that takes place within the Villages of Van Buren County. Students in his class this past weekend at the historic Robert Meek Home owned by Ken & Sue Burns would learn the basics of writing short stories and poetry with an emphasis on preparing work for publication. The class lasted two days with a homework assignment of a flash fiction short story using the Six Sentences format and at least one poem. The second day was spent proofreading, editing and critiquing each story and poem as a group.

     We are always excited when new instructors join our school bringing with them a new subject that adds to the diversity of our program. Adam is one of those instructors and we are pleased to have him as a part of our folk school artists. Many people like to write but often lack the skills required at the level of publication. Classes such as this one held last weekend will give you a better understanding of the process and help you on your way to becoming a published author. If being published is not your goal then simply learning skills that will improve your writing make classes such as this so worthwhile.

     If you have the desire to learn a new art form or skill and just haven’t taken the time to do so then you need to check out the Villages Folk School. With classes covering folk, traditional and fine arts you are sure to find something made just for you. Don’t take my word for it! Go to www.villagesfolkschool.com and see what everybody is talking about:

     Classes that bring the arts to life here in the Villages of Van Buren County and start you on the road to your very own adventure as an artist. Our classes are all about you and your desire to learn. The talented instructors spend their day with you assuring you of a quality experience that instills you with the knowledge required to propel you on your way to being a successful artist. However you choose to measure this experience, we are certain that you will agree with us when we say, “It is a unique and awe-inspiring time here at the Villages Folk School!”

     Call our school at 319-592-3700 and find out how you can become involved with the folk school. Whether it is registering for one of our coming classes or making a donation to help support our folk school you will find all the answers to your questions. The form for registration is also available on our website and can be printed, filled out and mailed to our office with your registration fee. Our address is Villages Folk School, PO Box 51, Bonaparte, Iowa 52620. We are here to answer all your questions and invite you to stop in to our office located in the Opera House the next time you are in Bonaparte.

     For those of you without internet access the following is a list of our upcoming classes:

Raku Pottery     Sept 4

Bonaparte Pottery Experience     Sept 4-5

Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits     Sept 18

Sculpture Portrait in Three     Sept 18-19
Dimension

Pulp Play (Paper Making) & Journal     Sept 23-24
Making

Beginning Hammered Dulcimer     Sept 25

Beginning Blacksmithing     Sept 25-26

     Join us at the Villages Folk School in picturesque Van Buren County, Iowa for an experience of a lifetime. Make the next right choice and register for one of our many classes. We look forward to seeing you here at the Villages Folk School.

“Landscape Painting and Buttons and Bows”

2010-08-24T21:57:00.000-05:00

     Well, this past weekend was all about painting the landscape and buttons and bows. No, not the song from 1948 sung by Dinah Shore but the card making class instructed by Debra Herrick from Fort Madison. Four students took part in the class held at the Meek Mansion in Bonaparte and they all seemed to enjoy the art of taking a common, ordinary card and by adding embellishments turning it into a true work of art anyone would be pleased to receive. Yes, you guessed it, some of the tricks included adding “buttons and bows” to the cards. I visited the class early on and came back later to see what they had accomplished. The fun is in the making, but it is always exciting to see the end product and the smiles on the students’ faces as they complete their works of art. It never ceases to amaze me how our teachers can turn ordinary things, such as buttons and bows, into beautiful works of art. Debra was having a great time with the class and the students were all enjoying themselves.

     After my second visit to the class I headed for Keosauqua to find John Preston and his class set-up on a hill overlooking the Des Moines River valley. They were painting the landscape and John was explaining the technique of using different colors to achieve the varying layers of the scene. I went to work snapping pictures as they talked and worked with the different brushes, brush strokes and shades of color. It is quickly obvious that going to the store and purchasing all the paints, palettes, brushes and easels does not make you an artist. Well, maybe an artist, but not an accomplished artist. While John was offering suggestions for the student I stepped over to look at the painting on his easel. I looked at the valley, at his painting, and back at the scenery. Painting on paper is one thing, but to make it look so real and true to life is a talent that comes from years and years of study and a true gift that captures the moment. John has such a gift and to watch him share it with passion and excitement is a wonderful thing to behold. I can share all of this with you but until you witness it for yourself the true beauty of his painting can’t be totally understood. If you like to paint but sometimes wish you could be more successful at capturing the subject then taking a class with one of our folk school artists is just for you.

     Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com to see the class descriptions and the dates they are being held. Registration is easy! You may register by printing the form from the website, filling it out and mailing it with your registration fee to the Villages Folk School, PO Box 51, Bonaparte, IA 52620 or by simply calling Gloria at the folk school office at 319-592-3700. We invite you to come enjoy one of our many classes and see why we are so excited about the future of the Villages Folk School.

     As we continue to increase our class offerings and our instructors we are aware of the tremendous need to have partners who can capture the vision with us and become a part of this great endeavor. You will see on our web page an opportunity that allows you to do just that! Donations to the school may be made in several levels with an easy Pay Pal button found on the site. If you aren’t comfortable making payments online, just send your donation in the form of a check. We thank you for considering a donation to the Villages Folk School and invite you to check out one of our many classes.

     Coming up in August and September are the following classes: Creative Writing—Intro to Publishing (Aug 28-29), Raku Pottery (Sept 4), Bonaparte Pottery Experience (Sept 4-5), Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits (Sept 18), Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension (Sept 18-19), Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making (Sept 23-24), Beginning Blacksmithing (Sept 25-26), Beginning Hammered Dulcimer (Sept 25).

     Don’t let the year pass you by without experiencing a class at the Villages Folk School. The only person who can help you understand the joy of living the arts here at the folk school is YOU! Won’t you join us for some fun?

“Living the Arts in Van Buren County, Iowa (It’s a good life!)”

2010-08-18T11:15:00.000-05:00

Making the move from Washington State was the start of a new chapter in my life. This new chapter opened in the beautiful Des Moines River valley where the pace is much slower, but I have found that living the arts brings a level of excitement and newfound enthusiasm that provides a momentum perhaps even more driven than the fast paced Pacific Northwest. Life is good and experiencing it through the eyes and lives of people I’ve come to know and admire brings a deep satisfaction.

One has but to get in the car, go for a walk, ride the bike and there is always someone along the way of that journey who offers a moment for you to stop and enjoy a great conversation. It may be about the weather, perhaps something going on in their life, or a time for you to share a bit of yourself and what’s up in your life. Life here in the Villages of Van Buren County, Iowa is good and that is a direct result of not only the people here but the splendor of the landscape. It is apparent to me that this is why so many artists have chosen to make this their home. Maybe what started out as a dream soon became a reality for them as they were inspired by their surroundings and soon found their love for the arts a total way of life for them. However the process evolved it certainly has been influenced by this picturesque river valley and the people who live here.

     It has been my privilege to work with many of the artists here at the Villages Folk School and to watch them as they not only create something beautiful but take the time to share their skills with the many students who come to their class. This is something you must experience for yourself. Go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and browse through the number of classes being offered. Familiarize yourself with the class descriptions as well as the artist who teaches them. Find something that you are interested in and register for what I promise will be a life changing experience. If you are not comfortable with the computer information just call our folk school office at 319-592-3700 and ask Gloria for the information you desire. It is that simple and I know you will not be sorry you committed yourself to one of our classes.

     Many of us are busy now that the Iowa State Fair is in full swing, but there are still classes coming up in which you may participate. On Saturday, August 21 is the Buttons and Bows Card Making class and Painting the Landscape. The Bonaparte Pottery Experience is August 21-22. August 28-29 is the Creative Writing-Intro to Publishing class. September 4 is Raku Pottery and September 4-5 is the Bonaparte Pottery Experience. Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits is September 18 and Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension is September 18-19. Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making is September 23-24; Beginning Blacksmithing is September 25-26; Beginning Hammered Dulcimer is September 25.

     Come join the fun at the Villages Folk School and experience ‘living the arts’ with our many talented artist instructors here in the Villages of Van Buren County and see why it’s a good life.

"It's Fair season and things are heatin' up"

2010-08-11T11:57:00.000-05:00

     As the Iowa State Fair approaches people all over the state are making preparations for the big event. Here in the Villages of Van Buren County, Stacey and Tavia are putting the finishing touches on the media for the Villages booth at the Varied Industries building in Des Moines. The booth will be manned by several volunteers from our county and the Villages Folk School board is offering its support to that cause. The visibility this offers for Van Buren County draws many visitors throughout the year and brings much needed income to our local businesses. The Villages Folk School is proud to work together with the Villages of Van Buren in this ongoing effort to bring tourism dollars to our county while striving to preserve our precious quality of life. It is, after all, the life here that draws people in and leaves them with a lingering sense of peacefulness and satisfaction. We should never take it for granted but cherish every day the joy of living in the Villages of Van Buren county Iowa.

     The folk school is always looking for new artist instructors. If you have an art form that you would like to share with others please contact us here at the Villages Folk School office by calling 319-592-3700. For more information about the class content and schedules we currently offer go to www.villagesfolkschool.com.

     As we continue to build our folk school here in Van Buren County we recognize the need to have the support of those who make this place their home.

     The Villages Folk School, with its campus spread throughout the valley like splotches of paint on an artist’s palette, offers others a chance to capture ~ if only for a brief moment in time ~ the joy of experiencing the arts in this way. The Villages Folk School is a 501 (c)(3) organization and is currently seeking sponsors. More than 25 instructors teach 46 classes. Each of our villages cooperates with the Folk School in providing accommodations for the classes. Students have traveled from Iowa's metropolitan areas, as well as from Illinois, Missouri and Alabama. Recent advertising campaigns have generated requests for information from 7 states. The following are the levels of sponsorship that are available and the benefits they offer to you the sponsor:

Levels of Sponsorship and Benefits

Patron of the Arts ~ $5,000

Wine & Cheese Reception and a unique piece of art

Master ~ $2,500

Unique piece of art

Journeyman ~ $1,500

Four $25 Villages Folk School gift certificates and tote bag

Craftsman ~ $1,000

Two $25 Villages Folk School gift certificates and tote bag

Apprentice ~ $500

$25 Villages Folk School gift certificate, tote bag and mug

Student ~ $100

Certificate of Appreciation, tote bag and mug

Novice ~ $50

Certificate of Appreciation and mug

     If you would like to partner with us, simply go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com, click on the “Become a Sponsor” link, click the “Donate” button to the right and enter the desired amount. You may also send a check with your sponsorship category amount to Villages Folk School, PO Box 51, Bonaparte, Iowa 52620 or come in to our office in the Opera House at Bonaparte. We encourage you to become a part of this great endeavor and we thank you for your willingness to participate as we all “Live the Arts” here in Van Buren County.

"A 'Clean Sweep' weekend for the Villages Folk School"

2010-08-05T11:50:00.000-05:00

     The drive up the Des Moines River valley is always a peaceful one filled with beautiful scenery. Today I would set off for J40 and Bloom & Bark; the home of Tim and Kim Blair. This was the weekend for the J40 Farm Crawl which included two of the artist instructors from the folk school. George and Pat Crawford were demonstrating the art of making brooms. I watched as they bundled the straw, bound it tightly and then cut it to the desired length.

Once that was accomplished the straw was clamped in an antique wooden apparatus that held everything in place while George carefully stitched it together. This was then bound to the desired handle and the broom was ready for its intended purpose. The process was very interesting and the end result was a broom that would make a clean sweep of whatever it was applied to.

     Chris Campbell and Karen Bevard were telling about the history of the Native Americans on the plains. There tent included many handmade leather and bead work items that were available for sale. Many of the items were made by Chris and Karen who give classes in both leather and bead work.

     In the village of Bentonsport the Iron and Lace blacksmith shop was fired-up and heating some iron for the forge welding class. The purpose of this class was to teach the students how to weld two pieces of iron together by using the forge and the anvil. A very careful balance was needed both in the temperature of the iron and the hammering process on the anvil. I watched as Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer instructed the students and demonstrated each process and technique.

Someday I would like to take that class. It is always a thrill to watch our artists at work. Their passion for the art they teach is always evident and never fails to be a catalyst for an exciting class.

Across the county in Stockport Carolyn Edwards was teaching the art of painting “barn quilts”. One of her students from Fairfield was thrilled with the class and he commented on how well the information was shared. He found her enthusiasm to be infectious and a dynamic that made the class very exciting. He and his wife are planning to register for some other classes here at the folk school. We are always encouraged when we hear these reports from our students. It is the fuel that keeps us going. Come join in and enjoy the fun at the folk school. There is certainly a class that will grab your attention and fulfill a desire that you have held onto for years. Take that first step and register today. We look forward to getting to know you and your family.

The Villages Folk School board continues to reach out to Van Buren County and to the surrounding counties and states with the hope that our school will offer people a chance to experience the beauty of our county and the peace and tranquility of our lifestyle. We were thrilled to have Van Buren County selected as an Iowa Great Place and now have been successful in our first round of grant monies for our county. We have received $50,000 for the Cantril ADA cabin project and $44,836 for the Morris Park project in Stockport. We continue to work to improve our county and to bring revenues from outside that will help to boost our struggling economy. We invite you to help us as we continue to build the folk school into a premier school in the Midwest. Our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com will give you more information about our school and our classes. We encourage you to register for our many classes and also to be a part of our endeavor by becoming a Villages Folk School Donor. The information is provided for you on the website. Call us today at 319-592-3700.

"Hooping-it-up at the Villages Folk School class"

2010-07-28T11:43:00.000-05:00

     Last weekend at the Villages Folk School Therese Cummisky from Jefferson County Conservation was teaching a class on Melon Basket weaving. The class was held at the Congregational church in Keosauqua and it offered each of the participants an opportunity to be creative and at the same time weave baskets that were formed around a melon. Eight inch hoops were used; one to form the handle and the other to form the rim. The longest step to form the basket was the weaving. Some of the ladies chose to stay with the natural color for their basket and others chose to weave in coordinating colors thus creating a basket that was unique to their style and color scheme. Regardless of what was chosen, the class was providing much fun and excitement for all of the students as they appeared to be “hooping it up”. Not only were they learning something new, they were taking home a finished product that would take its place in their home for years to come. Now that they have learned the basics, they can move on to other styles of woven baskets. Therese is planning to teach some future classes that will offer different styles of baskets.

     If this class was one that you would have enjoyed, now is the time to contact our school office and reserve your place in the next class. Maybe basket weaving isn’t something you would enjoy; that is ok because the folk school offers classes in a variety of art subjects that are sure to capture your attention. Call our office at 319-592-3700 and let Gloria bring you up to speed on the many classes we offer. If you would like to read more about our classes and our artist instructors go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com. To see the previous classes just click on the ‘Blog link’ at the bottom of the page, open the corresponding slide show and enjoy an inside look at our classes in action.

Classes coming up in July and August are as follows:

July 31: Barn Quilt Painting

Blacksmithing: Forge Welding

Still Life in Soft Pastels

Aug 21: Painting the Landscape

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

Aug 22: Bonaparte Pottery Experience

Aug 28: Creative Writing—Intro to Publishing

Aug 29: Creative Writing—Intro to Publishing

     Join our artists for one of their classes and experience “living the arts” firsthand as they share with you something that has become a way of life for them. This opportunity is unique at the Villages Folk School here in Van Buren County and will provide you with an experience that will help to shape the rest of your life.

Call us today at 319-592-3700!

"It was a sing, sing, sing weekend"

2010-07-20T23:16:00.000-05:00

Starting the day off well is always an important task. Last Saturday at the historic Bentonsport Presbyterian church was such a morning. Stephen Conte and Prairie Harmony brought an entirely new meaning to “starting the day off well”. Folk school students were trained in the wonderful art of “Shape Note Singing”. This class explored the roots of the shape note folk revival from meeting house to performance art of the modern folk music era—a harmony singing study of early American anthems, psalms and hymns of the shape note traditions of singing dating back to the eighteenth century. Stephen Conte is highly knowledgeable and experienced in this form of folk music and always sends his students home with the satisfaction provided in this form of singing and the desire to sing, sing, sing.

     The Villages Folk School staff are proud to offer such quality classes and are eager to extend this opportunity to all of you. Maybe singing isn’t your desire, but among the many classes offered in the folk school lies a subject matter that was made just for you; your chance to “live the arts” with us here in the Villages of Van Buren County Iowa. Taking the time out from your busy schedule is not always easy, but once you make the choice to join us for one of our classes you’ll be asking yourself, “Why didn’t I do this a long time ago?” Stop! Slow down! Smell the roses! Life is as much about savoring every moment as it is about speeding toward a goal. This is your chance to relax and savor your moment. Many who have taken part in our classes have commented on the experience as one they wished they had started years ago.

     Our class schedules are available for you on the website at www.villagesfolkschool.com. Gloria is available in our office at 319-592-3700 for any questions you might have about registration.

For those who don’t have internet access here is a list of our upcoming classes:

24 July 2010     Melon Basket Weaving

24-25 July 2010 Bonaparte Pottery Experience

31 July 2010     Barn Quilt Painting

                      Blacksmithing: Forge Welding

                      Still Life in Soft Pastels

21 Aug 2010     Painting the Landscape

21-22 Aug 2010 Bonaparte Pottery Experience

28-29 Aug 2010 Creative Writing—Intro to Publishing

We invite you to join us for a memorable weekend here at the Villages Folk School. Call us today at 319-592-3700.

"Folk School weekend at the Lee County Fair"

2010-07-15T10:33:00.000-05:00

     Last week was all about sharing the folk school experience with visitors at the Lee County Fair in Donnellson. Our artist instructors gave demonstrations in the folk school booth each day of the fair. Meg King demonstrated the art of knitting on Wednesday evening. She would be happy to teach you the technique and would have you knitting gifts for your loved ones before you know it! It isn’t as difficult as you might think.

     Two young people volunteered to model for Chris Bennett on Thursday as he sculpted their likenesses in clay. It looks so easy when Chris is at work but I know it is the result of years of study; working to perfect his artistry, and an incredible talent. He has taught workshops throughout the Midwest for thirty years. His works which include 50 public commissions and numerous private commissions are displayed throughout Iowa. Maybe you have a desire to become a sculptor. If so, register for the next “Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension” class and join Chris Bennett for an exciting weekend in the studio.

     Friday was Senior Citizen Day at the fair so Vern and Doris Ramsey demonstrated the art of chair caning. Maybe you have an old chair that has been in your family for years but the cane in the seat has rotted through. Not a problem!!! Vern can teach you how to restore that chair to its original condition so that your family can enjoy it for years to come. His class will provide you with the skills needed for that project. Two days with Vern and your chair will be good as new.

     The Villages Folk School has many exciting classes that will allow you to experience the folk and traditional arts in a classroom setting with a skilled artist instructor. This hands-on class setting will provide you with the one-on-one instructor time needed to assure a quality learning experience. It is our desire at the folk school to provide this opportunity to all who seek a fulfilling experience in the arts. Come join us at one of our classes and start on your journey in the creative arts. Call our school at 319-592-3700 to learn more or go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com. We look forward to your call.

     Check out the coming classes and find that date that works for you. There are classes being offered each month. We hope to see you soon.

     Come visit our booth at the Van Buren County Fair on Wednesday July 14, 2010 through Monday July 19, 2010.

See you there!

"Raku Pottery weekend as Villages celebrate the 4th"

2010-07-07T10:26:00.000-05:00

     Excitement is always high when Bill & Betty Printy roll out the “top hat kilns” for a day of Raku pottery at Iron and Lace. It is not just the students, because there is always that anticipated moment when the piece comes out of the kiln that gets everyone’s blood rushing. I think that is why this class is so much fun. The students are always upbeat as they begin the process. First they must choose, from a variety of bisque pieces, which one they would like to complete. Then there is the decision for what color glazing. Some get very creative and use multiple colors. Now once that is complete it is into the kiln for an 1800 degree bake. Once removed from the kiln the piece is placed in containers full of grass where they slowly cool. After removal from those containers each student must use water to clean the char and soot from the piece and slowly their masterpiece is revealed. It is always a moment everyone enjoys.

     July and August are featuring some great classes! Do you like to make your own greeting cards? Join us on July 10th for the Buttons and Bows Card Making class taught by Debra Herrick and discover some new techniques that make your cards very unique. Maybe you would like to write a poem or a short story but just don’t know how to begin. You will find the answer to that dilemma in the Creative Writing—Intro to Publishing class taught by Adam Whitlatch on July 17th and 18th.

     Here is one for all of you who like to sing. Join us at the historic Bentonsport Presbyterian Church on July 17th for Folk Hymnody & the Old Singing Schools of America. On this evening you will join in with Stephen Conte & Prairie Harmony to learn shape note singing; four part harmonies written in the eighteenth century. Come and bring your family for this great evening in song. If you don’t sing, just come enjoy listening to the music. It is a great time!

     Do you like history? Do you like pottery? Then come enjoy a weekend of history July 24th and 25th at the old Bonaparte Pottery as Marilyn Thomas displays molds that date back to the 1860’s when Parker and Hanback built their German pottery along the banks of the Des Moines River in Bonaparte, Iowa. Molds are still being unearthed at the site and you will have the opportunity to join in the dig. Who knows what you might discover?

     Maybe you would like to learn how to weave your very own basket. At the Villages Folk School you can do that too! On July 24th come join Therese Cummisky for a day of Melon Basket Weaving.

     I remember when I saw my first Barn Quilt. I was driving back to Iowa from Washington State and noticed these unique patterns that were painted on the ends of some of the barns. They were all different colors as well as patterns. It began to catch my eye every time I passed one. Well now I not only know what they are but I know how you can learn to paint them. The folk school’s class taught by Carolyn Edwards will be held on July 31st.

     Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer will be teaching the art of “forge welding” on July 31st. This is a day primarily spent on learning the basics of forge welding. The class will cover lap welds, “T” welds, “L” welds and corner welds.

     Learning to paint is a wonderful experience, especially when your instructor is Gin Lammert. She will be teaching “Still Life in Soft Pastels” on July 31st.

     In August another weekend is planned on the 21st and 22nd for you to take the Bonaparte Pottery Experience.

     Another treat for August is John Preston’s class “Painting the Landscape”. If you want to learn from one of the best, come spend a day with John.

     We round out the month of August with another Creative Writing—Intro to Publishing class held by Adam Whitlatch.

     Times and locations for all the classes are listed for you on our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or you can call our office at 319-592-3700. Gloria will be glad to help you with any of your registrations or questions. If you are heading to any of the local fairs, we will have a booth at the Lee County Fair in Donnellson this week and the Van Buren County Fair in Keosauqua next week. Stop by our booth and discover more about the Villages Folk School. We look forward to seeing you.

"Folk School Music Presentation in Bentonsport"

2010-07-01T22:12:00.000-05:00

     Bentonsport was my destination this last weekend. As I drove down the hill into town I spotted tents that dotted the shoreline from the Mason House to the rose garden beyond Iron and Lace. This weekend was the Buckskinner Rendezvous and the air was filled with the smell of smoke from the campfires mingled with the fresh aroma of fry bread that just had to be sampled! There is something about fry bread cooked over the open fire that keeps you coming back for more. I know it was popular for all who were there.

     Jeff Nayadley who teaches classes on the hammered Dulcimer at the Villages Folk School was coming to share his music for the day. He was accompanied by Deb Hanson on guitar and her son, Kendal, on violin. I couldn’t let a chance like this go by, so I headed back home to get my saxophone and guitar. Jeff and Deb are members of the group Prairie Serenade from Washington, Iowa. Their music is all acoustic and is a pleasant musical mix of graceful waltzes, hymns, light classical, old-time, traditional and folk tunes, lovely Irish, English, Scottish and French-Canadian melodies with a splash of Caribbean calypso and a dash of Rodgers & Hammerstein thrown in for good measure. This was my first experience playing along with a dulcimer and I must say, “I thoroughly enjoyed the day!”

     Dorothy Gilbert, a member of the folk school board, was on hand to share with passers by about the Villages Folk School. This was a chance for us to bring people in contact with some of the many classes in the arts that are offered in the folk school. Three classes were represented on Saturday. Chris Campbell who teaches Native American Crafts and Mark Heisdorffer who teaches Blacksmithing were also demonstrating at the event. Mark presented the buckskinner group with a handmade tomahawk that was forged at the Iron and Lace blacksmith shop.

     The Villages Folk School offers a variety of classes in folk, traditional and fine art. The ongoing expansion of the folk school offers opportunity for more artist instructors and we invite you to join our gifted team of artists. Contact our office at 319-592-3700 and find out how you can become an instructor at the Villages Folk School.

     If you have always wanted to learn a new craft but didn’t know where to begin then this is your chance. Go online at www.villagesfolkschool.com and check out our list of classes. The following classes are coming up in July: Raku Pottery, Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, Buttons and Bows Card Making, Folk Hymnody and the Old Singing Schools of America, Bonaparte Pottery Experience, Melon Basket Weaving, Barn Quilt Painting, Blacksmithing and Still Life in Soft Pastels.

     If you can’t find what you are looking for, give us a call. We are always looking for new class ideas. If you find the class you want, there are two ways to register. First you can print the form online, fill it out and mail it to our office or simply call us and Gloria will walk you through the process. It’s that easy! Join us soon for one of our exciting classes.

     Our website came be found at www.villagesfolkschool.com or contact us by phone at 319-592-3700. Call today for your next exciting adventure in “living the arts”!

"Summer is here at the Villages Folk School"

2010-06-24T22:25:00.000-05:00

This past weekend the village of Birmingham celebrated with vendors, pedal pulls, and artists in the park. Dorothy Gilbert a member of the Villages Folk School board from Stockport and John Preston one of the folk school artists spent the day sharing the folk school with visitors at Birmingham. John is a gifted artist who loves to paint the landscape. When I arrived at the park I noticed John sitting at his easel painting the gazebo with the log house in the background. If only I could capture a picture as easily as he does. Years of training and experience have certainly paid off for John and we are proud to have him as an instructor here at the Villages Folk School.

While John painted I had a moment to visit with folks who had come for the day. I noticed that two young boys had stopped to watch John as he painted. Soon one of the boys asked him if he could paint his picture. Without hesitation John walked to his stack of supplies, sorted through to find just the right canvas and walked back to his easel to begin a picture of the young man. I watched as John sketched lightly with his pencil and then began to mix and apply the watercolors to his portrait; Authentic even down to the black smudges above his left eye. The boy stood very still with a smile on his face as he anticipated the painting John so carefully prepared.

Soon the work was complete and you should have seen the look on his face as John handed him the painting. With a look of awe he carefully studied the portrait and then walked away showing his treasure to everyone he passed. What a great moment! It is this willingness to give back to others that makes our Villages Folk School so special. I have seen this time and time again and heard it from our instructors as they teach their classes. At some point in time someone took the time to share the gift of the creative arts with them and started them on their love affair with the arts. It is the desire and the ability to give back to their students that makes living the arts such a wonderful experience here at the Villages Folk School.

     We are constantly seeking other artists who would like to share their love of the arts with students at the folk school. Please contact our office at 319-592-3700 for more information. Gloria is in the office Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. Our office is located at the Opera House in Bonaparte. Come in anytime to register for a class, get information about becoming an instructor or to find out more about the Villages Folk School.

     The following classes are coming in June and July and are open for registration:

Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension, Raku Pottery, Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, Buttons & Bows Card Making, Folk Hymnody & the Old Singing Schools of America, Bonaparte Pottery Experience, Melon Basket Weaving, Barn Quilt Painting, Blacksmithing and Still Life in Soft Pastels.

     The time is now for taking part in your first folk school class. This opportunity is one you will never forget. Come join us for a class or bring the entire family and enjoy something together. This will be an experience that stays with you the rest of your life. This is not just another class, but a chance to be creative and learn to apply that to every aspect of your life. Your children will learn to excel in everything they do if they have the opportunity to become creative. Don’t delay; register today!

"A Quiet Weekend at the Villages Folk School"

2010-06-17T14:52:00.000-05:00

     This last weekend I found myself thinking of a leisurely drive across Van Buren County to visit another folk school class. But this would be a weekend off for our instructors and the students. There is something to be said for a day of rest, but I missed the experience that always leaves me wanting more. The thrill of walking into a folk school class and watching as the instructors share what has taken them years to develop. It always seems effortless but I know, from my experience, it is not. They just make it appear that way. This is what makes our classes so amazing! I can stand in front of a landscape painting that is so real I feel as if I am looking through a window. But I wouldn’t know where to start to achieve that end result. When I see the process broken down into simple steps, I find myself wanting to run to the store, buy some artist supplies and start painting!

      You can experience this as I have by joining one of our artist instructors for a fun-filled day learning something you have always wanted to try. I invite you to register for one of our classes by calling the Villages Folk School office at 319-592-3700. Gloria will be happy to answer any questions you might have regarding your class choice. Visit our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com to find a list of classes and more information that will help you with your decision. Registering for a class may also be done with our website form. Simply download the registration form, fill it out and mail it to our office at PO Box 51, Bonaparte, Iowa 52620.

     June and July are packed full of interesting classes with something for everyone. For some of you who may not have access to the internet here is a brief list of some upcoming classes:

Creative Writing—Intro to Publishing by Adam Whitlatch

Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension by Chris Bennett

Raku Pottery by Betty Printy

Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave by Verne & Doris Ramsey

Buttons & Bows Card Making by Debra Herrick

Folk Hymnody of the Old Singing Schools of America by Stephen Conte & Prairie Harmony

Bonaparte Pottery Experience by Marilyn Thomas

Melon Basket Weaving by Therese Cummisky

Barn Quilt Painting by Carolyn Edwards

Blacksmithing by Bill Printy & Mark Heisdorffer

     Bring the family and come enjoy a day or a weekend with us at the Villages Folk School. Call today to reserve your class at 319-592-3700. Capture the experience of Living the Arts here in Van Buren County and find yourself wanting more!

"Make June a Special Month and join us at the Villages Folk School"

2010-06-10T14:48:00.000-05:00

     The Villages Folk School offered a Student Appreciation Day for 200 Clark County students on Friday, June 4th in Bentonsport. Seven artist instructors gave presentations in blacksmithing, pottery, weaving, Native American living, the tale of Bubba the ox, Indian artifacts, and tour of the Mason House. Debra Herrick taught a class in Greeting Card Variations on Sunday in Bonaparte . We continue to see students from outside our county. This is great for our local businesses, as these people often frequent our restaurants for meals and shop in the local stores.

     Coming up on June 12th and 13th is a popular class in Beginning Blacksmithing. The two day event will once again be held at the Forge and Anvil Academy in Bentonsport. It is always a thrill to watch Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer teach the art of working iron into usable everyday items. If you have ever thought about trying your hand at blacksmithing, then this is the class for you. Great hands-on instruction from start to finish by highly skilled blacksmiths. Bill Printy has been in the blacksmith trade for over 35 years and Mark has been working as an apprentice with him since 1997. Together they make the learning experience a process that starts you on your way to a fulfilling hobby in blacksmithing. You might want to continue on with future classes and work to develop more skills in the trade. There is no limit to what can be achieved with the right training and desire.

     Adam Whitlatch is a writer offering a “Creative Writing-Intro to Publishing” class in June that will teach you the basics of writing short stories and poetry with an emphasis on preparing work for publishing. We welcome Adam to the Villages Folk School and look forward to seeing his students excel in their writing skills. At the end of the year, all students’ short stories will be collected, edited, and published in a special edition “Villages Folk School” print anthology.

     Maybe you have a desire to create beautiful sculptures. I feel challenged just manipulating the Play Dough with my grandchildren, but when I see the work that is created by Chris Bennett in his studio I understand the difference between playing and a true artist. Chris’s work will inspire you to create and his class “Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension” being held in June will help you to build the proper skills needed to begin your creative journey in sculpturing. Chris is a working sculptor and offers these classes on a limited basis, so don’t miss this opportunity!

     Whatever you choose to be creative with, the Villages Folk School will be a launching pad for you journey. We invite you to join us for one of our exciting classes. Call today and register with our folk school office at 319-592-3700. Check out our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and see for yourself the many classes we offer. Now is as good a time as any to call and register. Treat yourself to a fun filled weekend at the Villages Folk School.!

"An Exciting Line-up of Classes Scheduled in June!"

2010-05-31T21:53:00.000-05:00

     The month of June is gearing up to be one of the finest schedules of classes this year. We are anticipating a larger turnout as students break for the summer, so get your reservations in early to experience one of these great classes. To register, go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com, print the registration form, complete and mail it to our folk school office with your deposit. Or simply call Gloria at the office and she will gladly help you with your registration. She may be reached at 319-592-3700, Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. If she is busy when you call, please leave a message and she will promptly return your call. We look forward to having you join with one of our talented artist instructors to discover the creative arts.

     The class schedule is provided for you on our website with more detailed information about the classes and the instructors, but for your convenience here is a list of the June classes:

June 5th

7 Step Chair Caning—Repair the seat in that old rocking chair!

Barn Quilt Painting—Learn how to layout and paint your own barn quilt.

Basic Native American Craftwork—Leather and bead craft will be taught.

Beginning Hammered Dulcimer—Learn to play the dulcimer!

Clothing First Aide-Mending Patching—Learn simple steps for mending your clothing.

Painting the Landscape—Learn how to capture a sense of natural light from one of the Midwest’s premier landscape artists.

Story Telling for All Occasions—Learn the art of storytelling.

June 5th & 6th

Bonaparte Pottery Experience—Make pottery from 150 year old molds and join in an Archaeological dig that may uncover more molds from the 1860’s.

June 6th

Greeting Card Variations—Learn upscale card making and complete five new card patterns.

June 12th & 13th

Beginning Blacksmithing—Learn the fine art of turning a piece of iron into something usable for your home.

June 19th & 20th

Creative Writing-Intro to Publishing—Learn the basics of writing short stories and poetry with an emphasis on preparing the work for publishing.

June 26th & 27th

Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension—Learn the basics of clay sculpture from a gifted classical sculptor.

     Living the arts at the Villages Folk School prepares you for a life of creativity in whatever you choose to do. We invite you to come experience this for yourself.

Call 319-592-3700 today and register for a thrill of a lifetime!

"You Got To Know When To Fold 'em"

2010-05-24T14:46:00.000-05:00

    No, it wasn’t the “Big Card Game” in Bonaparte this last weekend; instead it was Debra Herrick’s class on making greeting cards and a stationary folder. The Beginning Card Making class was held at the Opera House on Saturday. I arrived to find all of the students intently cutting, pasting and folding to create their projects. This class would provide each of them with the knowledge to make their own specialized cards. They would each complete five multi-purpose cards and learn how to make a stationary folder using decorative papers. Debra was busy going from student to student assisting each of them in the process of making their card. I spent some time watching as they each worked through all of the needed steps to complete their cards. Of course I couldn’t let the moment pass without taking some pictures. Going to our Blog will give you a closer look at the classes by clicking on the slideshow. You will find the Blog by going to www.villagesfolkschool.com and clicking on the link. By keeping our class sizes small, we can assure each student will receive adequate one on one time with the instructor. This quality time allows you to complete your project while at the same time develop the proper skill sets needed to continue your newfound craft with proficiency.

     Every class is unique in its own way as our artist instructors share their individual talents and passions with their students. I think that is what I enjoy the most; seeing those gifts shared, watching each student grasp it in a different way and then push the boundaries with their individual talents to achieve their own artistic results. The Villages Folk School is all about sharing the folk and traditional arts and allowing others to experience the creative arts. This opportunity is not one you can take lightly. Come enjoy a day, or a weekend with one of our artists and begin to understand what we mean when we say, “Living the Arts in Van Buren County, Iowa”. Just give yourself a week-end to get away and you will experience what could be one of the best times of your life!

The month of June offers you many choices in our class schedule:

June 5th: 7 Step Chair Caning

Barn Quilt Painting

Basic Native American Craftwork

Beginning Hammered Dulcimer

Clothing First Aide-Mending, Patching

Painting the Landscape

Story Telling for All Occasions

June 5th & 6th: Bonaparte Pottery Experience

June 6th: Greeting Card Variations

June 12th & 13th: Beginning Blacksmithing

June 26th & 27th: Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension

     Call our office at 319-592-3700 Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. and register for one of our classes. You may also print the registration form on our website and mail it with your payment to the Villages Folk School, PO Box 51, Bonaparte, Iowa 52620. We look forward to sharing a great weekend with you!

"This Week at the Villages Folk School"

2010-05-18T16:21:00.000-05:00

     Raymond and Connie Morris are looking forward to sharing with you an exciting day of Bird Watching. Many varieties of birds can be seen in Van Buren County because of our rich habitats. You will learn to spot different birds by silhouette, plumage, flight pattern, or even some by their distinctive calls or songs. Maybe you are an avid bird watcher or perhaps would like to become more adept at sighting and recognizing the different species. Don’t miss this opportunity! The group will meet on Saturday, May 22nd at the Mt. Sterling community building. Call our office at 319-592-3700, Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to register.

     Did you ever wish you could be more personalized with the cards you send to friends and family. Well, now you can by taking part in the Beginning Card Making class being taught by Debra Herrick. Learn to use different techniques that will have you creating cards that become unique and personal. This class will be held on Saturday, May 22nd at the Opera House in Bonaparte. You must register by calling the Villages Folk School office or by printing and mailing your completed registration. The registration form can be printed from our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com. This is also a great place to find out about the many exciting classes being offered at the Villages Folk School.

     Following is a list of classes coming up in June: 7 Step Chair Caning, Barn Quilt Painting, Basic Native American Craft Work, Beginning Hammered Dulcimer, Bonaparte Pottery Experience, Clothing First Aide-Mending Patching, Painting the Landscape, Story Telling For All Occasions, Greeting Card Variations, Beginning Blacksmithing, and Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimensions. These classes are all an opportunity for you to experience the joy of living the arts with one of our highly skilled artists. Their gifted abilities and passion for the arts are now being offered to you in a classroom environment that will teach you the basic skills needed to begin the process of developing your own love for the arts. The Villages Folk School offers this incredible chance for you to get away from the day to day schedule and experience for a moment the thrill of living the arts here in Van Buren County.

     Call now to register at 319-592-3700 or visit our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com.

     Don’t miss this opportunity! Join us for an exciting class as you begin to live the arts in the Villages of Van Buren County.

"Tong Making at Iron and Lace Blacksmithing Class"

2010-05-14T17:26:00.000-05:00

With the previous beginning blacksmithing class out of the way, this weekend was all about making “Tongs”. At Bill Printy’s blacksmith shop the forge was loaded with coal and heated up for a day of forging tongs. Each set of tongs have their own identity, but they are each an invaluable tool for the blacksmith. The amount of times the iron is placed and removed from the forge would be a very cumbersome task if not for the use of tongs. This class would provide the student with three to four new sets of tongs that will be a great start for his personal use in the home shop. Bill and Mark Heisdorffer were on hand to see that the process included adequate input from the instructor. They work with each student to assure not only the quality of the finished product, but the technical value of the classroom experience.

I remember the blacksmith shop in Bonaparte back in 1950. I would walk by the front of the shop and can still remember the silhouette in the darkness that pulled the handle on the large bellows pushing the air into the forge. This large figure would emerge from the smoke and flames and begin pounding the glowing metal against the anvil. Those days it was all about practical day to day repairs in the shop, as well as horse shoes. Now blacksmithing has evolved at the hand of Bill Printy and he willingly shares his love for the craft with others. I have been impressed with his love for the iron and what he has learned to craft from it. His work is truly spectacular! This weekend, as I took photos at the tong making class, I just had to admire the project he was working on. It was clamped in the air so as to provide an eye-level view. I know it is just iron, but looking at his finished work is like looking at Rembrandt or Picasso. This is the same theme over and over at the folk school classes. Gifted artists who want to share their passion and talent with others.

     The Villages of Van Buren County are a unique place to live and we are so blessed to have the quality of artists that call this splendid river valley their home. The Villages Folk School is all about becoming a part of our life of living the arts. Come take a class and experience it for yourself. I have the privilege of being a part of this wonderful group of artists and telling others of the work that they do here. This is only the beginning of what can truly become a premier folk school that offers both the artistic excellence and the splendor of the constantly changing valley that surrounds our everyday campus.

     The next day of classes this month is May 22nd. Two classes are scheduled that will offer something for both those who want to work inside and those who want to experience the great outdoors. A Beginning Card Making class is planned as well as a day of Bird Watching. This will be a day spent enjoying the migratory birds in our local wetlands. I hear the pelicans are coming, could it be? Just ask Raymond and Connie Morris and they will be happy to share their love of bird watching with you. Better yet! Register for their day of bird watching and see first hand the exciting array of migratory birds that make their flight path through Van Buren County, Iowa.

     Registration is easily done by calling our Villages Folk School office at 319-592-3700 anytime Tuesday through Friday, 12 noon to 4 p.m. You can also print a registration form from our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com, fill it out and send it with your payment to the folk school office at Box 51, Bonaparte, Iowa.

     Join us for a great weekend! We look forward to sharing this experience with you.

"Shape Note Singing, Print Making, Raku Pottery, & Story Telling" Just a Week in April at the Villages Folk School!

2010-05-04T23:25:00.000-05:00

I started toward Bentonsport with much anticipation on Tuesday, April 27. It was to be a night of singing anthems, fugues, and American Hymns from the Eighteenth Century. The night was to be led by Prairie Harmony of Southeast Iowa. I knew from past performances that they would provide a stellar night of singing, but that was not all. To sing the four part harmonies acapella is something I love to do, but this was to be my first time in the historic Bentonsport Presbyterian Church. I am always excited when I can visit historic sites, but this church is like stepping back in time. It is immaculately restored and you just can’t experience any finer setting acoustically for singing. It was truly a night to remember and I look forward to having that opportunity again.

Thursday morning it was off again and this time it was Pat Crawford’s Print Making class in the Cantril town hall. I am never bored by the drive and today I would watch a wild turkey fly across the highway and land in a nearby field. This is a great time of year! Ever changing scenery makes for a delightful trip across Van Buren County. I arrived in Cantril and Pat was already underway with her class in Print Making. I never realized the number of ways to make prints. Her class covers many mediums for making prints and includes an old style press. Pat was busy explaining the different techniques for stamping which included everything from handmade rubber stamps to etched plates made from such things as plexiglass and aluminum. I spent some time listening in on the class and taking pictures for our weekly blog and then headed for home.

Friday was to be the second day of Print Making only this day would provide a slightly different weather pattern for the drive. Thunder storms, lightning, hail and the works were on the agenda for today. Never a dull moment in Van Buren County! I proceeded to my destination in Cantril and enjoyed some more of Pat’s class instruction. It is really quite interesting to see the process that produces such incredible graphics from hand presses of yesteryear. Our student had come from Davenport and was enjoying her class as well as her stay at the Hotel Manning in Keosauqua. The beauty of our campus being spread throughout the villages is that it offers people from outside our area a chance to experience all that the Villages of Van Buren County has to offer.

Saturday morning and this day I would set my course for Bentonsport and a Raku Pottery class at Bill and Betty Printy’s Iron and Lace. This class has become a favorite for many as I spoke with one of the student’s who shared with me that this was her fifth class. Betty was busily going from student to student and making sure that all was going smoothly with the Raku process. I had never witnessed this process before so it was a learning experience for me as well. Upon arriving, Bill gave me the tour from start to finished product. The beauty of it is that no two items will be the same. I think the best part of this process is that it allows the students to take home their finished product the same day. They are offered a choice of many items that have been fired once in the kiln. The next step is to apply a glaze of their choice. Now the fun part! Special kilns that reach 1800 degrees are used to bake the glaze. Once the project has spent sufficient time in the kiln, it is removed with metal tongs and placed in garbage cans filled with wood chips and grasses that allow for a proper timeframe of cooling. Once the item is removed from the wood chips it is cleaned to reveal an incredible finish. I can see why this pottery process can become so addicting. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Even Bill who’s responsibility was to keep the kilns fired to the proper temperature. You might say he is the official “Keeper of the Fire”.

My next stop was in Keosauqua at the Congregational Church where Amah Lou Schreiber was busy spinning tales at her Story Telling for all Occasions class. I sat down in the beautiful historic church and enjoyed my time as Amah Lou told story after story. She claims to have literally thousands of stories to tell and some are even true! My day was almost done as I finished taking some pictures of the story telling session. Now it was back to Bonaparte to put together the blog for next week.

     Our classes are always entertaining and offer you a chance to experience first hand some of the folk and traditional arts from some very passionate artists who’s desires lead them to share their gifts and talents with those around them. Come join us for a chance to experience for yourself the joy of living the arts here at the Villages Folk School. Registration is easy. Just call our office anytime Tuesday through Friday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at 319-592-3700 or go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and print the registration form.

Here is a list of what is coming up in May:

May 8:   Blacksmithing: Tong Making

            Container Candles

May 22: Beginning Card Making

           Spring Bird Watching (a day spent in the wetlands
            enjoying some incredible bird watching with an
            experienced guide) Don’t miss this one!

     Whatever you decide to do with your weekends, make one of your priorities a class at the Villages Folk School. It will prove to be one of life’s great moments as you “Live the Arts” with all of us at the Villages Folk School. Set your sites on a great weekend!!

"Talking 'Theatre' At The Villages Folk School"

2010-04-27T22:10:00.000-05:00

I am always excited when others share their passion for the arts with me. Last Friday was no exception as I had the opportunity of meeting with Dr. Dawn Larson, Associate Professor of Theatre in the Department of Fine Arts at Francis Marion University in South Carolina. Dr. Larson was making a presentation on Theatre at the Museum of Theatre in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. She and a friend had decided to visit the Villages of Van Buren County while in Iowa for the weekend. They were thrilled to find an Opera House in Bonaparte and while enjoying the buildings in the historic Main Street community they learned of our Villages Folk School. Dr. Larson contacted me through our office at the Opera House and wanted to know more about our school.

     After our discussion I wanted to learn more about what she does so I visited her presentation on Saturday in Mt Pleasant. It was a delightful experience! Many of the people there were in theatre and certainly all of them were advocates for the Theater Arts. Dr. Larson is interested in working with the Villages Folk School and plans are being made for offering weeklong classes in the theater arts. The classes will cover such topics as theater history, playwriting, acting, directing and even lighting. This will be a great opportunity for anyone considering a career in the theatre arts.

     We are interested in hearing from anyone who would like to know more about the Villages Folk School. You can learn more by calling our office at 319-592-3700 anytime Tuesday through Friday, 12 noon to 4 p.m. You can also check our class schedule on our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com. Click the link to our Blog and get a close-up look at all our previous classes.

     Life in the Villages of Van Buren County is a study in the folk and traditional arts. The many artists who have made their home here are evidence to the fact that “Living the Arts” is a day to day occurrence here in the lush Des Moines River valley. Just last Saturday while my wife and I drove through the county we commented on the changes in the countryside. Rolling hills that were covered so long in the winter blanket of snow are now a pallet of varying shades of green interlaced with fields freshly planted. The contrast between the greens and the rich black soil can only heighten the creative urge to paint such a beautiful landscape. One such artist is John Preston who teaches landscape painting for the Villages Folk School.  His paintings are so real you can almost walk into them. What a gifted artist!! Here is a sample of some of his work that is entitled "Rogue Shower". Whether you are the painter or just a spectator, the feeling that this area inspires is truly magnificent.

Coming to our classes is so much more than just another class. It gets you out to experience this wonderful place we live in. From one end of the county to the other the scenes are forever changing. Taking the time to enjoy the trip is part of the experience we offer you with our Villages Folk School classrooms being spread throughout the villages.

Here are some of our coming classes:

April 29th & 30th: Printmaking

May 1: Raku Pottery, Still Life in Soft Pastels, Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, and Story Telling For All Occasions.

May 1st & 2nd: Hand Piecing, Appliqué, & Quilting

May 8: Blacksmithing: Tong Making and Container Candles

May 22: Spring Bird Watching

Won’t you come enjoy “living the arts” at the Villages Folk School in Van Buren County, Iowa? It is truly a life changing experience!

"It's A Grand Night for Singing!"

2010-04-19T21:56:00.000-05:00

Can you imagine an evening singing harmonies written in the 18th century? This will be a chance you won’t want to miss. Led by the group Prairie Harmony of southeast Iowa you will join in to sing the many anthems, fugues, and early American hymns written in the Sacred Harp. For anyone who likes to sing and can carry a tune it is a grand night for singing!

     This event will be held in the historic Presbyterian Church in Bentonsport, Iowa on Tuesday, April 27th at 7:30 p.m. A small donation of $8 will be collected at the door to help with costs and to provide money for the restoration of the church. The acoustics in this building will provide an awesome sound stage for a delightful evening of shape note singing. Come join in the fun!! The larger the group the more incredible the experience will become. Have you ever sung harmony with an experienced group of singers? Don’t miss this opportunity!!

     The Villages Folk School strives to offer a diversity of classes that will provide something for everyone. We are constantly looking for instructors who can provide exciting and challenging classes in the folk and traditional arts. Our classes are structured in such a way as to allow for hands-on instruction with a limited amount of students.

     The month of May is full of classes for you to choose from. Here is the lineup:

May 1st               Raku Pottery
                          Still Life in Soft Pastel
                          Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits
                          Story Telling for All Occasions

May 1st & 2nd       Bonaparte Pottery Experience
                          Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

May 8th               Blacksmithing: Tong Making
                           Container Candles

May 22nd             Spring Bird Watching

     Come enjoy one of the many classes as well as the beauty of the Villages of Van Buren County Iowa. You will be amazed at the shades of green and the brilliant colors of the spring flowers in the Des Moines River valley. There seems to be a different color around every corner and over every hill. Getting there is half the fun.

     We want to share this experience of living the arts with each of you. Visit our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com to discover more of our classes and schedules. If you need further assistance, Gloria is in the office Tuesday through Friday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. She may be reached at 319-592-3700.

     The Villages Folk School is your chance to fulfill your dream, experience the arts, and excite your creativity. Join us for an unforgettable experience!

"Preparation for an exciting group of classes"

2010-04-17T21:13:00.000-05:00

     The work continues at the Villages Folk School office to set everything in motion for the exciting group of classes planned for the end of April and the beginning of May. The varied classes will provide something that appeals to everyone. Here is the line-up for this month: On April 24th we offer a class in Melon Basket Weaving and a class in Organic Gardening. The gardening class will be the first of a series of three which will take you through the soil preparation, planting, weed and pest control, and finally putting the garden to rest at the end of the season. Our instructor is a certified organic gardener so you won’t want to miss this opportunity.

     Tuesday, April 27th will be a thrill for anyone who likes to sing. A special evening has been planned at the Historic Presbyterian Church in Bentonsport. This evening will be led by the group Prairie Harmony of southeastern Iowa. You will be joining in with this group of instructors to share an evening of shape note singing. Sing early American hymns, anthems, and fugues. If you just want to come enjoy the sound in this beautiful acoustically designed building you are welcome to join us.

     May 1st has an awesome agenda that promises to be a delightful weekend. You may enjoy classes in Raku Pottery, Hand Piecing, Appliqué, and Quilting, the Bonaparte Pottery Experience that will take you back to 1860’s as you discover 150 year old molds that were originally used in the old pottery building. Still Life in Soft Pastels, Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, and Story Telling for all Occasions. These classes will be held in various locations around Van Buren County so be sure to check with the Villages Folk School office for times and locations. Gloria will be happy to assist you with your registration and any questions you might have regarding the classes. Our office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 12 noon until 4 p.m. You may call us at 319-592-3660. The website at www.villagesfolkschool.com will also provide you with class descriptions, bio’s so that you may learn more about our instructors and a complete listing of dates the various classes are offered. Don’t forget to check out our Blog! Here is a complete photo slideshow that will give you a better understanding of the quality, hands-on atmosphere in our many classes. Simply click on the link at the bottom of our web page.

     We are always looking for new instructors who want to share their artist skills with others. Please contact our office for an interview.

     Future planning in the works for 2011: Join us on September 23-25, 2011 for the Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference featuring some of the top authors, agents and editors in their field! Watch our website for more details.

     The Villages Folk School is here to offer each of you an opportunity to share in a folk or traditional art form that takes you back to earlier times. Our classes are designed so that you may experience firsthand the many time honored professions of our forefathers. You may spend the day enjoying the peaceful surroundings of our many classrooms throughout the county or taking a needed break from you busy life to just enjoy something for yourself. Whatever it is, we invite you to share these moments with us here at the folk school. Pick a class in something you have always wanted to do, register online at our website or call the Villages Folk School office at 319-592-3660.

     This time why not make it all about you! Enjoy the experience of Living the Arts at the Villages Folk School. You’ll be glad you did!

Blacksmithing: Toolmaking Classes at Iron & Lace

2010-04-07T10:57:00.000-05:00

This weekend I found myself once again on the road to Bentonsport, but this time my destination was Bill Printy’s Iron & Lace Blacksmith shop. He had a full class scheduled for the weekend. This class included the principles of hardening iron using the “Oxidation Spectrum” as they forged such tools as center punches, chisels, and gouges. Each of the students would learn to recognize the tempering of their particular project by watching the color changes when the heat was applied. I found myself mesmerized by the process as each student turned their attention to the forge and began to pound out the iron against the anvil. A process as old as time and it just took you back to earlier times when most all of the iron work was done in this manor.

Bill and his assistant Mark Heisdorffer worked from forge to forge to give each of the students the benefit of their expertise. A two to one ration of student to instructor offered each person the benefit of a readily available instructor. Students at our Villages Folk School classes have often commented on the fact that they appreciated the amount of time they had with their instructor. This has a very positive affect on the project outcome and the value added in the learning process.

     Students continued to work their projects until 5 p.m. on Saturday and some returned Sunday to use what they had learned. The class tuition allows for the second day at the forge, but without instruction. Bill offers classes not only in tool making, but in beginning blacksmithing, tong making, and forge welding.

     Bill, who began his blacksmithing as a hobby in the early seventies has perfected his trade to a fine art. The work that he turns out is incredible! It is worth the trip just to see some of his projects that range from your basic pot racks to wine racks covered in green leaves and laden with clumps of purple grapes. I saw a rose on a long stem that looked so real I just had to ask how it was done. Bill simply smiled and said, “I took a rose apart one petal at a time, manufactured each piece from the live template and just put it back together.” His methodical approach to his iron work has resulted in a level of craftsmanship that is truly a rare art form.

     I encourage each one reading this article that has ever had the desire to work the forge to register for one of the classes offered through the Villages Folk School and get ready for a great weekend!

     The class schedules can be found at our website which is www.villagesfolkschool.com or you can contact our office anytime Tuesday through Friday, 12 – 4 p.m. at 319-592-3700. Registration can be done by downloading the form from the website or calling our office.

     Pick something you have always wanted to do, register for the class, and come join us at the Villages Folk School. Find the artist living within you!

"To Knead Or Not To Knead Or Just Needle Felting"

2010-03-30T11:46:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess you are never too old to learn something new. Joy Craig was teaching a class in Needle Felting at the Addie Mae Fudge Factory in the Old Woolen Mill at Bonaparte this past weekend. I watched as the ladies jabbed the long, barbed needle over and over into the clump of wool, called roving, they held in their hand. I am certain that I would soon need a trip to the doctor if I were to try this, but they seemed to effortlessly go about their task while holding a casual conversation. Maybe it is just not a “guy” thing! You think? Any way you look at it, the end result was superb. The wool slowly began to take on the shape and the color that each person intended. Joy brought some samples of her work to show everyone, but I noticed that both were making woolen Easter Eggs. This was a specially planned weekend at the Addie Mae Fudge Factory. Three classes were scheduled and each had something to do with wool. Pat Crawford was there demonstrating her wool spinning technique and Meg King displayed some of her knitting projects. It always amazes me how much we take for granted something as commonplace as a shirt or sweater. We just go to the store and buy it. Watching a process that dates back to our ancestors brings an entirely new appreciation for the garments we wear. Taking the raw wool, combing it, carding it, and then spinning it into the desired yarn. Pat showed me how they would spin the wool clockwise and if another layer was added for a thicker yarn it would be spun counterclockwise to keep the yarn from separating. It would then be used for weaving into a woolen fabric or knitting into a desired garment. In its day, the Old Woolen Mill that once operated in the building we were in turned out some of the countries finest woolen fabrics. It is so inspiring to think of yesteryear as the folk school classes take place in these locations. We are privileged to live in Van Buren County where history calls to us from every building and lurks around the next bend in the river.

Just four miles up the river in Bentonsport another class was taking place. Betty Printy had another group of students learning how to make Artisan Bread. I took the time this day to stay for the class. I do believe I might just be able to make something like that! Not only did they discuss the different yeasts and starters, they also learned how to knead the bread. Some of the loaves were actually allowed to rise without first being kneaded. Hence making bread reminds us of the days of Shakespeare. Once to the kitchen we must make the decision to knead or not to knead! Betty assures me “fat” is not the question. Once the loaves were adequately prepared they were carefully placed in the ovens to bake. The group continued to discuss different recipes and the ability of each to be unique in their quest for the perfect loaf.

Soon the timers were going off and the ovens were opened to reveal the separate masterpieces. I didn’t realize that the bread continues to bake inside the crust for another 45 minutes after coming out of the oven. This is really interesting stuff! Not only is it a fun time in the kitchen, but the end result is something you would be proud to serve to royalty. The loaves were each browned to perfection and made a mouthwatering picture as they were placed on the cooling racks. After class I took some time to read through the evaluation forms. Everyone loved the class and were appreciative of Betty’s ability to make it practical for the novice. Another successful weekend of classes comes to a close.

We invite each of our readers to join us for a fun filled weekend in the Villages Folk School. You can go to our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and browse through the many classes we offer. Once you find your class, print the registration form on the website, fill it out and mail it to our office along with your payment. If you wish, you may call us for further assistance anytime Tuesday – Friday, 12 noon – 4 p.m. at 319-592-3700.

The following is a list of some of our upcoming classes:

April 3rd:

Blacksmithing: Tool Making

Container Candles

Woodcarving

April 24th:

Melon Basket Weaving

April 27th:

Old Singin’ School

April 29th & 30th:

Printmaking

Don’t let time pass you by. Register now for one of our exciting classes and get set for a great weekend experience!

Beginning Pottery Class Completes A Five-Session Course

2010-03-24T22:00:00.000-05:00

Graduation day was filled with excitement as the students arrived to claim their rewards. Several pieces of neatly glazed and fired pottery covered the table in Betty Printy’s pottery studio. I could see the surprise on their faces when they began to sort through the bowls. This was the first time for either of them to see their work since it went into the kiln. I must admit, the amount of pieces that they had completed in a five-session course was incredible. Not only was their great quantity, but the quality of the work was a joy to behold. I could tell they were thrilled by the constant smile upon their faces. This was something everyone should experience. Whether it be pottery, knitting, painting, weaving or gardening, just taking the time away from a busy schedule and experiencing creative art first hand is important.

I could tell the instructor was pleased by the way she interacted with the students while praising their finished product. This was a great time for all!

     I can’t begin to tell each of our readers how thrilling it is to witness this process over and over as the Villages Folk School classes continue. Watching a gifted artist take that gift and share not only the thrill of the art, but break the technical side of it down so that others can experience all that is involved in the creative process is a joy.
     Register for a class and come join one of our artists for a great weekend! The next two months of classes are as follows:

“Special Weekend of Classes Hosted by Addie Mae Fudge”

                         March 26th & 27th

                   A Twist In Time Spinning I
                   A Twist In Time Spinning II
                   Beginning Knitting
                   Needle Felting
                 __________________________
March 27: Artisan Bread Making Made Easy
                 Primitive Sign Making
                 Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting
                 Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave
   March 28: Artisan Bread Making Made Easy
       April 3: Blacksmithing: Tool Making
                 Container Candles
                 Woodcarving
      April 24: Intermediate Knitting
                  Melon Basket Weaving
      April 27: Old Singing School (Shape Note Singing)
      April 29: Printmaking
      April 30: Printmaking

     For more information on classes visit our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office Tuesday – Friday, 12 – 4 p.m. at 319-592-3700. Come “Live the Arts” at the Villages Folk School.