Experience Level: All Levels

Learn the basics of basket weaving and take home a handmade basket at Basket Weaving: The Organizer on Friday, Sept. 25 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in The Studio.  

Instructor Bonnie Rideout will teach techniques such as setting up a base, twining, start/stop weaving, pairing triple twining with an arrow weave, and the use of overlays.  This handy basket can be used anywhere! Faster weavers may be done in less time. 

$95/person. Registration will close Sept 18 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

Experience Level: Beginner  

Learn the basics of low relief wood carving at Woodcarving Basics: Flowers & Leaves on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 1-5 p.m. in The Studio.  

Instructor Lou Ann Koebel will teach students how to safely use a small carving chisel set to define the background and make shallow, controlled cuts, transforming a flat basswood board into a beautiful low relief flower carving. 

$85/person*. Registration closes Sept. 21 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.   

*Students must bring ONE of the following options: 

- 8 Piece WoodRiver Detail Carving Tool Set  

or  

- 12 Piece Schaaf Mini Detail Carving Set – Long Handle  

Experience Level: Beginner (ages 18+)  

Turn copper wire into wearable art while learning a centuries-old technique at Jewelry 101: Viking Weaving on Sunday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in The Studio. 

Instructor Billie Theide will share information about this ancient process as students fabricate a tubular copper chain resulting in a flexible and lightweight bracelet or necklace. Students will make handmade decorative end caps and a closure from heavier gauge round copper wire. The chain can remain copper in color or patinated to take on a rich coloration from warm light brown to black.   

Students will receive a toolkit to enable them to continue working at home.

$120/person. Registration closes on Sept. 20 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.  

Experience Level: Beginner  

Carve your own useful or decorative wooden spoon to give as a gift or use in your own kitchen at Woodcarving Basics: Spoons on Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 1-5 p.m. in The Studio. 

Students will learn how to safely use a carving knife and practice the three basic carving cuts.  Class material includes basswood spoon blank, additional carving tools and a carver’s board. 

$85/person* Registration closes on Sept. 25, or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.  

*Students must bring a carving glove and basic spoon carving st for right or left hand.  

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu. 

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken. 

About the Instructor 

Lou Ann Koebel has had a strong passion for woodworking since high school, and during the summer attends workshops at Marc Adams School of Woodworking in Indiana. She also leads Fix It! and dulcimer courses — in addition to jam sessions — at The Farms.

Experience Level: Beginner (ages 15+)

Do you have some experience with watercolor and are ready to take your skills to the next level? Join us for Intermediate Watercolor on Friday through Sunday, Oct. 2-4 from 12-4 p.m. in The Studio. 

This class will explore techniques for controlling washes, layering transparent color, and creating richer, more confident compositions. Students will experiment with both planned and spontaneous approaches while learning how to bring depth, light, and texture to their work.  

Each session includes demonstrations, guided practice, and plenty of personal feedback. Come ready to paint, experiment, and grow as you develop your own watercolor style. 

$170/person*. Registration closes Sept. 25 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.  

*Students should bring: 

--Watercolor paint 
--A flat palette/mixing tray large enough to work with several colors at once,  
--Brushes (flat and round, one of the flats at least 1” wide (flat). At least one squirrel hair brush recommended, but not required).  
--Watercolor paper – 100% cotton highly recommended. 
--A sponge or rag.  
--Photos that the student may wish to paint — either on their phone or printed out. 

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu. 

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken. 

About the Instructor 

Deb Marett is a professional artist whose work focuses on equestrian scenes, figurative scenes, and portraiture. She always travels with watercolors and a travel journal. “It is an amazing way to remember moments of the trip and spend time soaking up the places I visit.” Deb loves sharing her knowledge, teaching and finding ways to make painting and drawing fun and accessible to anyone who wants to explore their creative side. 

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn printmaking processes at Lino Cuts & Prints on Sunday, October 4 from 1 to 6 p.m. in the Mansion Library.

For a very long time, printmakers have transferred images from specially prepared plates to paper, fabric, wood and metal. In this workshop, instructor Billie Theide will help students learn to design, carve, prepare ink and transfer images to make unique works of art. Each student will get a toolkit that will enable them to continue to work at home.

$145/person. Registration will close September 27 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

If you will need disability-related accommodation to participate, please email Olivia at owarren@illinois.edu.

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken.

About the instructor

Billie Theide is a former chair of the Crafts Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she is Professor Emerita. Theide is a metalsmith, jeweler and ceramicist. Her work is in public art collections around the world including the Smithsonian, Museum of Arts & Design in New York City, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City and the Racine Art Museum, among others.

She is the recipient of a Visual Arts Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and five Artists Fellowship Grants from the Illinois Arts Council. Theide has been recognized for her excellence in teaching and is a Distinguished Member and Past-President of the Society of North American Goldsmiths.

About The Farms

The Farms: An Allerton Folk School, offers classes, workshops, and gatherings focusing on art, outdoor education, science, storytelling, and wellness. All experiences value hands-on, experiential teaching and learning, and are facilitated by and for the members of the community.

Experience Level: Beginner

Craft a traditional witch’s brooms using locally grown dried flowers and foraged materials at Besoms: A Witch’s Broom Workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Illinois Arboretum Shed.

Learn about the lore and history of besoms in the world of the occult and witchcraft. This is the perfect Halloween or fall activity! Students will take home their own handmade besom made from natural materials!

$65/person. Registration will close Sept. 29 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken.

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn about the art of stained glass at Intro to Stained Glass: Pumpkin on Thursday, Oct. 8 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in The Studio.

Instructor Kari Keller will teach students how to cut, shape and assemble a stained-glass pumpkin to take home. Grinding, fitting and soldering will be covered.

$100/person*. Registration will close Oct. 1 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should wear closed-toe shoes. Safety glasses and gloves will be provided.

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia at owarren@illinois.edu.

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken.

About the instructor

Kari Keller has been a Champaign/Urbana resident since 2008, originally hailing from the tiny community of St. Anne. Illinois. She has had a passion for art since she could hold a crayon and loves to experiment with many different styles, rarely sticking to one theme for long.

Keller has dabbled in cartoons, acrylic pouring, zentangles, patterns, logo design, pottery painting and other art forms. Her influences include Alphonse Mucha, HR Geiger and the art of Northwest coastal Native Americans. She also has a thriving side business as a face painter.

Kari is happiest when immersed in a new project and can’t imagine life without art!

About The Farms

The Farms: An Allerton Folk School, offers classes, workshops, and gatherings focusing on art, outdoor education, science, storytelling, and wellness. All experiences value hands-on, experiential teaching and learning, and are facilitated by and for the members of the community.