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in The Farms: An Allerton Folk School
Basket Weaving: Country Catch All
with Bonnie Rideout
Experience Level: All
Learn the basics of weaving and take home a basket at Basket Weaving: Country Catch All on Friday, Feb. 6 from 12 to 4 p.m. in The Studio.
Instructor Bonnie Rideout will lead students in laying out a woven, filled base and tuck the filler spokes with the “chicken feet” technique. Students will also learn about starting and stopping and how to use a flat locking row. Sea grass will be used as a rim and the baskets will feature a walnut accent color and two buttons on the front. This County Catch All basket will fit almost any décor!
$65/person. Registration will close Jan. 23 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.
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
Bonnie Rideout wove her first basket in 1994 and quickly caught the “basket bug.” She created a business — Bonnie’s Baskets in Decatur — in 2006 to teach others to weave. She is also a traveling instructor and has taught weaving in 18 states.
Find out more about Bonnie on her website, Facebook, Instagram and Etsy pages.
About The Farms
The Farms: An Allerton Folk School, offers classes, workshops, and gatherings focusing on art, health & wellness, history, nature & outdoor education, or science. All experiences value hands-on, experiential teaching and learning, and are facilitated by and for the members of the community.
Link It! Chainmaille Jewelry
with Billie Theide
Experience Level: Beginner
Learn how to use the pattern originally used in armor for jewelry making at Link it! Chainmaille Jewelry on Sunday, Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in The Studio.
Historically, chainmaille was used as protective armor, as the linked rings resulted in a strong, flexible fabric. Jewelers have adopted the repeatable pattern of the rings to make unique pieces of jewelry. In this workshop, instructor Billie Theide will help students make and source jump rings, create patterns and make jewelry. Students will receive a toolkit to keep, along with a folder of instructional materials to take home.
$110/person. Register here by Feb. 1. 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 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, health & wellness, history, nature & outdoor education, or science. All experiences value hands-on, experiential teaching and learning, and are facilitated by and for the members of the community.
Life Drawing (Full Series)
with Vivian Krishnan
(Payment plan available for this course)
Experience Level: All levels
Learn to draw from a live model at Life Drawing on Sundays, Feb. 8, March 8, April 19 and May 10 from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Mansion Library.
In these lightly instructed sessions by Vivian Krishnan, students can learn more about quick gestures, long poses, and costumed and nude models. Each class will include a demonstration that touches on fundamental techniques of life drawing.
$320/person. Registration will close Feb. 6 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.
*Students should bring:
— An 18x24” newsprint drawing pad
— Art supplies they would like to try out during the class (vine charcoal will be provided)
— An easel they are comfortable with; otherwise one will be provided
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
Vivian Krishnan is a multimedia artist with works that cross the vast stage of storytelling, from designing costumes for theatrical characters to writing and illustrating diverse children’s books. She received her bachelors in Durango, Colorado, focusing on Printmaking and Sculpture as well as earning her MFA at UIUC in Theatrical Design.
Vivian is a lifelong learner of many mediums and is excited to see how art continues to play a role at Allerton.
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.
Life Drawing - February 8
with Vivian Krishnan
Learn to Spin Yarn (Feb 11)
with Stephanie Block
Experience Level: Beginner
Learn the basic mechanics of using a spinning wheel to make your own yarn at Learn to Spin Yarn on Wednesday, Feb. 11 and Thursday, April 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. in The Studio.
After a brief introduction from instructor Stephanie Block, students will have time for hands-on spinning practice and the opportunity to spin alpaca fiber into yarn using Ashford scotch tension Traditional or Traveler wheels. Discussion of fiber production and preparation methods will also be included.
$130/person. Registration closes one week before each course begins, or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.
If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia Bunting 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
Stephanie Block is the co-owner of Sundrop Alpacas near Bement. She has been producing popular yarn from her own alpacas for more than nine years. Stephanie’s spinning style is self-taught, and she is continuously learning so that she can share that knowledge with others.
Beginning Weaving I (Morning)
with Sharon Bowles
Experience Level: Beginner
Learn the basics of working with a loom at Beginning Weaving I (Morning) on Saturdays, Feb. 14 through March 14 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Greenhouse Auditorium.
This 5-week class led by Sharon Bowles will encompass all aspects of beginner weaving as students create a table runner. Participants will become familiar with weaving terminology, parts of the loom, figuring the weaving pattern for the width of the loom and project, measuring out the warp, beaming the warp back to front, threading heddles, threading the reed, tying on the warp, and winding bobbins.
$250/person*. Registration will close Feb. 7 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.
*Students should bring a 4-shaft loom if they have one. All other supplies will be provided, including a loom if needed.
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
Sharon Bowles began weaving in 1990 and started teaching shortly after. She was taught to weave in a one-on-one class and wove two table runners in 12 (approximately) 2-hour lessons, and she teaches the same method when she teaches. Sharon has experience in weaving with silk, lace weaving, 8-shaft pattern weaving, parallel weaving, block weaves, and Shaker reproduction towels.
She has taught many workshops and classes to weavers’ guilds in Florida, Ohio, and Champaign-Urbana. She earned her Journeyman certification from the Weavers Guild of Boston in 2021 and a master’s certification in April of 2022. Most recently, Sharon taught Beginning Weaving I at The Farms, and a 2-day workshop in four shaft patterns for the Champaign-Urbana Spinners and Weavers Guild.
About The Farms
The Farms: An Allerton Folk School, offers classes, workshops, and gatherings focusing on art, health & wellness, history, nature & outdoor education, or science. All experiences value hands-on, experiential teaching and learning, and are facilitated by and for the members of the community.
Beginning Weaving I (Afternoon)
with Sharon Bowles
Experience Level: Beginner
Learn the basics of working with a loom at Beginning Weaving I (Afternoon) on Saturdays, Feb. 14 through March 14 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Greenhouse Auditorium.
This 5-week class led by Sharon Bowles will encompass all aspects of beginner weaving as students create a table runner. Participants will become familiar with weaving terminology, parts of the loom, figuring the weaving pattern for the width of the loom and project, measuring out the warp, beaming the warp back to front, threading heddles, threading the reed, tying on the warp, and winding bobbins.
$250/person*. Registration will close Feb. 7 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.
*Students should bring a 4-shaft loom if they have one. All other supplies will be provided, including a loom if needed.
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
Sharon Bowles began weaving in 1990 and started teaching shortly after. She was taught to weave in a one-on-one class and wove two table runners in 12 (approximately) 2-hour lessons, and she teaches the same method when she teaches. Sharon has experience in weaving with silk, lace weaving, 8-shaft pattern weaving, parallel weaving, block weaves, and Shaker reproduction towels.
Tatting 101
with Billie Theide
Experience Level: Beginner
Learn how fancy lace doilies are made at Tatting 101 on Sunday, Feb. 15 from 12 to 4 p.m. in The Studio.
Instructor Billie Theide will walk students through the basics of tatting and the historical craft of creating knotted lace. Students will learn how to shuttle and needle tat, select yarn, and form half knots, rings and chains. Those skills will help in the creation of a wide range of items like jewelry, scarves, edgings, fabric and art works. Each student will get a toolkit that will enable them to continue to work at home.
$110/person. Registration will close Feb. 8 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.
If you will need disability-related accommodations in order 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, health & wellness, history, nature & outdoor education, or science. All experiences value hands-on, experiential teaching and learning, and are facilitated by and for the members of the community.