Experience Level: Beginner (all ages; parents/guardians are not required to register with their children, but they are encouraged to be present for those 13 and younger.)

Create a unique piece of art out of locally sourced alpaca fiber at Needlefelt Snowman on Monday, Dec. 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. in The Studio.

Stephanie Block of Sundrop Alpacas will walk students through the needlefelting process to make a snowman, which can be customized to make them look authentic, whimsical or anything in between. The class is perfect for those wanting to learn a new art form.

Take advantage of a fun opportunity to bring a friend or family member for just a $10 add-on fee as you work together on a single project kit!

$65/person* + $10/person for add-on (limit one). Register here.  Registration will close Dec. 11 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*A $15 discount is available during registration for those who bring their own needlefelting tools.

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 since 2016. Stephanie’s spinning style is self-taught, and she is continuously learning so that she can share that knowledge with others.

Experience Level: Beginner

If life feels hard and joy is difficult to find, get answers at The Art & Science of Getting Happier: Build the Life You Want on Tuesdays, Jan. 27, Feb. 3, Feb. 10 & Feb. 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in The Studio.

Led by psychologist Lori Lilly, this course is designed to provide direction on a journey toward living with a greater sense of happiness and a deeper sense of wisdom. Students will learn more about emotions to develop tools of self-management and emotional regulation and a positive state of mind.

While there is no one answer for everyone, students will learn practical, research-based practices that meet them where they are and help build a daily practice of happiness.

$70/person. Registration will close on Jan. 26 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 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

Lori Lilly is a psychologist, yogi, nature lover and lifelong learner of wellness, happiness and spirituality. Her passion is to bring others along for the adventure and to share what she is learning.

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

Learn a life-long skill you can continue to practice on your own at Learn To Draw on Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18 & 25 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in The Studio.

Instructor Sally Walsh will guide students in various drawing techniques to gain a basic understanding of drawing, including shading properly to create beautiful artwork.

$70/person*. Registration will close Jan. 28 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should bring:— Spiral-bound sketchbook or mixed media pad (9”x12”)— Pencil— Kneaded eraser— See-through plastic ruler— Pencil blender for shading

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

Sally Walsh is a retired art teacher from Richland Community College in Decatur. She has more than 30 years of teaching experience and has led previous art classes 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.

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn to draw, shade and create texture at Beginning Pen & Ink on Wednesdays, Feb. 4, Feb. 11, Feb. 18 & Feb. 25 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. in The Studio.

Instructor Sally Walsh will teach the basics of hatching, dots and varied lines to help students learn how to create texture and visual interest.

$70/person*. Registration will close Jan. 28 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should bring:— Spiral-bound sketchbook or mixed media pad (9”x12”)— Pencil— Kneaded eraser— See through plastic ruler— 1 to 3 black roller ball, gel or felt tip Sharpie-type pens with varying tip sizes.

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

Sally Walsh is a retired art teacher from Richland Community College in Decatur. She has more than 30 years of teaching experience and has led previous art classes at Allerton.

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.

(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.

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.

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.