Specialty Crafts
Crafts off the beaten path: pottery, jewelry, glassblowing, bookbinding, and candle making.
9 Topics
Bookbinding
Bookbinding is the craft of physically assembling a book from sheets of paper. Learners will understand various binding styles, including pamphlet stitch and multi-section sewing, and how to use specialized tools to create durable covers and spines.
Candle Making
Candle making is the craft of melting wax and combining it with wicks, dyes, and fragrances to create functional candles. Learners will understand different wax types, temperature control, wick sizing, safety protocols, and various pouring and molding techniques.
Glassblowing
Glassblowing is the art of shaping molten glass by inflating it through a tube. Learners will understand the properties of hot glass, the operation of furnaces and reheating chambers, and how to use specialized hand tools to shape functional vessels.
Jewelry Making
Jewelry making is the craft of designing and creating wearable ornaments from metals, stones, and beads. Learners will understand wire-wrapping, metal sawing, soldering, stone setting, and how to use specialized hand tools to finish professional-grade decorative pieces.
Leatherworking
Leatherworking is the craft of converting leather into practical objects or art. Learners will understand how to select hides, use cutting and carving tools, perform saddle stitching, dye and finish edges, and construct items like wallets, belts, and bags.
Pottery
Pottery is the process of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other ceramic materials. Learners will understand hand-building techniques, wheel throwing, glazing, and firing processes to create durable, functional, and decorative ceramic pieces.
Pottery & Ceramics
Pottery and ceramics covers the creation of objects from clay, which are then hardened by heat. Learners will understand hand-building techniques, wheel throwing, glazing methods, and the chemistry of firing clay bodies in electric or gas kilns.
Soap Making
Soap making is the chemical process of combining fats or oils with an alkali to produce soap. Learners will understand the saponification process, safety measures for handling lye, oil formulation, scenting, coloring, and both cold-process and hot-process techniques.
Woodturning & Carving
Woodturning and carving covers the shaping of wood using hand tools or a rotating lathe. Learners will understand wood grain characteristics, tool sharpening, safety procedures, and techniques for creating sculptural reliefs, bowls, spindles, and detailed ornamental designs.
