Boston Flora

Tag: Haystack School of Crafts

  • Saturday, April 27, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Building a Dry Stone Wall

    This Berkshire Botanical Garden hands-on program will cover the basics of dry stone wall building, including planning and layout and demonstrations on cutting and fitting. The morning will consist of a lecture, a walk through the garden to view a variety of stone walls and site preparation. Students will learn how to set up a batter frame and cut stone, and will practice laying stones to create structural integrity through interlocking placement. Following the demonstrations, students will work on a dry stone wall and practice wall-building. The workshop will pay special attention to building a freestanding wall using field stone. All questions will be answered. The session will take place Saturday, April 27, from 9 – 3, with a rain date of April 28. Dress appropriately for outdoor work and bring safety glasses, heavy gloves, sturdy waterproof footwear, and a bag lunch. BBG member price $85, non member price $95, and you may register on line at www.berkshirebotanical.org.

    Mark Mendel started Monterey Masonry in 1982. He apprenticed with Maine stonemasons in the 1960’s and taught at the Haystack School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine. He has built scores of walls, arches, terraces and walks and hundreds of fireplaces in both brick and stone. Locally, his work includes the stone walls in front of Guido’s Marketplace, the fireplace at the Route 7 Grill and the stone walls at the new entrance to Berkshire School. He designed, built and donated the stone spinning fan at the new Berkshire Botanical Garden rose garden. Working as a stone consultant for Cuningham Group Architects of Minneapolis, Mendel was part of the design team that received the 2012 Tucker Design Award, a biennial award presented by the Building Stone Institute. The Tucker design award is the most prestigious national award given in the stone industry.

    http://www.montereymasonry.com/pages/images/Mark-02-08.jpg

  • Friday, July 15, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Making Paper Garden Lanterns, Japanese Style

    Join popular instructor/artist, Nancy Moore Bess at the Berkshire Botanical Garden on Friday, July 15 from 10 – 4 in one of her inspirational workshops. Harvest a few feet of your favorite vines (wisteria, grapevine, akebia, etc.), cut a few narrow branches from your willow tree (think #2 pencil for maximum diameter), and prepare to make a lantern. Using these items from your garden and some cordage, rattan, and handmade papers, you’ll make lanterns. Using acrylic medium and methyl cellulose as an adhesive, allows participants to collage multiple papers into a single skin. Use this beautiful textured paper to cover the frame you will create with your vines and branches. Extra acrylic on the surface can hold dried seeds and pressed dried flowers in place. Participants will add the electrical elements (or LED lights) at home after the structure has dried completely. Materials list available upon registration. Instructor will provide supplementary materials, including willow.)  Lantern below from www.greenteadesign.com.

    Nancy Moore Bess is a master basket maker and exhibits her baskets worldwide. She has championed Japanese basketry in the west and is the author of Bamboo in Japan. She teaches basket making workshops throughout the United States including Haystack School of Crafts on Deer Isle, Maine. Her popular workshops always sell out. Register online at www.berkshirebotanical.org (BBG members $75, nonmembers $85).

  • Friday, July 23, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Wrapping Flowers Japanese Style

    In Japan, presentation influences so much – food, flowers, tea. But Japan is not the only culture this workshop will be inspired by. There are wonderful, exciting flower arrangement traditions from many cultures and this workshop will draw from them. July 23 from 10 – 3 is the perfect time for the Berkshire Botanical Garden, 5 West Stockbridge Road, West Stockbridge  to offer a flower-oriented workshop as there will be many flowers to choose from in our gardens. Participants will use basketry materials, papers and metal screening to “wrap flowers” in a new way. Be prepared to be newly excited about presenting the flowers you already love to live with and give as gifts.

    Nancy Moore Bess is a master basket maker and exhibits her baskets worldwide. She has championed Japanese basketry in the west and is the author of Bamboo in Japan. She teaches basket making workshops throughout the United States including for the Haystack School of Crafts on Deer Isle, Maine. Her popular workshops always sell out. BBG members $75, nonmembers $85, plus a $20 materials fee paid directly to the instructor.  To register, log on to www.berkshirebotanical.org, or call 413-298-3926.

    http://www.freshflowersandgifts.com.au/shop/images/big/B4.jpg