A CHICAGO BASED CRAFT SCHOOL AND WOODWORKING COLLECTIVE
a few new Classes!
Bring a wooden puppet to life in this 4 day Marionette-Making class! Students will carve and assemble their own small wooden marionette, learning the basics of shaping wood, building articulated joints, and bringing a character to life through paint and playful details.
Starting with pre-cut basswood blanks, we’ll explore grain direction, proportion, and carving safety before getting hands-on with carving knives, gouges, files, and sandpaper. Once our characters take shape, we’ll assemble their moving parts using wooden joints, metal pins, and leather cord, then make control mechanisms and learn how to string and balance our marionettes.
Students can make their marionettes their own with custom facial features, hair, clothing, carved patterns, and painted details. No prior woodcarving experience is necessary. Each student will leave with a one-of-a-kind wooden marionette, approximately 12" tall or smaller, ready to move, play, and show off!
(2 Day Class) November 3rd + November 5th 5:30pm-8:30pm
Join us for a hands-on introduction to the art of coiled pine needle basketry!
We’ll explore cultures within the U.S. that practice coiled basketry and how this weaving tradition shows up in communities around the world. Participants will learn the basics of sustainable collection, cleaning, and preparation of pine needles before creating their own coiled pine needle basket using raffia as the binding thread.
We’ll start by forming the center base, then build the walls and finish with a secure closure. Along the way, I’ll guide participants through experimenting with different stitching fibers, including raffia, artificial sinew, and waxed thread. You’ll also learn two different coiling techniques so you can find the rhythm and style that feels most natural to you.
This workshop is a great way to slow down, work with your hands, and learn a traditional weaving technique while creating something you can take home and continue to build on. Everyone will leave with a new weaving skill and a deeper appreciation for the artistry behind coiled baskets.
Your teacher Abi will also have additional bundles of pine needles available for purchase for anyone who wants to keep weaving at home!
Part 1: Participants will learn the spiral stitch and how to start their basket.
Part 2: Participants will learn the figure-8 stitch and how to close and finish their basket.
This class is taught by Abeni Pierson!
Abeni Pierson is a Chicagoland native, fiber artist, educator, and the founder of Where the Pines Grow. She studied fashion design at Columbia College Chicago, but over time felt pulled away from the fashion industry and toward a more sustainable way of making. She has taught for the last 4 years around Northern California and works with plant fibers she forages, cleans, and dyes by hand. She is committed to keeping the language of American folk arts alive by leading workshops around the U.S. in pine needle weaving, gourd carving, cattail weaving, and broom corn weaving. Her classes are welcoming and grounding, encouraging people to slow down, create with their hands, and reconnect with the natural world.
ways to join the sticks
need a home for your woodworking practice, or a showroom for your work? our studios are tucked within our woodshop, featuring natural light, glass block windows, and a private space.Private Studios
Bring your ideas to the workbench with open access to our community woodshop, shared amenities, and a personal locking cubby for your tools and belongings.Memberships
Weekly classes and workshops ranging from beginner-friendly courses to advanced skill-building, evening entertainment, and community gatherings. Our extensive programming offers something for everyone.