2024 Fall Craft Week

Class Offerings

Please choose one class for the entire week. Any materials fees for your class are in addition to the conference fee.* We assign classes on a first-come, first-served basis. We reserve the right to cancel a class based on projected attendance. Register early to ensure a place in your class!

*Materials fees are nonrefundable if cancelling within two weeks of the conference. 

Fun with Photography – Joye Ardyn Durham

Fun with photography is just that, fun. We will learn about our cameras along with photo techniques you can use to make your photography more enjoyable. We will also be taking a variety of photographs to show the Fall Craft Week attendees at the end of the week. Come join us for Fun with Photography. We will cover ICM (intentional camera movement) abstracts, long exposure, light painting, as well as cool nighttime shots of whirling lights. We will explore the mountain beauty around the area of Montreat and Black Mountain as well as other locations of photo interest. This class will be both in class as well as in the field. Come join us for some, did I say, fun?

Class limit: 10
Materials fee: $20

Working with Wood:  Building A Ukulele - Don Parker

CLASS IS FULL. Email our Director of Registration at saraha@montreat.org to be placed on a waiting list.

Using parts that have been partially prepared by our instructor, we will each build our own ukulele.  This will include voicing the top; gluing the “box” together; attaching the neck, fingerboard and bridge; installing a special Montreat logo inlay in the headstock; applying finish to the instrument; installing the tuners, nut, saddle, and strings; and setting up the instrument for playing.  Our last class will focus on simple songs we can play together on our custom-built ukuleles!

Please note that traditional Lutherie involves the use of animal byproducts (protein glue and bone).  However, non-animal alternatives can be provided upon request with advance notice.

Class limit: 8
Materials fee: $80

Working with Wood: Personalized Walking Sticks - Carlisle Willard

The class will focus on creating a personalized walking stick for your enjoyment on the Montreat trails. Your hiking stick will reflect your personal interests as the carver. Tools and materials are provided, but participants may feel free to bring their own knives or sticks. The class will help participants prepare their stick, design and carve a personalized symbol, and finish the work to create a unique piece of personal art.

Class limit: 8
Materials fee: $35

Mountain Landscapes in Felt – Rachel Nicholson

CLASS IS FULL. Email our Director of Registration at saraha@montreat.org to be placed on a waiting list.

Do you have a view of the mountains that you have always wanted to reproduce in art? This is the class for you. Bring a photo reference and we will create a beautiful mountain scene. All levels are welcome. Learn how to mix color, draw mountains and trees; make it into a solid piece of cloth by using only soap and hot water. It is magical.

Class limit: 10
Materials fee: $45

Clay, Wheel, and Hand – Becky Garrity

CLASS IS FULL. Email our Director of Registration at saraha@montreat.org to be placed on a waiting list.

Flow with the clay. Delve into the world of clay. Grow your clay skills. Or the tried and true: The joy of clay; open up with clay. Consider surface and form to create beauty! Create and grow with clay.

Class limit: 16
Materials fee: $60

Jewelry Metalsmithing Basics – Deb Guess

CLASS IS FULL. Email our Director of Registration at saraha@montreat.org to be placed on a waiting list.

This class for beginning or advanced beginners will introduce participants to many of the tools, materials, and processes used to fabricate one of a kind wearable art.  Using copper, sterling, and brass, students will learn a variety of hot and cold connections, including soldering and riveting.  We will also be etching copper and brass for use in creating some of the pieces during the week, especially for small "spirit box pendants" made from etched copper tubing.  All tools and supplies will be provided.  Students should wear closed-toe shoes, bring a work apron and small notebook and pen, and bring extra eye magnification if needed for really close work.

Class limit: 10
Materials fee: $60

Creating with Stained Glass – Roger Maness and Brian Maness

CLASS IS FULL. Email our Director of Registration at saraha@montreat.org to be placed on a waiting list.

Whether learning the basics or improving your skills, join us to build your own stained-glass creations. All materials (including glass) and tools provided. You will leave with beautiful, finished work that you can go right home and hang up on the wall!

Class limit: 16
Materials fee: $70

Flower Drawing with Color Pencils – Stephanie Sipp

Enjoy learning drawing techniques while creating a nature journal page using local flowers as our inspiration. This class provides an opportunity to learn and expand your drawing skills and color rendering techniques using color pencils. We will use actual flowers along with a handout of each flower for visual reference. Returning, intermediate and beginning students are all welcome!

For each flower we start by reviewing the properties of the flower which includes identifying their family, flower type, stem shape, leaf shape properties and placement on the stem. Stephanie will guide you through step-by-step drawing instructions with live demonstrations of drawing techniques that will help you observe and document the flower. Her multi-layering pencil coloring technique will finish your drawing with vibrant color. Throughout the creative process Stephanie offers positive feedback on your progress, successful tips for working through stumbling blocks, and methods for using photographs as a visual reference.

The goal for this class is to build your knowledge and skill so that you can draw or paint realistic flowers and other natural elements in a botanical style. The visual reference handout is provided to support this process. This includes an image of the finished drawing, a grid drawing, photographs of the flower and the suggested color pencils to use. Returning students will be provided with multiple flower drawing options.

By joining this class, you can be a part of a drawing community sharing your work, communicating with other participants, learning new skills, exploring color theory and basic composition as you create a nature journal. This fun and informative educational experience will expand your awareness of the natural world and inspire your creativity.

Class limit: 12
Materials fee: $60

Fabric Manipulation – Leslie McCarthy

Out of the Box! We all know what to do with small pieces of fabric...now let's move beyond the normal! We will spend time manipulating fabric to create one-of-a-kind pieces and parts for an art piece you will be proud to say, "I made this!"

Class limit: 10
Materials fee: $45

HUSH! I'm Writing... – Ina Hughs and Julie Hester

As some little kid put it: Writing is like talking without being interrupted. The participants in this class work off prompts carefully designed to have you reach into your imagination, your history, things, ideas, places, events, and people important to you. We learn from each other as we share discoveries the prompts pull forth. Any level is welcome and you can use memoir, essay, fiction, poetry or journal. Whatever. These classes, I promise, bring out the magic. You won’t be interrupted, but you will write. And be appreciated.

Class limit: 15
No materials fee

Expressive Abstract Watercolor –  Sue Dolamore

CLASS IS FULL. Email our Director of Registration at saraha@montreat.org to be placed on a waiting list.

Working in abstraction, we will experience the power of color, line and form to evoke an emotional response and gain a greater understanding of the powerful effect of these artistic elements. We will begin with a focus on designing a strong composition and then building upon that with an understanding of value, color and line to complete pieces using pencil, ink pen and watercolor.  This class is enjoyable for all levels.

Class limit: 15
Materials fee: $50

Rates & Registration

Housing reservations for this conference are now closed. 

Commuter Rate

Rates below include a conference fee of $275, plus a $5 community services fee per person for public services provided by the Town and the fire district. Materials fee will be added manually by the registrar before charging your credit card. Commuter rate does not include lodging or meals.

On or before August 11: $275 per person
After August 11: $300 per person

Commuter Lunch Package*

The option of adding lunches to your commuter reservation is available. Lunch will be served Monday through Thursday. The cost of adding lunches to your reservation is $52. If you would like to include lunches in your reservation, please note that in the comment field when you make your reservation. Our registrar will manually add those to your reservation and charge your card an additional $52.

The deadline to make these reservations is Friday, September 6th.

If you have already registered and would like to add lunches, please email our registrar at susana@montreat.org

*Please note that you are only able to purchase the full lunch package for the week.

Check-in/Check-out for Housing

• Housing Check-in: Sunday, September 22, 2024 AFTER 3:00 pm
• Housing Check-out: Friday, September 27, 2024 BEFORE 11:00 am

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for this conference. The General Scholarship Fund is available to anyone with financial need and, in most cases, covers program fees related to conferences.  The J. Randolph Taylor Fellows Program provides financial and lodging assistance to pastors, missionaries, seminary students, and other church professionals who are seeking rest and renewal through programs at the Conference Center. Contact Ann Laird Jones if you have questions.

Contact the Conference Director

If you have any questions about the conference or classes, please email the conference director at Annlairdj55@gmail.com or call 662.347.3614.

Contact the Registrar

If you have any questions about the registration process, please email the registrar at justinkp@montreat.org.

Schedule

2024 Fall Craft Week Schedule

Coffee is available for purchase at the Huckleberry Café located on the top floor of Moore Center. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00am-3:00pm. Childcare is not provided during this event. 

Refund Policy

Cancellations must be received by August 11 in order to receive a full refund less a $25 service charge. Cancellations received after August 11, but on or before September 8 will receive a 50% refund of the conference fee and payments made toward room and meal charges (if applicable), less $40. No refunds will be issued after September 8. All requests must be made in writing and received via email, fax, or U.S. mail.