2026 Fall Craft Week

Name: 2026 Fall Craft Week
Start: 2026-09-27
End: 2026-10-02
Location: Montreat Conference Center

September 27–October 2, 2026 AdultContinuing Education

A Montreat Conference Center Event

Imagine spending a peaceful week in the fall mountains, surrounded by like-minded artists and immersed in creativity.

Whether you’re exploring a new art form or deepening your practice in one you love, this conference offers the perfect opportunity to unwind, recharge, and create.

Open to individuals as well as church, family, and community groups, the week features guided instruction from skilled teachers, optional evening events, morning yoga, and daily devotions. With plenty of ways to personalize your experience, this is your chance to make space for inspiration and connection in a beautiful mountain setting.

Mark your calendars and plan to join this community of artists for a week of art and sabbath. Learn more about the conference, instructors, and classes below!

We never want cost to be a barrier to participation. Scholarships are available (details below).We’ll also host a casual art auction to support scholarships. If you’d like to contribute an item, start thinking now! More details will be shared closer to the event.

Leadership

Nat Scott – Clay, Wheel, and Hand

Nat Scott was first introduced to pottery in Kingsport, TN, where he attended Dobyns Bennett High School, a large school with five art teachers! Having grown up in a house that loved and supported the arts, Nat had a private art teacher from the age of ten until he graduated high school. This love for the arts continued throughout his college years at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Nat graduated with a BFA with a dual major in Painting and Ceramics. After graduating in 1989, Nat took on a two year, two-part apprenticeship, first under Lewis Snyder in Murfreesboro, TN, then under Larry Spears in Gatlinburg, TN. At this point, Nat moved with his wife and newborn son to his family’s farm in Waycross, GA, where he set up shop in their old commissary which had served the neighboring farms since WWII. This shop served as a studio and gallery for Nat and a school where students could find their voices in clay. Nat worked as both a retail and wholesale artist winning many awards, grants, and prizes. Nat has continued to work with clay and glazes since 1982 and enjoys sharing his love for pottery with students of all ages.

Brian Maness – Creating with Stained Glass

A native Memphian, Brian grew up as a “gym rat” that loved sports. His church had an art program that included stained glass, and Brian would often go down and watch as they had class. He ended up at Lambuth University on a soccer scholarship and needed a “joke” course to complete his freshman class load. He took stained glass in 1992 as a joke and ended up falling in love with it, sailing through stained glass I, II, and III, and working with glass ever since!

Brian has been fortunate enough to work in churches that allowed him to teach classes as a part of their recreation and outreach programs and often taught at different conferences. When he is not working on glass or being Vivian’s dad, he works as the athletic director at Christ Methodist Church and Day School.

In Brian's words:

"Being in my studio and working with my hands is a place where I find joy and peace. Working with glass feeds my soul in so many ways. It is my time to think and be alone. I love to see a project take shape and come to life. Holding a finished piece up to the light for the first time is really exciting. When a piece is completed, I feel that it holds my memories and feelings forever. I can look back at a piece years later and remember where I was and what I was thinking about."

Virginia "Ginny" Sorsby Fergus – En Plein Air Watercolor Painting

My paintings are daydreams that take on a life of their own!” Ginny grew up painting with her grandmother in Canoe, AL, eventually settling in Decatur, GA. In her early 20’s, she decided watercolor was her medium of choice. For the past 26 years, she has worked as a full-time professional artist, with a love for en plein air painting. Over the years, her watercolor process has changed to a non-traditional approach, always firmly grounded in classic watercolor techniques. As Ginny says, “It has been an incredible ride! After hundreds of outdoor shows, several dozen states, and several countries later, I can still be thankful for the perfectly matched career I have. It is a one-woman show in the making, framing, and presenting the paintings….it suits my gifts, affinities, and personality.” Ginny leads painting trips to France and Italy every year. Follow her blog and view her paintings at Virginia Fergus Fine Art.

Grace Evans – Fostering Creativity Through Silk Painting

Grace is an artist living in Raleigh, NC. She graduated from Skidmore College with a BS in Art and studied clay at Penland School of Crafts. Loving fabric from a young age, Grace concentrated a good bit of her career on painting silk which she then sewed into wearables and liturgical art. In addition, she has been a Montessori teacher and art teacher for adults and children and has taught silk painting at the Sally Jones Pottery/Currie Craft Center in Montreat. Grace’s art has been recognized in Quilting Arts online magazine and National Geographic publication, Your Shot . She assisted acclaimed liturgical artist Catherine Kapikian in executing her designs and teaching classes at the Montreat Worship and Music Conference 2024. Grace loves to spend most of her time creating sewn fabric collages inspired by nature and being with family in Raleigh, Montreat and Melbourne, AU where her daughter and son-in-law live. 

https://www.gracerevans-art.com

Pat Brown – The Art of the Handmade Book

I’m a transplant to the Mississippi Delta via Germany, Texas, and Oklahoma. A practicing artist and former art department professor and gallery director at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi teaching Art History, Drawing, and Fiber, I still play in all these mediums and exhibit regionally and nationally. A recipient of two Mississippi Arts Commission Artist’s Fellowships and a UGA Artist’s Fellowship to study indigo dyeing in Kyoto, Japan, I have taught or researched in Central and South America, Japan, Turkey, and one day, hope to visit India. A gardener, a bird listener, book lover, foodie, and conflicted mind between Minimalist style and Bohemian style, I am a fan of the present chapter of life (let’s not call it retirement!).

Leslie McCarthy – Hand Sewing with Everything but the Kitchen Sink! and Conference Director

Leslie is honored to be directing Fall Craft Week and looks forward to sharing the peace and creativity that come with spending time in the mountains.

Her artistic journey began in childhood, growing up with two talented parents who encouraged exploration and creativity. Her mother taught her to sew at an early age, sparking a love for making her own clothes. Her father, a woodworker, inspired her through his night school classes, where Leslie absorbed as much as she could. These early experiences laid the foundation for her lifelong passion for art.

For 26 years, Leslie owned and operated Making Ends Meet, an interior fabric store and design center. The store was recognized in Southern Living Magazine as one of the Best of the South. She loved designing for customers, especially working with colors outside her personal palette.

After a cancer diagnosis in 2004, Leslie turned deeply toward art, finding healing and peace through creative expression. She opened a studio inside Making Ends Meet, where she began offering classes and discovered her love for teaching.

In 2016, Leslie closed the store and launched www.funkyfibersky.com, where she creates fun and funky furniture and teaches wherever she’s invited. She thrives on collaborating with customers to bring their visions to life.

Leslie hopes to direct a conference that is life-giving for all who attend and is excited to create alongside each participant.

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.

Mountain Landscapes in Felt and 3-D Felted Objects and Animals – Rachel Nicholson

Landscapes are something you always dreamed of making, come join us. We will make beautiful images inspired by your own photo's. In this course we will learn to mix colored fleece, make beautiful mountain images as well as trees. You will draw lines with the tiniest bits of wool, and then magically turn it into a piece of fabric using hot water, soap and some upper body strength. If time permits, we will explore the method of using a resist to make a free standing vessel.

Class limit: 12
Materials fee: $75

Clay, Wheel, and Hand – Becky Garrity and Nat Scott

Sally Jones Pottery provides a lovely setting for creating with clay. The natural sounds and views of the adjacent Flat Creek, Lake Susan, and rustling tree canopy surround the Curry Craft Center with beauty. The studio is well appointed with work tables, wheels, tools, glazes, and kilns. Come enjoy a week playing in the clay that will combine wheel and hand building projects. No need to bring tools. Just yourself and your zeal to learn something new and to grow your pottery skills. No clay experience necessary.

Class limit: 15
Materials fee: $60

Beginning Metalsmithing – Deb Guess

Step into the timeless craft of metalsmithing, where fire, metal, and imagination meet. In this immersive beginner’s class, you’ll learn to saw, shape, texture, and transform simple sheets of metal and coils of wire into expressive, wearable art.

Guided through each stage of the creative process, you’ll design and craft a mixed-metal panel bracelet and other jewelry pieces that introduce sawing, riveting, soldering, and finishing.

Leave class with several pieces of original handcrafted jewelry and the skills to continue your creative journey. All tools and materials are provided. Bring extra magnification if you need it for detailed work.

Class limit: 10
Materials fee: $65

Creating with Stained Glass – Roger Maness and Brian Maness

Whether learning the basics or improving your skills, join us to build your own stained-glass creations. All materials (including glass) and tools will be 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

Hand Sewing with Everything but the Kitchen Sink! – Leslie McCarthy

What do you get when you mix cheesecloth, silk sari, wool, batiks, lace, beads, buttons, embroidery threads, ribbon, sequins and your imagination? We will have to wait and see! Join us for a very relaxed week hand stitching a piece to be used as wall art, journal cover, purse flap, jacket insert or….? You will learn lots of techniques to incorporate in future artwork! ALL supplies provided! Sewing machine not required.

Class limit: 12
Materials fee: $45

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: 6
Materials fee: $35

Wood Carving Spoons, Animals, Folk Figures, and More - Frank Boyd

Not only are spoons, butter knives, & scoops useful to have around the kitchen, but they also make wonderful gifts and are surprisingly easy to carve. Come and experience the simple pleasure of handcrafting items for cooking and serving food. Participants will also have a variety of other carving projects to choose from such as animals, nature ornaments for the tree or shelf, and delightful dancing dolls. This class welcomes all skill levels, beginner to advanced. Special emphasis will be given to carving safety, tool selection, resources, food-safe finishes, and basic sharpening techniques.

Minimum age is 14.

Bring a water bottle, a pencil, something to write on, any carving tools you already own (put your name on them). Please bring closed toed shoes to wear in class for safety. Wood, tools, and all necessary supplies will be provided by the instructor.

Class limit: 14
Materials Fee: $35

En Plein Air Watercolor Painting - Virginia (“Ginny”) Sorsby Fergus:

Come and paint the beautiful fall mountains en plein air (outside!) and in the studio. Sharpen your technical skills as you learn the basics of how to begin, work on, and complete watercolor paintings. All materials are provided, although you are welcome to bring your own materials that you are used to, as well.

Class limit: 10
Materials fee: $45

Writing for the Soul – Julie Hester

Anne Lamott reminds us that “writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul.” Join us at Fall Craft Week to feed your soul through writing in community with others. With inspiration and prompts from poetry, images, objects, and more, we’ll pay attention to our words, to God, and to one another as we experiment on the page. You might end up with journal-like or devotional pieces, poems, the start of creative non-fiction essays, or scenes for the characters who live in your head. Whatever words end up on the page, your soul will be fed! Come ready to write a lot, and to read and share your words with a group of supportive and generous listeners. Whether you are new to writing, or are a veteran of writing workshops, you are welcome!

Class limit: 14
Materials fee: $10

Fostering Creativity Through Silk Painting – Grace Evans

Unleash your creative spirit through silk painting! This is an ideal art form for beginner and experienced artists alike. In this class, you'll explore techniques similar to watercolor painting including using resists to create intricate patterns on silk fabric. We will be blending vibrant dyes for breathtaking effects while working with the unique properties of silk fabric. With silk painting skills, you'll be able to leave Montreat knowing how to create a wearable masterpiece! We will also learn how to create a large hanging (done as a whole class) to display in your home or church.

(Students will need a hair dryer and apron.)

Class limit: 10
Materials Fee: $85

The Art of the Handmade Book – Pat Brown

Once upon a time, books were one of the most precious items a person could own and why? Because every part was handmade (usually by monks, scribes, or nuns)——the covers, the pages, the script, the imagery. Over the centuries and as we industrialized, humans found ways to mass-produce them and they sort of lost their special place for a couple of centuries BUT the spirit to make is always present in us; the handmade book has been rediscovered as one of those beautiful and functional objects we can do today.
Join me as we explore several ways to construct books and decorate them. We will make at least four to take home - a simple notebook, a blank journal, a reliquary, and an accordion
book. So many ways to decorate covers and pages: collage, stamping, paste papers (fingerpainting for grownups) will be our special fun. No previous experience necessary. Much creative play and step by step assembling of all the parts, each unique to you. Materials will be supplied but please bring an apron, a pair of scissors for paper (not your ‘good’ fabric scissors), a cheapie brush for gluing stuff, and any random interesting papers you may have (optional).

Class limit: 10
Materials Fee: $30

Drawing Life – Ann Laird Jones

Drawing is the language about seeing. Drawing is complete engagement with the world around you. Drawing is a visual way of honoring these mountains, this sky, these flowers, these trees, one another. Drawing is asking questions and then filling in the spaces. Using pencils, pens, pastels and ink, we will create 3-diimensions in the space of 2. We will experience capturing a moment, as well as engaging in extended drawing projects. We will create small visual journals and large communal murals. We will be intentional about the deeply quiet, meditative process drawing offers. We will explore the brilliance of light and the interesting darkness cast by shadows. We will draw still life arrangements, outdoor trees, bushes and vistas, and a live model. All you need to bring is you. We will supply everything else!

Class limit: 10
Materials Fee: $50

Traditional Basket Making – Instructor to come!

Explore the ancient craft of basket weaving and create functional, beautiful pieces to take home. Drawing on techniques with roots in Appalachian tradition, you'll learn the fundamentals of working with natural materials to construct woven vessels.

Whether you're a complete beginner or have some weaving experience, this class will guide you through the satisfying process of creating baskets by hand - honoring a tradition that reaches back to the earliest makers who discovered that woven fibers could carry more than two hands alone.

Stay tuned for details about our instructor for 2026!

Class limit: 10
Materials Fee: $60

Exploring Photography in the Mountains – Instructor to come!

Discover the art and technique of photography in the stunning landscape of Western North Carolina. Whether you're learning your camera's capabilities or refining your compositional skills, this hands-on class will help you capture images that tell a story.

Throughout the week, we'll venture to beautiful locations - waterfalls, mountain vistas at sunrise or sunset - and explore creative techniques like light painting and multi-exposure photography. You'll return home with new skills, memorable images, and plenty to share with fellow photography enthusiasts.

Stay tuned for exciting news about our photography leadership for 2026!

Class limit: 12
Materials Fee: $65

Rates & Registration

Comprehensive Rate

Comprehensive rates below include conference fee of $305, room in Assembly Inn (Sunday through Thursday nights), meals in the Galax Dining Room (Sunday supper through Friday breakfast), plus a $5 community services fee per adult 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. Rooms are assigned on a first come, first served basis. After August 1, rates will increase by $25. Room check-in AFTER 3:00 pm on Sunday. Room check-out BEFORE 11:00 am on Friday.

Assembly Inn
Single Occupancy Private Bath	$1095
Double Occupancy Private Bath	$807.50 per person ($1,615 total)
Single Occupancy Shared Bath	$1020
Double Occupancy Shared Bath	$770 per person ($1,540 total)

Winsborough*
Single Occupancy Shared Bath	$820
Double Occupancy Shared Bath	$670 per person ($1340 total)

Glen Rock Inn and Apartment*
Single Occupancy Shared Bath	$863.75
Double Occupancy Shared Bath	$691.88 per person ($1383.75 total)

*Winsborough and Glen Rock are modest housing options. There are limited rooms with private baths. Most are rooms with shared baths.

Commuter Rate

Rates below include a conference fee of $305, 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 1: $305 per person
After August 1: $330 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 $60. 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 $60.

The deadline to make these reservations is Friday, September 11th.

If you have already registered and would like to add lunches, please email our registrar at justinkp@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 27, 2026 AFTER 3:00 pm
Housing Check-out: Friday, October 2, 2026 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.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the conference or classes, please contact the Director of Programs, Sarah Skinner, at sarahs@montreat.org or call 828.419.9845.

For questions about the registration process, please reach out to the registrar at justinkp@montreat.org.

Schedule

2026 Fall Craft Week Schedule*

Sunday, September 27, 2026
3:30–5:30 pm	Registration & Check-in (room check-in at 3pm), Assembly Inn
5:30–6:30 pm	Dinner, Galax Dining Room
6:30 pm	Conference Opening Gathering, Convocation Hall
7:15-8:45 pm	BLOCK ONE, Classrooms (sites listed below)
Monday, September 28, 2026
6:30 am	Sunrise Yoga, Assembly Inn Lobby
7:00 am	Early Morning Prayer, Assembly Inn Warton Porch (Outside)
7:30-8:30 am	Breakfast, Galax Dining Room
9:00 am–12:00 pm	BLOCK TWO, Classrooms
12:15–1:15 pm	Lunch, Galax Dining Room
2:00–5:00 pm	BLOCK THREE, Classrooms
5:30–6:30 pm	Dinner, Galax Dining Room
6:45 pm	Evening Devotions, Assembly Inn Tea Garden (Outside)
7:30 pm	Evening Program, Convocation Hall
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
6:30 am	Sunrise Yoga, Assembly Inn Lobby
7:00 am	Early Morning Prayer, Assembly Inn Warton Porch (Outside)
7:30-8:30 am	Breakfast, Galax Dining Room
9:00 am–12:00 pm	BLOCK FOUR, Classrooms
12:15–1:15 pm	Lunch
2:00–5:00 pm	BLOCK FIVE, Classrooms
5:30–6:30 pm	Dinner, Galax Dining Room
6:45 pm	Evening Devotions, Assembly Inn Tea Garden (Outside)
7:30 PM	Free Evening
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
6:30 am	Sunrise Yoga, Assembly Inn Lobby
7:00 am	Early Morning Prayer, Assembly Inn Warton Porch (Outside)
7:30-8:30 am	Breakfast, Galax Dining Room
9:00 am–12:00 pm	BLOCK SIX, Classrooms
12:15–1:15 pm	Lunch, Galax Dining Room
2:00–5:00 pm	BLOCK SEVEN, Classrooms
5:30–6:30 pm	Dinner, Galax Dining Room
6:45 pm	Sunset Evening Prayer, Assembly Inn Tea Garden (Outside)
7:30 pm	Coffee House and Open Mic, Convocation Hall
Thursday, October, 2026
6:30 am	Sunrise Yoga, Assembly Inn Lobby
7:00 am	Early Morning Prayer, Assembly Inn Warton Porch (Outside)
7:30-8:30 am	Breakfast, Galax Dining Room
9:00 am–12:00 pm	BLOCK EIGHT, Classrooms
12:15–1:15 pm	Lunch, Galax Dining Room
2:00–5:00 pm	BLOCK NINE, Classrooms
5:30–6:30 pm	Dinner, Galax Dining Room
6:30 pm	Final Bids for Silent Auction
7:00 pm	Closing Devotions
7:30-8:45 pm	Closing Celebration and Convocation Hall
Friday, October 1, 2026
6:30 am	Sunrise Yoga, Assembly Inn Lobby
7:00 am	Early Morning Prayer, Assembly Inn Wharton Porch (Outside)
7:30–8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00–12:00 pm	BLOCK TEN POTTERY CLASS ONLY
11:00 am	Check-out
1:00pm	Pick up pottery, Journey Home!

*Schedule is tentative and subject to change

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 Thursday, August 13, 2026 in order to receive a full refund, less a $75 administrative fee.

Cancellations received between Friday, August 14 and Friday, August 28, 2026 will receive a 50% refund of the conference fee and any payments made toward room and meal charges (if applicable), less a $75 administrative fee.

No refunds will be issued for cancellations received on or after Friday, August 28, 2026.

All requests must be made in writing and received via email, fax, or U.S. mail.

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