TennCare Director Announces Departure
LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES, TN – Land Between the Lakes will offer three old time skills workshops: Basic Flint Knapping a String Quilt Workshop Jan. 25; and a Beginning Spinners class Feb. 8 in the Homeplace 1850 Working Farm’s Interpretive Center.
Learn a new hobby and preserve old time skills from our nation’s ancestors.
Cost for each session is $25 a person. Space is limited. Included in the workshop price for participants is a walk around the historic farm. To register, call 270-924-2020.
All workshops are subject to cancellation for inclement weather or hazardous road conditions. With the exception of these special workshops, the Homeplace is closed to the public during the winter season.
Basic Flint Knapping Workshop
Stone tools were used by all cultures, it is truly a humanity wide skill and art form. The manufacture of stone tools is called flintknapping. The Homeplace invites you to our first flintknapping workshop, taught by Primitive Skills Expert and Homeplace Interpreter, Michael Daniels.
In this workshop you will learn the basics of lithic reduction, how to turn a raw stone into a usable tool such as an arrowhead, drill, chisel, hand axe or fine blades used to skin game. We will also cover the kinds of ‘knappable’ stone and the history and use of stone tools.
Participants will receive the basic tools necessary to get started and some raw material to practice with in class and hands on instruction in making your first arrowhead. The workshop also includes a copy of ‘the’ book on flint knapping, Flintknapping, The Art of Making Stone Tools.
1850s String Quilt Workshop
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 25
Recommended for ages 12 and up. Bring lunch. Last day to register is Friday, Jan. 24.
Learn an old technique of hand sewing a quilt block called ‘string’ quilting! In the 1850s, the ‘string’ quilting technique was used to make a quilt block from small pieces of fabric that were hand sewn on to paper. The pattern that will be used is based on a historic string quilt from the Homeplace’s collection called a spider web. All the skills from piecing quilt tops to perfecting the hand quilting stitch will be taught by the Homeplace staff quilters.
During this four-hour workshop, you will learn this method. Later, add a batting and backing and learn the traditional quilting stitch to create a table runner. Choose your favorite fabric from the Homeplace reproduction cloth stash to make a block. Then, learn simple hand sewing stitches to ‘hand piece’ your quilt block. All supplies are provided.
Beginning Spinners Workshop
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8
Limited to 10 participants. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Bring lunch. Last day for reservations is Friday, Feb. 7.
Learn the ancient craft of spinning in this beginner’s workshop taught by traditional fiber artist and Homeplace historical interpreter, Cindy Earls.
Class members will learn the basic techniques of spinning using a drop spindle and then how to prepare wool and other fibers for spinning. Once you have mastered the spinning technique on the spindle, try your hand spinning on a treadle and walking spinning wheel. Also included is a discussion about natural dyeing. A drop spindle and Homeplace wool for practice are yours to keep. All supplies are included in the cost.
About the Friends of Land Between the Lakes
The Friends of Land Between the Lakes have partnered with the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area of the USDA Forest Service to provide interpretive and informative services along with support services for those visiting the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
The Friends are supported through business and personal memberships, gift shop sales and other contributions.
For more information, visit www.friendsoflbl.org.