UNDER THE SMALL TOP: Workshops With Recycled Materials All workshops 1pm - 4pm $10 suggested donation*
This series of workshops demonstrates projects that use scavenged materials and are great for: *. Teachers: these projects can be replicated using free or almost free materials and are appropriate across age & ability levels *. Anyone planning big celebrations: we'll show you some great ideas for making decorations! *. Anyone looking for ideas for group activities: take these ideas home for your next gathering *. Anyone looking for a fun "something to do:" outside: come join us under our "small top"
Talk to us about bringing the workshops to you!
Saturday, May 18 Bunting, Banners, & Garlands Across time and place, people have draped strings of small shapes for either functional, spiritual, or celebratory events. Come make one! We've got lots of beautiful fabric scraps to re-use (thank you, Waters & Brown), as well as string, paint, & construction techniques.
Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 Stretch Wrap Flowers Springtime means that acres of stretch wrap is coming off of boats. It is great stuff! We've got a simple technique to show you that will turn a piece of stretch wrap into flowers that are as weatherproof as, well, plastic stretch wrap. They make beautiful outdoor decorations for all your summer entertaining!
Saturday, June 15 Crumplestiltskin Paper Bag Hats for Pride Parade We invented the term, "whirligig," and define it as a "bouquet" of plastic water bottles that have been painted and cut into spirals. These things bounce, move, go boingggg! They are all the fun and colour and delight of balloons without the risk of blowing away into our ocean. Come make some for summer parties ahead!
Saturday, July 27 Steamjunk The underbellies of early trains are a marvel. Paint a bunch of plastic trash with metallic paint and you get an effect that mimics this in delightful ways. We've got some great techniques for making gears and machine parts. Bring an old pair of safety goggles, or an old hat to create a piece of art that you can wear home!
Saturday, August 17 Dahlias Dahling! Dahlias are a mathematician's flower. They are structured, logical, you can see their patterns of growth. Join us for this technique of structured flower-making. All you left-brainers: there is counting and planning and measuring involved! Such order! It helps if you can sew a few stitches by hand but it is absolutely NOT necessary.
Saturday, September 14 Peonies, Pom Poms & Prom Dresses I categorize a whole realm of handmade flowers as “pom poms.” The technique for making them is the same as making pom poms for ski hats ("toques" where I come from). These are some of my favourite flowers to make. They become these fluffy show-stopping creations that I use as the centerpieces of most of my work. The technique is always the same, but varying the materials gives so many options. We use thrift-store prom dresses as materials.
Saturday, October 12 Crumplestiltskin Hats: Part One - Basic Shaping "Crumplestiltskin" hats are party hats made out of paper grocery bags. Join us for this workshop in the art of crumpling, rolling, and shaping paper.. Take away a wearable art piece that is lovely in its basic, raw paper color.
Saturday, October 19 Crumplestiltskin Hats: Part Two - Embellishing Annie, git yer glue gun! Bring back your hat from Crumplestiltskin Hats Part One, or shape another on site. Folks, this day is all about piling on the embellishments. Anything that can be attached to a paper bag hat is fair game! You may want to leave small pets at home. Bonus: if you've attended any of our earlier workshops you'll have some great skills for making embellishments.
* ABOUT OUR SUGGESTED DONATION: It keeps us in glue, paint and covers normal wear and tear on our equipment. However, we want you to join us and don't want price to be an issue! Broke this month? Join us anyway! Pay it forward when you can. Drop a happy thought, some poetry, or good wishes in our donation jar, or talk to us about "scholarships."