The Smoky Mountains is home to many great artisans who make beautiful handcrafted products. It’s one of the best places to pick up these types of decorations for your home. If you’ve always wondered how some of these items are made and would like to give it a try yourself, then you’ll want to attend the Hands On Gatlinburg festival during October 2-4, 2020.
Event overview
This festival is your chance to learn craft making with professional artisans. You’ll get hands-on instruction as you create your very own work of art. Classes are offered multiple times per day and in a variety of disciplines. Participants get to take home the items they make so they can put their handiwork on display. In this article, we’ll take a quick look at some of the highlights for this year.
Featured Classes
Cliff Dwellers weaving classes
Seat weaving
In this class, you will learn the techniques to make a stool from scratch. Do you have an antique seat or heirloom in need of repair? The knowledge you acquire in this class will give you the skills needed to restore it to working condition.
Basket weaving
If you like gardening, going on picnics, or picking fresh fruit, you’ll want to sign up for one of the basket weaving classes. You learn to make a small market basket that measures 6″ wide by 10″ long. This is the perfect size for lunch at the park or a day at the orchard.
Talking Turkey Studios
Stained glass window Project
Get ready to tackle a seriously colorful project! Your instructor John Eachus is a master glassworker with over 40 years of experience in the craft. In this session, he teaches you all the basics needed to create a stained glass window with a watercolor pallet. Classes are available all three days.
Jann Peitso
Jann has been a painting teacher for several years and has built up a loyal fan base. At this year’s Hands On Gatlinburg, she will be hosting three classes, each with a different painting technique. The focus of the sessions will be on acrylic and watercolors using a variety of mediums.
Sparky’s Glass Blowing
Sparky is offering multiple glass blowing sessions on all three days. Get ready to experience the unique world of glass blowing while you learn the basics of this skilled craft. During your class, you’ll have the opportunity to create three pieces of artwork. Do you have a friend or family member with a birthday coming up? This is a great opportunity to make a personalized gift. Participants must be 18 years old, and each class is limited to one person.
It’s not too early to start planning your fall activities. What new skill will you learn this year?
