My Miniature Rustic Twig Rocking Horse Workshop at Shake Rag Alley Last Weekend

Every July the Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, hosts a 4-day WOODLANDERS GATHERING featuring classes and workshops in the rustic arts, including everything from blacksmithing to jewelry making using natural materials like stone, fibers, shells, and wood.  I have been teaching workshops in miniature rustic twig furniture there for several years now, and last Saturday we made miniature driftwood twig rocking horses.  Here are some photos from the workshop taken by me and my wife Pat.  That's me in the Hawaiian shirt.

Miniature Furniture Workshop at Woodlanders Gathering

Miniature driftwood twig furniture created in George C. Clark's workshop at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts in Mineral Point, Wisconsin on July 11, 2014

WOODLANDERS GATHERING is a four day festival of mostly rustic arts and crafts held each year at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts in Mineral Point, Wisconsin.  Artists and craftspeople from all over the Midwest gather to exchange skills and ideas.  It's like a summer camp for creative adults (although our youngest participants this year are 13 and 14).  I have been attending  these events since 2006 and since 2010 I have been teaching workshops in making miniature rustic twig furniture there.  This year the emphasis was on making a miniature settee, loveseat, chair, garden bench, or, as one participant styled it, "divan."  A photo of the three-hour workshop's output is posted above.  I'm always blown away by my students' imagination and creativity. 

Garden Bird by George and Pat Clark (approximate height 30 inches)

This is an example of what we do at the Woodlanders Gathering besides my miniature furniture workshop.  Pat and I constructed  this garden bird out of scrap lumber, white glass insulators and piano parts.  The positioning of the bird's wing "feathers" is adjustable with wing nuts.  

My Workshop at the 2013 WOODLANDERS GATHERING in Mineral Point, Wisconsin

Miniature Rustic Twig Rocking Deer by George C. Clark
(rocker length 8 inches)

I thank the people who signed up for my workshop Friday, July 12 at the 2013 WOODLANDERS GATHERING at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts in Mineral Point, Wisconsin.  This year we will be making either miniature rocking horses or miniature rocking deer.  It should be a lot of fun.  There is still time to sign up for this and other classes and workshops, some of which I look forward to participating in myself.  WOODLANDERS GATHERING is a long weekend where creative people in the rustic crafts get together to learn from each other.  You can find out more about it here.