Level 1 This is a basic introduction to home welding and processes. Utilizing a MIG welder, you will create a welded steel box from precut parts. At the end of the class, you will have a steel box to take home.
Important Note: Please wear closed-toed shoes (not open-toed shoes) preferably leather. Please wear clothing made of natural fiber with long pants and long sleeves for protection. Protective gear will be provided.
About your Instructor: Dewey Mason is a master welder, blacksmith and fabricator. He teaches, fabricates metal art, and does artistic blacksmithing at his own Fire Giants Forge. Dewey has done most everything when it comes to metalworking, from making plate armor to underwater welding. He’s taught many beginners the basics of welding and fabrication.
NOTE: This class is a prerequisite for the other welding and metalworking classes we offer.
** Classes are transferable up to 48 hours before class, but not refundable.
Make Your Own Teddy Bear Workshop
Learn how to make a fuzzy Teddy Bear of your very own or for a loved one!
Choose from 3 patterns, learn to cut and prepare faux fur, and attach ears and eyes.
There will be both machine sewing and hand sewing in this class. Some experience with both is preferred. Consider taking our Machine Sewing Introductory Workshop or Beginning Hand Sewing Class first if you have no prior sewing experience.
Faux fur, eyes, and stuffing will be provided. If you want to make a memory bear please bring along your choice of fabric.
About Your Instructor: Alicia Renata is the founder and owner of Bodacious Countess. She is a is a multi-talented fabric and jewelry artist who creates clothing, jewelry and leather wearables for everyday fantasy, performance art, festivals and cosplay. She enjoys sewing, crochet, and jewelry creation as well as riding her motorcycle.
MACHINE SEWING INTRODUCTION: A BEGINNER'S WORKSHOP
Discover the joy of sewing in this beginner-friendly workshop! Whether you're looking to repair clothing, create home decor, or design your own fashions, this class is the perfect place to start. You'll learn the basics of operating a sewing machine, including threading, selecting stitches, and adjusting tension. Through hands-on practice, you'll complete a simple project—sa tote bag —to take home and show off your new skills.
Our experienced instructor will guide you every step of the way, ensuring you gain confidence in using your machine and understanding essential sewing techniques. All materials are provided, and no prior sewing experience is needed. Just bring your enthusiasm and a desire to create!
About Your Instructor: Alicia Renata the founder and owner of Boadacious Countess. She is a multi-talented fabric and jewelry artist who creates clothing, jewelry and leather wearables for everyday fantasy, performance art, festivals and cosplay. She enjoys sewing, crochet, and jewelry creation as well as riding her motorcycle.
Join us for a hands-on workshop where you'll learn the art of creating custom picture frames. This class is perfect for beginners and those looking to refine their woodworking skills. You'll leave with a beautifully crafted frame to showcase your favorite memories. This class will include materials for one picture frame, including a plexiglass insert, backboard, staining and finishing of your final product.
What You’ll Learn:
What you’ll make:
By the end of the class, you’ll have made a 7/8” thick beautiful frame with the inside dimensions of 8”x10”. A unique handmade picture frame to take home.
All necessary materials will be provided.
There will be a one hour and thirty minute lunch break.
About your Instructor: John Buckman has worked with wood in one manner or the other since his early teens. Retired from Telecommunications, John started a small home repair and remodeling business and is an accomplished woodworker and wood artist. John also serves as the wood shop foreman and can sharpen just about any tool in the shop.
Basic Blacksmithing Level 1
Step into the world of blacksmithing and forge your first creation in this hands-on introductory course! Designed for beginners, this class covers the fundamental principles, essential techniques, and must-have tools of blacksmithing. Students will learn how to properly heat, shape, and manipulate metal using traditional methods, gaining confidence in the craft along the way.
Under expert guidance, each participant will complete a functional take-home item, such as a basic J hook or spike hook—perfect for displaying their newfound skills. Whether you're exploring a new hobby or laying the groundwork for future forging projects, this course is an excellent first step into the artistry and practicality of blacksmithing.
No prior experience is necessary—just bring enthusiasm and a willingness to hammer out something amazing!
Note: This course is a prerequisite for our more advanced Blacksmithing courses.
Important Note: Please wear closed-toed shoes (not open-toed shoes) preferably leather. Please wear clothing made of natural fiber with long pants and long sleeves for protection. Protective gear will be provided as will an Anvil, Forge, Vices, and Tool Sets.
Welding 102: Essential Skills for Home Projects
Prerequisite: Welding 101
Take your welding skills to the next level with Welding 102, a hands-on course designed to introduce fundamental techniques for cutting, prepping, and welding small home projects. Whether you're looking to tackle DIY repairs, build functional metalwork, or enhance your craftsmanship, this class provides the skills you need to get started.
With expert instruction and guided practice, you'll leave with a solid understanding of welding basics and the ability to confidently begin small-scale welding projects at home.
Bluebird House Building Workshop
Create a welcoming home for bluebirds with this beginner-friendly, hands-on workshop! Using precut materials, you'll assemble a beautiful bluebird house based upon several plans from the North American Bluebird Society without needing to cut or measure wood—perfect for those new to woodworking, looking for a family project or an interesting date!
By the end of the class, you’ll take home a professionally designed bluebird house, ready for any finish you like and installation in your yard or local habitat. This workshop is perfect for conservation-minded makers, families, and anyone looking for a fun and accessible building experience!
About your Instructor: Phil Kern been an avid woodworker all his life and enjoys solving problems and making everything from garden obelisks to bluebird houses. He worked backstage at many theatre companies in Huntsville building sets and set pieces as well as many home projects. He has 2 daughters who among their many other talents also share his passion for working with wood.
Discover the art of silk screen printing in this hands-on workshop. You'll learn the fundamentals of screen printing while creating your choice of your own custom T-shirt or hoodie. This class is perfect for beginners and those looking to enhance their skills. Students should have some idea of the design they’d like to screen print. At a minimum it should be at least a hand drawing or for a digital design, please bring it on a flash drive.
Class includes all materials including the T-shirt or hoodie.
Basic Blacksmithing Level 2
Take your blacksmithing skills to the next level by crafting intricate, organic forms from solid bar stock. Build on your skills forged in Blacksmithing Level 1 to create one piece forged flowers.
In this next level course, students will learn advanced forging techniques to shape tulips and lilies using heat, hammer, and anvil—no welding or additional materials required. Emphasis will be placed on controlled tapering, upsetting, and detailed petal shaping to create lifelike flowers entirely from one piece of metal.
By the end of the course, students will walk away with beautifully forged floral sculptures and the knowledge to apply similar techniques to other decorative metalwork.
Ready to turn steel into art? Let’s fire up the forge and get started.
Prerequisite: Blacksmithing Level 1
Embark on a hands-on journey to craft your very own edge grain cutting board! This class is perfect for woodwork enthusiasts, whether you're a beginner or have some experience under your tool belt.
What You’ll Make:
By the end of the class, you'll have a stunning, custom edge grain cutting board to take home. Each board is not only a practical kitchen tool but also a unique piece of art you can be proud of.
Note: While not a bladeless class, the strips to make the cutting boards will be precut to various widths in order to maximize design and glue up time.
This is a two session class, please reserve a Part II class to complete your cutting board:
Learn a little, smile a lot. Join the experts for two hours of pen making. You learn the entire process from selecting wood to assembling the pen.
You get hands on tutoring while you make your very own uniquely handcrafted pen.
By the end of the session, you will leave with your own unique handcrafted wooden pen.
What You’ll Do:
What You'll Need:
Pen Turning 202
An excellent opportunity to improve upon the skills you learned in the basic Pen Turning Class. This session allows you to make two additional pens and more if time permits. Hone and polish your skill (and pens) in this hands on semi-independent session.
Added pen kits beyond two will incur an added charge.
Prerequisite: Basic Pen Turning Class
Fusing Fun with Frit
This beginners fusing class will introduce you to a free-form creative way to use glass in a fused panel. YES, we will be making frit during this session!
The glass pieces will be fired off site. Class participants will need to return to The Shop to pick up their fused glass panel.
Note: Please cover up – no shorts or sandals!
About your Instructor: Karen Reed is an accomplished glass artist who’s been working professionally in the medium since 1981. At her studio, Earthstar Glass, she creates fused glass, painted glass, and stained glass pieces with many of her works combining all three methods (although she’ll tell you there are many more than just three!). Her creations have been exhibited and offered through galleries across the US. It’s been requested by the White House and now sits in the archival collection. Her glass has been accepted at shows curated by past directors of the Smithsonian Institution and Pilchuk Glass. She’s been featured and published in many books and magazines and her fused glass series “Sunscapes” was shown on CBS TV’s “Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood”. She has taught at the John C. Campbell Folk School, Arrowmont School of the Arts and Crafts, The Appalachian Center for Crafts, Bullseye Glass, Uroboros Glass, Hollander Glass, and Weiser Glass. She has also taught specialty classes for Art Museums, Botanical Gardens, Clubs, Guilds and Design Centers. She’s also taught classes at Burritt on the Mountain Folk School and creates custom designs for homes, businesses, and galleries. We consider ourselves fortunate to be able to tap into her many talents!
After completing the steps in part I if the class, you will finish your cutting board and prepare it for use at home. This class is included with your purchase of the Part I class.
In Part II
This is a two session class, Part I class is required.
Sewing Pattern Workshop: Mastering the Art of Fit
Prerequisite: Machine Sewing Introduction Workshop or Beginning Hand Sewing Class
Note: Please bring your own fabric scissors, glass head or straight pins (not those with plastic heads), and a preferably easy pattern.
Unlock the secrets of sewing patterns in this hands-on workshop designed for creators of all skill levels. Whether you're a beginner eager to understand the basics or an experienced sewist looking to refine your technique, this course will empower you to confidently read and modify patterns that bring your vision to life.
Through guided instruction, you'll learn:
By the end of the workshop, you'll have the skills and confidence to work with patterns like a pro, opening the door to endless creative possibilities.
Machine Sewing Workshop 2: Crafting a Zippered Pouch
Prerequisite: Machine Sewing Introduction: A Beginner's Workshop
Unlock a new level of machine sewing mastery in this hands-on sewing class! Designed for those who have taken our Machine Sewing Introduction Class, this workshop focuses on the techniques needed to create a fully lined, zippered pouch—a versatile project perfect for organizing small items, crafting gifts, or showcasing your creativity.
What You'll Learn:
Whether you’re refining your craftsmanship or adding zipper installations to your skill set, this class provides expert guidance, step-by-step demonstrations, and individualized support. By the end of the session, you’ll leave with a beautifully constructed zippered pouch and the confidence to tackle future complex sewing projects.
About Your Instructor: Alicia Renata is the founder and owner of Bodacious Countess. She is a multi-talented fabric and jewelry artist who creates clothing, jewelry and leather wearables for everyday fantasy, performance art, festivals and cosplay. She enjoys sewing, crochet, and jewelry creation as well as riding her motorcycle.
Call or Email Us(256) 479-5320theshophuntsville@gmail.com
3305 Governors Drive SWHuntsville AL 35805
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