Think open hearth cooking and fine dining are an oxymoron? Think again! 

Over the course of this three-day workshop, participants will prepare and then dine on six sumptuous hearth-cooked meals, all while learning proper fire management and cooking techniques for the hearth and bake oven.  The weekend’s menu includes over 30 “receipts” from period sources ranging from 17th C Paris (LaVarenne) and Amsterdam (The Sensible Cook) to 17th and 18th C London (Wooley, Glasse, Smith) and Colonial America (Simmons, Horrey, Gardner).  All cooking tools and ingredients are provided and participants at all skill levels are welcome!

In this two day class students will learn some of the history of early American upholstery as it came to us from France by way of England and was adapted by colonial craftsmen with the materials that they could obtain both locally and from imported sources.  We will discuss the simple tools and materials needed for both simple and complex work, including linen webbing, hessian (burlap) coir fiber, curled horsehair, cotton wadding, and calico (muslin).  Students will complete a simple footstool using hand tacking and hand-sewing techniques in the English style as described by David James in his book “Upholstery, A Complete Course”.

All tools and materials including frames will be provided as well as a selection of generic show covers, and students are also free to bring ¾ to 1 yard of their own fabric if they wish.  No prior experience in upholstery is necessary, however a willingness to work with heavy threads and large needles is a great starting point.