SURFACE DESIGN + DIRECT TECHNIQUES

for Fabric, Paper, Clay Tiles and Wood
Textile and Fiber Arts at the Heifer Barn!

Adult 18+
(Teens are invited to register)

Date + Time:
August 4–27

Tuesday + Thursday 4–6:30 pm
Personal Projects: August 18–25

Instructors:
Kathy Kelm

Mae Blackwell

Avery Reinhold and Seamus Chandler
(NISDA Summer Interns, RISD Textile Majors)

Tuition for 4 weeks:
$425 + Lab Fee for 4 Weeks $65


Delve into your memories, personal motifs and ornamentation. Enjoy learning about design layout and repeating your patterns. Weekly sequential workshops within our class will explore your memory patterns, surface design layouts, direct painting, mono-printing, stenciling and stamping on paper and cloth. You will recognize the presence of nature and imagery in your life, allowing your innate designs to emerge. You will create beautiful, often surprising, designs for textiles and other surfaces. Your technique experiments may eclipse into decorative surfaces for cloth, paper, clay tiles, wood, interiors and beyond! Ultimately, you will apply this knowledge in studio the weeks of August 18th + 25th painting on a silk scarf, designing and creating a floor cloth or mandala, or a project of your choice.

Please Bring to Class:

Notebook & pen. Do bring ideas, clipping or images you may have! Wear comfy “studio” clothes!

  • The following Workshops are Integrated into Surface Design:

    Memory Patterns + Design Layout

    Tuesday + Thursday August 4 + 6, 4–6:30 pm

    Tuition for the week: $125 + $20 Lab fee

    Delve into your memories, personal motifs and ornamentation. Enjoy learning about design layout and repeating your patterns. You will recognize the presence of nature and imagery in your life, allowing your innate designs to emerge.



    Mono Printing, Stenciling + Stamping

    Tuesday + Thursday August 11 + 13, 4-6:30 pm

    Tuition for the week: $125 + $20 Lab fee

    Explore patterns, surface design layouts, direct painting, mono-printing, stenciling and stamping on paper and cloth. You will create beautiful, often surprising, designs for textiles and other surfaces. Your technique experiments may eclipse into decorative surfaces for cloth, paper, clay tiles, wood, interiors and beyond!

NISDA Community Knit-Along... or Crochet

July 27, 2026
Free and Open to the Community!
August 4, 6, 11 + 13
Tuesday + Thursday 1–3 pm

Nature Tapestries

July 27, 2026
2 Day Workshop at the Heifer Barn!
August 11 + 13
Registration Open

Blockprinted Bandanas

July 27, 2026
1 Day Workshop at the Heifer Barn!
Friday August 7 | 1–3:30 pm
RegistratIon Open

Potter’s Wheel | All Levels

July 27, 2026
POTTER'S WHEEL All Skill Levels Adult 18+ (Teens are invited to register) Dates + Times: August 4, 6,11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27 Tuesday and Thursday | 6–8:30 pm Instructor: Helen Mills (read bio) Tuition: $650 (+ Clay #25/$65 includes glazes and firing) No prior experience needed. All are welcome. We are able to adapt techniques to fit ever body of any age or skill level. Learn or expand your knowledge on the clay process as we explore techniques of wedging, throwing, trimming, and glazing. This will be a flexible class with a combination of group demonstration and personalized instruction. As these basic forms and techniques become second nature, you will be able to make more complex forms with confidence and curiosity. The final week will be dedicated to surface treatments and a variety of glazing strategies. Students purchase clay from NISDA. #25 bag for $65 which includes the cost of glaze and firing. Students with a basic knowledge of centering, trimming, etc. will expand their repertoire of forms. Demonstrations will include throwing of vase shapes, plates, lidded forms.. There will be an additional emphasis on developing a personal aesthetic and exploring surface design.

Off-Loom Placemats

July 26, 2026
1 Day Workshop at the Heifer Barn
August 5 | 1–3:30 pm
Registration Open

The Art of Repair

July 19, 2026
1 Day Workshop
August 1
10 am-2 pm
Registration Open

Kinder Artists  //  Ages 5-9

July 15, 2026
Weekly enrollment:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
June 22–August 28
Ages 5–9

Youth Art Studio //  Ages 9-13

July 15, 2026
Weekly sessions :
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
9:30 am-12 pm

Weeks beginning:
July 20 // July 27
August 3 // August 10

Registration Open

Generations Together  //  All Ages

July 14, 2026
July 24, 31
August 7, 14, 21
All Ages
Show More