Broom Making Workshop
Make a traditional broom by your own hand with broom corn. The corn will be prepped by trimming and soaking in water to make it easier to work with. Next, the broom handle will be attached with twine. There will be a choice of handles to choose from. The broom will then be flattened and trimmed to your preferred length. This workshop will last about 4 - 4.5 hours, with a short break to let the broom corn soak.
Workshop participants are asked to bring a towel and their own sharp knife to trim the broom corn ends.
Date: October 16, 2021
Time: 9 am - 2 p
Cost: $56 (Friends' Members: $50)
*Note: as of August 19, 2021, the most recent Dane County Public Health order, face masks are required in enclosed public park buildings. The mask requirement will be in effect for this workshop as long as the order is still in effect in October.
Instructor and textile artist, Clayton Smith, owns Irish Ridge Alpacas, LLC, a family farm in Cottage Grove, WI, and has demo
nstrated rag rug weaving and handmade brooms for the Schumacher Farm Park Heritage Fest for the last several years. These items are available at their Cottage Grove shop, along with other fiber-related items (spinning, weaving, fiber and knitted). Classes are also available at their farm and you'll have an opportunity to meet the alpacas and the other farm animals.
(Photos credit: Irish Ridge Alpacas, LLC website)