Stick welding is the entry level technique to all other welding skills. Whether you’re a beginner, an artist looking for a different medium or just wanting to learn a new skill, this is the place to start!

You will learn the basics of welding safety, how to strike an arc, how to start making the bead on a flat piece of steel and how to continue to strike an arc and carry it to form the bead.

Students should bring to class: Safety glasses, leather boots, and leather gloves.

About the Instructor(s): Sheldon Heselton has an A.S. in Welding Technology from Manchester Community Technical College and he is a certified welding inspector through the American Welding Society. His experience is mostly in stick welding, but he can weld in multiple processes and he does ultrasonic weld testing and magnetic particle weld testing. Sheldon has worked on power plant construction sites, and also inspections for welded bridges and other components at welding shops.

Class Fees: $110 members / $120 non-members

Materials Fee: $10 included in the class fee

Prerequisite(s): none

Skill Level: beginner

Age requirement: Youth and Adult (15 years and older)

Come make some metal fingernail covers! 

This class is meant to be a fun introduction to forming sheet metal, and the goal is for students to be able to match the complex set of curves that are present in their own fingernails. Plus, students will be able to take home and wear any and all of the finished nail covers that they are able to make in the 2 hour class.

I don’t expect anyone to be able to make a full set within this class time, but I think most people will be able to go home with at least one or two finished covers!

If you’re interested in learning more about metal forming, or just want to make some fun wearable art, this class is for you!

About the Instructor(s):  Theodore is a jeweler and commercial fisherman from Homer, Alaska. He got his start in metal work taking welding classes in high school but discovered jewelry making when he attended Dartmouth college and began working at the school’s Jewelry studio, falling in love immediately. That was over three years ago now, and Theodore has since graduated from Dartmouth and is doing jewelry work in the Upper Valley area and teaching classes here in Claremont. Theodore’s specialties in jewelry lie in fabricating unconventional forms and metal overlay work, as well as a Japanese metalsmithing technique called mokume gane. 

Class Fees: $65 for members/ $75 for non-members

Materials Fee: $5 included in the class fee

Prerequisite(s): None

Skill Level: Beginner friendly, geared towards people who want an introduction into forming sheet metal

Age requirement: Youth and adult (15-17 year olds need to be accompanied by an adult)

Would you like to learn how to use basic shop machinery to make a lovely hardwood serving/cutting board?  Then this is the course for you.  Starting with raw lumber you will learn how to make a useful and beautiful piece that can serve you or a special friend for years to come.

You will learn about wood selection, milling it “foursquare”, and designing a layout.  Then you will practice gluing it up and sanding it (wet and dry) before applying mineral oil and beeswax. 

All tools, materials, and safety gear will be provided – though, students are welcome to bring their own tools and gear.

About the Instructor(s): Peter Gunn is a former teacher who loves working with wood from trees to the table.  A decade ago he began taking woodworking courses and has been practicing steadily ever since.  He loves working on the lathe and with the jointer and planer to reveal the beauty of wood and make useful things.  During the holidays in 2020, when Covid altered so much of our world, he began making cutting/serving boards to raise money for local food pantries. Over four years and three hundred boards later, he is excited to share his knowledge.  He hopes people will enjoy making something uniquely beautiful and growing their skills and self-confidence in the process.

***This class meets twice***

Tuesday, January 7th, 2025 6pm-8:30pm

AND

Thursday, January 9th 6pm-8:30pm

Class Fees: $150 CMS members/ $170 non-members

Materials Fee: $50 included in class fee

Prerequisite(s): none

Skill Level: Beginner

Age requirement: Adults only (18 years and older)

Learn how to use the Singer Heavy Duty Sewing Machines we have at Claremont MakerSpace. Participants will learn the parts of the sewing machines, how to change needles and presser feet, wind a bobbin and thread the machine, how to get the right tension, trouble shoot problems, sew basic stitches and stretch stitches, and buttonholes. 

About the Instructor(s): Allison Zito has been the shop lead in the Fibers Department at Claremont MakerSpace since 2018.  Allison majored in Fibers and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of the Arts. Her artwork has been exhibited in numerous museums including The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, The Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA, The Delaware Art Museum, The Pennsylvania State Museum in Harrisburg, and The Philadelphia Museum of Art.  Allison has decades of teaching experience, having taught a variety of classes at The Philadelphia Museum of Art, at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA, and at the University of Pennsylvania Morris Arboretum. She has taught Studio Art in the Upper Valley at AVA Gallery and Art Center, Craftstudies at Hanover League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, ArtisTree, and Claremont Maker Space with stunning results.  Allison Zito was awarded The Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 for her work as an artist and art educator. In 2019 Allison was awarded an Artist in Residency at The Claremont Maker Space. There she created an art installation addressing the issue of Global Warming and she organized a symposium on site, to inspire positive action within the greater community. Allison created two local public art murals in 2021, one for The Sullivan County Conservation District in Unity and Allison created the Bee and the Monarch Medallions on the Lebanon Art Tunnel Way Pollinator Mural. Creating beautiful art in an effort to open a conversation that can inspire hope and action for a better world. This the cornerstone of Allison’s work as an artist and art educator. 

Class Fees: $45 for members/$55 for non-members

Materials Fee: $0

Prerequisite(s): None

Skill Level: Beginners and those looking for a refresher

Age requirement: Youth and Adults (ages 15 and older)

Bring your electronics projects and supplies and have fun visiting with other Electronics Enthusiasts. Work on your projects in our stocked Electronics and Digital Fabrication Lab. In addition to the MakerSpace’s soldering irons, diagnostic tools, and parts library, there will be some LED soldering kits and soldering irons available for purchase as well.
 
Hang out, finish your projects, think about future projects, and just enjoy being around other electronics enthusiasts.
 
Tiffany, the electronics shop lead, will be available to help you set up, find parts, and offer support.

Class Fees: Free for members and $5 for non-members.

Materials Fee: None (LED soldering kits and personal soldering irons are available onsite for purchase

Prerequisite(s): None

Skill Level: Any

Age requirement: Youth and adult (15 years and older). Under 15 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian partner.

Machine embroidery is a fun way to add embellishment to plain ready to wear garments and handmade items. You can create gift items, clothing, ornaments and many useful household items. I will show you how to select a design to be placed on a thumb drive. Also cover the different stabilizers used and how to set up the hoop with materials for embroidery. Then how to use the machine to embroider your item. 

About the Instructor(s): Tammy has been machine embroidering for 10+ years. She has enjoyed being a crafter for most of her life. Her hobbies include sewing, quilting, and anything involving wool fiber. She has been teaching knitting, crochet and needle felting for the past 15 years. She has also taught sewing for three years. Tammy is retired and lives in Springfield, Vt. with her husband and two dogs.

Class Fees: $50.00 for members/$60 for non-members

Materials Fee: $10 NOT included above, please be sure to bring cash with you on the day of class

Prerequisite(s): None

Skill Level: Beginner and Intermediate

Age requirement: Youth and adults (ages 15 and older)

Students will use a pretty grain/pet food bag or, if experienced machine sewer, you may choose a burlap coffee sack, to make a reusable shopping bag.  Good bye to plastic! 

About the Instructor(s): Ann Campbell learned to sew at her mother’s knee.  Pillows and Barbie clothes were first.  She graduate to clothing in a natural progression and has made costumes in several college productions 

Class Fees: $10 members / $20 non-members

Materials Fee: none

Prerequisite(s): Students should be able to use a sewing machine 

Skill Level: beginner

Age requirement: Any age (students 16 and under need to be accompanied by an adult)

About the Instructor: Allison Zito received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of the Arts. Her artwork has been exhibited in numerous museums including The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, The Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield
MA, The Delaware Art Museum, The Pennsylvania State Museum in Harrisburg, and The Philadelphia Museum of Art.  Allison has decades of teaching experience, having taught a variety of classes at The Philadelphia Museum of Art, at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA, and at the University of Pennsylvania Morris Arboretum. She has taught Studio Art in the Upper Valley at AVA Gallery and Art Center, Craftstudies at Hanover League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, ArtisTree, and Claremont Maker Space with
stunning results.  Allison Zito was awarded The Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 for her work as an artist and art educator. In 2019 Allison was awarded an Artist in Residency at The Claremont Maker Space. There she created an art installation addressing the issue of Global Warming and she organized a symposium on site, to inspire positive action within the greater community. Allison created two local public art murals in 2021, one for The Sullivan County Conservation District in Unity and Allison created the Bee and the Monarch Medallions on the Lebanon Art Tunnel Way Pollinator Mural. Making a statement and creating beautiful art as a way to open a conversation that leads to a better world, is the cornerstone of Allison’s
career as an artist and art educator.

Age requirement: Adults (18 and older)

Class Fees: Free for members and $10 for non-members.

Materials Fee: None

Helping hands needed to make warm, comforting quilts! Only basic skills needed. Do you know how to use a sewing machine, iron, or rotary cutter? This is not a quilting class, but we will guide you along through the whole process of making twin and crib size quilts for those in need in our area.

Our space is reserved from 2pm to 8pm Thursday and Friday and 1pm-5pm on Saturday and Sunday but please come when it is convenient for you, even if you can only spare an hour and you do NOT need to attend every day. 

Sponsorship: All materials are provided thanks to a generous donation from a local quilter. The Home Depot is supporting this program by providing storage containers to manage the quilting materials. Thank you to Mascoma Bank for sponsoring studio space for this project.

About the Instructor(s): Michelle Goldsmith has been sewing since she was eight and quilting since she was eighteen. She has experimented with many different sewing, quilting and mixed media techniques. Michelle has had many pieces of her work in shows and juried exhibits.

Class Fees: Free! Please volunteer your time to help this worthy cause.

Materials Fee: None

Prerequisite(s): Sewing experience helpful, but not necessary

Skill Level: All

Age requirement: Youth + Adult (15 years of age and older)

This workshop will help guide beginners and experienced woodworkers alike through the process of making an 18 x 12 x 2 inch end-grain cutting board out of beautiful hardwoods (choices will include maple, purpleheart, walnut, and padauk).  End-grain boards are beautiful, better for your knives and durable.  Your creation will surely become a useful and attractive feature of your kitchen for years to come.

About the Instructor(s): Peter Gunn is a former teacher who loves working with wood from trees to the table.  A decade ago he began taking woodworking courses and has been practicing steadily ever since.  He loves working on the lathe and with the jointer and planer to reveal the beauty of wood and make useful things.  During the holidays in 2020, when Covid altered so much of our world, he began making cutting/serving boards to raise money for local food pantries. Over four years and three hundred boards later, he is excited to share his knowledge.  He hopes people will enjoy making something uniquely beautiful and growing their skills and self-confidence in the process.

Class Fees: $200 members/ $230 non-members

Materials Fee: $75 (included in the class fee)

Prerequisite(s): none

Skill Level: beginner

Age requirement: Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by their adult

Helping hands needed to make warm, comforting quilts! Only basic skills needed. Do you know how to use a sewing machine, iron, or rotary cutter? This is not a quilting class, but we will guide you along through the whole process of making twin and crib size quilts for those in need in our area.

Our space is reserved from 2pm to 8pm Thursday and Friday and 1pm-5pm on Saturday and Sunday but please come when it is convenient for you, even if you can only spare an hour and you do NOT need to attend every day. 

Sponsorship: All materials are provided thanks to a generous donation from a local quilter. The Home Depot is supporting this program by providing storage containers to manage the quilting materials. Thank you to Mascoma Bank for sponsoring studio space for this project.

About the Instructor(s): Michelle Goldsmith has been sewing since she was eight and quilting since she was eighteen. She has experimented with many different sewing, quilting and mixed media techniques. Michelle has had many pieces of her work in shows and juried exhibits.

Class Fees: Free! Please volunteer your time to help this worthy cause.

Materials Fee: None

Prerequisite(s): Sewing experience helpful, but not necessary

Skill Level: All

Age requirement: Youth + Adult (15 years of age and older)

Stick welding is the entry level technique to all other welding skills. Whether you’re a beginner, an artist looking for a different medium or just wanting to learn a new skill, this is the place to start!

You will learn the basics of welding safety, how to strike an arc, how to start making the bead on a flat piece of steel and how to continue to strike an arc and carry it to form the bead.

Students should bring to class: Safety glasses, leather boots, and leather gloves.

About the Instructor(s): Sheldon Heselton has an A.S. in Welding Technology from Manchester Community Technical College and he is a certified welding inspector through the American Welding Society. His experience is mostly in stick welding, but he can weld in multiple processes and he does ultrasonic weld testing and magnetic particle weld testing. Sheldon has worked on power plant construction sites, and also inspections for welded bridges and other components at welding shops.

Class Fees: $110 members / $120 non-members

Materials Fee: $10 included in the class fee

Prerequisite(s): none

Skill Level: beginner

Age requirement: Youth and Adult (15 years and older)

Helping hands needed to make warm, comforting quilts! Only basic skills needed. Do you know how to use a sewing machine, iron, or rotary cutter? This is not a quilting class, but we will guide you along through the whole process of making twin and crib size quilts for those in need in our area.

Our space is reserved from 2pm to 8pm Thursday and Friday and 1pm-5pm on Saturday and Sunday but please come when it is convenient for you, even if you can only spare an hour and you do NOT need to attend every day. 

Sponsorship: All materials are provided thanks to a generous donation from a local quilter. The Home Depot is supporting this program by providing storage containers to manage the quilting materials. Thank you to Mascoma Bank for sponsoring studio space for this project.

About the Instructor(s): Michelle Goldsmith has been sewing since she was eight and quilting since she was eighteen. She has experimented with many different sewing, quilting and mixed media techniques. Michelle has had many pieces of her work in shows and juried exhibits.

Class Fees: Free! Please volunteer your time to help this worthy cause.

Materials Fee: None

Prerequisite(s): Sewing experience helpful, but not necessary

Skill Level: All

Age requirement: Youth + Adult (15 years of age and older)

Join us for hands-on class for adult beginners and children 8 and up. We will explore the technique of creating raised-design faux metal tiles which we will construct using aluminum foil and cardboard. Students will practice on ready-made tiles as well as design their own tile to take home. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian but kids ages 8 and up are welcome. This activity is very beginner friendly and a great holiday project.

About the Instructor(s): 

Jane Kolias was chosen as our fall 2024 Artist in Residence. Jane is a native New Hampshirite now residing in Vermont, and she has an extensive and lifelong association with both performing and visual arts. Her work in metalsmithing includes jewelry design, fabrication, and welding. “I’m honored to be the Artist in Residence this fall at CMS and excited about creating rustic
metal art to share with the community that is whimsical, imaginative and educational,” said Kolias. “I am grateful for the support of CMS and the generous sponsorship from Maine Oxy and the Northern Borders Regional Commission.”  Jane’s most recent endeavor, “METALSUM, Art Inspired by Nature and Imagined Through Found Objects ” was on exhibit at the NH Audubon’s McLane Center in Concord this past Summer. Curator Lauren Kramer described it as the most successful art exhibit held at that
venue.

Class Fees: Free for members (REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED), $20 for non-members (REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED)

Materials Fee: $0

Prerequisite(s): None

Skill Level: Beginner

Age requirement: Anyone ages 8 and up are welcome (under age 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian)

The Claremont MakerSpace has an Amateur Radio club! Before makers, hackers, and DIY, there was Amateur Radio. 

Join us on January 19 at 1 p.m. for our monthly meeting (every third Sunday) You do not have to be a licensed ham to participate, just bring your curiosity and energy! Everyone is welcome! Each month, we feature a presenter (45 minutes to an hour), and after we adjourn to MakerSpace’s Digital Fabrication and Electronics Lab for open-time kit building, sharing, studying, and socializing.

This Month’s Presentation: QSLs: Confirming Ham Radio Contacts

“QSL” is a convenient Morse code abbreviation for “Confirm (receipt of a message)”. Almost from the beginning of ham radio early in the 1900s, operators began confirming their on-air conversations by exchanging postcards with details of their contacts, which came to be known as “QSLs”. For decades these cards have decorated the walls of ham shacks and been used to qualify for operating awards. In recent years, electronic QSLing has become widespread, but paper QSLs remain popular, and a variety of QSL practices have developed among hams. In this talk, I will discuss why QSLing is such an important part of the hobby for many hams, compare traditional and electronic methods, and offer some tips for an efficient QSL workflow.

Presented by:
Eric Hansen, KB1VUN, was first licensed in 1970. After a long hiatus for college and career, he rejoined the hobby in 2011. He enjoys DXing, casual contesting, Parks on the Air, and experimenting. He is a retired Dartmouth engineering professor and lives in Lebanon.

What is Amateur Radio?

Amateur Radio (often called ham radio) is a popular hobby and service that brings people, electronics, and communication together. People use Amateur Radio to talk across town, around the world, or even into space, all without the Internet or cell phones. It’s fun, social, educational, and can be a lifeline during times of need.

How is Amateur Radio used?

Amateur Radio is used for a variety of recreational and service-related activities. Amateur Radio operators, also called “hams,” use Amateur Radio equipment to engage in two-way personal communications with other hams, as well as:

• Aid communication during public events, such as parades and road races
• Act as a vital communications link during emergencies and disasters
• Advance their technical skills and build their own radio components (ever wanted to talk to an astronaut in orbit?)
• Participate in competitive events and earn awards in contests

Who can become a ham?

Anyone of any age who is not a representative of a foreign government can be an Amateur Radio operator in the US. Before you can get on the air, you’ll need to be licensed and know the rules to operate legally. In the US there are three license classes — Technician, General, and Amateur Extra. The Claremont MakerSpace has resources and support available to help you learn and prepare to take your exam. 

You can learn more about amateur radio here: arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio

Helping hands needed to make warm, comforting quilts! Only basic skills needed. Do you know how to use a sewing machine, iron, or rotary cutter? This is not a quilting class, but we will guide you along through the whole process of making twin and crib size quilts for those in need in our area.

Our space is reserved from 2pm to 8pm Thursday and Friday and 1pm-5pm on Saturday and Sunday but please come when it is convenient for you, even if you can only spare an hour and you do NOT need to attend every day. 

Sponsorship: All materials are provided thanks to a generous donation from a local quilter. The Home Depot is supporting this program by providing storage containers to manage the quilting materials. Thank you to Mascoma Bank for sponsoring studio space for this project.

About the Instructor(s): Michelle Goldsmith has been sewing since she was eight and quilting since she was eighteen. She has experimented with many different sewing, quilting and mixed media techniques. Michelle has had many pieces of her work in shows and juried exhibits.

Class Fees: Free! Please volunteer your time to help this worthy cause.

Materials Fee: None

Prerequisite(s): Sewing experience helpful, but not necessary

Skill Level: All

Age requirement: Youth + Adult (15 years of age and older)

Learn how to make enchanting decorative potion bottles perfect for “Brew a Potion Day”! We’ll guide you through the process of transforming ordinary bottles into magical displays filled with interesting, fun, or curious items. Bring your own bottles and weird items, or just bring your playful self and use some of ours. From wax seals to shimmering liquids to aging techniques and spiderwebs, there will be a plethora of things to learn and items to fill and decorate your bottles with. We may even do some sculpting to fill your bottles with strange creatures.

By the end of this class, you’ll have a set of captivating potion bottles ready to add a magical touch to your decor. Perfect for parties, hgifts, or simply to spark the imagination of all who see them!

About the Instructor(s): Ann Campbell is a long time member of the Claremont MakerSpace, who has taught several sewing and craft classes through the years. 

Class Fees: $20 Members  /  $30 Non-members

Materials Fee: $10 (included in class fee)

Prerequisite(s): None

Skill Level: Beginner

Age requirement: All ages. (Under 15 requires a parent partner.)

In this class you will learn how to make a bezel setting for a cabochon stone of your choice!

After crafting the setting, students will build a simple bail for their stone and solder that bail onto the setting. Once they set the stone and polish it, they will have their own handmade silver pendant! After taking this class, students should walk out the door with a finished piece and the basic skill set to bezel set stones in the future.

This class is intended both for students who would like to learn the fundamentals of setting cabochons and for students who would just like to come make their own beautiful piece of jewelry for themselves or as a gift. Although no experience is necessary, it will be beneficial to have taken any kind of silversmithing class in the past.

*NOTE* your choice of stone MAY influence the materials fee! Since I will have lots of different stones for you to choose from, and since they all vary in cost, I cannot set a flat rate for the class materials fee. There will be a number of stones available for you to choose from that WILL NOT influence the set materials fee listed at all, but I also wanted to give folks some fun options!

About the Instructor(s):  Theodore is a jeweler and commercial fisherman from Homer, Alaska. He got his start in metal work taking welding classes in high school, but discovered jewelry making when he attended Dartmouth college and began working at the school’s Jewelry studio, falling in love immediately. That was over three years ago now, and Theodore has since graduated from Dartmouth and is doing jewelry work in the Upper Valley area and teaching classes here in Claremont. Theodore’s specialties in jewelry lie in fabricating unconventional forms and metal overlay work, as well as a japanese metalsmithing technique called mokume gane. 

Class Fees: $140 for Members/$160 for Non-Members

Materials Fee: Can vary based on the stone, but plan on at least $20 to be paid to the instructor on the day of class

What Students Should Bring With Them to Class: Closed toed shoes and hair-ties if needed

Prerequisite(s): None but some silversmithing experience could be helpful!

Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Age requirement: Adults only (18 and up)