Relax, create, unplug,
and get away from it all!
Class Instructors
Bennett, Chris
Chris Bennett's works are primarily human figures and animal wildlife, classically rendered. Since his works emphasize the importance of relationships, he carefully observes [More...]
Blair, Tim
Born and raised on a farm in the Villages of Van Buren, I, like many of my friends, went away for education. I returned to work in my community, always feeling a connection with [More...]
Chmelar, Linda
Linda comes to us from Dubuque, Iowa where she runs The Basket Weaver Shop and is an active member of the Midwest Basket guild. [More...]
Crawford, Pat
Pat Crawford, a native of Eastern Iowa, focuses her talents on illustrating, painting, printing, color pencil, handcrafted yarns and natural dyes, although she also works in many o [More...]
Dimmitt, Sandi
Sandi Dimmitt lives with her husband and three cats on a tree farm in rural Fairfield. She has been crafting all her life, but started card-making about 10 years ago. She also love [More...]
Dudley, Jeanne
I am a retired High School Visual Arts teacher---teaching 33 years at North-Linn Community Schools. I have my MA in Fiber Arts and Art Education. I have been a basket weaver since [More...]
Freeman, Kolby
Learn the basics of stained glass making from Kolby Freeman. Kolby adds a fun and unique twist to the age old process of building with stained glass. [More...]
Heisdorffer, Mark
Mark Heisdorffer has been working in the metal fabrication trades all of his adult life. He began Blacksmithing in 1997 when he began an apprenticeship at the forge at Iron & Lace [More...]
Holmes, Stuart
Stuart joined the Villages Folk School in late 2017 while operating his Leather Crafting shop in Salem, Iowa. Stuart has since moved to Van Buren County. Holmes Leathering Crafting [More...]
Kirby, Jessica
Jessica Kirby is an award winning artist originally from Burlington, Iowa now living in Fort Madison. A graduate from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor's degree in ar [More...]
Kisling, Tonya
Tonya Kisling, mother of 4 lives the homesteading life on a small farm in Van Buren County. Tonya has been making her own soap and other country life essentials for years. Her can [More...]
Lammert, Gin
Gin's art career began with the sale of a painting during her high school years. After college, she began participating in juried-in fine art shows where she won numerous awa [More...]
Nelson, Heather
Heather and her family own and operate Sweet Home Ranch. Heather is daily tending to livestock, growing organics, and keeping everyone fed. Making Goat Milk Soap is one of Heather& [More...]
Overstreet, Pam
Pam loves sharing what she knows. Be ready to kick back, laugh, and have fun as you discover all the unique and wonderfully smelly options of container candlemaking! [More...]
Preston, John
One of the Midwest’s premier landscape artists, John Preston continues to find new and appealing scenes in Iowa’s countryside. Originally from the east coast, he came to the [More...]
Printy, Betty
Potter and Weaver for over 30 years, Betty Printy started her career in pottery in 1971, having developed an interest in High School and pottery workshops at Iowa Wesleyan College. [More...]
Printy, Bill
Bill Printy has worked in the metal trades for most of his adult life. He began Blacksmithing as a hobby in the early 1970’s and established a part time business of blacksmithing [More...]
Ramsey, Verne
Verne Ramsey is a Van Buren County native. He lives in the village of Keosauqua. Verne worked as a production supervisor at John Deere employee and took up beekeeping when [More...]
Sederburg, Mary
Mary Sederburg, a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) for adolescents and young adults, has been an art teacher for seventeen years in Van Buren Community Schools. She has a [More...]
Showman, Teri
Hello, My name is Teri Showman. I was born and raised in Bentonsport, and I currently am raising my children here. I am a single mom of two wonderful kids, Brooke 21 and Dillon 16. [More...]
Stockwell, Melinda
Melinda (Mel) grew up on a Century Farm in SE Iowa and graduated from Coe College with a BA in Arts in 1992. In 2011, with over 17 years of experience as Art Director and Director [More...]
Thornock, Ty
Ty Thornock is a full time teacher in Avoca Iowa. Since he was a boy he would take sticks and whittle them with a pocket knife, but he really began carving in earnest in 2013. Ty [More...]
Cornell, M. Shawn
M. Shawn Cornell is a plein air painter by the strictest terms. He completes all paintings 100% on location — no indoor touch-up. Neither cutting edge nor deep in metaphorical me [More...]
Donhauser, Dolly
Dolly Donhauser has taught knitting for over eight years at the At Home store in Fairfield, Iowa. An avid knitter since childhood, she is a passionate fiber artist specializing in [More...]
Lewis, Farley
Farley earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Missouri State University in 1985. Shortly after graduating he started and ran a sign shop and graphic design studio, which included illu [More...]
Meagher, Spencer
Artist Statement "Deep within my spirit lies a need to express myself that can only be realized through my art. My paintings are an enhanced glimpse into how I view the world ar [More...]
Morford, Rene
Rene has a passion for book binding which she shares with our students here at Villages Folk School. She passes along what she has learned to others so that they can enjoy binding [More...]
