Punch Needle Embroidery

with Patti Reen
March 28, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. ET
Tuition: $75
Materials Fee: $30.00

Punch needle embroidery is an ancient textile art, dating back to early Egyptian and Medieval traditions, now enjoying a modern revival through the resurgence of slow stitching and handwork. In this workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of this satisfying technique—threading the punch needle, creating smooth lines and curves, and building texture with colorful embroidery floss. Working from a small pattern mounted in a lap frame, participants will explore design, rhythm, and the tactile pleasure of textile making. A finishing technique will be demonstrated, and a detailed handout with resources will be provided for those eager to continue at home.

Plan to bring: Punch needle and other materials will be provided for use during the workshop; optional frames and tools will be available for purchase at Ox-Bow House.

Location: Please note that this workshop takes place at Ox-Bow House, located at 137 Center Street, Douglas, Michigan 49406.

Patti Reen is a retired registered nurse and moved to Holland with her husband in 2019. She is a proud mom to three girls and a grandma of 5. She has been making art for all of her life. It all started at age 8 when her grandmother taught her to knit and embroider, and then she moved on to sewing garments and quilts. Stained glass came next, then primitive rug hooking and punch needle embroidery. She learned to make mosaics at the Chicago Mosaic School at age 60! She’s been working with Punch Needle Embroidery since 2007, and has recently been displaying and selling her pieces at the Holland Arts Council and Ox-Bow House in Douglas. She really enjoys meeting folks interested in learning both Punch Needle Embroidery and Sashiko Embroidery, and looks forward to meeting new students.

Pillows & Plushies

with Eve Emrich
April 25, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Tuition: $75
Materials Fee: $10

Learn to create three-dimensional soft sculptures using recycled fabrics and repurposed stuffing while making your own unique pillow form. Demonstrations will cover basic patterning methods, sewing machine and hand-stitching techniques, and examples of artists working in contemporary soft sculpture. The session will include guided instruction, open studio time, and opportunities to experiment with form and texture. 

Plan to bring: fabric, old clothing, and retired pillows to harvest for stuffing—plus any personal materials you’d like to incorporate.

Location: Ox-Bow House - 137 Center Street, Douglas, MI 49406 

Eve Emrich (they/them) is a fiber artist, quilt maker, and craft educator based in Chicago. Their practice traces the nonlinearity of loss, memory, and identity through quilting, spinning yarn, and lace-making. They have taught fiber craft and quilting workshops in Chicago at Comfort Station, Haymarket House, Walls Turned Sideways, and Elastic Arts. Emrich is also the co-founder and Director of Quilt Church, a queer- and trans-centered hand-quilting project in which artists learn fundamental hand-sewing skills while cooperatively completing an heirloom-quality quilt. They received their BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2022 and participated in Ox-Bow’s Longform Residency in 2025.

Wild Grapevine Baskets

with Laurie Zientek
June 6, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tuition: $200
Materials Fee: $20

Using freshly gathered wild grapevines and a variety of hand-dyed reed and seagrass, students will learn how to form hoops and make the framework of a ribbed-style basket. Students can expect to complete one medium-size basket in class.

Plan to bring: an old towel and an apron to protect clothing. All materials and tools will be provided.

Location: Main Campus - 3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck, MI 49453

Laurie Zientek (she/her) is a native of Michigan who has been weaving baskets for over 40 years, working with natural materials and custom-dyed reeds to create beautiful, functional pieces. She loves sharing her hard-earned knowledge from decades of weaving, experimenting, and learning from other talented artisans. Zientek enjoys teaching the basics of basket weaving along with plenty of tips and tricks to help each student create something they’re proud of.

Stitching for Change: Small Protest & Pride Quilts

with Victoria Marcetti
June 13, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tuition: $250
Materials Fee: $20

In this hands-on fiber workshop, participants will explore quilting as a form of personal expression, collective care, and social activism. Drawing from the long history of quilts as carriers of memory, resistance, and community storytelling, we will create small protest and LGBTQIA+ themed quilts that honor identity, celebrate Pride, and speak to the causes that matter most to each maker. We’ll begin with a brief introduction to historical and contemporary examples of activist textiles, followed by demonstrations on simple piecing, appliqué, lettering, and incorporating symbolic color palettes (such as Pride flag variations). Participants will then design and stitch their own small quilt—sized for wall display, gifting, or carrying to a march—experimenting with pattern, text, and imagery that reflect their values and voice. This workshop centers process, play, and exploration; no sewing or quilting experience is required. All identities and skill levels are welcome.

Plan to bring: any personal fabric scraps or meaningful materials you may want to incorporate (optional). All other tools and supplies will be provided.

Location: Main Campus - 3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck, MI 49453

Victoria Marcetti (they/them) is a queer and neurodiverse interdisciplinary artist and youth development worker who lives, works, and creates on Potawatomi and Peoria land, or so-called Kalamazoo, Michigan. They have been facilitating and supporting writing and art workshops for youth through Read and Write Kalamazoo for 10 years, as well as supporting and encouraging adults in explorations of fiber arts, printmaking, and book arts. Marcetti makes art because their heart, brain, and hands have to do something to try to make sense of the world around them. They believe in the process of making art as a tool for connecting with and understanding ourselves and our communities, and for shaping change in our communities and the larger world.

Sashiko Embroidery

with Mary Baggerman
June 27, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Tuition: $75
Materials Fee: $20

Sashiko is a type of hand stitching that originated in Japan. Used for mending and embellishment, it has a rich history of tradition and design. Today, many people are discovering it as part of the visible mending movement. Come and learn the basics of stitching, pattern transfer, and tools and techniques. We will be making several small pieces suitable for use as coasters, pincushions, or patches on clothing.

Plan to bring: a sketchbook and bits of fabric or thread from home (optional). All necessary materials will be provided.

Location: Main Campus - 3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck, MI 49453

Mary Baggerman (she/her) has lived in West Michigan all of her adult life. She loves living in the beautiful Great Lakes region, drawing inspiration from the natural world around her. She exhibits and teaches in Kalamazoo, Michigan, focusing primarily on fiber arts, including embroidery and quilting. Baggerman is currently on the faculty of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, where she teaches creative embroidery.

Fiber & Ice Dyeing

with Jen Schutmaat
July 25, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Tuition: $100
Materials Fee: $20

In this workshop, students will create at least one unique hand-dyed textile using ice and powdered pigments. Working with folding methods, color placement, and melt-based dye reactions, we’ll explore how ice dyeing differs from traditional immersion techniques and how unpredictability can lead to extraordinary results. We will begin with a short introduction to the ice-dyeing process. After looking at examples and exploring design possibilities, participants will practice folds and color layouts on paper before moving to fabric dyeing. We’ll end with a wash-out session and a small-group showcase of the work created.

Plan to bring: a notebook and colored pencils. One flag-sized piece of cotton will be provided, but you are encouraged to bring anything that is 100% cotton that you’d like to dye as well (T-shirts, pillowcases, etc.).

Location: Main Campus - 3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck, MI 49453

Jen Schutmaat (she/her) has been involved with fiber dyeing for over 30 years. A native of Holland, Michigan, she has led dye workshops for various local groups and businesses, including Out On The Lakeshore and Bell’s Brewery. Her teaching journey has included working in early childhood special education, leading after-school elementary art enrichment, and teaching at a nature-based outdoor preschool.

From Fleece to Fiber: Processing Local Wool by Hand

with Rachel Meyers Hefferan
July 25, 3:00–6:00 p.m.
Tuition: $100
Materials Fee: $30

In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how raw, freshly shorn wool is transformed into usable fiber for knitting, weaving, and other textile practices. Working with bespoke, ethically sourced wool from Jacob and Icelandic sheep raised in Southwest Michigan, we’ll explore the early stages of fiber preparation while building an appreciation for place-based materials and slow craft. Demonstrations will cover brushing, hard carding, and introductory spinning techniques, and participants will receive guidance through the tactile process of cleaning, aligning, and drafting wool. Time will be structured between demonstration and open making, allowing participants to experiment, ask questions, and develop a feel for the fiber as it changes form. Participants can expect to leave the workshop with a small length of prepared natural fiber and a foundational understanding of how raw wool becomes knittable or weavable material. No prior fiber experience is required—curiosity and a willingness to work with your hands are all that’s needed.

Plan to bring: comfortable clothing you don’t mind getting a little fuzzy, and a tote or bag for carrying your finished fiber home. All wool and core materials will be provided.

Location: Main Campus - 3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck, MI 49453

Rachel Meyers Hefferan (she/her) is a textile artist and small-scale shepherd focused on sustainability in her art practice and lifestyle. Her artwork looks at microbial networks, connectivity, pattern, and fermentation, and most often takes the form of large-scale abstract weavings. Hefferan’s aim as a textile artist is to engage in holistic practice that brings natural and secondhand materials through the entirety of their life cycle without sacrificing aesthetics or color. She invites others into this practice through conversation, workshops, community, and other events. Hefferan holds an MFA in Studio Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has been invited to lecture and/or lead workshops and demonstrations at the University of Michigan, SAIC, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, the Michigan League of Handweavers, and the Michigan Fiber Festival, among many others.

Wild Grapevine Baskets

with Laurie Zientek
August 1, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tuition: $200
Materials Fee: $20

Using freshly gathered wild grapevines and a variety of hand-dyed reed and seagrass, students will learn how to form hoops and make the framework of a ribbed-style basket. Students can expect to complete one medium-size basket in class.

Plan to bring: an old towel and an apron to protect clothing. All materials and tools will be provided.

Location: Main Campus - 3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck, MI 49453

Laurie Zientek (she/her) is a native of Michigan who has been weaving baskets for over 40 years, working with natural materials and custom-dyed reeds to create beautiful, functional pieces. She loves sharing her hard-earned knowledge from decades of weaving, experimenting, and learning from other talented artisans. Zientek enjoys teaching the basics of basket weaving along with plenty of tips and tricks to help each student create something they’re proud of.

Make a Handmade Journal

with Sandra Hansen
August 1, 3:00–6:00 p.m.
Tuition:  $75
Materials Fee: $30

In this workshop, students will learn how to construct and personalize a hand-bound journal. Techniques demonstrated include covering cardboard with decorative papers, installing simple closures, adding bookmarks, collage and surface decoration, and creating paper pulp sheets or shapes using stencils. The class will flow from guided journal assembly to open-ended decorating, followed by a playful introduction to papermaking processes.

Plan to bring: a spirit of curiosity and creativity. All essential supplies will be provided, with optional materials available for continued exploration at home.

Location: Main Campus - 3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck, MI 49453

Sandra Hansen (she/her) is a West Michigan–based environmental artist whose handmade paper sheets and occasional sculptural works explore the delicate relationships within natural ecosystems. She holds an MFA from Kendall College of Art and Design and has developed a distinctive approach to creating large‑scale handmade papers, shaped in part by a formative residency in Australia. Her work has been exhibited regionally and internationally, including at ArtPrize 2025, where she received recognition for her installation Our Exquisite Pollution. Her art has been on view at Root Café in Fennville, Michigan, and at Ox-Bow House. Hansen enjoys teaching papermaking and journal-making workshops at various locations.

Punch Needle Embroidery

with Patti Reen
August 8, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tuition: $150
Materials Fee: $30

Punch needle embroidery is an ancient textile art, dating back to early Egyptian and medieval traditions, now enjoying a modern revival through the resurgence of slow stitching and handwork. In this workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of this satisfying technique—threading the punch needle, creating smooth lines and curves, and building texture with colorful embroidery floss. Working from a small pattern mounted in a lap frame, participants will explore design, rhythm, and the tactile pleasure of textile making. A finishing technique will be demonstrated, and a detailed handout with resources will be provided for those eager to continue at home.

Plan to bring: No outside materials required. A punch needle and other materials will be provided for use during the workshop; optional frames and tools will be available for purchase from Ox-Bow.

Location: Main Campus - 3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck, MI 49453

Patti Reen is a retired registered nurse and moved to Holland with her husband in 2019. She is a proud mom to three girls and a grandma of 5. She has been making art for all of her life. It all started at age 8 when her grandmother taught her to knit and embroider, and then she moved on to sewing garments and quilts. Stained glass came next, then primitive rug hooking and punch needle embroidery. She learned to make mosaics at the Chicago Mosaic School at age 60! She’s been working with Punch Needle Embroidery since 2007, and has recently been displaying and selling her pieces at the Holland Arts Council and Ox-Bow House in Douglas. She really enjoys meeting folks interested in learning both Punch Needle Embroidery and Sashiko Embroidery, and looks forward to meeting new students.

Papermaking Play

with Rowan Leek
August 22, 10:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.
Tuition: $250
Materials Fee: $30

Participants in this workshop will learn to make their own richly textured handmade paper using abaca, cotton, and hemp fibers. Demonstrations will cover sheet pulling and a range of surface-decoration techniques, including stenciling, dry-brush applications, and squeeze-bottle mark-making. The workshop will begin with foundational papermaking methods, followed by hands-on exploration at the vats as participants create multiple sheets to air-dry at home. Finished papers can be used for drawing, collage, or craft projects, or enjoyed as artworks on their own.

Plan to bring: a notebook or sketchbook, waterproof shoes (such as rain boots), and any botanical or collage materials you’d like to incorporate.

Location: Main Campus - 3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck, MI 49453

Rowan Leek (he/him) is a paper and fiber artist originally from Memphis. He graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art with a BFA in Sculpture and Expanded Media. While in college, he interned at the Morgan Conservatory for two summers and learned paper and printmaking. He went on to receive a studio management internship at Penland School of Craft’s Books and Paper Studios and returned the following winter as a studio assistant. Leek currently resides in West Michigan and works as Campus Manager at Ox-Bow. His work has been shown at the Betsy Gallery at Ox-Bow; at Reinberger Gallery and Bostwick Design Art Initiative, Cleveland; and as part of the traveling Queer Ecology Hanky Project.