All participants will have an opportunity to learn knitting by making a winter hat out of yarn. Knitting is believed to have originated in the Middle East in the 5th century and traveled to Europe with wool traders soon afterwards. We will cast on, knit, knit two together, bind off and hand sew. All yarn materials are provided including instructions. All participants need to purchase a set of size US11 knitting needles. Let’s stay warm and Create for Useful’s Sake!

BIO: As a retired educator with a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, Bette Kersting Bell now teaches creative activities that have useful outcomes. These experiential workshops happen at schools, libraries, community settings or conferences. Wherever learning takes place, it will always be fun, hands-on, and have a useful product. She can be reached at francescalucia.com@gmail.com or 205-420-8938.

Needle felting is the ancient art of creating non-woven fabric objects from wool by agitating the scaly fibers with a needle until they bond together. We will create a 3 inch by 3 inch square floral design that can be used for a pocket on a knitted or felted bag, a coaster, or as a framed wall decoration. All materials will be provided. Let’s Create for Useful’s Sake!

BIO: As a retired educator with a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, Bette Kersting Bell now teaches creative activities that have useful outcomes. These experiential workshops happen at schools, libraries, community settings or conferences. Wherever learning takes place, it will always be fun, hands-on, and have a useful product. She can be reached at francescalucia.com@gmail.com or 205-420-8938.

Take time and get lost in the world of basic watercolor skills. We will paint with watercolors that will be attached to note cards for your correspondence pleasure. We will be able to make 4 to 5 cards and maybe more, time permitting. Come not knowing anything and leave having had a new learning experience. All materials and instruction provided. Let’s Create for Useful’s Sake!

 Let’s Create for Useful’s Sake! Instructor - Bette Kersting Bell

Thinking about starting your own business but not sure where to begin? This 4-week hands-on course will guide you from idea to launch—step by step. Designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and side hustlers, this program simplifies the business startup process in practical, achievable ways. You’ll explore how to create a business plan, choose a legal structure, register your business in Maine, manage finances, and develop your brand—all with expert guidance and useful take-home tools.

What You’ll Walk Away With:

A business plan draft tailored to your idea

A registration & licensing checklist specific to Maine

A startup budget and marketing plan

Branding exercises and launch strategies

Confidence to open your business—your way—in 30 days

Who Should Enroll: Anyone with a business idea—no prior experience needed! Whether you’re dreaming of a bakery, a freelance service, or an Etsy shop, this course is for you.

Come learn how to decorate sugar cookies with me! Because of the demand and popularity of the decorated sugar cookies I have decided to teach a beginners class on how to decorate. I will provide 6 cookies and royal icing for decorating. Each month will have a different theme that I have preplanned. (September-fall, October- Halloween, November-Thanksgiving, December- Christmas) This is a beginners class so everyone is welcome! Check out my website at bakedbycam.com 

Instructor: Casey Marsh - Casey fell in love with baking years ago while baking annual Christmas cookies with her mother and grandmother.  She has always been a creative and artistic person (who also  LOVES to feed people) so it only made sense that she start a business doing just that! She is a fully licensed home baker. She completed the baking and pastry associates program at York County Community College, but the majority of her skills are self taught.

All participants will receive a $25.00 American Indian Beading Design kit in which instructions are included. Together, we will work through the directions for a beaded rosette over two class periods. Beaded rosettes were typically used as a decorative artform that symbolizes wealth and status. Rosettes were used as trade items. Now, native artisans attach these beaded forms to a wide variety of garments, from headdresses or bonnets to shirts, pants, moccasins, and gloves. Let’s Create for Useful Sake!

All participants will have an opportunity to learn knitting by making a winter hat out of yarn. Knitting is believed to have originated in the Middle East in the 5th century and traveled to Europe with wool traders soon afterwards. We will cast on, knit, knit two together, bind off and hand sew. All yarn materials are provided including instructions. All participants need to purchase a set of size US11 knitting needles. Let’s stay warm and Create for Useful’s Sake!

BIO: As a retired educator with a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, Bette Kersting Bell now teaches creative activities that have useful outcomes. These experiential workshops happen at schools, libraries, community settings or conferences. Wherever learning takes place, it will always be fun, hands-on, and have a useful product. She can be reached at francescalucia.com@gmail.com or 205-420-8938.

All participants will have an opportunity to make a  heart, a flower or a fish. Cross-stitch is a form of sewing  and a popular form of counted-thread embroidery in  which X-shaped stitches in a tiled pattern are used to  form a picture. Bringing your personal scissors may be  preferred. Instructions and materials will be provided.  Let’s Create for Useful’s Sake! 

INSTRUCTOR: Bette Kersting Bell