Unleash your inner artist in a cozy lakeside cottage with our Maker's Workshop series at Blenheim Park. The perfect Maine winter ‘Cabin Fever Reliever’, these hands-on mini-classes will spark your creativity and expand your skills, in a fun, friendly environment.
Whether you're dreaming of crafting your own books, learning the art of linocut print-making, making a winter luminaire, repairing treasures with the Japanese art of Kintsugi, printing cyanotypes or diving into the colorful world of textiles, this series has something for everyone. Each workshop is like a playground for creativity, tailored to all skill levels. So, whether you're a curious newbie or a crafty pro looking to level up, you’ll find your perfect fit.
The Winter Makers Workshop series is all about connecting with a community of like-minded individuals who share your enthusiasm. It's not just about mastering techniques; it's about celebrating creativity, embracing sustainability, and building lasting friendships. You’ll collaborate, share ideas, and create unique, handmade treasures that truly reflect your personal style. Select a class (or three) and let’s learn, create, and make some magic together!
Learn more about each workshop below and register here to secure your place!
WORKSHOP 1:
Saturday February 8th, 2025 | Valentine Paper Craft
This Valentine’s Day, show your love in a truly unique way with our special makers workshop. You’ll design and create a custom sliding frame card that’s perfect for expressing sweet somethings—or sweet nothings—to someone that holds a special place.
What makes this card so special?
When opened, the frame slides back to reveal a cherished photo hidden underneath, adding an extra layer of surprise and delight.
We’ll also experiment with watercolor painting to create an additional personalized card. All the materials needed to create both cards are included in your class fee, along with a $10 coupon for our lovely Farm Store Apothicaire.
To make the experience even sweeter, enjoy a Valentine Cherry Mocktail made with cherries from our orchards, along with tastings of our other delicious products during the session.
WHEN: February 8th, 2025 | 2:00pm to 4:00pm
FEE: $40 includes class materials, $10 coupon to spend in our Farm Store Apothicaire, a refreshing cherry based beverage and free samples of Blenheim Park product.
INSTRUCTOR: Mary Jo Marquis
WORKSHOP 2:
Saturday February 15th, 2025 | Linocut Print Making
This workshop will introduce you to the fundamentals of linocut printing, from carving your own design onto linoleum blocks to creating an edition of unique prints on paper.
You’ll discover tips and tricks for designing and transferring your artwork onto linoleum blocks. You’ll receive step-by-step guidance on carving techniques and tool usage and hands-on practice to master cutting and printing techniques.
Supplies are included, along with a $10 coupon to redeem in our lovely Farm Store Apothicaire.
Each student will enjoy a delicious Mocktail made with cherries from our orchards, along with tastings of our other delicious products during the session and we’re keeping class sizes small to allow for personalized instruction and feedback.
WHEN: February 15th, 2025 | 2:00pm to 4:00pm
FEE: $40 includes class materials, $10 coupon to spend in our Farm Store Apothicaire, a refreshing cherry based beverage and free samples of Blenheim Park product.
INSTRUCTOR: Mary Jo Marquis
WORKSHOP 3:
Saturday February 22nd, 2025 | Kintsugi (More Beautiful Broken)
Kintsugi is the traditional Japanese technique of repairing ceramics with lacquer and a metal powder that is usually made from gold or silver. The centuries-old practice is often used to mend treasured objects by beautifying the cracks, which serve as a visual record of the object's history.
This class will take you step-by-step through the technique as we repair a broken object. You can bring your own imperfect piece, or practice on one of the items we supply.
You’ll receive your own Kintsugi kit containing all the supplies needed for this class, along with a $10 coupon to redeem in our lovely Farm Store Apothicaire. We are keeping class sizes small to allow for plenty of one on one instruction.
Each student will enjoy a delicious Mocktail made with cherries from our orchards, along with tastings of our other delicious products during the session.
WHEN: February 22nd 2025 | 2:00pm to 4:00pm
FEE: $40 includes class materials, $10 coupon to spend in our Farm Store Apothicaire, a refreshing cherry based beverage and free samples of Blenheim Park product.
INSTRUCTOR: Kerry Payne
WORKSHOP 4:
Saturday March 1st, 2025 | Miniature Book Making
This workshop will lead you step by step through making a miniature book using shells as the cover.
You’ll receive your own Miniature Book kit containing all the supplies needed for this class, along with a $10 coupon to redeem in our lovely Farm Store Apothicaire.
Each student will enjoy a delicious Mocktail made with cherries from our orchards, along with tastings of our other delicious products during the session and we’re keeping class sizes small to allow for personalized instruction and feedback.
WHEN: March 1st , 2025 | 2:00pm to 4:00pm
FEE: $40 includes class materials, $10 coupon to spend in our Farm Store Apothicaire, a refreshing cherry based beverage and free samples of Blenheim Park product.
INSTRUCTOR: Kerry Payne
WORKSHOP 5:
Saturday March 8th, 2025 | Making Cyanotype Sunprints
This workshop will lead you step by step through making beautiful cyanotype prints using the sun and found and foraged objects.
You’ll receive your own Cyanotype kit containing all the supplies needed for this class, along with a $10 coupon to redeem in our lovely Farm Store Apothicaire.
Each student will enjoy a delicious Mocktail made with cherries from our orchards, along with tastings of our other delicious products during the session and we’re keeping class sizes small to allow for personalized instruction and feedback.
WHEN: March 8th , 2025 | 2:00pm to 4:00pm
FEE: $40 includes class materials, $10 coupon to spend in our Farm Store Apothicaire, a refreshing cherry based beverage and free samples of Blenheim Park product.
INSTRUCTOR: Kerry Payne
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS:
MARY JO MARQUIS
Mary Jo is a Maine-based artist specializing in mixed media, watercolor, photography, and printmaking. With a deep passion for the natural world, she draws inspiration from the outdoors, where you will find her more often than not.
She is the co-founder of Maine based Fiddlehead Center for the Arts, community art centers that fosters creativity, community and connection through the visual & performing arts. Her background in marketing, business development, and event planning enriches her approach to teaching, blending artistic exploration with practical insights. Whether in the studio or outside, she loves sharing her passion for artistic expression and the natural world with others.
KERRY PAYNE
Equal parts seasoned entrepreneur, photographer, writer and alchemist, Kerry brings fun and creativity to everything she approaches. As the founder of Blenheim Park Maine, she set out to build a space where creatives could gather, find community and enjoy all the natural beauty Maine has to offer.
Blenheim Park (pronounced Blen-em) is a 16 acre creative retreat on the shores of pristine McCurdy Pond, a few miles from downtown Damariscotta. The property features 100 year old cottages, landscaped grounds, gathering spaces, a photo studio and a 300 tree commercial cherry orchard.