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Make an Electric Bike (Free Online Event)

Turn a regular bike into an e-bike! With an inexpensive kit and a few additional parts, you too can whiz up those hills! Find out more and register for this online event here.
Highlights:
Virtual craft classes
Community Service at BARN
Online Classes and Events
Contact a Studio

 
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Find upcoming events on Facebook, links to news and events on Twitter, take a look inside on Instagram, and find class schedules and general information on our website,

Virtual craft classes create new opportunities for creativity

There’s an oft-quoted verse that says when a door is closed, a window opens. When COVID-19 closed BARN’s doors in March, our search for that window began.

You’ll see the results in BARN’s current list of virtual classes. With the help of a generous grant from the Bainbridge Community Foundation, BARN purchased equipment to enable the production of high-quality online and hybrid classes. We are also offering tutorials on how to teach craft online.

BARN is also actively recruiting instructors who already offer virtual classes. Seattle-based artisans Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby and Jason Mullett-Bowlsby of Shibaguyz Designz are among them. This wildly popular duo has been active in the national craft scene for many years, offering classes in fiber arts and cooking, publishing patterns and books, and attending craft shows across the country.

Then COVID-19 came along. 75% of their bookings for 2020 disappeared. Having taught online classes in the past as a sideline to their in-person offerings, they knew what they had to do. They made a major investment in equipment and bandwidth and switched to all virtual instruction. “We’ve never looked back,” Jason said, “and I don’t think we ever will.”

“The amazing thing is that we can teach material that we couldn’t teach before,” Jason continued. Attendance is no longer restricted due to the size of the room or the number of sewing machines. They can embed pre-recorded nuggets of technique that students can refer to after the class. And they can reach people who previously would have been unable to travel to a class. Most importantly, they said, the personal connections still happen. "We all cry a bit when we wave goodbye after a virtual class, just like we always did in person."

The Shibaguyz' first BARN class on Sashiko and Boro stitching sold out in an hour and 20 minutes. Now they’re working on several more, starting with two coming up this fall on English Paper Piecing – Mary’s Garden Block & Virginia’s Star Block and Improv Piecing Tote Bag - Improv Piecing for Perfectionists (or not). And possibly some cooking classes as well. “We’re so excited to be working with BARN,” Jason said. “We were looking at makerspaces all over the country to partner with, and then, OMG, there’s one right here!” Check in often for new classes from the Shibaguyz.

If you would like to offer an online class at BARN, please visit the Teach at BARN page for information. To see BARN’s complete lineup of online classes, see the list below and check the webiste often. All classes are free to BARN members through the end of the year, so now is the time to try this exciting new world of virtual craft.

Community Service at BARN

BARN volunteers are working to get the facility ready for re-opening, and support the community during these challenging times.

Clockwise from top: 1) Maggie McVey and Bob Mathisrud install the Mask Tree they designed and created in BARN's Metal Fabrication Studio. It now holds cloth masks made by BARN volunteers, offered for free to anyone entering the building. 2) Nancy Travis and Sallie Maron prepare meals in the BARN Kitchen to be distributed as part of the BARN Bites program in partnership with Helpline House and Island Volunteer Caregivers and thanks to a generous grant from Bainbridge Community Foundation. 3) Ali Pepper, a lead teacher at Montessori County School, and Lauren Sims, an assistant teacher, get ready for the new school year wearing new face shields made by volunteers in BARN's Electronic and Technical Arts Studio.

Upcoming online classes and events

Register now using the links shown below

All classes are open to anyone age 14 and up, unless otherwise noted. Online classes will be conducted via Zoom. There are more online classes and online open studio times on BARN's calendar. Check in often at the full schedule of upcoming classes and open studios.
BARN Member Brown Bag Lunch (Free Online Event) Tuesdays, September 8 and October 14,  12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

BARN Studios

Here's a list of the studio groups that are currently part of BARN, plus links to help you get connected. If you want general information about a studio and want to know how to get started, please click on the studio lead's name to send them a message, or visit the BARN website to sign up for an upcoming class or event.
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Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

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