Instructor: Laura Kneib Create your own functional art in this hands-on class where you’ll craft a beautiful and practical Hawk Tail Whisk Broom. These handcrafted brooms are as pleasing to the eye as they are to use—perfect for keeping by the hearth, workbench, or hanging as a decorative piece. Using natural and rainbow-dyed broomcorn, students will learn traditional tying techniques to shape their own 15-inch whisk broom with a distinctive fanned tail, approximately 9 inches wide and 1.5 inches thick. Step into the world of traditional broom making with artisan H. Laura Kneib. In these immersive 4–6 hour workshops, you'll get a hands-on introduction to the craft, along with a brief history of broom making. Using time-honored techniques and natural materials, you’ll create your own unique broom from start to finish. All tools and materials are provided. Students are asked to bring a towel to protect their laps while working with soaked broomcorn stalks. You're also welcome to bring your own dried flowers or personal decorations to incorporate into your broom for a personalized touch. Please note: broom making is a physically demanding activity that requires good upper body and hand strength. H. Laura Kneib brings a lifetime of experience in traditional homesteading and settler crafts. She’s not only a skilled broom maker but also a master soap maker, fiber artist (spinning and weaving), chair caner, basket weaver, and potter. Kneib holds a B.A. in Fine Arts with a minor in Environmental Science and has dedicated her life to preserving and teaching heritage skills.