SOUTHERN COLORADO FEATURES A RICH HERITAGE, WITH PIONEER SPIRIT AND INGENUITY! At The Heritage School at Trinidad State we promote and preserve traditional knowledge, skills, technologies, crafts and art
forms of the past and apply them to modern life. If you’ve ever wondered how cheese
is made, marveled at the skill of a blacksmith or felt the creative urge to work with
leather, raise bees or make soap, we’ll have something for you. Join us as we bridge
the gap between functional crafts and creative arts, hands-on learning and fun. We’ll
invite neighbors to pass along skills that might otherwise be lost, as well as experts
and instructors from afar to share their knowledge.
BASIC BLADESMITHING This class will cover the forging and grinding of both full and hidden tang blades
to shape. We will cover steel selection, tool considerations, different forging approaches,
several heat treating techniques, and basic finishing techniques. [ DETAILS ]
DAMASCUS BILLET MAKING This class is a hands on class for the students. This class will be focused on the
making of Damascus (pattern welded) steel for use in gun hardware and knife blades.
Each student should finish the class with at least one billet of Damascus steel to
take home. [ DETAILS ]
HATMAKING Students will learn to use the equipment and techniques to make a hat with products
that most people have or can readily get from home. Students will learn how to shape
the hat by hand, ironing of the brim, sizing and hand cutting of the brim, hand pouncing
and hand finishing the crown. If time allows, the class may touch on hat binding and
trim by hand. Students will leave class with a completed hat and the skills needed
to practice what they learned at home and make additional hats with supplies they
have on hand. Tom will provide a hat box with all the tools and materials needed for
each student. [ DETAILS ]
KNIFEMAKING - BASIC STOCK REMOVAL This basic Knifemaking course will cover knife design, handle materials, soldering,
steels, heat treatment, polishing, and sharpening. One knife and sheath will be made
in the class. [ DETAILS ]
Learn the art of Mosaics with this class using stained glass scraps in picture frames.
Design your own pattern or work with one provided to you. Your 8x10 finished piece
will be suitable to hang in a window. [ DETAILS ]
Learn the Tiffany method of stained glass and complete a piece ready to hang within
the week. Quick learners may complete more than one piece! [ DETAILS ]
WEAVING This course is an introduction to weaving. You will become familiar with the workings
of a loom. A touch of social and historic context will precede a hands-on opportunity
to design a small project, warp it, dress the loom with it, and begin weaving. Each
student should be able to complete the project during the course and leave with a
project or two (a belt) and the confidence and knowledge to move on to larger projects. [ DETAILS ]