You can either pick up an 8” x 8” sand block from us and carve your design on your own time or attend the workshops on Friday, September 22 between 11am - 9pm or Saturday, September 23 between 9am - 4pm. Come and work on your project as long as needed. Help and teaching will be available.

In addition to our previous offering of an 8” x 8” square scratch tile at a cost of $65 each, we are also giving you the opportunity to carve your artwork into five different 5” x 5” scratch tile shapes for a cost of $45. The shapes are Heart, Square, Star, Circle, Cross and State of Michigan.

To carve the block, use an old screwdriver or utensil you have around the house. Some have carved their entire block with an old nail and some choose to use a Dremel Tool. (Dremel Tools will not be provided at workshops) It’s really what is most comfortable for you to work with and what you have handy at home. (Simple tools will be provided at workshops, but feel free to bring tools you think may work).

Your tile will be poured with iron at dusk on Friday, September 22 or Saturday, September 23.

Finished piece pick-up: Should you decide to clean your own piece by aggressively scrubbing with a steel brush, your piece will have cooled sufficiently by the next day and can be picked up from our site on Sunday, September 24. If we sandblast for you, your piece will be completed during the week following the event. You will receive communication for pick-up.

• The cost for the workshop and piece is $65.
• The cost for the workshop and piece with sandblasting is $75.

In this workshop, you will learn how to create your pattern. You will be given the choice to carve an approximate 5” x 5” sand tile in the shape of your choice: Heart, Square, Star, Circle, Cross or State of Michigan. Plan to spend about an hour to carve your piece, reserving more time to carve a more intricate piece.

You are asked to register your time for attendance at this workshop.

Aluminum is able to be cast and cooled much quicker. Once your sand tile is carved it will be poured and required to cool for an hour. You do not need to remain to see your piece poured or wait for it to cool, but may pick-up at a later date.

Register early to assure your choice of shape.

We also plan to offer “make and take” experiences for those who have not previously registered.

• The cost for an 8" x 8" square is $45. The cost for the shapes is $35.

Time slots are available Friday, September 22 from 11 AM to 7:30 PM and Saturday, September 23 from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Time slots are first come, first serve so register today!

Each workshop will take approximately 1½ hours from start to finish. You will be able to take your piece home when the process is completed.

• The cost for the workshops and piece is $65.

Have you ever wanted to try to put your hands into wet clay, spin it on the wheel and watch your creation become a piece of pottery? New to the Fire Arts Festival for 2023 is a workshop to learn hand-thrown pottery.

This workshop will take approximately one hour to complete. As you enter the workshop area, you will be asked to watch a short video to learn the process of throwing pottery. Following the video, feel free to watch as the artists from JUST THROW SOMETHING teach the previous student the technique. You will then have an opportunity to spend a half hour learning from a potter at the wheel how to create your own piece.

Workshops are scheduled on Friday and Saturday between 9:30 AM and 7:30 PM. Slots are first come, first serve.

The normal process to create a piece of pottery is a multi-faceted procedure. Your options and pricing is as follows:

• Option One Some of you may choose to take your piece with you after you’ve created it without being fired. The cost is $40. The piece will be porous and unsafe for food.
• Option Two Your piece will be fired to 1900 degrees in a kiln. This is called a “bisque fire.” At this point your piece will still be porous and unsafe for food. You may use it later for painting or try the raku process. If you choose to pick up in Reese, MI, the cost is $48 and to have it shipped, the cost is $60.
• Option Three Have your piece fired, glazed by JUST THROW SOMETHING with a color of your choice (chosen at the workshop), and fired again at 2000 degrees. If you choose to pick up in Reese, MI, the cost is $52 and to have it shipped, the cost is $65.

Because of kiln restraints, it may take 3-4 weeks for the piece to be shipped to you.

Should you opt to upgrade your option at the workshop, arrangements can be made with JUST THROW SOMETHING to handle the additional charges.

After last year’s placement on Blacksmith Alley, the Frankenmuth Fire Arts Festival is pleased to announce that Garrett Waterman of Waterman Ironworks has agreed to teach a workshop. Garrett began blacksmithing in 2020 after finding some of his grandfather’s old tools in the barn. He lives on a farm in Otisville with chickens, cows, and miniature horses. His primary focus is on knife making, but he is branching out into other items such as jewelry, tools, camping items, and decorative work.

You will be taught how to make a rail spike bottle opener using a gas forge. All safety equipment, such as safety glasses and gloves will be supplied. Participants are required to be 18 years of age or older. It is recommended you wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and closed toe shoes. You will also be asked to sign a waiver before the class.

Garrett will be able to teach two students at one time. Each workshop will require an hour and a half to complete. Because of the length of each workshop, there is a limited amount of 16 workshops available for the weekend. Class slots are available throughout the day on Friday and Satuday, September 22 and 23 on a first come, first serve basis.

• The cost for the workshop and piece is $90.