The popular Living History series will again be offered by the Beaufort Historic Site this summer. These hands-on workshops and demonstrations illustrate the traditional arts, crafts, and necessary skills of early Beaufort residents. Programs are held in the Beaufort Historical Association’s Welcome Center, located at 130 Turner Street.
There is a wide range of workshops available to both students and adults, highlighting a variety of crafts and techniques including the following:
- Corn Husk Doll Demonstration by Joann Maher
Saturday, June 6 | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Children’s toys were a rarity in Colonial times, but corn husks dolls could be made by hand to provide inexpensive entertainment. Free.
- Working with Alpaca Demonstration by Lou Anne Sekely
Saturday, June 13 | 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Free.
- Tatting Demonstration by Joan Lilley
Saturday, June 20 | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Watch the lost art of lace making. Free.
- Decoy Carving Demonstration by the Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild
Friday, June 26 | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Observe carvers making decoys that originally were made by coastal residents for the necessary purpose of luring waterfowl close to hunter’s skiffs but over generations has transformed into the art you see today. Free.
- Adult Pine Needle Workshop by Sandi Malone
Thursday, July 16 | 10:00 – 3:00 pm (bag lunch break)
Pine needle basket-making dates back to almost 9,000 years ago, and the baskets served as a vessel for grain, crops, and other essentials. Space is limited to 10 people and there is a materials fee of $40.
- Quilling Demonstration by Gigi Koehler
Saturday, July 18 | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Quilling, or paper filigree, is the hundreds-year-old art of creating intricate shapes and designs with paper strips. Free.
- Steam Engine Demonstration by Don Hoss
Saturday, July 25 | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Free.
- Weaving Demonstration by Nancy Vaughan
Saturday, August 1 | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Watch cloth being made as the colonists would have woven it. Free.
- Depression Bead Demonstration by Gigi Koehler
Saturday, August 15 | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
The beads got their name because women and girls during the Great Depression only had paper to use instead gem stones. Free.
- Depression Bead Workshop by Gigi Koehler
Thursday, August 20 | 10:00 am
Adults and children 10 years old and up are welcome to make depression bead jewelry out of rolled paper. Space is limited to 8 people and there is a materials fee of $25.
- Knotless Knitting Demonstration by Mary Clement
Saturday, August 22 | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
This fabric creation technique predates both knitting and crochet. Free.
- Herb Demonstration by Susan Hogan
Saturday, August 29 | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Free.
All are welcome to view the demonstrations. Reservations are now being accepted for the workshops and can be made by stopping in the Welcome Center at 130 Turner Street, calling 252-728-5225 or 800-575-7483. Space in these popular programs is limited and offered on a first come, first serve basis.