Welcome to MCA’s Weekend Workshop at Haystack!
DATE: MAY 8 – 11
This page is for participants who have registered and received confirmation of their placement in one of our seven workshops.
You will be able to refer to this page for all the necessary details, materials list, forms to fill out, and more!
Questions? Contact Simonne@MaineCrafts.org
NEXT STEPS + DUE DATES
1) Gateway Instructor/Student Exhibition & Sale : Preferred deadline – May 1. The form asks for images of the items if you have them but it is not required to submit images.
2) Emergency Contact Form: Due April 4.
3) Review the Haystack Community Guidelines – all participants must follow and practice these guidelines during the weekend. See section below.
4) Sign the waivers: Due May 1. Sent via Dropbox Sign.
QUICK LINKS
WORKSHOP MATERIALS LISTS
CERAMICS – Salt Fire & Sgraffito with Tim Christensen
Materials + Fees: $50
The $50 materials fee will cover the basic materials for the workshop and was collected at the time of registration. Additionally, participants will need to bring the items on the student-supplied materials list.
Student Supplied Materials List
- Bisque fired cone 10 pieces. We’ll put in as many as we can.
- Dry greenware for sgraffito. Students will need to source their own means of firing these after the workshop.
- Sgraffito and clay tools.
- Clothing appropriate for a high-temperature gas firing (ex: Cotton, wool, or other natural fibers. No synthetics!).
- Gloves, leather boots (no open-toed shoes allowed), safety glasses, and hair ties/scarf/hat to tie back long hair.
Instructor Supplied Materials:
- The instructor will have both bisque-fired and greenware pieces for purchase for students to use for glazing and sgraffito during the weekend. If purchasing from the instructor, please plan on paying them directly.
- Additional clay can be purchased from the instructor during the weekend.
FIBER – Handwoven Towels for the Home with Hilary Crowell
Materials + Fees: $20
The $20 fee was added to your invoice during registration. If students want to make an additional warp, they should expect an additional fee of $16 to pay the instructor directly during the weekend.
Student Supplied Materials List:
- Yard stick
- 60” flexible tape measure
- Comfy socks or slidey slippers
- One small handmade thing that’s important to you or that you use frequently
- Writing utensil
- Reading glasses, if needed. Some parts of the loom dressing process are very precise.
- Headlamp for threading heddles
- Scissors
GRAPHICS – Binding an Artists Notebook with Anna Low
Materials List + Fees: $50
Students will be provided with all the materials necessary for the workshop. The fee was added to your invoice during registration.
HOT SHOP – Let’s Weld with Sophie Glenn
Materials List + Fees: Estimated $50 – $100
This fee will be collected when students check out for the weekend and will depend on the amount of steel used per participant.
Student Supplied Materials List:
- Sketchbook + drawing tools
- Natural fiber clothing (ex: Cotton, wool, or other natural fibers. No synthetics!)
- Closed-toe shoes
- Ear plugs
METALS – Tin – Cold Connections with Ellen Wieske
Materials List + Fees:
Students will be responsible for bringing their materials. Students are asked to bring the following items:
- Bring tin cans. The best to use are the ones with printed surfaces however the plain silver type is also fine. Aluminum cans are very thin and not great to work with
- Can opener
- Tin snips (only if you have them)
- Household scissors, ones you don’t mind cutting tin with. Heavy-duty Fiskers are my personal favorite
- Sketchbook and pencils
- Any pliers you might have or other tools you want with you (drill bits, sandpaper, flex shaft tools, measuring tools)
- Small gauge (16-24) copper, brass, color-coated or steel wire and tubing could be useful
- Any other materials you think you might want to work with
- It is always good to have an apron, towel, and safety glasses
- Examples of your work or a few images
MIXED MEDIA – Adornments – Objects of Beauty, Status & Ideas with Lissa Hunter
Materials List + Fees: $10
The instructor will provide some basic materials for the $10 fee that was applied to your invoice during registration.
In addition to the fee, participants should bring the student-supplied materials listed below:
- One piece of jewelry that is important to you (Will not be changed or affected in any way)
- Scissors
- Mat knife or X-acto knife
- Sketchbook or plain paper
- Pencil or pen
- Ruler or tape measure
- Needles: sewing, tapestry, or rug
- Small amounts of any of these that you already have: papers, fabrics, yarns, threads, mark-making implements (pencils, crayons, markers, etc.), beads, metal, wire, wood, beads
- Any found or natural materials you would like to use…small!
WOOD – Narrative Bandsaw Boxes with Lin Elkins
Materials List + Fees: Estimated Fee – $50 – $75
Students will pay the instructor directly during the weekend and should expect a fee of $50-75 depending on the size of the box they want to create and the type of lumber used.
Student Supplied Materials List:
- safety glasses (provided, but you can bring your own if preferred)
- hearing protection (provided, but you can bring your own if preferred)
- closed-toed shoes
- no loose or baggy clothing
- hair ties if you have long hair
- respirator/masks (optional but recommended)
- sketchbook and writing utensils
- additional drafting paper of choice
- personal memento/inspirational item
- optional: The studio is well equipped with the tools we will need, but feel free to bring your own personal woodworking tools such as carving gouges, dremels, milk paint, chisels, etc.
WEEKEND ITINERARY
ARRIVAL / CHECK IN: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
MCA staff will be waiting for you to check in outside of the Gateway Building.
There are no early arrivals permitted but please arrive no later than 11:30 am on Thursday. You will need time to check in, receive your cabin number, bring your belongings to your accommodations, and park your vehicles. At this time please also drop off your labeled exhibition items with MCA staff.
You may temporarily park vehicles in the lower lot to unload quickly but will need to move your vehicle to the parking lot for others to follow.
DEPARTURE / CHECK OUT
All participants are required to check out when departing on Sunday at 1:00 pm outside the Gateway Building.
HAYSTACK STORE HOURS: REMINDER! Participants should not rely on the store to purchase their workshop materials.
Thursday – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Friday – 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Saturday – CLOSED
Sunday – 11:00 am – 1:00 pm | 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
THURSDAY – May 8
10:00 am – 11:30 am: Arrival/Check-in
Upon arrival, all participants are required to check in with MCA staff outside the Gateway Building.
Plan to have time to check in and drop your belongings in your cabins before lunch begins.
Please drop off your labeled exhibition items during this time.
Noon:
Welcome lunch and weekend announcements from MCA & Haystack teams.
1:00 pm:
Workshops begin
5:30 pm:
Casual meet & greet on the top deck or around the fire
6:00 pm:
Welcome dinner
7:00 pm:
Faculty Slide Presentations in Gateway
FRIDAY – May 9
7:00 – 7:45 am: Yin Yoga with Mia Del Bene in Gateway
8:00 am:
Breakfast
8:30 am – 5:00 pm: Workshops (Lunch at Noon)
6:00 pm:
Dinner
7:00 pm:
Gateway Instructor/ Student Exhibition & Sale – (see Gateway Exhibition section)
SATURDAY – May 10
8:00 am:
Breakfast
8:30 am – 5:00 pm: Workshops (Lunch at Noon)
6:00 pm:
Dinner
After hours:
Music night in the Dining Hall
This fun MCA tradition is for those who want to join together to play music, sing, and enjoy another type of craft. BYO instruments and equipment. (see before/after hours programming section).
SUNDAY – May 11
8:00 am:
Breakfast
8:30 am – 8:45 am: Remove personal belongings from cabins
Your belongings must be removed from your cabins for housekeeping. You may choose to either pack your vehicles early or leave your items outside of your cabin door.
8:45 am – 11:00 am:
Workshops
11:00 am – 11:50 am:
Studio walkthrough
11:00 am – 1:00 pm:
NEW! Haystack Yard Sale – see details below
11:55 am:
Group photo on the Main Stairs
Noon: Lunch
1:00 pm: Check-out & Departure
All participants are required to check out with MCA staff outside of the Gateway Building. You will pay any remaining balance on your invoice at this time.
BEFORE/AFTER HOURS PROGRAMMING
INSTRUCTOR SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATIONS – Thursday, May 8 | 7:00 PM | Gateway Building
Please join us in learning about our wonderful instructors and their careers in these fun, get-to-know-you style presentations.
YIN YOGA: – Friday, May 9 | 7:00 AM | Gateway
A slow-flow, restorative yoga session for all levels. Bring a yoga mat + a sleeping bag. Not required but encouraged!
GATEWAY EXHIBITION – Friday, May 9 | 7:00 PM | Gateway Building
(please see the section below)
MUSIC NIGHT – Saturday, May 10 | 7 – ? | Dining Hall
This fun MCA tradition is for those who want to join together to play music, sing, and enjoy another type of craft. BYO instruments, lyrics, and equipment.
HAYSTACK YARD SALE – Sunday, May 11 | 11 – 1 | Gateway Building
NEW for 2025! Haystack is having a yard sale! This is open to MCA weekend participants on Sunday 11 am until checkout at 1 pm. They will have a variety of items include forming stakes, hand tools, books, construction type supplies (fasteners, duct work, spools of wire) and more set up in the Gateway. Additionally they will have larger items such as a gilmore loom Peddinghaus Shear that they can take any interested parties down to our storage barn to check out upon request. They will accept cash, card or check. Everything needs to be taken upon purchase, no holding or shipping.
Please note! The sale will open to the public at 2 pm. It is imperative that the MCA participants check out with MCA staff at 1 pm and leave campus swiftly to ensure that parking / the road is clear for new attendees.
GATEWAY INSTRUCTOR/STUDENT EXHIBITION & SALE
FRIDAY, MAY 9 | 7:00 PM
The Gateway Instructor / Student Exhibition & Sale is held annually in the Haystack campus Gateway Building. Workshop instructors and weekend participants are invited to contribute 1 – 3 pieces of artwork to the exhibition, but it is not a requirement for workshop participants.
Each of your items should be priced accordingly with a built in 50/50 split. You may choose to donate 50% or 100% of sales. Funds from the exhibition support this program and the Bliss Fund.
All work that is contributed to the show, must be installation-ready and labeled when dropped off with MCA staff at Haystack during check-in.
Submissions are due May 1.
PACKING LIST
In addition to your normal personal overnight items.
- Every bed in every cabin receives a pillow. You will need to provide your own sleeping bag (suggested option) / twin sheets / pillowcase / extra pillow / blankets / electric blanket etc.
- The materials listed on your workshop syllabus/course materials list.
- Personal use towel(s) and/or bath mat
- Bug spray / SPF / tick repellent
- Clothing and layers for all types of weather including rain gear (maybe even a swimsuit). Please note! It can get cold in the evening, we suggest bringing extra warm clothes and layers.
- Appropriate shoes + clothing for your workshop. There are lots of stairs.
- Headphones / headset (optional).
- Flashlight (or cell phone light).
- Special or necessary dietary food/drinks (you may use the student fridge).
- Instrument or lyrics for music night (optional).
- Travel mug / water bottle / hand towels (please consider bringing these items to cut down on disposable use items on campus).
- Yoga matt if participating on Friday morning.
CAMPUS, CABINS + STUDIOS
CAMPUS
Built on a cliff overlooking Jericho Bay in the Atlantic Ocean, the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts has served as a muse to many who have come to create. Located on Stinson Neck in Deer Isle, Maine, the award-winning campus, designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in February 2006. For more information about the campus and photos, visit Haystack’s website.
CABINS + STUDIOS
Haystack studios and accommodations are roomy and light-filled, and unheated.
All accommodations are shared – there are two-person cabins with and without bathrooms, three-person cabins without bathrooms, and two dorms. Generally one of the two dorms is all genders, and the other is reserved for women. For dorms and all cabins without baths, there are bathrooms one flight of stairs up or down. We do our best to honor roommate and housing requests but cannot guarantee your request.
Studios are open 24 hours for work.There is no Wifi in the studios or cabins.
Reminder – Pack for all types of weather (cold, rain, sun) and bring your own bedding (see packing list). The campus has many stairs, so remember to bring good walking shoes.
PARKING
Haystack has two parking lots – the Lower Lot and the Upper Lot. We are a big group that needs to fit many vehicles in the parking lots. Please park with others in mind.
1) Lower Lot – Reserved for participants who are driving and staying on campus. This is the first lot that is located on the right side of the road as you come up Haystack School Drive. Please fill this lot first before using the Upper Lot.
2) Upper Lot – Reserved for staff, those with accessibility needs, visitors, Day Students, and overflow parking. This is the second lot that is located on the left side of the road as you come up Haystack School Drive.
HAYSTACK COMMUNITY GUIDELINES
Haystack’s community guidelines are one of the ways we put our organizational values, and the goals of our Strategic Plan, into action. They are intended to establish a shared understanding of our common goals, how we create community, and the principles that ensure all people feel welcome and respected. It is expected that everyone coming to Haystack will help contribute to a culture in which all members feel personally safe, listened to, valued, and treated with fairness and respect.
Remember our mission and goal
Our shared goal at Haystack is to connect people through craft. We believe in creating an environment that supports the exploration of new ideas in a supportive and inclusive community. Serving an ever-changing group of makers and thinkers, we are dedicated to working and learning alongside one another, while exploring the intersections of craft, art, and design in broad and expansive ways.
Creating a sense of belonging
Haystack is committed to fostering a welcoming environment that honors the safety, health, mutual respect, and well-being of everyone at the School. If someone is asking you for support, do your best to help them find a solution or direct them to someone on staff who can help.
Studio Culture
Being in the studio is central to the Haystack experience. Be respectful of shared space and follow safety guidelines at all times. No one is permitted in the studio if under the influence of alcohol or drugs, except the legal use of prescribed medication that does not impair the safe use of Haystack resources. When participating in group discussions please listen to others and consider multiple perspectives. Avoid dominating group discussions and make space for other people. Challenge your preconceptions and try to be open to new approaches.
Honor Everyone’s Boundaries
Care for yourself and communicate your needs while also respecting other people’s boundaries. Please ask for consent before making physical contact or using someone else’s belongings. Always ask permission before photographing or posting about someone or their work. We believe in taking responsibility for our actions, learning from our mistakes, and moving forward.
Make no assumptions
Haystack celebrates a community built on broad views and backgrounds. We avoid making assumptions about people’s gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, ability, or anything else related to their identity or lived experiences. Individuals identify in many different ways that may not be externally explicit. For example, we ask that members of our community avoid making assumptions on individuals’ gender. If an individual feels comfortable, we encourage sharing of pronouns and we ask in all cases that others show respect to those preferences.
Inappropriate conduct
Haystack does not tolerate discrimination or harassment, whether directed at an employee, program participant, faculty, or other members of the Haystack community. We ask you to be conscientious about your words and behavior. Harassing or discriminatory conduct—whether intentional or not—based on an individual’s sex, gender identity or expression, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, familial status, disability, or any other categories protected by law are unacceptable on Haystack’s campus and will be addressed. Our top priority is making sure everyone feels respected and able to participate. If Haystack determines that a harmful incident has occurred, we may first seek a solution through conversation and possible accommodations based on the willingness of those involved. We expect all individuals to uphold the Community Guidelines, and Haystack may be obligated to investigate and take action against an offending individual, up to removing individuals from campus, if their actions fail to respect these guidelines or devalue the teaching and learning experience for the larger community.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations received prior to Thursday, March 6, 2025, will be refunded total workshop fees paid to date LESS the $100 non-refundable deposit.
(Example, $600 – $100 = $500, $500 is refunded.)
Cancellations received after Thursday, March 6, 2025, will be refunded 50% of workshop fees paid to date, excluding the $100 non-refundable deposit.
(Example, $600 – $100 = $500, $250 is refunded.)
Cancellations received on and after Thursday, April 24, 2025 will receive no refund.
In either case, the MCA membership fee is non-refundable.