Celebrate the "Art of the Letter" (Halloween, Too!)

Dear Friends and Members,

“It is often said that letter-writing has gone out of fashion … Indeed we live so rapidly, have so many things to see and do, and so little time to see and do them in, that long, studied letters are no longer possible.” So wrote Arthur Eaton in … 1894?! If you, like Eaton, feel dissatisfied with an age that expresses itself in “a multitude of brief, hurried notes,” join us for “The Art of the Letter” on Saturday October 24th from 11-2. Stitch a monogram, practice

penmanship, learn traditional printing techniques, and sit down to compose a handwritten letter to friends and family. After all, “letter-writing will never cease to be necessary, nor will it ever cease to be, like dancing, a graceful art to be learned by patient exercise.” Thanks to a generous grant from the RI Foundation, this all-ages event is free.

If your restless crew of trick-or-treaters just can’t wait for dark, bring them to our Halloween Party on Saturday October 31st from 1-3! Trick-or-treat across campus to discover spooky surprises, from an 18th-century burial ground to a friendly witch brewing up a potion of marigold dye. Crafts, coloring, and a themed scavenger hunt will keep you in the spooky spirit as you wait for nightfall! Regular admission, free to members. 

As the days get shorter and the cold sets in, there’s nothing like a cozy craft to take the edge off the chill. Join us from 10:30 - 1:00 on Saturday November 7th and 14th for beginner-friendly sewing projects in our (heated!) winter classroom. On the 7th, you can learn basic hand-sewing and hand-quilting as you make two quilted trivets. On the 14th, a patchwork coaster project offers a great introduction to the sewing machine. Classes are $40, $35 for members. Space is limited, so click here to register!