Location: The Pavilion at Yoe Park

400 E Philadelphia Street, Yoe Borough, PA 17313

Celebrating the Season

We’ll kick off our gathering by sharing some information about the upcoming cross-quarter holiday, known traditionally as All Hallow’s or Samhain. Next, we will go around the table sharing brief introductions along with what we are most excited about this season, whether that’s something we are growing, making, doing, or a place we love to return to at this time of year. This is something we do at every CQC event, because it is so enlivening to hear what everyone else is excited about, and there are always new ideas learned and new connections made during this time!

Craft Your Own Redware Clay Ornaments

Learn some of the fascinating history of early Pennsylvania Redware pottery, including how it was mined and processed, to the role and life of the potter within the Pennsylvania German culture. Then, we’ll each get two prepared ornaments, (rolled out red ware clay with ochre slip on top.) These will form at the “blank slate” onto which we’ll create designs. Using the sgraffito method, we’ll learn how to scratch through the colored slip for our designs, revealing the red clay below. All provided patterns will be taken from historic Pennsylvania German red ware, however, participants are welcome to come with their own ideas, drawings, patterns… to make each ornament their own. (Note: each will get 1 circular and 1 hexagonal ornament prepared clay piece.) Additional “blank” ornaments will be available for $12 each. After the workshop, Emily will bisque fire your pieces, cover them in a clear glaze and fire once more. Ornaments can be picked up 4 weeks after the workshop -at the location where the workshop was taught. For an extra fee, Emily can mail participant(s) their ornaments.

The Crossover of Redware and Fraktur:

Fraktur was created by Pennsylvania Germans during the eighteenth through the mid-nineteenth centuries and features calligraphic text decorated with colorful birds, hearts and flowers.  The tradition has its roots in the illuminated manuscripts of medieval Europe but evolved into a distinctive part of the local Pennsylvania German culture. At the same time, early Pennsylvania Germans were creating utilitarian red ware pieces for everyday use. The same images used in Fraktur were used on plates, bowls, and all manner of practical clay pieces.

About Emily:

Ever since sixth grade, Emily Smucker-Beidler has been creating Fraktur after learning from Roma Ruth, a well respected Fraktur Artist from Montgomery County, PA. After receiving an Art Education degree and Master’s degree in Art Education, Emily made her 33 year career in teaching art her passion, while continuing to create custom Fraktur for hundreds of clients. Ten of those years were spent teaching advanced ceramics at the high school level. Now, as a newly retired teacher, she combines her experience in both clay and Fraktur, as well as an enthusiasm for teaching to her Folk Art workshops and welcomes artists of all ages and ability levels. Learn more at emily-smucker-beidler.com

The Sharing Table: Plant Swap

Our suggested theme for this season is a houseplant and perennial division swap, but plese bring anything you have in abundance to share! Other items that are relevant to the club focus on creativity and nature connection are welcome, along with items purchased from your favorite local greenhouse or farm stand. There will be a table set aside for the swap when you arrive at the pavilion. Simply drop off your offering there when you arrive then choose a few things to take home with you before you leave! The goal is that the table is empty by the end of the afternoon, so take extra to share with friends and family too!

Read: The Story of the Sharing Table

Food + Drink

We will have a spread of seasonal snacks and refreshments, including soup, charcuterie, bread, dessert, hot apple cider and a selection of hot teas. Somewhere between heavy snacks/light dinner!

Additional Notes

The pavilion is semi-enclosed and this is a rain or shine event.

Link to Yoe Park on Google Maps

We will have the entire picnic pavilion, with use of the kitchen and bathrooms. There are parking lot at the top of the hill when you arrive at the park, and also a limited number of spaces right in front of the pavilion which can be accessed by the gravel lane that bisects the park.