HWHG Skill Fair
Saturday, July 18, 2026 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
Homer Watson House and Gallery is hosting our first annual Skill Fair! Register for workshops ahead of time and bring a craft or skill of your own to practice alongside others!
Workshops include Creating Maps, Denim Flower Upcycling, Dragonfly Weaving with Natural Materials, Wand Carving and more! Instructors will be demonstrating their skills outside of their workshops, and the FREE Crafting Circle will be running all day long with folks ready to share their skills.
Come find craft community on the beautiful grounds of Homer Watson House & Gallery!
| 10am | 11am | 12pm | 1pm | 2pm | 3pm | 4pm | 5pm |
| Free Crafting Circle | 10am – 5pm | |||||||
| Creating Maps 10am – 12pm | Denim Flowers 2 – 5pm | ||||||
| Wand Carving 10am – 1pm | Dragonfly Weaving 2 – 4pm | ||||||
Morning Workshops
Creating maps for events, festivals, or fantasy worlds!
2 hr. Workshop
10:00am – 12:00pm in the Garden Studio
Artists ages 13+ welcome (with parental supervision)
No experience needed
Have you ever needed to create a map and didn’t know where to start? Whether it is a festival map, market vendor map, or even a map for your fantasy city or world building. I can help you get started so your maps are clear and easy to follow.
No skills required. We will be working with basic pen/pencil and paper but discuss all the different ways you can create map and turn it into a work of art! (Supplies included).
About the Instructor:
Ralf Wall is a graphic designer and role-playing game developer. He has created maps for Homer Watson House & Gallery (gallery maps, vendor maps), Robin-in-the-Hood Medieval Festival (festival maps), and a plethora of fantasy maps for cities and kingdoms.
Wand Carving
3 hr. Workshop
10:00am – 1:00pm Outdoors (weather permitting)
Artists ages 13+ welcome (with parental supervision)
No experience needed
Learn how to carve wood. This class will help you learn how to hold a knife properly and help you understand the different cuts used in wood carving. You should be able to finish carving your wand so that it’s ready for painting. This project is best suited for adults but will teach Children over 13 with Parental supervision.
About the Instructor
John Lemay is President of the Ontario Wood Carvers Association (OWCA). OWCA is an organization that promotes woodcarving throughout Ontario. John has been wood carving for approximately 35 years and has won numerous competitions across Canada and the USA. John and his wife Claire love sharing their skills with others.
Afternoon Workshops
Dragonfly Weaving with Natural Materials
2 hr. Workshop
2:00 – 4:00pm Outdoors (weather permitting)
Artists ages 12+ welcome
No experience needed
Learn to weave a whimsical natural sculpture from bulrush and corn husks. Participants will create a lovely pair of dragonflies that can add a touch of whimsy to a flower planter or can be used indoors as a hanging mobile or wall art. Working with natural materials is a deeply grounding experience, you’ll leave with both a handcrafted treasure and a sense of well-being.
About the Instructor
Agnes Niewiadomski is a local artist who has been working with willow and other foraged fibres since 2021. Alongside her weaving practice, she runs Mindful Makers — a hands-on arts program offering maker skills workshops and summer camp for children ages 5–16. Learn more about her classes and summer camp at mindfulmakers.ca, and follow her weaving adventures on Instagram at @agnesmakes.
Denim Flowers Upcycling
3 hr. Workshop
2:00 – 5:00pm Outdoors
Artists ages 13+ welcome
No experience needed
Spend an afternoon turning old jeans into a beautiful flower arrangement! Get new ideas for upcycling those clothes rotting in the back of your closet and decorate your home for free. I will show you three different ways to make flowers with no sewing, using a single pair of jeans.
All materials will be provided, including jeans, but you are welcome to bring your own pair as well!
About the Instructor:
Antonia Klaric spent several years studying fashion, textile and costume design, focusing on historic and modern interpretations using new and repurposed clothing and textiles. During her studies, she received two awards for costume design in theatre productions. Since obtaining her degree, she has worked as a background artist on numerous animated TV series and continues to explore clothing design in her free time.