Making hooks in blacksmithing is a practical and enjoyable way to hone your forging skills. Whether you are creating simple utility hooks for hanging, or more decorative ones for artistic purposes, the process teaches fundamental blacksmithing techniques and can be applied to a wide variety of projects.

What to Wear in the Metals Studio?

We wish for all students to have a safe and enjoyable learning experience. Proper safety equipment and PPE will be provided for use within the studio.

Please dress safely and appropriately. Arrive for class inall-natural fiber clothing, long pants, and closed-toe, closed-heelshoes with socks that protect up to the ankle. Long hair should betied back. Nylon, polyester, spandex, or other synthetics are notrecommended around machines, equipment, or processes that can producehot fragments, sparks, or flames. Please avoid synthetic blends, as100% cotton is recommended. Layers are encouraged, as the studio canbegin cool then become very hot.

Welding students are recommended to wear long sleeve shirts to preventarc-flash burns (much like a sunburn). 

All students participating in activities involving sparks or hot metal are encouraged to wear leather boots or older shoes.

Please bring a re-fillable water bottle!

Class Policies & Information:

Open Lab: This class includes access to the studio during Open Lab hours. Open Lab is exclusively for students who are currently enrolled in the program. You are allowed to attend one Open Lab session per week, totaling 3 hours during the duration of your class. You may only attend the Open Lab session for the class in which you are registered. This time is intended for independent work on your class project. While studio staff will be present, they are there to ensure you are using the tools safely, not to provide instruction.

Class Make-Up: Our studios are full with adult and youth classes 7 days a week, 48 weeks a year. Typically, every class is full, which means there is simply no space for students to make up classes. If we cancel an entire class due to weather or other emergencies, we can not guarantee we will be able to schedule a make-up class. Individuals who miss a class will not be able to make it up. Please read the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about missed classes.

Studio Clean Up: Clean-up is critical! Please help our hardworking staff and volunteers by beginning clean-up 30 minutes before the end of class, helping out with common areas, and leaving class on time.

Ages: 16+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

Will be available to register on Friday, May 30 at 8:00am. 

Tired of throwing the same old boring forms? Let’s test the limits to see what clay can do. This higher level (intermediate to advanced), 1-day class will explore bottles, closed forms, double-walled pieces and more.

The best part? There’s absolutely no pressure to get any of this right - we’ll be focusing on technique only and not actually making any pieces to keep. So get bold and take those advanced forms all the way to the limit!

This class takes place at Groundworks HILL, 1010 Aurora Avenue, Boulder, CO. 

PLEASE NOTE: This one-time class runs for 2.5 hours. You will not have access to the studio outside of the scheduled class time and all work will be completed during class time. You will also not have access to our other locations.

Ages: 16+

Available for registration Friday, May 30th at 8:00am

The Mosaic class will teach glass cutting, design placement and grouting.  Mosaics is destined to become your new favorite hobby!  You're welcome to continue this class if you have taken it before and make your own project(s).   All materials are included. Students leave the class with their very own, unique mosaic project to display or use.  No prior experience needed.

Ages: 16+

Will be available to register on Friday, May 30 at 8:00 am.

Hate glazing? You’re not alone. Join us for this special one-time, higher level (intermediate to advanced) class exploring an alternate surface treatment called Terra Sigillata (Sig - pronounced ‘sij’ - for short). Terra Sigillata means “sealed earth” due to it being a super refined slip that leaves your pieces with a silky, smooth finish.

Terra Sig goes on best with bone-dry pieces, so Groundworks will provide flat tiles or cylinders to practice on. We’ll fire them after the class and let you know when they’re ready for pick-up. Come get a crash course in this ancient decoration technique.

This class takes place at Groundworks MAIN, 3750 Canfield Street, Boulder, CO. 

PLEASE NOTE: This one-time class runs for 2 hours. You will not have access to the studio outside of the scheduled class time and all work will be completed during class time. You will also not have access to our other locations.

Ages: 16+ 

Available for registration Friday, May 30th at 8:00am

Summers are always muggy, so why not come learn how to make a beautiful hand-built mug? This adult camp will spend the first part of the week focusing on what it takes to construct a functional hand-built mug. The ins and outs of weight, drinking lips, handle placement and more and how that can affect your finished pieces. The second half of the camp will turn to surface decoration and ways to decorate beyond just glazing. Students will have the opportunity to make 2 or 3 mugs a piece to explore their different ideas and try out the different techniques. Pieces will be fired by the studio and ready for pick up a few weeks after the camp ends. 

This class will take place in the hand-building classroom upstairs at Groundworks Hill, 1010 Aurora Ave. Boulder, CO

Ages 16+

Availble for registration Tuesday, May 27th at 8:00am.

We’re so excited to offer summer camps this year in our new Glass Studio! Students will be introduced to the foundations of working with hot and cold glass processes. Techniques will include fusing, kiln work, printing with imagery and coldwork. Our final project will be a culmination of what we’ve learned throughout the week. In the Glass Studio, we encourage students to bring their full attention, awareness, focus and creativity! 

What to Wear in the Glass Studio?  Arrive for class in all-natural fiber clothing including long pants, and closed-toe, closed-heel shoes. Please avoid wearing nylon, polyester, spandex, or other synthetic fabrics. Any loose hair or clothing must be tied back completely. All safety equipment will be provided for use during class. 

Supervised Lunch / Extended Pick-Up/Drop-off: 

Each student enrolled in camp can sign up for supervised lunch. Bring your own lunch to enjoy between morning and afternoon camps (12pm-1pm). The fee for this add-on program is $25 per week.

This camp will be available to register at 8:00AM on Monday, January 27

Always wanted to try hand-building, but didn't know where to start? This class is a great intro to the studio in 5 short weeks!

This class is intended to get you familiar with the basics of hand-building. Students will learn techniques like pinching, coiling, and building with slabs. This class is ideal for those who have limited experience, but are looking to learn more with a short instructor demo and hands-on assistance each week.

Please note: This class does not include Open Lab hours or additional clay.

Ages 16+ to register

Class meets weekly on TUESDAYS.

All pieces will be fired to Cone 6 in a reduction kiln.

Will be available to register on Tuesday, May 27 at 8:00am.

The Book Arts League is excited to announce that we will now offer open studio hours! Our shop will be available monthly for you to print your work. Below are the open studio dates for the first quarter. BAL board members will be your hosts and will assist you with your printing projects. Please bring your own paper and get ready to print!

WEDNESDAY June 11th — 4:30-6:30PM 

WEDNESDAY July 9th — 4:30-6:30PM

WEDNESDAY Aug 13th — 4:30-6:30PM