🇺🇸 · Claremont Makerspace · Cortney Nichols
Greetings Upper Valley Makers: We have an exciting list of upcoming classes at the Claremont MakerSpace that we think might interest you including several FREE opportunities like Photography Club and the Photography Art Walk (thank you FujiFilm Dimatix!). Looking for something new that we don’t offer? Be sure to check out our friends Create Together at Fletcher Farm in Ludlow, VT for things like “Kinusaiga” and stained glass! Scrappy Bird Class Kinusaiga: Simple, no-sew “painting” with fabric For most classes and events, CMS MEMBERSHIP IS NOT REQUIRED. That said, members receive a discount on registration and there are some classes/events that are for members only (this will be clearly noted in the event description). Class policies (liability waiver, withdrawal, cancellation, etc.) can be found here . All of our classes depend on minimum registrations to run so please don’t wait to sign up! If you are interested in being added to a waitlist for a certain class please email: classes@claremontmakerspace.org . Instructors: Interested in teaching a class at CMS? Please fill out our Class Proposal Form . Tours: Want to see what the Claremont MakerSpace is all about? Contact Us to schedule your tour where you can learn about all the awesome tools that the CMS offers access to, as well as how membership, classes, and studio spaces work. Upcoming Events Events that are currently open for registration. Make a Colorplay Scarf Aug. 15, 2026 9:30 a.m. — 5 p.m. Like coloring outside the lines? This woven scarf lets you design as you go. You will have several color combinations to choose from – one solid, one variegated. Start with an empty loom (provided) and use your creative imagination to warp the loom. Step by step instruction will get you from beginning to end. Spend the rest of the day in spontaneous creative play. The sample will give you some starter ideas and you can take off from there. No experience needed. Bring scissors, lunch, beverage, snack and a happy attitude. Materials provided by instructor. $20 due the day of class. Saturday, August 15, 9:30 – 5:00 Class Fees: $100 for members/$120 non-members Materials Fee: $20 NOT included in the class fee, please bring cash Register here! Foundations of Communication and Productivity in the Workplace Aug. 17, 2026 2 p.m. — Aug. 19, 2026 5 p.m. Ideal for new and incumbent workers, this interactive 6-hour training is designed for adult learners in the manufacturing and facilities maintenance sectors. Participants will build practical skills to improve professional communication, manage their time effectively, resolve workplace conflict, and solve problems with confidence. Key Topics – Introduction to Communication – Workplace Communication – Time Management Strategies – Conflict Resolution Skills – Structured Problem Solving Techniques Free training, PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED This is a TWO session training, Monday, August 17th and 19th from 2 – 5 pm Register here! Open Sew-In Aug. 18, 2026 4:30 p.m. — 7 p.m. Bring your sewing projects and supplies and have fun visiting with other fiber artists and enthusiasts. Work on your projects in our roomy and comfortable sewing department. We have plenty of table space and 5 Singer heavy duty sewing machines, irons, ironing board, and a variety of sewing notions to use in the Fiber Arts Studio. All Levels are welcome. While assistance is available, participants interested in using the MakerSpace equipment should have a basic working knowledge. Allison and Tammie our shop leads will be available to help with any questions you may have. Registration is required. Class Fees: Free for members and $10 for non-members Register here! Photography Art Walk Aug. 19, 2026 5:30 p.m. — Aug. 19, 2026 8 p.m. To celebrate World Photography Day and the joy of public art and the City of Claremont, the Photo Club at CMS will host a photo walk around downtown Claremont. Bring your camera and your unique eye, and let’s find some new things to inspire us! Then, we hope you’ll join us at our August Photo Club meeting on 8/24 ( https://claremontmakerspace.org/events/#!event/2026/8/24/photography-club ), where we’ll all show and discuss our photos. We’ll also create a special gallery on the Claremont MakerSpace website with the walk photos. Registration is required, all of our classes require a minimum number of registrations so don’t wait to sign up! Please join us in the Claremont MakerSpace parking lot at 5:30 pm. More information on the Clio app that will be used to follow the Claremont Art Walk: Clio – Welcome Class Fees: Free for all! Register here! CMS Community Quilts Aug. 20, 2026 1 p.m. — 6 p.m. Helping hands needed to make warm, comforting quilts for Baby Steps in Claremont! Only basic skills needed. Do you know how to use a sewing machine, iron, or rotary cutter? This is not a quilting class, but we will guide you along through the whole process of making twin and crib size quilts for those in need in our area. Please come when it is convenient for you, even if you can only spare an hour. Sponsorship: All materials are provided thanks to a generous donation from a local quilter. Many thanks to Mascoma Bank for sponsoring the program to provide studio space and additional supplies. The Home Depot is supporting this program by providing storage containers to manage the quilting materials. Class Fees: Free! Please volunteer your time to help Baby Steps, a very worthy cause Register here! Art Walk – Community Planning Session Aug. 20, 2026 6 p.m. — 7 p.m. Claremont NH has a rich history in arts and culture, with many points of interest in the downtown. The Art Walk provides an opportunity to create a structured route, connecting downtown art and cultural objects, with a goal of expanding the arts in Claremont. CMS is spearheading the creation of an Art Walk in partnership with the City of Claremont, and planned as a phased approach. The first phase will be implemented this summer to promote existing art locations and to verify the route, and a second phase is planned for 2027 to create new art stops outdoors along the route. Visitors to the Art Walk would follow a GPS led application on their phone or a printed flyer to lead them between publicly accessible downtown locations. The locations include public and private stops that are already accessible to the public during published open hours. A walk audit of this route is planned for September to verify it is appropriate for all participants. The audit is supported by an AARP Community Challenge grant. The completed Art Walk with its 20+ stops through the downtown will promote Claremont’s past arts and craft history, and its present artist and craftsmen work, all while supporting our local businesses. This planning session is intended for stakeholder businesses along the route, and for community members who would like to get involved in the walk audit and in helping to launch the art walk later this summer. There is no cost to participate and registration is recommended to ensure we have sufficient seating. Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Register here! Make a Japanese Rice Style Bag Aug. 21, 2026 5:30 p.m. — Aug. 28, 2026 7:30 p.m. Whether you use this as a project bag or a gift bag, you will leave with a beautiful work of textile art that you created. This version is fully lined, flat bottom, has drawstring closure AND the added feature of having strap with a button, so you can hook it around a bag strap, or, if you use it as a yarn sack, your belt loop if you like to knit or crochet on the go! We will begin by selecting fabrics (use your own or ours) to piece the panels, then add some embellishments, like hand embroidery or decorative patches, to give it your personal touch. After assembling the bag, we will add cording, either purchased or made by you, to cinch it closed. This bag uses basic sewing techniques, including piecing, top-stitching, sewing a (the machine will do all the work for this!) button hole and sewing on a button (the machine can do this, too!) At the first class we will pick fabrics, helping each other with color and placement, and piece the panels. We will discuss embellishments and, if time permits, start on those. Homework between classes is to finish the embellishing. Then at the final class, assembling the bag and adding the cording, either purchased or made by you. Everyone should leave the second class with a completed bag and be more comfortable using some of the features of our new Bernette B38 sewing machines. (If you can’t get there by 5:30, just let us know and come as late as 6:30) Class Fees: $60 for members/$80 non-members Register here! CMS Amateur Radio Club (W1CMS) Monthly Meetup Aug. 23, 2026 1 p.m. — 3 p.m. The Claremont MakerSpace has an Amateur Radio club! Before makers, hackers, and DIY, there was Amateur Radio. Join us on August 23 at 1 p.m. for our monthly meeting (usually every third Sunday). You do not have to be a licensed ham to participate; just bring your curiosity and energy! Everyone is welcome! Each month, we feature a presenter (45 minutes to an hour), and after we adjourn to MakerSpace’s Digital Fabrication and Electronics Lab for open-time kit building, sharing, studying, and socializing. This Month’s Presentation: RandTel: Bringing the Payphone Back Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a payphone work in 2026? Patrick Schlott (KC1DPM) will share the story behind RandTel ( https://randtel.co/ ), from finding and restoring old payphones to connecting them to today’s telephone networks. He’ll talk about the technology, the challenges, and why these classic phones still have a place in communities where reliable communication matters. Presented by: Patrick Schlott (KC1DPM) Patrick is a Vermont electrical engineer and amateur radio operator with a lifelong interest in communications technology. He is the founder of RandTel (Randolph Public Telephone Operating Company) , a volunteer project that restores vintage payphones and puts them back into service using modern VoIP technology. His work has been featured by IEEE Spectrum, NBC Nightly News, and other national media. Register here! Photography Club Aug. 24, 2026 5:30 p.m. — 7 p.m. Agenda: To Be Announced! About the Club We are a new group of amateur and professional photographers meeting regularly to learn from each other, practice our craft, and develop the community of photographic artists, commercial photographers, and visual storytellers around Claremont and the Upper Valley. Meetings are free for CMS members, and open to the public with a fee to support operations at the MakerSpace. Each meeting is led by one of our members and focuses on a topic of interest chosen by the group: from technical workshops on shooting techniques, to photo critique sessions, gear show & tells, photo walks, and whatever else we come up with together. Class Fees: Free for members/$10 for non-members Register here! Macramé for Beginners Aug. 25, 2026 6 p.m. — Aug. 25, 2026 8 p.m. Get creative and discover how a few simple knots can become a beautiful handmade plant hanger. In this fun, beginner-friendly workshop, you’ll learn the essential knots and techniques used in macramé. We’ll guide you through each step, so no experience is needed. You’ll create a stylish plant hanger from start to finish and learn skills you can use for future projects. Along the way, you’ll pick up helpful tips and techniques while building confidence in your new craft. You’ll leave with a finished project that’s ready to display or give as a handmade gift. Whether you’re looking for a creative night out, a new hobby, or a chance to try something different, this workshop is a welcoming place to start. Bring your creativity, and we’ll provide the rest! Class Fees: $40 for members/$50 non-members Register here! Crochet for Beginners Sept. 2, 2026 6 p.m. — Sept. 2, 2026 8 p.m. Learn the fundamentals of crochet in a relaxed, beginner-friendly class. Students will learn basic stitches, how to hold a hook and yarn, read simple patterns, and begin a small project they can continue at home. No prior experience is needed. Class Fees: $40 for members/$50 non-members Register here! September Open Electronics Meetup Sept. 8, 2026 6 p.m. — Sept. 8, 2026 9 p.m. Bring your electronics projects and supplies and have fun visiting with other Electronics Enthusiasts. Work on your projects in our stocked Electronics and Digital Fabrication Lab. In addition to the MakerSpace’s soldering irons, diagnostic tools, and parts library, there will be some LED soldering kits and soldering irons available for purchase as well. Hang out, finish your projects, think about future projects, and just enjoy being around other electronics enthusiasts. Paul Davis, the Electronics Shop Lead, is here to help folks get started, locate tools and parts, and support a fun, collaborative environment. Attendees are encouraged to share knowledge, but please note this isn’t a repair service, and there may not be anyone available for one-on-one troubleshooting. Class Fees: Free for members and $10 for non-members. Register here! Paint a Community Mural – Morning Session Sept. 12, 2026 10 a.m. — noon As part of his summer residency at CMS, artist John Garoutte is designing a large 16 x 8 foot mural and inviting the community to come and help paint it. The painting process uses a paint by number approach so no experience is required, and youth 10+ are invited to participate with parents/adult guardians. The painting will be done outside in the parking lot, but will move indoors if rain is forecasted. There are two sessions on September 12th, one in the morning from 10am-noon and another in the afternoon from 2-4pm, so participants are invited to sign up for one or both. This is a free community event, and the finished mural will be placed along the new Claremont Art Walk later in September. Please note that all our events have a minimum number of registrants required so don’t wait to sign up! About the Instructor(s): Artist | John Garoutte is a self-taught mural painter and illustrator from Charlestown NH, who often works from memory, creating whimsical portraits of New England life and the landscape that surrounds it. He has been painting murals in the area since 2021, and can be found on the walls in Springfield and Ludlow VT, and in Lebanon NH. John was drawn to murals as a means to bridge the gap between having art behind glass in a museum, and having art be accessible to everyone. Age requirement: Ages 10-16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian Register here! Paint a Community Mural – Afternoon Session Sept. 12, 2026 2 p.m. — 4 p.m. As part of his summer residency at CMS, artist John Garoutte is designing a large 16 x 8 foot mural and inviting the community to come and help paint it. The painting process uses a paint by number approach so no experience is required, and youth 10+ are invited to participate with parents/adult guardians. The painting will be done outside in the parking lot, but will move indoors if rain is forecasted. There are two sessions on September 12th, one in the morning from 10am-noon and another in the afternoon from 2-4pm, so participants are invited to sign up for one or both. This is a free community event, and the finished mural will be placed along the new Claremont Art Walk later in September. Please note that all our events have a minimum number of registrants required so don’t wait to sign up! About the Instructor(s): Artist | John Garoutte is a self-taught mural painter and illustrator from Charlestown NH, who often works from memory, creating whimsical portraits of New England life and the landscape that surrounds it. He has been painting murals in the area since 2021, and can be found on the walls in Springfield and Ludlow VT, and in Lebanon NH. John was drawn to murals as a means to bridge the gap between having art behind glass in a museum, and having art be accessible to everyone. Age requirement: Ages 10-16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian Register here! Claremont MakerSpace Creatives Meet-up Sept. 13, 2026 noon — 3 p.m. All of our classes and events require a minimum registration so please don’t wait to register (registration is REQUIRED). Looking for dedicated time to make art, share ideas, and be around other creative people who get it? CMS Creatives Meetup is a relaxed, open studio-style gathering for artists, designers, writers, and makers of all kinds to work alongside one another in a supportive, inspiring space. Bring whatever you’re currently working on: Sketchbooks, digital art, painting, writing, fiber arts, prototypes, or passion projects, and settle in for an afternoon of creativity and conversation. This is a space to focus, experiment, and making progress together. Expect good energy, thoughtful conversation, and the kind of motivation that comes from creating in community. Coffee and snacks will be flowing to help keep the ideas moving. Come make things, meet fellow creatives, and leave inspired. The leaders for this session are long time members and creatives Michelle Goldsmith and Tiffany Vincent. Class Fees: FREE for all Age requirement: Must be 16 or older Register here! Open Sew-In Sept. 15, 2026 4:30 p.m. — 7 p.m. Bring your sewing projects and supplies and have fun visiting with other fiber artists and enthusiasts. Work on your projects in our roomy and comfortable sewing department. We have plenty of table space and 5 Singer heavy duty sewing machines, irons, ironing board, and a variety of sewing notions to use in the Fiber Arts Studio. All Levels are welcome. While assistance is available, participants interested in using the MakerSpace equipment should have a basic working knowledge. Register here! Make Fused Glass Panels Sept. 15, 2026 6 p.m. — 7:30 p.m. Learn how to create your own 4” × 4” suncatcher panel. Once the panel has been melted together, we will attach hooks so you can display it in a window in your home. The class begins with a quick instruction, then you’ll move to your own area to play and explore, making colorful designs. After class, your panel will go through a kiln cycle to fuse everything together. Panels are typically ready about 2 to 3 weeks after class and will be available for pickup at the MakerSpace after firing. Ages 12+, with an adult registered & paying to participate in the class as a student. (No unaccompanied minors & no unpaid attendees) Class Fees: $125 for members/$145 non-members Age requirement: Minimum age is 12. Students under 18 must be accompanied by a paying parent/legal guardian (No unaccompanied minors & no unpaid attendees) Register here! CMS Community Quilts Sept. 17, 2026 1 p.m. — 6 p.m. Helping hands needed to make warm, comforting quilts for Baby Steps in Claremont! Only basic skills needed. Do you know how to use a sewing machine, iron, or rotary cutter? This is not a quilting class, but we will guide you along through the whole process of making twin and crib size quilts for those in need in our area. Please come when it is convenient for you, even if you can only spare an hour. Register here! Intro to Mixed Media Collage Sept. 19, 2026 1 p.m. — 3:30 p.m. A mixed media collage is a visual art form that combines various materials—such as paper, fabric, photographs, stamps, cardboard, and found objects—onto a single surface to create a layered, textured composition. Students will leave class with at least on completed college and an understanding of the process. There will probably be time to complete more than one collage. Please note that all our classes have a minimum number of registrants required so don’t wait to sign up! Class Fees: $65 for members/$75 non-members What Students Should Bring With Them to Class: Scissors, old magazines, photos or sayings you’d like to incorporate. Register here! CMS Amateur Radio Club (W1CMS) Monthly Meetup Sept. 20, 2026 1 p.m. — 3 p.m. The Claremont MakerSpace has an Amateur Radio club! Before makers, hackers, and DIY, there was Amateur Radio. Join us on September 20TH at 1 p.m. for our monthly meeting (usually every third Sunday). You do not have to be a licensed ham to participate; just bring your curiosity and energy! Everyone is welcome! Each month, we feature a presenter (45 minutes to an hour), and after we adjourn to MakerSpace’s Digital Fabrication and Electronics Lab for open-time kit building, sharing, studying, and socializing. Amateur Radio (often called ham radio) is a popular hobby and service that brings people, electronics, and communication together. People use Amateur Radio to talk across town, around the world, or even into space, all without the Internet or cell phones. It’s fun, social, educational, and can be a lifeline during times of need. How is Amateur Radio used? Amateur Radio is used for a variety of recreational and service-related activities. Amateur Radio operators, also called “hams,” use Amateur Radio equipment to engage in two-way personal communications with other hams, as well as: Aid communication during public events, such as parades and road races Act as a vital communications link during emergencies and disasters Advance their technical skills and build their own radio components (ever wanted to talk to an astronaut in orbit?) Participate in competitive events and earn awards in contests Who can become a ham? Anyone of any age who is not a representative of a foreign government can be an Amateur Radio operator in the US. Before you can get on the air, you’ll need to be licensed and know the rules to operate legally. In the US there are three license classes — Technician, General, and Amateur Extra. The Claremont MakerSpace has resources and support available to help you learn and prepare to take your exam. You can learn more about amateur radio here: arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio Register here! Happy Makin’! We are grateful for all of the public support that our 501(c)(3), non-profit organization receives. If you’d like to make a donation, please visit the Support Us page of our website.
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