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 WINTER PROGRAMS

Broadening Haystack’s year-round programming, Winter Programs advances dynamic community-based education and collaboration in craft, making, and digital design. Winter Programs are offered January–April through the Fab Lab at Haystack’s Center for Community Programs.

Make + Takes

This winter, Haystack’s Make + Take workshop series invites the community into the Fab Lab for hands-on workshops that blend traditional craft with digital tools. Each session offers an opportunity to experiment, learn something new, and leave with a finished piece—whether it’s a screen-printed poster, a leather wallet, or a custom ceramic mug. Designed to be informal and social, these short workshops are led by local artists, educators, and makers; no prior experience is needed.

 

HOW TO REGISTER FOR MAKE + TAKES

Make + Takes are first come, first served. A $5 fee is required at the time of registration.

Registration Opens: November 24, 2026

Make + Takes are final sale, no refunds are available.

 
Winter Programs Calendar
Lasercut Screenprinting
Jan 9
Lasercut Screenprinting

Explore how digital tools can be part of hands-on making. In this short workshop, participants will use the Fab Lab’s laser cutter and the xTool screenprinting jig to create simple designs and turn them into screens for printing. We’ll walk through the process of engraving an image or text onto a pre-coated screen, then use it to print on paper or fabric.

Participants will leave with a one-of-a-kind print—and a look at how the Fab Lab’s tools can open new possibilities for creative work. 

All levels welcome; all materials provided. Participants may bring something to print on.

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Screenprinting with Natural Dyes
Jan 15
Screenprinting with Natural Dyes

Get to know the essentials of screenprinting on fabric and learn tips for using natural dyes and inks! Topics like layering, mordanting, and creating your own inks and dyes will be discussed as we explore the printing process.  

All levels welcome; all materials provided.

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Multimedia Cyanotype Printing
Jan 24
Multimedia Cyanotype Printing

Discover how light, shadow, and digital tools can come together in this playful cyanotype workshop. Participants will use laser-cut shapes and found objects to create one-of-a-kind blueprints on fabric and paper. After arranging materials on light-sensitive surfaces, we’ll expose them to sunlight or UV light and rinse in water to reveal the final image. 

This session blends traditional photographic printing with the precision of digital fabrication—offering a chance to experiment and take home place-based prints. This process yields unique results and provides opportunities to imagine through making while collaborating with elements of nature and everyday objects. No experience necessary; all materials provided.

Family Friendly | This workshop is open to all ages. Children are welcome to participate with the supervision of an adult—a great opportunity to make and learn together.

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Zines! Artist Books + Self-Publishing
Feb 6
Zines! Artist Books + Self-Publishing

Have you ever wanted to make and publish your own book or zine but never knew how? This is the workshop for you! Bring drawings, poems, writings, photos, or collages, and leave with a one-of-a-kind artist book, or make a bunch of copies of a zine for everyone you know! Attendees will learn basic bookbinding, papercraft, and zine techniques.

All levels welcome; all materials provided.

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Introduction to Stitching Techniques on Laser-Cut Leather
Feb 12
Introduction to Stitching Techniques on Laser-Cut Leather

Interested in making your very own functional leathercraft? We will have a variety of projects prepared for you to assemble together. Get to know the basics of stitching your very own leather project. We will discuss the relevant software and leathercraft methodologies in this short primer. 

All levels welcome; all materials provided.

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Custom Mug Making with a Disublimation Press
Feb 28
Custom Mug Making with a Disublimation Press

Learn how images can be transferred onto everyday objects using heat and pressure. In this short workshop, participants will use the Fab Lab’s mug press and dye-sublimation printer to create custom ceramic mugs. Choose from prepared designs or bring a simple image of your own to personalize your piece. Leave with a finished mug—and a look at how digital printing tools can turn ideas into useful objects. 

All levels welcome; all materials provided.

Family Friendly | This workshop is open to all ages. Children are welcome to participate with the supervision of an adult—a great opportunity to make and learn together.

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Maker Modules

This winter, Haystack’s Fab Lab will host a series of Maker Modules—short, intensive workshops designed to help artists and makers gain practical skills in digital fabrication. 

Each module combines online instruction with in-person studio time in the Fab Lab, allowing participants to learn new processes, prototype ideas, and develop finished tools or templates for their own practice. Designed especially for artists working in fiber, ceramics, printmaking, jewelry, and mixed media, the Maker Modules offer an accessible entry point to the possibilities of digital fabrication as part of contemporary craft.

Participation in the Maker Modules is free of charge and by application. Applications open November 24, 2025, and will be accepted through, January 5, 2026. Space is limited, and participants will be selected based on interest and availability to attend all sessions. Applicants will be notified of decisions on January 6, 2026. We encourage artists, educators, and community members interested in expanding their creative practice through digital tools to apply.

 

HOW TO REGISTER FOR MAKER MODULES

Individuals interested in registering for a Maker Module will need to submit an application. Space is limited, and participants will be selected based on interest and availability to attend all sessions.

Application Opens: November 24, 2025
Application Closes: January 5, 2026
Notification to Applicants: January 6, 2026

If you are accepted and unable to attend, please contact fablab@haystack-mtn.org.

Winter Programs Calendar
2D Design for Laser Cutting: Patterns, Templates, and Stencils
Jan 19
2D Design for Laser Cutting: Patterns, Templates, and Stencils

This beginner-friendly workshop introduces participants to the creative possibilities of laser cutting for craft and design. Over two weeks, you’ll learn how to translate drawings, patterns, and ideas into digital designs ready for cutting, scoring, and engraving. Using the Fab Lab’s laser cutter, we’ll explore how precision tools can support handmade processes—from creating stencils and applique templates to marquetry patterns and paper structures.

Through a blend of live online instruction and in-person studio time, participants will learn simple 2D design workflows, experiment with different materials, and produce a set of custom-cut patterns or templates to take home. 

Online Instruction | January 19 + January 26 | 5:30–7:30 PM
In-Person Open Lab | January 21 + January 28 | 4:00–7:00 PM

No prior experience is needed; having basic computer skills and comfort will be helpful.

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3D Design + Printing for Artists: Making Molds, Dies, and Tools
Feb 2
3D Design + Printing for Artists: Making Molds, Dies, and Tools

In this hands-on workshop, artists and makers will explore how 3D printing can be used as a practical tool for the studio. Participants will design and print forms that can serve as molds, dies, or jigs for ceramics, textiles, and mixed-media work. You’ll learn approachable 3D modeling workflows and discover how digital fabrication can extend traditional making—from shaping clay and casting forms to producing embossing tools and fixtures for repeatable studio processes.

Through a mix of online and in-person sessions, participants will design and produce their own functional mold or jig while gaining the confidence to integrate 3D design into their practice. This module emphasizes creativity through experimentation, providing a foundation for future projects that blend technology and craft. 

Online Instruction | February 2 + February 9 | 5:30–7:30 PM
In-Person Open Lab | February 4 + February 11 | 4:00–7:00 PM

No prior experience is needed; having basic computer skills and comfort will be helpful.

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Holiday Open House

Saturday | December 13, 2025 | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM

At this free family-friendly event, join us to learn more about the Haystack Fab Lab and our Winter Programs over refreshments and festive crafts. Activities will include equipment demonstrations (3D printers + laser cutters) as well as making LED paper-circuitry pop-up holiday cards. Create your own custom holiday card and experiment with LED stickers to make the cards light up.

The Open House takes place at Haystack's Center for Community Programs (22 Church Street) in Deer Isle village.

Haystack’s Make + Takes and Maker Modules are supported in part by Haystack’s Program Endowment, with additional funding provided by grants from NEA Our Town, Onion Foundation, and Windgate Foundation.