Centre Offers Christmas Craft Courses

The Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design has the answer for those pondering their holiday gift list. It suggests making handcrafted gifts and is offering three courses to help.

A poinsettia in crewel embroidery course will be taught by Beverly Wile. It is scheduled for Thursdays, Nov. 4 and 18, from 7 to 10 p.m. The course fee is $18.98 with an additional $12 for materials. Ms. Wile is recognized as a mastercraftsman in crewel by the Embroiderers Guild of America.

Joleen Gordon will teach a course in woven Christmas decorations during the noon hour on Tuesdays from Nov. 16 to Dec. 14. The fee is $15.81 and materials cost an extra $5. This series of five classes will focus on weaving traditional Christmas decorations of natural materials such as sweetgrass, paper, wood and straw. Ms. Gordon is the founder and President of the Nova Scotia Basketry Guild.

June Tasker will teach participants how to make their own Christmas cards. Her course is offered on Wednesday evenings, Dec. 1 to 15 from 7 to 10 p.m. The fee is $28.46. Students will make personal greeting cards and envelopes through the techniques of photo-collage and paint. As a painter and a draftsperson, Ms. Tasker has produced and marketed greeting cards based on photographs of Nova Scotia landscapes and from her own personal collection.

People can register by calling 424-4062 or by visiting the Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design at 1683 Barrington St., Halifax. The centre is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.