Make Your Own Floor Broom: a workshop at Northwind Art School

Here's a rare opportunity to learn how to construct a functional floor broom that is also a piece of art! We'll start the morning with a short introduction to broom-making and its history, including a bit about the Shaker culture in Maine and instructor Dan Hawkins' connection to it.

Then we'll select our fibers, and while they're in buckets soaking and softening, we'll shape our wooden handles from blanks Dan provides.

After lunch, with the handles shaped, we'll jump into the process of adding the sweeping head using the pre-soaked sorghum. We'll finish by learning how to stitch, clamp and flatten the fiber. During that process, Dan will share insights on technique, broom size, uses and more. From this workshop, you'll walk away with at least one completed broom, along with the ability to make more of them in the future. All materials and supplies are provided, while you're welcome to also bring adornments such as dried flowers, herbs and beads.