Melrose Public Library

Whether you are looking to create handmade treasures or simply enjoy the season, these classes will help you make memorable moments this December! See what is new this month in Creativebug!

Using your library card and PIN, create your own account for FREE and nurture your creative side with 1000+ video classes in painting, knitting, crafting, sewing & more!

Playing with Image Transfers: A Daily Practice – December 1

The art of image transfers is ethereal, subtle, and surprising—lingering between painterly and photographic, yet completely distinct. Author and artist, Courtney Cerruti leads you through experimentation with various transfer techniques on paper and fabric, layering them onto a foundational cloth to create a unique piece. Inspired by a theme and driven by curiosity, you’ll blend language and imagery to craft a story, adding embellishments with found objects and threads. Gather images, words, and phrases from literature or any sources that inspire you, then select materials that resonate with your creative vision. Without a strict plan, the process unfolds organically, with each piece surprising and delighting in its own way.

Want to learn more image transfer techniques? Check out Courtney’s other Image Transfers and Color Image Transfers on Wood classes! 

CB Mixtape: Happy Hanukkah – December 1

Woven Fabric Star Ornament – December 4

The most fun puzzle you’ll construct all holiday season, these cute ornaments are made out of scraps of fabric or even bias tape. Artist and ornament enthusiast Faith Hale talks you through preparing your fabric for folding, constructing the woven star, and then adding a tie for hanging. They’re irresistible to make and cute as can be and you’ll want to make a dozen.

Make a Paper Maché Tray – December 11

Papier-mâché has a long history of being used for decorative objects, and people have been making paper maché trays since the 18th Century. Corrie Beth Hogg is a multi-media maker and author, and she teaches you how to make your own paper maché tray. This is a kid-friendly craft, easy to make, and great to gift, plus a fun opportunity to upcycle cardboard and paper. Corrie provides a template and teaches you how to cut and score a flat piece of cardboard and turn it into a three-dimensional tray. Learn Corrie’s tips for preparing paper strips, her favorite paper maché paste, and her method of applying paper maché. When you’re ready to decorate your project, Corrie teaches you how to transfer a design template onto your tray and how to create your designs with paint pens. These paper maché trays are long lasting, and you can put them in your entryway, on your bedside table, or hang them on the wall.

Create Needle Books with Jody Alexander – FREE Live Event December 12, 2024 @ 4PM – Register online once you have created and signed into your account!

Needle books are a great way to keep track of your needles and pins while traveling, at workshops, or around the house. Create a needle book out of scrap fabric that you have on hand that will be perfect to keep or give as a gift to your favorite sewist.

Hand Darning Techniques – December 18

Darning is an artful technique that goes far beyond simple mending. Heidi Parkes, a skilled fiber artist from Milwaukee, often uses darning to embellish her beautiful and unique quilts. She adds texture to her creations by weaving threads in neat, straight lines or manipulating the warp and weft to form intricate, decorative shapes. With just a needle and thread, Heidi demonstrates how darning can be a quick and effective way to add dimension to any textile art, or even just a piece of clothing.