At the Convention
Learn a new skill or practice a favorite! Make & take workshops support learning with a little something to take home after your done. Some make & take workshops have small fees to cover supply costs. (Fees are paid directly to the presenters.) Presentations and demonstrations are great opportunities to ask questions and learn more!
*Schedules subject to change due to weather, acts of a higher power, gremlins, small unmonitored children, Murphy’s Law, and the general unpredictability of life.
SageFen 2023 Programming
Build a Story
Writers’ Workshop
Bring your favorite pens, pencils, notebooks, and laptops!
This weekend-long workshop is for writers!
We’ll be crafting a story from beginning to end. The weekend starts with outlining and includes editing, peer review and feedback, and resources for publishing. Experienced Pacific Northwest writers and editors will guide you to a final product of a short story or flash fiction ready for final touch ups and publishing by Sunday afternoon.
Individual workshops within the weekend include:
- Short story drafting and creation
- Peer readings and feedback
- Solo and group writing break-out sessions
- Presentation about how to protect IP online
- Resource guide to potential publishers and editors
SageFen 2022 Programming Sample!
Programming for SageFen Maker Fest 1 is already under way, and you can see some of our programming above. You can also check out a sample of what we did for SageFen 0!
Beginning Miniature Painting
Friday Noon – 1:30 pm
Would you like to add a pop to your game? Learn how to paint miniatures! In this workshop, we’ll go over basic painting, washes, dry-brushing, and highlights. We’ll have miniatures available for this fun make & take.
Presented by Andy Hansen
Supply Fee: FREE
Stop Motion Animation
Friday 1:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Come learn this well-loved craft using common items and the smart and useful devices you use every day! Within three hours you should be able to create your first very short stop motion film. Bring your devices with you and be prepared to download some free apps.
Presented by Shannon Reagan & Andy Vanoverberghe
Supply Fee: FREE!
Introduction to Crocheting
Friday Noon – 1 pm
Come learn the basics of crochet and make a single crochet square. Yarn and hooks will be provided, just bring your fingers and a willingness to try.
Presented by Sarah Horstman & Jaletta Clegg
Supply Fee: FREE!
Resin Casting*
Friday 4 pm – 5 pm
Join us for a hands-on workshop with tips and tricks to pouring resin for little projects.
Presented by Carol Grisham & Agathon McGeachy
Supply Fee: $5
*You can pre-register for this class by emailing granny.silvan@gmail.com
Introduction to Leatherworking
Friday 1:15 pm – 3:45 pm
Come learn the basics of working with leather and take home a little leather trinket!
Presented by Mike McWatter
Supply Fee: $5
Open Filking
Friday 7 pm – 10 pm
Bring your instruments and favorite songs, or come to enjoy and sing along! Filking is fun music with lyrics inspired by science-fiction/fantasy themes.
Kennewick Room Schedule
Sewing 101*
Friday Noon – 1:30 pm
Did you ever want to learn how to sew? We’ll be teaching hands-on basic machine sewing. You will learn to use a sewing machine by completing several exercises and finish up making a pin cushion you can take home with you. Supplies are provided. Limited to 10 participants.
Presented by Isabella Sylvan
Supply Fee: $5
*You can pre-register for this class by emailing granny.silvan@gmail.com
Victorian Redwork Embroidery
Friday 4 pm – 5 pm
Learn the history as well as the stitches used in this classic embroidery artform. If you have been outlining figures with a backstitch thinking that is old fashioned, you NEED to take this class. We’ll be learning the Kensington Outline Stitch with lovely redwork embroidery.
Presented by Jeanette Bennett
Supply Fee: FREE!
Basic Bead Embroidery
Friday 1:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Bead embroidery has long been a way to embellish costume and fashion going back to prehistoric times. In addition to covering what tools, thread, types of beads and stabilizers you will need, 3 basic bead embroidery will be covered: stitches: back stitch, stacking and loops. At the end of the workshop you will have a small pouch started. Kits are provided. Limited to 12 participants.
Presented by Theresa Halbert
Supply Fee: $5
Working with Pepakura Presentation
Friday Noon – 1 pm
Pepakura is a paper modeling process that’s great for creating light weight costumes! Join our costuming guest of honor, John Barba, as he shares some tips about this craft.
Presented by John Barba
Airbrushing Miniature Demonstration
There’s more to the world of painting miniatures than a brush and paint! Join our experienced painter as he demonstrates using airbrushing techniques, painting busts.
Presented by Andy Hansen
Digital Drawing with Procreate
Friday 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
Bring your tablet or smartphone, download the Procreate app and let’s learn about digital drawing! Our visiting animation artist will walk us through with some tips and tricks.
Presented by Andy Vanoverberghe
Supply Fee: FREE
Developing Your Artist Vision Discussion
Friday 4 pm – 5 pm
Struggling to find your vision with art? Join Artists as they talk about finding your way through the plethora of artistic styles to learn how to develop your own vision and power through artistic burnout.
Presented by Kaitlund Zupanic
Art Through Play
Friday 1:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Kaitlund often starts her drawings with obscure lines that transform into a unique piece of art. Join Kaitlund and draw with her while she plays with graphite. From loose gesture and squiggles we will each create a drawing with no strings attached with guidance. Please bring a drawing implement, clipboard, and paper to draw along. Limited supplies will be available at the event for those who weren’t able to bring their own.
Presented by Kaitlund Zupanic
Supply Fee: $5
Drop Spindle
Friday 4 pm – 5 pm
Would you like to learn how to spin without a spinning wheel? This is a great little workshop for building an easy drop spindle and learning a little spinning too! Supplies are provided.
Presented by Sarah Horstman
Supply Fee: $5
Troupe du Soleil Performance
Friday at 7:30 pm
Karena Montee & Troupe du Soleil are located in Tri-Cities, WA. Karena began studying the dance in 1992, and began teaching in 1998. After classes began meeting through Kennewick Recreation, enthusiasm for the dance grew exponentially. The dance troupe has performed at many events; including Ye Merrie Greenwood Renaissance Faire, Two Rivers Medieval Faire, Tumbleweed Music Festival, First Night, Mediterranean Fantasy Festival, TurkFest, Amazon, RadCon -and now SageFenCon!
Science Fiction / Fantasy Gliders
Friday 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm
Make a glider out of craft materials that looks like a spaceship, fairy, dragon, angel and many more. Minimal skills required. Children must bring an adult to share the fun. Explore the dynamics of flight with cardboard gliders!
Presented by Agathon McGeachy
Supply Fee: FREE!
Cosplay Body Fill Demonstration
Friday 4 pm – 5:30 pm
Join our Guest of Honor John Barba as he shares some tips and tricks for working with fiberglass in costuming.
Presented by John Barba
Metal Sculptures
Friday Noon – 1:30 pm
Join this interactive workshop to learn about hammering metal sculptures.
Presented by Warren Hughs
Supply Fee: Free!
Acrylic Pour Art Demonstration
Friday 4 pm – 5 pm
Our visiting arylic artist demonstrates how to make beautiful pour art and shares some important tips about painting.
Presented by Chris Walling
Acrylic Pour Art Workshop
Friday 5 pm – 6 pm
Try your hand at acrylic pouring! We will be pouring little art projects. Projects require a 24 hour dry time. We’re happy to provide covered dry space. Please pick up art on Saturday or by 3pm on Sunday.
Presented by Chris Walling
Supply Fee: $10
Shadow Puppets
Saturday 11:15 am – 1:15 pm
Learn how to make the fascinating shadow puppets which so fascinate people. Bring a pair of paper scissors and your story ideas. Once you finish your puppets we will turn of the lights and play.
Presented by Shannon Reagan
Supply Fee: $5
Intermediate Knitting
Saturday 2:45 am – 4:15 pm
Using a chart we will be knitting a dishcloth with an interesting pattern. There will be discussion on slipping the 1st stitch using stitch markers and Charts vs written instructions. Student must know how to cast on, knit, purl and basic knitting abbreviations. Kit will include knitting needles, 1 cake of cotton yarn, pattern and stitch markers.
Presented by Earlene Mokler
Supply Fee: $5
Wire Wrap Jewelry
Saturday 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Learn to wrap stones and make a lovely pendant.
Presented by Connie Schlosser
Supply Fee: $5
Wire Sculptures
Saturday 4:30 pm – 6 pm
An introduction into approaching metal work with rebar tiewire.
Presented by Warren Hughs
Supply Fee: FREE
Sewing with LEDs
Saturday 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Light up with LEDs using coin batteries and conductive thread. Learn how to use LEDs for jewelry and costumes.
Basic instructions:
~ How to identify positive and negative legs of LED.
~ How to plan and sew a circuit.
~ How to care for conductive thread.
This is NOT an embroidery class but some embroidery thread will be provided. Class will share needle nose pliers and other items. Kit includes precut fabric, an assortment of 3mm and 5mm LEDs, 1 coin battery, 1 battery holder with on/off switch, needle and length of conductive thread.
Presented by Earlene Mokler
Supply Fee: $10
Intermediate Miniature Painting
Saturday 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Take your miniature painting to the next level! We’ll be painting figures with different clothing materials and skin, covering how to approach those and some techniques like wet blending.
Presented by Andy Hansen
Supply Fee: FREE!
Writing Workshop
Saturday 11:15 am – 1:15 pm
This is an interactive workshop where Frog, Esther, and the audience take a novel idea and convert it to something that makes sense on paper. Participants will plan a sci-fi/fantasy novel with the authors– from finding the characters, and story question, to pushing through the muddy middle, to delivering that final climactic punch.
Presented by Peter “Frog” & Esther Jones
Supply Fee: FREE!
Beginning Amigurumi
Saturday 2:45 pm – 4:15 pm
Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures. Join our class for an introduction to simple amigurumi. Our make and take for this class is an adorable bunny. A simple project to teach the basics of working in a spiral and some techniques used to make amigurumi animals and creations.
Presented by Jaleta Clegg
Supply Fee: FREE!
Open Filking
Friday 7 pm – 10 pm
Bring your instruments and favorite songs, or come to enjoy and sing along! Filking is fun music with lyrics inspired by science-fiction/fantasy themes.
Basic Knitting*
Saturday 10 am – 11 am
Learn the basics of knitting: cast on, knit, cast off and finish a bookmark in class. Supplies and needles provided. Limited to 12 participants.
Presented by Isabella Sylvan
Supply Fee: $5
*You can pre-register for this class by emailing granny.silvan@gmail.com
Critter Needlefelting*
Saturday 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Learn to make quick 3d needle-felted creatures, and flat-felted embellishments. No needle-felting experience needed, all supplies provided.
Presented by Jane Campbel, Isabella Sylvan, & Carol Grisham
Supply Fee: $5
*You can pre-register for this class by emailing granny.silvan@gmail.com
Beginning Goldwork Embroidery
Saturday 4:30 pm – 6 pm
Learn the basics of embellishing fabrics, clothing, etc using metal and metallic threads. Minimal knowledge of embroidery is required. Stitch guides and most supplies are provided. No children under 12 without a parent, please.
Presented by Carol Grisham
Supply Fee: $5
Fabric College
Saturday 11:15 am – 1:15 pm
Ever been curious how textile artists, quilters and costumers add detailed images that look like paintings and then on closer inspection, you find the image was created with fabric? If you have ever wanted to learn this technique then this workshop is for you. We will cover the basics of fabric collage and at the end you will have a fabric postcard you can quilt and actually mail. Kits are provided. Limited to 10 participants.
Presented by Theresa Halbert
Supply Fee: FREE!
Kumihimmo
Saturday 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Kumihimmo is the traditional Japanese artform for weaving cords or braids. In this workshop, you will learn to make a kumihimo bracelet. Supplies are provided, workshop has limited seating.
Presented by Connie Schlosser
Supply Fee: $15
3D Printing Presentation & Demonstration
Saturday 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Ryan Peterson demonstrates 3D printing and shares some of his fun projects throughout the weekend. During his presentation, Ryan will share tips for designing or downloading 3D files and creating models with different rolls of plastic types.
Presented by Ryan Peterson
Principals of Garment Sewing
Saturday 11:15 am – 12:45 pm
Every body is unique and when you’re going to be sewing garments to wear, you’re going to run into some roadblocks. In this demonstration workshop, we’re going to discuss the most common postural adjustments that you’re going to encounter with garment making and I’ll show you how to make your own dressmakers dummy. Please bring a notepad and a writing utensil!
Presented by Megan Simpson
Jeff Sturgeon Art Demonstration
Saturday 10 am – 11 am
Jeff Sturgeon demonstrates his unique art style of painting on specially prepared polished metalwork.
Kinetic Sculpture Racers
Build a kinetic racers out of mouse traps, springs, floss, and small parts. The rules are simple, fun, and kits are provided! After you build, race your sculpture for fun awards and prizes!
Presented by Agathon McGeachy
Jeff Sturgeon’s Master Class
Saturday 2:45 pm – 4:15 pm
Bring your sketchbook and work for this one-of-a-kind master class in art! Jeff Sturgeon will offer constructive feedback and advice to support growing artists.
Fabric Dye Demonstration
Saturday 10 am – 1 pm
Learn about the use of purchased dyes, blending and fixing the dye to the fiber. Our presenters will give tips and tricks for getting the color you’re looking for!
Presented by Earlene Mokler & Connie Schlosser
Chainmail
Chainmail isn’t just for armor! Learn how to make keyrings, earrings, bracelets, and other wearable chainmail art in this fun make & take!
Presented by Mike McWatters
Repoussée & Chasing Demonstration
Saturday 1 pm – 2:30 pm
Learn about the art of repoussée and chasing, hammering metal to create beautiful relief work.
Presented by John Barba