Jan 11. from 10 to 11:30 a.m.—WOODSTOCK—Billings Farm & Museum invites the community to join local fiber artist Tiana St. James for a hands-on workshop, “Visible Mending,” on Saturday from 10 to 11:30 a.m., followed by a 30-minute Q&A session. Part of the Billings Backyard Workshop series, this session focuses on transforming worn garments and textiles into unique, revitalized pieces through creative repairs.
The workshop encourages participants to embrace the art of repair rather than discarding items, teaching practical skills like sewing, darning, appliqué, and decorative stitching. St. James will demonstrate techniques to patch holes, add intricate embellishments, and extend the life of treasured clothing and textiles. Participants are encouraged to bring a needle, thread, scissors, and an item they wish to mend, learning ways to save money and reduce textile waste in landfills.
“This workshop is about more than repairing clothing—it’s about embracing sustainability and turning wear-and-tear into an opportunity for creativity,” said St. James, a skilled interpreter and educator at Billings Farm & Museum.
About the instructor
Tiana St. James, an Upper Valley native, has been an interpreter and educator at Billings Farm & Museum for nine years. Her expertise spans every stage of the wool and flax-to-linen process, and she has led various workshops, including felted soap-making, hand-dyeing yarn, and quilting. St. James also develops and teaches textile craft classes at Aker Fiber Farm in Enfield, New Hampshire, and frequently represents the farm at fiber arts festivals.
About Billings Backyard Workshops
Billings Backyard Workshops teach sustainable living skills to adult participants, offering hands-on demonstrations and practical steps to incorporate these skills into daily life. The series is underwritten by a grant from the SpringRiver Private Foundation Trust. The session is $15 per person and $10 for museum members.
Pre-registration is required for “Visible Mending.” For more information or to register, visit: billingsfarm.org/billings-backyard.
