Rustic Wood Picture Frames

Adirondack Folk School celebrates first year

LAKE LUZERNE -- Inside the Adirondack Folk School's main building, woodcarver Walt LeClair stood behind a table showcasing his craftsmanship, which included a bluebird with a red sunset-colored breast on a white birch perch.

"Most of my students," he said, "have never held a knife before, and in two days they're making something like this."

The Adirondack- and craftsmanship-themed school celebrated its one-year anniversary Saturday, and the school's founder dedicated a new pavilion building that the school started to construct in April.

"I secretly knew it would be successful," town attorney Bob Regan said to an audience of around 50 people and more than 15 volunteers and school affiliates. He also pointed out that the crowd was similar to the number of people he saw at an event last year at the school.

"If you haven't taken a class, do so," said Jim Mandle, the school's founder, when dedicating a nearly completed wooden pavilion where blacksmith classes have already begun. "Try something you've never done before."

Seasonal resident Ginny Mason, a mother and aerobics instructor, did just that when she took two courses last summer.

"These are things I always wanted to try and do and never had time to do," she said.

Before last year's course, she said she had never used a power drill.

Last summer, she made her own Adirondack picture frame for one course, which is now in use in a family room back home.

"I've always bought these things before and thought, ‘How expensive they are,' " she said. "Now I know where my money is going."

Mandle, who wears a tinsel-colored beard and glasses, came up with the idea for the school after he visited the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, Minn., a harbor village along Lake Superior.

The center began programming June 5, 2010, and has added a variety of classes since then.

New classes have ranged from broom making, shaving horse making, blacksmithing, knitting, calligraphy, toboggan making, additional woodcarving, rustic furniture, coffee table and bookshelf making and wannigan making, Mandle said.

Two weeks ago, the center added its first paid staffer, an executive assistant, he said.

Around 300 students have taken classes, he said.

Returning students and newcomers split up the classes 50-50, teachers said.

The students aren't the only ones interested in learning.

LeClair, who lives in Altamont, near Albany, and teaches at the center, said he wants to poll students during their online registration for classes at the folk school to see what types of woodworking they would like to make.

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The construction is solid wood. It is a beast. I’m sure this thing could take a good many falls off a wall and still look good. The poster I bought I needed it to look like a real old time photo, kind of like a western picture. The frame brought the poster alive. When I have people over, they notice the picture but the frame is what made it a picture. If you are considering a frame like this, I would check out the website for this place. They make custom frames. I already have plans for my next frame from this place.

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