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May 7-9, 2027 : Broom Making Workshop with Curt Cable

from $500.00

Dates: Friday, May 7 – Sunday, May 9, 2027
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily
Location: Rochester Folk Art Guild, 1445 Upper Hill Road, Middlesex, NY

Back by popular demand after a sold-out 2026 workshop!

Learn the traditional Appalachian art of broom making with Curt Cable, a skilled craftsman from the foothills of Ohio who has spent more than twenty years practicing and sharing this heritage craft.

In this three-day hands-on workshop, students will learn to make a variety of functional and decorative brooms, beginning with simple whisk brooms and progressing to more complex forms, including cobweb brooms and a full-size sweeper. Each project builds on the techniques learned in the last, giving students the opportunity to develop their skills and create several beautiful, useful brooms to take home.

Along the way, Curt will share stories, history, and lore from the Appalachian broom making tradition, as well as demonstrate traditional binding and stitching techniques.

This is a lively, engaging workshop that offers the pleasure of working with natural materials, learning a traditional craft, and making something useful by hand.

No experience is necessary. All tools and materials are provided.

Course Outline

Over the course of three days, participants will:

  • Learn about the materials, tools, and traditions of Appalachian broom making

  • Make several styles of brooms, progressing from simple whisk brooms to more complex forms and a full-size sweeper

  • Practice traditional wrapping, binding, and stitching techniques

  • Take home a collection of handmade brooms

Course Tuition

Tuition: $500, including all tools, materials, and lunch each day.

Overnight packages are available and include lodging and breakfast each morning. The prices below reflect the total cost of tuition plus accommodations:

  • 2-night stay: $700
    Arrive Friday, May 7 and depart Sunday, May 9

  • 3-night stay: $800
    Arrive Friday, May 7 and depart Monday, May 10

Please email programs@folkartguild.org for more information about overnight accommodations, scholarships, or workshop details.

Package Types:

Dates: Friday, May 7 – Sunday, May 9, 2027
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily
Location: Rochester Folk Art Guild, 1445 Upper Hill Road, Middlesex, NY

Back by popular demand after a sold-out 2026 workshop!

Learn the traditional Appalachian art of broom making with Curt Cable, a skilled craftsman from the foothills of Ohio who has spent more than twenty years practicing and sharing this heritage craft.

In this three-day hands-on workshop, students will learn to make a variety of functional and decorative brooms, beginning with simple whisk brooms and progressing to more complex forms, including cobweb brooms and a full-size sweeper. Each project builds on the techniques learned in the last, giving students the opportunity to develop their skills and create several beautiful, useful brooms to take home.

Along the way, Curt will share stories, history, and lore from the Appalachian broom making tradition, as well as demonstrate traditional binding and stitching techniques.

This is a lively, engaging workshop that offers the pleasure of working with natural materials, learning a traditional craft, and making something useful by hand.

No experience is necessary. All tools and materials are provided.

Course Outline

Over the course of three days, participants will:

  • Learn about the materials, tools, and traditions of Appalachian broom making

  • Make several styles of brooms, progressing from simple whisk brooms to more complex forms and a full-size sweeper

  • Practice traditional wrapping, binding, and stitching techniques

  • Take home a collection of handmade brooms

Course Tuition

Tuition: $500, including all tools, materials, and lunch each day.

Overnight packages are available and include lodging and breakfast each morning. The prices below reflect the total cost of tuition plus accommodations:

  • 2-night stay: $700
    Arrive Friday, May 7 and depart Sunday, May 9

  • 3-night stay: $800
    Arrive Friday, May 7 and depart Monday, May 10

Please email programs@folkartguild.org for more information about overnight accommodations, scholarships, or workshop details.

Age Recommendations

This workshop is recommended for ages 15 and up. Younger students may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please contact programs@folkartguild.org to discuss participation.

Accessibility

The workshop space is accessible, and most broom making activities are done while seated in a chair. Broom making involves working with natural broomcorn, string, and hand tools, and requires some fine motor coordination and hand dexterity for wrapping, tying, and stitching.

If you have questions about accessibility or accommodations, please contact programs@folkartguild.org before registering.

Meet the Instructor

Curt Cable is a traditional Appalachian broom maker from Glouster, Ohio, with more than twenty years of experience in the craft. Introduced to broom making through his family’s connection to a local broom maker, Curt has spent decades studying regional styles and perfecting his technique. His work draws from the rich traditions of Appalachian craftsmanship, blending Shaker-inspired wire wrapping, hand-dyed broom corn, and natural materials foraged from the landscape.

Curt regularly teaches and demonstrates at art shows and festivals across the region, where he shares both the stories and skills that keep this heritage alive. His teaching emphasizes patience, craftsmanship, and the beauty of handmade work as a reflection of place and community.