Educational programs at the Klaipėda District Craft Center

Participants are introduced to Lithuanian folk art – weaving, Lithuanian weaving motifs, colors characteristic of our country, and weaving techniques.

Traditional weaving techniques are taught. They are introduced to the basics of weaving, tools, thread selection, setting up the warp for weaving, and the variety of traditional Lithuanian weaving patterns.

Participants are introduced to the history of weaving, the characteristics of Lithuanian weaving, and try their hand at the craft of weaving.

Educational activities give each participant the opportunity to try weaving on a traditional loom.

Participants are taught how to weave, introduced to Samogitian patterns, and taught how to weave traditional ribbons and other products.

The weaving workshop also offers training in rag rug weaving.

The educational program provides knowledge and skills on how to weave modern products using ancient Lithuanian patterns and motifs.

The educational activities will allow everyone to familiarize themselves with ancient textile patterns, colors, and ornamentation, and will give them the opportunity to compare ancient and modern fabrics.

During the discussions, knowledge is provided about traditional weaving, its types, and methods. The importance of preserving this craft and passing it on to future generations is emphasized.

Each participant will make a product that they can take home and adapt to their personal needs.

The educational activities are led by Rimantė Šalčiuvienė. She is a folk artist and creator with extensive experience and education in the field of non-formal education.

During the educational activities, self-expression, appreciation of beauty, and meticulousness are cultivated. Participants are shown traditional wicker weaving, introduced to the craft of weaving, presented with works, and learn the basics of weaving techniques and art appreciation. They learn how to prepare and process weaving materials. Educational activities help participants learn about the origins of wicker weaving, weaving materials, tools, and equipment. They learn various weaving techniques and how to apply them.

During the educational activities, each participant receives individual instruction. Depending on their abilities and acquired skills, participants learn, work, and express themselves. During the activities, you will learn about the specifics of growing wicker, material preparation, and weaving techniques.

The educational activities cultivate the art of folk art. Weaving with wicker develops creative skills and helps to understand how ancient weaving traditions are related to the present day.

Each participant will make a product that they can take home and use for their personal needs.

The educational activities are led by Aurelija Pociuvienė. Folk artist, souvenir and furniture weaver.

Baking bread

Participants in baking education are introduced to the grain crops traditionally grown in our region, with a focus on practical familiarization with them and an in-depth look at the use of different grain crops in food production. The history and technology of flour production are also explored.

Participants are taught how to bake traditional baked goods for traditional calendar holidays (Shrovetide, Christmas, Easter, etc.).

During the course, everyone will be able to knead, shape, and bake several delicious buns to take home.

Cookie baking

You can choose from gingerbread, ginger, and butter cookie baking classes. The program is designed to develop cognitive, artistic, and culinary skills through traditional products, the uniqueness of the country's ethnic culture, and inexhaustible creativity. There is no other confectionery in the world that symbolises holidays more than gingerbread and ginger cookies. Their history dates back to ancient China. In Lithuania, they were baked not only for Christmas but also for other holidays, and they are sold at markets and fairs.

Today, few families can imagine their holidays without baking these delicacies. There are many recipes for making these treats, but if you have never tried baking them, give this educational program a try. During the workshop, you will learn about their history and how to give them the most attractive shapes, such as hearts, horses, moons, birds, etc.

The educational activities are led by folk artist Valė Krauleidienė.

If participants wish, they can decorate their baked goods with coloured icing.

Participants will be introduced to Lithuanian folk art, ancient Baltic ceramics, and ornamental motifs.

Educational activities will familiarize you with examples of archaeological ceramics, and you will hear stories about ceramics and their origins, as well as the properties of clay. You will hear advice on molding techniques and decoration. You will have the opportunity to mold a bowl for yourself or your beloved pet, create an original clay figurine according to ancient pottery traditions, and make a whistle.

Clay molding and its techniques are taught. Participants are introduced to molding various shapes (spheres, flat, cones) from a plane according to a template, gluing corners, decorating, and joining methods. They are taught to apply the necessary molding techniques.

Participants are introduced to the history of pottery, try out different types of clay, traditional methods of preparing, shaping, and kneading clay, as well as molding, throwing, and decorating techniques.

Participants are taught how to fire, introduced to glazing, and develop their decorating skills.

Educational activities Provide knowledge and develop skills in drawing perspective, people, and animals.

During the course, the basics of calligraphy (the use of fonts in creating ceramic medals) may be taught during the educational program.

Educational activities will help you learn more about art forms and genres.

Each participant will make a product to take home.

Educational activities are led by Alva Giržadienė, a teacher and methodologist.

Learn about the craft of leatherworking.

We will make leather bookmarks, coasters, bracelets, key chains, and other items. Educational activities for children and adults will help you learn to create and decorate independently, develop individual creative skills, drawing, and painting.

You will hear a story about the craft of leatherworking and get acquainted with the works made by leatherworkers. Everyone will make an artistic product from natural leather – a key ring or a necklace.

Educational activities will help you learn about leather decoration methods and techniques:

- you will glue a cut-out leather blank onto cardboard;

- you will use leather strings for decoration;

- during the educational activities, you will use real leatherworker's tools: leather punches, a hammer, and ornament stencils;

- you will learn how to make a raised ornament or your initials on leather; - you will decorate your product with paint and varnish it;

Each participant will make a product that they can take home and adapt to their personal needs.

The educational activities are led by Jūratė Mierkienė, a folk artist and art teacher (bachelor's degree).

During the educational activities, participants will learn that all Lithuanian folk graphic prints and carved boards have been found in Samogitia, and are almost non-existent in other ethnographic regions of Lithuania. 

The educational activities will introduce participants to traditional Lithuanian folk graphics, the themes of old carvings, and the history of wood carving in the Samogitia region. Participants will learn how to print wood carvings on paper themselves. After all, a graphic print made by yourself is a great gift for loved ones and friends.

The woodcarving technique is very unique: a drawing on paper is transferred to a dried wooden board – linden wood is best suited for this. The drawing is carved with chisels, paint is applied to it, and then, by rubbing the wood with spoons, it is printed on paper. In this way, woodcut prints are reproduced, yielding many different prints.

During the educational activity, the wood carving boards are covered with water-based printing ink and printed on paper. The print can then be colored with water-based paints or chalk. This educational activity helps participants to realize their potential and develops their creative abilities, self-expression, and artistic skills.

The educational activities are led by Valdonija Karaliūnienė, a folk artist and expert art teacher.

The stained glass workshop will give participants a brief introduction to this type of decorative art. Stained glass is created according to a pre-prepared design (cardboard) using special non-toxic paints on a transparent surface. Participants take their stained glass creations home and attach them to a transparent surface (door, window, mirror) to add a festive touch to their interior.

The educational activities are led by Valdonija Karaliūnienė, a folk artist and expert art teacher.

Participants in the educational program are introduced to the history of soap, where it came from, and when it was invented. The ancient art of soap making and its production technology are presented. Homemade soap is the most natural product because you can control its composition and scent yourself. During the program, you will learn about the origins of soap production, what modern soap is made of, and how it is produced.

The educational soap-making activities will help you relax and immerse yourself in the world of aromas, and the soap you make yourself with your chosen scents will be a great gift for yourself or your loved ones.

Each participant will make a bar of soap, which they can take home and use for their personal needs.

The educational activities are led by folk artist Valė Krauleidienė.

During the workshop, each participant creates a sketch of their own tree of life and transfers it onto a prepared wooden board or piece of leather. They paint it, choosing colors according to Lithuanian folk traditions of tree of life painting. At the end of the workshop, the results of the creative process are presented.

The tree of life is a very important part of Lithuanian mythology. The Lithuanian oak is both a tree of faith and knowledge, also known as the tree of life. In the Baltic worldview, the tree of life grows and flourishes in three dimensions:

• The roots of the oak are firmly planted in the underworld. This is death, the past. But at the same time, the underworld is also water, that is, the beginning and source of life. Water is a natural element from which life is born, which is why it is used in various festive rituals.
• The trunk is the world of people who toil and work, or the present.
• The crown is the light of the sky and the future of life.

Educational activities are led by artist Irena Šarkuvienė.

Did you know that Easter eggs are brought to children by the Easter Bunny or Easter Bunny, who paints the eggs and distributes them to children at night? That's why on Easter morning, children find Easter eggs painted by the Easter Bunny next to their beds. Her assistants, the rabbits, deliver these eggs. May your eggs be painted as beautifully as Easter can.

The egg painting workshop will introduce participants to traditional egg painting methods (scratching, wax, and herb printing). During the workshop, participants will learn ancient and natural dye recipes. They will learn about the meaning and symbolism of Easter eggs, as well as various dyeing patterns and their meanings. At the end of the workshop, each participant will take home one egg decorated with original and traditional patterns.

If you are tired of traditional dyeing methods, our masters will teach you unique and perhaps never-before-seen egg dyeing techniques. For example, covering an egg with wool. Yes, with such an egg, you are guaranteed to be the winner of the egg tapping competition. You can also try decorating eggs with seeds and herbs, or using the decoupage technique.

The educational activities are led by Valdonija Karaliūnienė, a folk artist and expert art teacher.

We often have our own cup at home that other family members are not allowed to use. Perhaps you would like to create a cup just for yourself? If so, we invite you to our educational cup decorating classes. Here you will create a unique and one-of-a-kind cup design. 

It can be a Christmas cup, a commemorative cup, or a personalized cup. When you arrive, you will choose a cup you like and, with the help of master craftsman, folk artist, and art teacher Valdonija Karaliuniene, you will decorate it however you like. You can make your own sketch and transfer it onto the cup. If you are lacking inspiration, Valdonija will have some excellent examples to decorate your mug. This is a great educational activity for groups, classes, families, and groups of friends. How wonderful it is to have your own decorated mug, which makes even coffee taste better.

The educational activities are led by Valdonija Karaliūnienė, a folk artist and expert art teacher.

During the educational session, you will weave a decorative bracelet using numerous knots. Weaving bracelets can be a lot of fun. We invite you to come with a group and learn how to weave a bracelet or decorative string. A variety of knotting techniques, different knots, colorful threads, all this and more at our craft center.

Each participant will make a bracelet or decorative string to take home.

The educational activities are led by folk artists Rimantė Šalčiuvienė, Valė Krauleidienė, and Aurelija Pociuvienė.

During the educational program, participants will learn how to weave a simple straw garden. Participants will learn about the symbolism, origin, and significance of the garden.

Straw garden weaving is one of the most impressive types of traditional Lithuanian decorative art. These are three-dimensional straw crafts with strict geometric shapes. In Lithuania, the most common shapes are four-sided pyramids and more complex structures derived from them.

Educational activities will allow everyone to learn about the ancient technique of garden weaving and ornamentation, and you will have the opportunity to watch the creation of a straw garden live.

During the talks, you will learn about traditional straw garden binding, its types and methods. You will also learn about the importance of preserving this craft and passing it on to future generations.

Each participant will make a product that they can take home and adapt to their personal needs.

The educational activities are led by Aurelė Pociuvienė, a folk artist with extensive experience and education in the field of non-formal education.

These are really simple and easy educational activities. During them, we use unnecessary paper. The educational activities will be very interesting to people who care about ecology, because we use old paper and reduce the amount of waste at the same time. The products are very beautiful and difficult to distinguish from those woven from wicker. Wicker, or more precisely, twisted paper tubes, are very easy to bend and weave to make them look more like wooden wicker. We can paint them, and if we varnish the finished products, they will be very durable and long-lasting.

Each participant in the educational program will make a product that they can take home and adapt to their personal needs.

The educational activities are led by Aurelė Pociuvienė, a folk artist with extensive experience and education in the field of informal education.

Christmas is the most beautiful holiday of the year. Would you like to decorate your home with original handmade toys? We will teach you various techniques for making Christmas toys and tell you how our ancestors decorated their homes and Christmas trees.

After the educational session, you will be able to take home a Christmas ornament of your choice (wooden, woven, molded, or even baked).

The educational activities are led by Aurelė Pociuvienė, a folk artist with extensive experience and education in the field of informal education.

Each participant will make a rag doll, learn about the necessary materials and tools, and the technology of rag doll making. These dolls are special in that we will not use any needles to make them. They are made by tying. The tied dolls are decorated and dressed in traditional or other clothing.

All participants will take home a beautiful souvenir doll.

The educational activities are led by Valdonija Karaliūnienė, a folk artist and expert art teacher.

This is a very interesting activity for both children and adults. During the educational session, we will introduce you to wool, explain what happens to wool, how and why it felts, and explain many of the terms and facts that a beginner should know:

•Do all fibers felt, what is wool like, and what are the characteristics of different breeds of sheep?

•What are the different felting methods? In what cases are they used?

•Felting - tools and equipment.

After covering these basic things that every felt maker should know, we will move on to the practical side:

•We will learn how to use felting needles (for adults only).

•Wet felting of a ball.

•Making felt beads using the wet method – felting, mixing colors.

•Arranging, felting, and cutting wool.

•Felting soap with wool.

You will be able to use the beads and twists you make during the workshop to make jewelry.

The educational activities are led by Valdonija Karaliūnienė, a folk artist and expert art teacher.

Participants will learn about the history of palm branches, how they are woven, and the characteristics and differences between Lithuania's ethnographic regions. 

During the educational session, you will learn about various plants suitable for drying. The educator will teach you how to weave traditional Vilnius palm branches and how they differed from palm branches used in other regions at that time.

During the educational session, you will weave one palm branch, which you can take home with you.

The educational sessions are led by Aurelė Pociuvienė, a folk artist with extensive experience and education in the field of non-formal education.

Did you know that at the Klaipėda District Crafts Center, we teach more than just regular knitting and crocheting? Here, you can learn how to knit on a rake. We're not kidding. 

During one educational session, participants can knit a scarf on a rake, and if they choose traditional activities, during several sessions, everyone will make a traditional mitten, sock, or glove, and learn about wool, linen, and cotton threads and their production.

You can take the items you knit during the educational sessions home with you, and we hope they will keep you warm for many winters to come.

The educational sessions are led by folk artist Valė Krauleidienė.

Culinary education will teach you how to make "cibulynė" (onion soup), roll a kastinis (a type of bread), and bake cookies or buns. If you don't want to cook, we offer tastings of local farmers' products. You can try real farm cheese, fragrant homemade kvass, and bacon, ham, and sausage made according to old recipes and certified. A great way to spend time with your team, family, or friends – culinary heritage. 

You will be amazed at how fragrant and delicious our traditional dishes are.

Educational activities are led by folk artists Valė Krauleidienė or Aurelė Pociuvienė.

Don't eat your aunt's buns, our grandmothers used to say, but if you don't want to eat your aunt's buns, come visit us at the craft center, where educational activities will teach you how to bake your own, and if you really want to, you can take one home for your mom and dad to try.

Come visit us on an excursion. Here, we play games and remember other folk entertainment.

Baking buns on a bonfire is an ancient shepherd's activity. In ancient times, when housewives sent shepherds out to graze their livestock, they would sometimes give them a piece of sweet dough, which the shepherds would wrap around a broken tree branch and bake on a bonfire. We invite you to try this archaic activity in the beautiful Veiviržos River Valley, where you can wade through the cool Veiviržos River in warm weather, feel the grass under your bare feet, and bake fragrant shepherd's bread on a real campfire. 

During this educational activity, each participant wraps the prepared dough around a stick and bakes it on the bonfire. The baked bread can be seasoned with various additives.

Upon request, the educational activities can also be held at a location of your choice.

The educational activities are led by folk artists Valė Krauleidienė or Aurelė Pociuvienė.

Making birds out of thread is a simple educational activity that produces a very beautiful product. Due to its simplicity and straightforward technique, it is also suitable for older preschoolers. A bird made of thread is very decorative and suitable for decorating your home or office space. When hung on a branch, it swings and looks like a real bird perched in your space.

During this educational activity, each participant winds the threads, cuts them, and forms a beautiful product—a bird—which they take home with them after the activity.

The educational activities are led by folk artists Valė Krauleidienė or Aurelė Pociuvienė.

Candle casting is an ancient method of candle production. The first candle casting wheels in Lithuania, found in Dzūkija and dating back to the 14th century, have survived to this day. Natural wax candles were extremely expensive in ancient times and were not used in the homes of ordinary people, or were used very rarely for sacred purposes only. We invite you to immerse yourself in an educational experience enveloped in the special scent of natural beeswax, which will calm and relax you, and the scent of beeswax will even cure some illnesses. We pour candles sitting in a circle, as only close and intimate work will create a beautifully poured, natural candle. 

During the educational activity, we heat the wax until it is liquid, and then use an ancient wheel to pour the hot wax onto a stretched wick, thus forming a candle. We only pour candles from natural beeswax, using natural linen thread for the wick. After the educational session, each participant will take home 1-2 natural wax candles cast using the ancient method.

The educational sessions are led by folk artists Valė Krauleidienė or Aurelė Pociuvienė.