$20/person. Ages 16 and up. No experience necessary; all materials included.
Registration has been extended to Friday, March 1. Call 267-502-2990 to register.

Elaine and Matt Vardjan teach the art of creating German paper stars (Froebel stars). The folded German star is an old paper craft that was popularized by Friedrich Froebel in the early 1800s in Germany. It is likely that Froebel did not invent the star, as it is believed to be a craft that was generally known for some time. Combinations of individual stars can be used to make other items known as “Star Craft,” including crosses, baskets, and mobiles. You can find some of the basic shapes of the Froebel star in certain barn star patterns painted on Pennsylvania buildings.

About the instructors:

Elaine and her husband Matthew Vardjan took over a family printshop in 1974, which has been in the family since 1904, printing traditional folk-art designs in the Pennsylvania German Motif. These designs are truly “one-of-a-kind" works of art. The German folded stars are an extension of that. After Matt’s passing in 2011, Elaine and Matt’s son Matthew took a more active role in the shop’s operations. "Matt the younger” was taught by Elaine to make the stars when he was 8 years old and has been making them ever since. The “Star Craft” line of items was developed by Matthew beginning in 2008. This has grown into an art form of its own. Elaine and Matt Vardjan (mother and son) have been teaching classes together for several years. You can learn more and view their products here: www.rbcrafts.org/member/paper/vardjan.