Betsy Raymond will demonstrate the craft of needle felting on Thursday, August 4, at 1 p.m. at the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society. Submitted photo

The Museums of the Bethel Historical Society on Broad Street have announced the presenters for this summer’s Mill Brook Craft Series.

Each Thursday afternoon in August at 1 p.m., craftspeople will lead workshops in the Twitchell Education Center, 14 Broad St. in Bethel, a replica (on the exterior) of Dr. Moses Mason’s 19^th century library building. Each week, a different craft will be highlighted, with historical background, demonstrations and opportunities for hands-on experience provided to participants.

Needle felting with Betsy Raymond is set for Aug. 4. Raymond was taught to knit, crochet and sew as a young girl by her mother and aunt, and has enjoyed crafts of all kinds ever since. She recently added needle felting to her list of fiber hobbies.

Weaving with Adele Harvey is scheduled to take place Aug. 11. A seasonal resident of Bethel, Harvey has been a weaver for more than 50 years, producing functional household textiles for her own and friends’ use.

Cheese making with Heather Vail will be the focus on Aug. 18. A lifelong resident of Newry and Bethel, Vail has been raising dairy goats and making cheese for 30 years. She will give a brief history of cheese making, describe the process, and offer a taste of the finished product.

Basket making with Wendy Hutchins will wrap up the series on Aug. 25. Hutchins first learned to cane chair seats through adult ed classes with master caner Hans Paulsen, and took up basket weaving after discovering the similarities in the materials and techniques used.

There is no charge for these programs, but donations will be accepted.

The 2022 Mill Brook Craft Series is supported by the Florence Bickford Hastings Traditional Crafts Fund and presented in memory of volunteer and educator Tineke Ouwinga.

For more information, call the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society at 207-824-2908 or email info@bethelhistorical.org.

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