Category Archives: Maker Cafe

Maker Cafe, January 22, 2026, 5:30 to 8:00 pm

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Thursday, January 22, 2026

5:30-6:30  Make Paper Valentines with Nancy & Nancy

Potato prints. Doilies. Scissors. WhooHoo! ❤️

6:30-8:00  Cafe with Live Music by the Peterson String Band

Details

5:30-6:30 Make Paper Valentines with Nancy & Nancy

Potato prints. Doilies. Scissors.

  • Go home with homemade Valentines, and with ideas and inspiration to make more at home.
  • Please join us before the Maker Cafe music starts and learn how to make Valentines with Nancy Marstaller and Nancy Bouffard.
  • Doors open at 5:15pm and we love it when people arrive early to settle in.
  • ​​Use your own potato stamps and/or other stamps to create your own special Valentine cards.
  • Advance sign up helpful but not required. If you sign up, we will send you a reminder and info. Walk-ins welcome. Email Craig@Freshley.com.
  • Nancy and Nancy will provide all materials and instructions.
  • For this session, $5-$10 (sliding scale, you decide) will be collected on site to pay for materials and to support the Cafe.
  • The Valentines Session will go from 5:30pm until about 7:00pm.

Your Valentine Leaders, Nancy Marstaller and Nancy Bouffard

6:30-8:00 Cafe with Live Music by The Peterson String Band

  • Free and open to the public. No sign up required.
  • A blend of traditional, folk, and holiday tunes with some sing-a-longs for the season.
  • The Peterson String Band is Trevor, Anna, and Avery Peterson.
  • Very popular at the Maker Cafe. This will be their third appearance.
  • Bring a project to work on. Some knitting, stitching, writing, reading, drawing, coloring, carving, or whatever you want. And if you don’t bring a project that’s okay too.

Maker Cafe at Durham Friends, June 19, 2025, 5:30-8:00 pm

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Thursday, June 19, 2025

5:30  Learn Ukulele for Absolute Beginners

6:30  Live Music with Meg McIntyre and Carlos Cuellar

5:30-6:30 Learn Ukulele for Absolute Beginners with Craig Freshley

  • If you are ukulele-curious but don’t know the first thing about how to play one, this session is for you.
  • We’re going to learn three chords and three songs in one hour: a folk song, a kid song, and a rock song.
  • No experience necessary.
  • No theory. No scales. We’re gonna jump and strum some tunes!
  • Advance sign up required.
  • Email Craig@Freshley.com to reserve your spot (note if you will bring a ukulele or if you would would like us to loan you one), or with any questions.

6:30-8:00 Maker Cafe with Live Music

Free & Open to the Public.

No advance sign-up required. Just show up.

Dinner and drinks available for donation.

Bring a project to work on if you like.

We’re the place where it’s cool to make stuff while you hang out.

Meagan McIntyre, violin, has appeared in concert at notable venues such as Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Jordan Hall in Boston and the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. Known for her versatility, she enjoys exploring a wide variety of musical styles. In addition to her regular participation in the new music concert series Vigourous Tenderness and regenerative arts company Hogfish, she has performed on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show with pop singer Halsey and Indie rock musician St. Vincent. Meagan is a member of the innovative and genre-crossing Amarantos String Quartet who bring their collaborative chamber music to diverse audiences and venues. She served on the faculty at both the Institute of Art Education in Porto Alegre, Brazil and the Portland Conservatory of Music. She studied at New England Conservatory and Indiana University at Bloomington. Meagan plays a Pierre Louvet, 1752 violin crafted in Paris.

Carlos Cuellar had been performing and composing music for 40 years. He studied music at Antioch College in Ohio and has taken workshops with various jazz artists. His group The Franklin Street Arterial opened for Gary Burton Quartet at City Hall and appeared on various radio and television shows. Their album continues to sell in the US and Europe. He plays in folk & jazz groups and also performs his original music. Carlos has also recorded music for television commercials and corporate and non-profit videos.

We’re taking July and August off – see you in September!

Maker Session and Café, April 17, 2025

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Make a Terrarium with Kim Bolshaw

Live Music with The Peterson String Band

5:30-6:30 Learn How to Make a Terrarium with Kim

  • Advance sign up required. Email Craig@Freshley.com to reserve your spot.
  • There might be a materials charge; details provided when you write to sign up or inquire.

6:30-8:30 Maker Cafe with The Peterson String Band

  • Free and open to the public. No sign up required.
  • Bring a project to work on. Some knitting, stitching, writing, reading, drawing, coloring, carving, or whatever you want. And if you don’t bring a project that’s okay too.