Intro to Broom Making
Craft custom brooms while exploring the rich history and artistry behind this age-old practice.
Available spots
Service Description
Amanda Abdou will guide students through an introduction to Broom Making where everyone will have the opportunity to craft their own custom brooms while exploring the rich history and artistry behind this age-old practice. In this beginner class, students will learn to create four types of hand brooms – simple whisk, scrubber, turkey wing, and triad broom - using broomcorn, a natural material derived from a kind of sorghum. The workshop will discuss the history of broom-making, broom lore, and ritual practices while reviewing different styles of brooms, tools specific to the craft, and tips for setting up a functional broom-making workspace. This workshop uses both hands and feet to create the brooms and requires some hand and upper body strength. Long sleeves and something that comfortably covers the lap area are recommended for those with skin sensitivities to avoid irritation. Perfect for beginners, students will leave with their handmade brooms, foundational skills to continue making brooms, and information about where to find materials. Artist Bio: Amanda Abdou is an herbalist and broom maker based in Los Angeles. She graduated from the Parsons School of Design and combines her design background with traditional crafts. Amanda apprenticed at The Northeast School of Botanical Medicine in Ithaca, New York, and studied broom-making at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina under Mark Hendry, as well as with Rose Fairley in Los Angeles. She focuses on the history and artistry of broom-making and aims to deepen the understanding of the craft and materials involved.
Upcoming Sessions
Cancellation Policy
Studio Policies Payment in full is needed at the time of registration. Student cancellations more than 4 weeks in advance of a workshop are fully refundable, minus a 20% processing fee. Cancellations 2-4 weeks in advance are 50% refundable, minus a 20% processing fee. There is no refund for cancellations made less than 2 weeks before the workshop. The only exception to this policy is if your spot can be filled from a waitlist, in which case you will receive your refund minus a 20% processing fee. If a workshop is cancelled by an Instructor for any reason you will receive a full refund, unless you prefer to apply your payment to another workshop.