Saturday & Sunday
November 14th – 15th
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Admission: 60% off – $100 per student (regularly $250)
Includes both workshop days and materials.
Ages 12+ years
Thanks to a generous grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission, we are thrilled to offer this special weekend workshop at 60% off for up to 10 participants! Join us and learn the intricate history of hairwork, enjoy a behind-the-ropes tour of Oaklands Mansion, and gain the skills to begin your journey as a practicing hair artist.
During this hands-on workshop, you will:
All materials are included—just bring yourself!
Class Schedule:
Saturday, November 14th, 2026
Beginning Table Braiding Workshop
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
10 Students, ages 12+
Students will learn the techniques of hair sorting and table braiding and create 1 braid.
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Introductions
– A brief presentation on the history of Victorian Hair Art
– Introductions with class and materials
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Behind-the-ropes tour of Oaklands Mansion and their Hair Art collection.
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Introduction to Table Braiding and preparing the hair strands.
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Break for Lunch
1:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Students will complete a braid to make a hair jewelry bracelet.
Sunday, November 15th, 2026
Beginning Gimp Work & Table Braiding
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
10 Students, ages 12+
Students will learn the techniques to create 2 types of wire work hair flowers & 1 braid.
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Students will learn the techniques to create 2 types of wire work hair flowers.
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Students will choose and prep hair to complete a second braid
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Lunch Break
1:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Students will complete a second braid to make a hair jewelry bracelet.
About the Classroom
The Oaklands Cottage classroom provides a quiet, comfortable setting for workshop participants and students. Located just down the brick walkway on the east side of Oaklands Mansion, the Cottage features a complete kitchen for your convenience alongside a peaceful learning environment. Feel free to bring your favorite snacks, meals, or drinks to keep in the refrigerator or warm up in the microwave or oven during class breaks.
About your instructor, Jody Johnson
Along with being a staff member at Oaklands Mansion, Jody is an independent researcher and demonstrator specializing in the art, history, and restoration of Victorian hair work. Over the past four years, she has dedicated herself to collecting antique hair art and mastering traditional techniques. Her formal training includes studying Swedish hair work at the North House Folk School with Karen & Britta Keenan, coursework at Leila’s Hair Museum with Zen Hansen, and co-hosting a specialized workshop alongside Zen of Hair Anthropology. Passionate about historical preservation, Jody actively restores antique pieces and educates audiences on the rich local, national, and international history of this intricate, nearly lost 19th-century craft.
What better way to tell the world you support the arts than with a TN Arts Commission Arts plate. Just take your old plate to your county clerk and swap it—they will prorate your tag fees, so you don’t have to wait until your tag renewal is due. Learn more: http://tnspecialtyplates.org/