“That The Future May Learn From The Past”
The International Guild of Miniature Artisans, Ltd., conducts Study Programs at leading museums for its members. Working with the museums’ curatorial staffs and Guild instructors, Guild members study specific masterworks and related exhibits. Instructors research their projects and design challenging classes within an eighteen-hour framework. Students learn to create miniature replicas of full-sized objects from the museums’ collections. They might be an historic piece of furniture, a painting, a household object, or an architectural detail such as a fireplace or paneled wall. Other attractions include special guided tours that enrich the students’ knowledge and appreciation of beautifully crafted objects. Beginners and experienced miniaturists alike will learn and benefit from the program.
The Guild invites you to be a part of these unique learning experiences!
$700 for Guild members, $750 for nonmembers
Other than the Friday dinner at the Williamsburg Community Building and the Monday graduation luncheon, meals are not included in the cost of the study program.
Classes will be taught at the Williamsburg Lodge.
$185 includes unlimited museum pass to the Colonial Williamsburg museums, Friday dinner, and the graduation luncheon.
Colonial Williamsburg’s Conference Services has arranged a special discounted rate of $145 per night plus tax for Guild Study Program attendees and guests at the Williamsburg Lodge. This rate is for a deluxe room (two double beds) in the Williamsburg Lodge and is the same whether double or single occupancy. There is no limit on the number of nights that can be reserved, so come early and/or stay late to see more of the local attractions.
For room reservations call: 1-800-261-9530, ask for Group Reservations Department, and mention the International Guild of Miniature Artisans to get the special rate or book online.
Note: The Lodge will be full for the weekend of our program. Please make your reservations early.
| Friday, January 16, 2026 | |
| 9:00 AM | Behind the Scenes Tour of Basset Hall (Additional Charge of $35). You must be pre-registered |
| 2:00 PM | Tour with Jan Gilliam of new museum exhibits on silver and textiles and an overview of the 100th anniversary of Colonial Williamsburg exhibit followed by project viewing and program opening |
| 6:30 PM | Dinner at the Williamsburg Community Building, 401 North Boundary St. |
| Saturday, January 17, 2026 | |
| 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM | Classes in the Williamsburg Lodge |
| 10:00 AM–10:30 AM | Coffee Break |
| 12:00 Noon–1:30 PM | Lunch on your own |
| 3:00 PM–3:30 PM | Afternoon Break |
| Evening | Dinner on Your Own |
| Sunday, January 18, 2026 | |
| 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM | Classes in the Williamsburg Lodge |
| 10:00 AM–10:30 AM | Coffee Break |
| 12:00 Noon–1:30 PM | Lunch on your own |
| 3:00 PM–3:30 PM | Afternoon Break |
| Evening | Dinner on Your Own |
| Monday, January 20, 2026 | |
| 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Classes in the Williamsburg Lodge |
| 10:00 AM–10:30 AM | Coffee Break |
| 12:00 Noon | Graduation Luncheon in the Williamsburg Lodge |
18th Century Tea Table
Iulia Chin Lee, IGMA Artisan
The main focus in this class is to understand the form of the cabriole legs and how to mark and correctly cut the legs.
Tea-drinking was very popular in the 18th century and tea tables were in high demand in most households. It was essential to have a tea table in the drawing room setting. The rectangular tea tables may be recognized by their small size and especially by having a rim or raised edge, which projects above the level of the top to prevent the cup and saucers from slipping off.
This rectangular tea table is in the Queen Anne style with cabriole legs terminated in round Dutch or club feet with “shoes” underneath. The appearance of the cyma curve in cabriole legs presents the most elegant element in furniture making in the 18th century.
This project includes cutting cabriole legs, making knee blocks and shaping club feet. The tea table will be assembled with mortise and tenon joints, made in class; the rim will be cut to fit and added to the top of the table.
Power Tools used: drill press and table saw.
All skill levels are welcome.
Materials Fee: $65.00
1:87 Scale Millinery and Mantua Maker’s Shop
Nell Corkin, IGMA Fellow
Colonial Williamsburg’s Margaret Hunter Millinery Shop showcases a trade practiced mainly by women in the 18th century, in an original building that was once owned outright by a single businesswoman. Margaret advertised herself as both a milliner, who made accessory items for men and women, including hats, aprons, petticoats, gloves, muffs and scarves, and a mantua maker, who made dresses.
The shop itself has an attractive fitted interior, with lots of shelves and drawers to store the many fabrics and other materials needed for the diverse items that might be ordered. Large arched niches on each side of the back wall were used to display finished pieces. Smaller finished items were also displayed around the shop.
The class will be making a 1:87 scale room box of the shop interior as seen from inside the front door. The finished piece will be approximately 1 ¾” high by 2 ¼” wide by 1 ½” deep, and can be used in a 1:12 scale setting as a miniature or displayed on its own.Within a basic plywood box, students will construct interior structural elements and small furnishing pieces, clothing and accessory items. The outside will be finished to create an attractive enclosed box.
All skill levels are welcome. Previous experience with small scales is not necessary, although it will help to have experience with accurate measuring and cutting.
Materials Fee: $90.00
Utility Table
Bob Hurd, IGMA ArtisanThis table was made in the Williamsburg area sometime in the 1770-1790 time period. The materials used include cabinet-grade cherry, yellow pine and iron. The distressed appearance of the original is likely due to much use and poor storage conditions after being removed from its indoor environment.
The table displays many elements that indicate it had a very distinguished beginning; these include the choice of cabinet grade lumber, tongue and groove joinery in the top and in the drawer bottom, the dovetailed drawer, pegged mortise-and-tenon construction, chamfered legs and molded edges on the stretchers, top and drawer front. There are two drawer pulls.
Students can finish the piece with whatever method they choose. The prototype will have a stain and lacquer finish. Application of the finish will be discussed but due to drying times, will likely have to be done at home.
Power tools used: Table saw and drill press.
Skill level: Intermediate
Materials Fee $45.00
Herbs in the Colonial Garden and Kitchen
Ree Miller, IGMA Artisan
Herbs played many roles in colonial lives, from flavoring foods to dying cloth as well as scenting the atmosphere and making up remedies for common ailments. If the mistress was well off enough to have some property she would have grown her own, likely in a kitchen garden, with herbs taking prominent position just outside her kitchen door. In the colder months she would have relied on dried versions of those same herbs that she would have put by in the fall, likely hanging them in bunches from her kitchen or storeroom ceiling.
In this class students will make potted versions of 3 different herbs, a small garden plot of sorrel and dried bunches of basil, chamomile and lavender among others.
All skill levels are welcome.
Materials Fee $60.00
January 16, 2026 at 9:00AM
This year Jan Gilliam has arranged for us to tour recently reopened Basset Hall, which became the home of the Rockefellers in 1936. This 18th century white frame house was one of the 88 original surviving buildings shown to the Rockefellers to spark in them an interest in restoring Colonial Williamsburg. Abby Aldrich Rockefeller filled the home with antiques and early American folk art which was to form the core of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum opening in 1957.
Again, the number of participants that can be accommodated will be limited.
Jan and the staff at Colonial Williamsburg go out of their way to provide us with special views behind the public curtain at the various historic buildings, laboratories and museums in Williamsburg and in return, the funds we collect for these special tours is returned to them, in its entirety, as our contribution and thanks for these efforts.
Tour Cost: $35
Sophia Harris
Guild Administrator
International Guild of Miniature Artisans, Ltd.
PO Box 3643
Hollywood, FL 33083
Phone: (831)724-7974
sophia.harris@igma.org
You can either register online or by mail.
A deposit of $100 is required to secure a space in the Guild Study Program at Colonial Williamsburg. Full payment is due by November 1, 2024.
The online payment portal is set up to process the entire registration fee. If you wish to make a deposit only, please print out and mail in a paper registration. If paying online, you may add a guest and/or the Behind the Scenes Tour during the registration process, as well as indicate class preferences.
To register through our secure online payment system, click on the red button below.
To register by mail, click on the button below to download the registration form. Fill out the form and include payment information or check and mail to: Sophia Harris, Guild Administrator, International Guild of Miniature Artisans, Ltd, P.O. Box 3643, Hollywood, FL 33083.
Download Registration Form (PDF)
If you are registering before November 1, 2025, include a $100 deposit with the balance due November 1, 2025. If registering after November 1, 2025, include full payment. Instructors will contact their students with further information regarding their classes and instructions on payment of materials fees.
Students who are registered and paid in full by November 1 will be assigned to their first-choice class if at all possible. If any classes are oversubscribed, a drawing will be conducted to determine class assignments. If the first-choice class is filled, the student will be assigned to his/her second, or if that is filled, then third, or fourth choice as listed on the registration form. Any student who lists only a first choice and does not get into the class will have his/her registration fee returned. In the event of all classes being filled, your registration fee will be returned.
In the event you must cancel, a refund minus a $25 cancellation fee will be made for cancellations prior to November 1, 2025. After November 1, a refund will be given only if another student can fill your place.