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St. Johns County Council on Aging



Hobby

Art of Building Handmade Books from Scratch - Altered Playing Cards on Monday, July 20 at River House

$1250

with Liz Monaco

Calendar Jul 20, 2026 at 1:30 pm, runs for 1 week

Discover the centuries-old craft of bookbinding in this hands-on course designed for beginners and creative enthusiasts alike. Students will learn the fundamental techniques of constructing handmade books — from folding and sewing signatures (bookbinding process of stitching multiple folded groups of paper (signatures) together using binder thread to create the internal text block of a book) to attaching covers and finishing edges. The course is made up of individual sessions, each exploring a different and creative aspect of designing and personalizing your book. No prior experience needed — just a love of paper, texture, paints and making things by hand.

Altered Playing Cards- Playing cards are the perfect addition to making your book unique. Using paints, stencils, stamps and even fabric scraps, you can design each card to look like it is old, vintage, mid-century, shabby chic, a sample specimen card or any other different style you can create. Place them in special hidden places in your book.

Supplies specific to this class:

  • Playing cards
  • Paints- watercolor, inks, acrylic
  • Markers – permanent and watercolor
  • Scissors
  • Fabric scraps
  • Tissue paper, napkins
  • Glue stick, white Elmer’s glue
  • Stencils
  • Decorative suggestions- stickers, dried flowers, bling, etc.

General Supplies needed:

  • Journals- blank sketch/watercolor books, or you can hand make a book or alter a book.
  • Pens, markers, pencils, rulers, brushes Paints (acrylics, watercolors, inks, metallics)
  • Colored pencils
  • Collage materials: (magazine clippings, newspapers, paper scraps)
  • Glue or adhesives 
  • Stamps and stencils
  • Washi or decorative tapes
  • Gesso: white or clear
  • Sponges
  • Palette knives

Optional supplies

  • Fabric,
  • Textured papers, 
  • Brayer
  • Gel press
  • Ink sprays 
  • Found objects or memorabilia 

Class session will be held on Monday, July 20 from 1:30 to 3:30 at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Art of Building Handmade Books from Scratch - Pockets, Tuck Spots and Hidden Places on Monday, July 27 at River House

$1250

with Liz Monaco

Calendar Jul 27, 2026 at 1:30 pm, runs for 1 week

Discover the centuries-old craft of bookbinding in this hands-on course designed for beginners and creative enthusiasts alike. Students will learn the fundamental techniques of constructing handmade books — from folding and sewing signatures (bookbinding process of stitching multiple folded groups of paper (signatures) together using binder thread to create the internal text block of a book) to attaching covers and finishing edges. The course is made up of individual sessions, each exploring a different and creative aspect of designing and personalizing your book. No prior experience needed — just a love of paper, texture, paints and making things by hand.

Pockets, Tuck spots and Hidden Places- These are added to your books to extend places to hide notes, tags, journal cards or memorabilia. By using special origami type folding, cutouts and glue you are only limited by your imagination as to where and how to include them with your book design.

Supplies specific to this class:

  • Decorative paper, cardstock, book pages
  • Magazine images that correspond to your book design
  • White Elmer’s glue
  • Decorative suggestions- stickers, paper clusters, silk flowers, stamps/ink, bling, etc.

General Supplies needed:

  • Journals- blank sketch/watercolor books, or you can hand make a book or alter a book.
  • Pens, markers, pencils, rulers, brushes Paints (acrylics, watercolors, inks, metallics)
  • Colored pencils
  • Collage materials: (magazine clippings, newspapers, paper scraps)
  • Glue or adhesives 
  • Stamps and stencils
  • Washi or decorative tapes
  • Gesso: white or clear
  • Sponges
  • Palette knives

Optional supplies

  • Fabric,
  • Textured papers, 
  • Brayer
  • Gel press
  • Ink sprays 
  • Found objects or memorabilia 

Class session will be held on Monday, July 27 from 1:30 to 3:30 at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Gel Press Printing on Mondays in August at River House

$3750

with Liz Monaco

Calendar Aug 3, 2026 at 1:30 am, runs for 3 weeks

Gel Press Printing- This printing technique can be used to create your own background images for your book pages. Gel press printing is a true artform in itself letting the artist make designs to be used in collage, and one off prints. With the addition of markers, stencils and even leaves and flowers you can make unbelievable prints. Let your creativity flow with this one-of-a-kind medium!

Supplies needed: 

  • Copy paper (minimum 24lb)
  • Envelopes, paper scraps, playing cards, etc. what ever you have.
  • Acrylic paints – (hobby paints are good for beginners) heavier tube paints are better.
  • Gel Press printing plate 5x7 or larger (Do not get the Speedball Press it’s only for ink)
  • Breyer
  • Acrylic Markers
  • Permanent black marker wide tip
  • Stencils  Flowers and plants
  • Black and white magazine images to do transfers.
  • Optional: Other papers can also be used besides copy paper. Rice paper, deli paper, tissue paper,

Class sessions will meet on Mondays, August 3, 24, 31 (no class sessions August 10 & 17) from 1:30 to 3:30 at River House (179 Marine St. in St. Augustine)

For ages 18 and up.

Know Before You Go Fishing Clinic Series on 3 Tuesdays and 1 Monday in August at River House

$3750

with Donna Frantz

Calendar Aug 4, 2026 at 9 am, runs for 4 weeks

New to fishing or just new to fishing in Florida? 

This series you will learn:

  • Know before you go - this will give you the basics
  • Florida Rules and Regulations
  • Learn what to keep and what to throw back
  • Knot tying
  • Bait selection
  • When/where to fish
  • What to have in your tackle box
  • Proper fish handling

During this series you will learn how to fish from the beach, along the shore of the Intracoastal, or from a pier and how to catch a variety of interesting species. 

Come get schooled up and have fun! Attend all scheduled class sessions in the month for a chance to win a Rod and Reel Combo!

Class sessions will be held Tuesdays, August 4, 11, 25 and Monday, August 17 from 9 to 10:30 at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

 For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Blues 2 Guitar Course on Tuesdays in August at River House

$2825

with Dennis Fermin

Calendar Aug 4, 2026 at 1 pm, runs for 4 weeks

Come explore the world of Blues Guitar in a fun group setting.

Requirements:

  • 12 Bar Blues Chord Progressions
  • Pentatonic Scales, Riffs, and Techniques
  • Classic 12 Bar Blues Songs
  • Need Pen or Pencil
  • Music Stand Suggested

Dennis Fermin has been playing guitar for over 30 years and joyfully helping others learn to play along the way. As a graduate from Musician's Institute of California, he has the skills and the patience to teach on many different topics and styles of music. Currently you can hear him perform locally as Fermin Spanish Guitar.

Class sessions will be held on Tuesdays, August 4, 11 and 25 from 1 to 2:30 at River House (179 Marine St.   St. Augustine 32084). No class on Tuesday, August 18. 

For ages 18 and up.

Watercolor Landscape Painting on Wednesdays in July at River House

$50

with David Ouellette

Calendar Aug 5, 2026 at 9 am, runs for 4 weeks

This Watercolor class is designed to expose you to the unique characteristics and techniques of the medium using various scenes and compositional layout. We will be studying atmospheric perspective and depth of field that makes landscape watercolor painting so effective. There will be regular critiques and discussions to improve your understanding and skill development.

Mr. Ouellette received his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Arts in Painting from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He taught at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and showed in many galleries and museums including the Detroit Institute of Art. He moved to St. Augustine in 1981 where he continued his career as an artist and professor of Fine Art at the Florida School of the Arts in his twenty-six year tenure. He was also a professor of Fine Arts, Painting and Design and Art History at SJRCC St. Augustine campus. He is currently teaching Art History and Studio classes at Flagler College Continuing Education.

Watercolor Materials and Supplies                

Brushes:

  • sable (preferred), ox hair (if you can find it or sable blends or sable synthetics 
  • 1”       flat
  • 1/2”    flat
  • #6 and #8 round
  • rigger brush 

 Paper:

  • Two sheets of Arches 22”x30”, 140 lb. cold press,  or a 9” x 12” block      

Paints:

Box sets of tube watercolors which should include most of these:        

  • ultramarine blue
  • cerulean blue
  • cobalt blue
  • thalo blue
  • alizarin crimson
  • cadmium red light
  • cadmium yellow light 
  • new gamboge
  • burnt umber
  • burnt sienna 

Other materials:                            

  • covered palette, plastic
  • painting board approx. 16” x 20”
  • masking tape
  • materials box
  • non-breakable container for water
  • roll of paper towels

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, August 5, 12, 19, 26 from 9 to 11 at River House (179 Marine St.  St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Drawing 1 on Wednesdays in August at River House

$50

with David Ouellette

Calendar Aug 5, 2026 at 11:15 am, runs for 4 weeks

This course is structured to develop basic drawing techniques by concentrating on the elements of descriptive drawing through observation. 

Students will develop the qualities of line and volume with a full range of values. The course will also cover linear perspective and compositional design.

Materials needed:

  • 18" x 24" drawing paper pad (not sketching paper)
  • 16" x 20" (approx.) drawing board
  • #2 and #4 graphic pencils
  • white plastic eraser
  • kneaded eraser
  • masking tape

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, August 5, 12, 19, 26 from 11:15 to 1:15 at the River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084).

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Jamming to the Classics - Guitar & Ukulele on Wednesdays in August at River House

$3750

with Dennis Fermin

Calendar Aug 5, 2026 at 11:30 am, runs for 4 weeks

Join us as we play your favorite popular Classics, in a fun group setting. Emphasis on keeping smooth chord changes and learning a few new chords and strum patterns along the way.

Requirements

  • Ability to play basic chords reasonably well
  • Guitar or Ukulele
  • Music stand suggested
  • Pen or pencil

Dennis Fermin has been playing guitar for over 30 years and joyfully helping others learn to play along the way. As a graduate from Musician's Institute of California, he has the skills and the patience to teach on many different topics and styles of music. Currently you can hear him perform locally as Fermin Spanish Guitar.

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, August 5, 12, 19, 26 from 11:30 to 1 at River House (179 Marine St.  St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

 

Will run





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