ILKW 2025 A Lot Of Everything Under One Woof!
Thursday Sep. 11, 2025 5 PM To Sunday Sep. 14, 2025 2 PM
Under active development... Please be patient as we finalize the schedule!
Thursday Sep. 11, 2025
The workshop will contain a little about my life and experiences. Basics practices of whip play and short history lesson. Learn the parts that make up a whip and different types. Recommendations for setting the scene for mood and risk aware safety. A sensual and whip demonstration at the end. Time for questions and answers and definitely fun!
I was seven and had my first whip. Although there were hints of SM throughout my life, I did not act on them right away. Now, I have over 35 years of experience and am still teachable and want to learn new things. I have taught many classes on whips and other topics. Over the years in the community, I’ve been a part of groups, organizations and even honored a couple of times for the work. I come here with an Old Guard experience and change with today’s environment. I’m so grateful and honored to Knot A Contest to have me back to teach with my boy GD Jarry.
I am relatively new to the BDSM scene, roughly five years, but wow what a ride. Always had thoughts of being of service and sensation play. Started coming out a bit to our local dungeon and had a few exceptional scenes with edge players. I started learning more about whips, paddling and sensation play from My Sir. My Sir and I have taught numerous classes in the Tri State Area of Cincinnati including sensation play, whips, and my favorite abrasion play. The spiritually, connection, and the playfulness. My Sir likes it best when I am snarky and occasionally wear tie dye of some sort. I am so honored to be asked to help teach with my Sir whips again at Knot A Contest, My Sir is Mark O'Keefe.
What is catharsis, and how do you create a scene that will bring emotional release? In this class, we delve deeply into the science and experience of catharsis in BDSM play and how planning and executing these kinds of scenes differ from a usual BDSM scene. We’ll talk about setting expectations, planning for the unexpected, and cultivating the right headspace for catharsis to happen both from a Top and bottom perspective. We will also show that, like almost all BDSM scenes, catharsis is often not about the intensity of play or toys involved, but about the intention and headspace brought to a scene. The class will culminate in a live demo that often brings even those watching into a cathartic release.
The hood comes off, and the victim is strapped to a chair…how long can they hold out before giving in and giving up the information? In this class, we’ll explore interrogation kinks and play from gathering intel and planning an interrogation scene to execution to aftercare. We’ll talk about the psychological aspects of this play and how it can feed into other core kinks like humiliation, degradation, and objectification, as well as how to mix in your favorite types of play like abduction, electrical, or rough body play. This class culminates in a live demo of these techniques
Breathplay, cutting off oxygen to the brain for sexual gratification, and face slapping are rightly categorized as edge play because they come with a significant risk of serious injury or death.
In this interactive discussion, we will go over the risks involved and some ways to mitigate them. Participants should leave with the knowledge to practice these kinks in a safer way.
Malechus was introduced to the kink community in 2017 and found his home the same night.He is a switch, an owner, a dominant, a top, a bottom, and someone who does his best to experience everything he can, at least once. Over the years he has learned from some of the best and has presented around the Great Lakes Region on topics related to kink and polyamory. He is co-owner of the Facebook group The Polyamorous Underground, a space focused on growth and well being in the kink and polyamorous communities with over 20,000 members. He is also a member of the House of Fang and Claw, a blended kink and poly household that includes crossover power dynamics and lots of edge cases.
Fate has been active in the lifestyle for over 20 years. A GP veteran, she is a mostly subby switch collared to both IceBear and Malechus. She enjoys building up her poly house, The House of Fang and Claw, playing board games, reading romantasy, and learning random facts she will likely never use. She teaches a variety of classes from Bratting as a Service to Humiliation and Degradation and has taught in several states. She is neurospicy, so please don't be offended when she is, inevitably, terribly awkward.
Do you happen to remember when you fell and skinned your knees? That is an abrasion and not in a good way. Today, we will learn the good way. Abrasion play can be fun with the right players and very satisfying. There are many levels of abrasion play, from soft and gentle to hard and painful. I will give a little background, and it can be a great introduction to the world of SM. Abrasion play doesn’t even have to cost anything, you have all the tools you need with you. Let your mind wander on all the objects that can be used. Your mind is your biggest sex organ.
History
Anatomy
Types of Abrasions
Types of Toys
Setting
Safety
Aftercare and caring for toys
I was seven and had my first whip. Although there were hints of SM throughout my life, I did not act on them right away. Now, I have over 35 years of experience and am still teachable and want to learn new things. I have taught many classes on whips and other topics. Over the years in the community, I’ve been a part of groups, organizations and even honored a couple of times for the work. I come here with an Old Guard experience and change with today’s environment. I’m so grateful and honored to Knot A Contest to have me back to teach with my boy GD Jarry.
I am relatively new to the BDSM scene, roughly five years, but wow what a ride. Always had thoughts of being of service and sensation play. Started coming out a bit to our local dungeon and had a few exceptional scenes with edge players. I started learning more about whips, paddling and sensation play from My Sir. My Sir and I have taught numerous classes in the Tri State Area of Cincinnati including sensation play, whips, and my favorite abrasion play. The spiritually, connection, and the playfulness. My Sir likes it best when I am snarky and occasionally wear tie dye of some sort. I am so honored to be asked to help teach with my Sir whips again at Knot A Contest, My Sir is Mark O'Keefe.
Come together to unveil the intricate world of ageplay and age regression. What are the different types of ageplay? What are the stigmas behind it? We will dive into the diverse dimensions of these identities while skillfully treading the fine line between childlike innocence and mature sensibilities. Within this class, we will tackle the differences between age regression, bright age play, spicy ageplay, and alt (dark) ageplay. Warning: topics of sexual ageplay and trauma-induced ageplay will probably be discussed. Celina is a trauma-informed educator and will provide crisis intervention resources.
Celina Raven (she/they/it) is the beautiful collared property of her Daddy Lucian, indulging in various dynamics together. She's been a part of the community since 2017 and, individually and with her Daddy, is an international presenter teaching both in-person and virtual classes to the community. She is a proud member of the House of Raven, a leather family with a passion for service to our communities and preservation of our history. Her passion is to destigmatize Owner/property CNC dynamics and ageplay. She aims to educate and bridge the diverse communities. She has served as the 2023 Show Me Leather Little and is the founding member of All 'Bout Community Con. Remembering what it was like entering the community at 18, she welcomes newcomers while tirelessly advocating for inclusive spaces for growth and learning.
Beginner Class - lecture and discussion
There is a wide variety of ways that our mental health plays a role when engaging in kink activities. As such, it is crucial that considerations for and negotiations surrounding mental health are involved when engaging in our kinky activities. The purpose of this class is to explore ways to effectively navigate mental health while engaging in kink, including exploration of negotiations for scenes and dynamics, intentionally navigating triggering scenes, and support and discussion regarding what you can do if (when) a scene goes wrong. While we all must acknowledge that no protocol will perfectly cover every possible mental health impact, it is critical that time is taken to intentionally explore these impacts to engage in safer and more holistically risk-informed kink.
Lucian Raven (he/him) is a bootblack from Sioux City, Iowa, who has been engaged in leather care for nearly 15 years and has been formally bootblacking since 2020. He is the bootblack coordinator for Iowa Leather Weekend and host of Tristate Area BootLab, often working at The Blazing Saddle in Des Moines and Kings and Queens in Sioux City. His passions as a bootblack include leather restoration and caring for nontraditional gear (colored leather gear, neoprene, and pleather in particular). He's the Bratty Daddy and proud Owner of His doll, celina whom He explores various ageplay+ dynamics. As an educator, he enjoys teaching leather care skills, mental health, and disability considerations in kink, service-oriented power exchange, emotional sadism, and dynamic negotiations. He's a proud member of the House of Raven, a leather family in the Midwest with a passion for service to our communities and preservation of our history.
Intermediate Class - discussion
Disabilities can add unexpected complexities to dynamic negotiations, particularly when disabilities are acquired, dynamic, and/or progressive. Disability can impact all parties involved in a scene or dynamic, and we have unique experiences navigating disability within our Owner/property dynamic. These complexities can include physical limitations, considerations for how different types of play can be impacted, and ways mental health and headspace are influenced, and ways that medications can influence play. In this> class, we'll explore ways to negotiate through and adapt to the different changes, challenges, and care disability may bring to your dynamics.
Lucian Raven and His doll celina Raven, are in a 24/7 Owner/property ageplay+ long-distance dynamic. Their dynamic includes a variety of kinks and headspaces for both, because well, who wants to just have one kink? They equally share a kink for spreadsheets, are passionate about education and service, and are committed to growing the kink, leather, Master/slave, and ageplay communities. You may often hear them be referred to as the Sadist and service masochist, the diamonds of the party, Daddy and doll, or even the Brat and the sass. They are two of the founding designers of All 'Bout Community Conference, a free online ageplay conference. Together, Lucian and Celina bring an eccentric, eclectic, and quirky blend of experience, passion, and commitment to their teaching, enriching the community through their advocacy, education, and inclusive approaches.
This discussion is aimed at those who enjoy a little taboo in their taboo play. Whether you're into dark age play, fear play, humiliation, degradation, consensual nonconsent, or something darker - this is the place to talk about it. Devyn Stone facilitates the discussion, pulling in his own experiences with fear play, consensual nonconsent, and more.
Master (Devyn) Stone is an author, educator, and JEDI consultant. He is a Leatherman, an extrovert, a Sons of Anarchy fan, and a foodie. He enjoys organizing events and moderating! He's been practicing authority transfer dynamics since 2004. Today, he lives in Detroit with his property, Guan-Xuan.
Devyn has authored multiple concise and easy-to-digest BDSM "how-to" books. He is the Founder of Pragmatically Kinking and the Executive Producer for THRIVE.
Master Stone has a passion for giving and receiving education. His favorite topics to speak on include leadership, authority transfer, and neurodivergence.
A truly captivating scene requires more than just good storytelling—it demands the ability to immerse your audience fully. In this engaging and hands-on class, Devyn Stone will teach you how to enhance realism with the art of stage combat, fake blood, and essential movie special effects techniques. Whether you're crafting an intense moment for a play party, a dungeon scene, or a theatrical performance, you'll gain practical skills to elevate your storytelling and leave a lasting impression. Get ready to explore the magic of illusion and create unforgettable experiences!
Master (Devyn) Stone is an author, educator, and JEDI consultant. He is a Leatherman, an extrovert, a Sons of Anarchy fan, and a foodie. He enjoys organizing events and moderating! He's been practicing authority transfer dynamics since 2004. Today, he lives in Detroit with his property, Guan-Xuan.
Devyn has authored multiple concise and easy-to-digest BDSM "how-to" books. He is the Founder of Pragmatically Kinking and the Executive Producer for THRIVE.
Master Stone has a passion for giving and receiving education. His favorite topics to speak on include leadership, authority transfer, and neurodivergence.
Have you ever wanted to spice up your pet or puppy play with some rope bondage? Does the idea of a rope harness and leash appeal, or maybe you want to feel your little doggy legs bound up and ready to wriggle in? Participants in this class will learn some basic rope bondage ties they can pick and choose from to create different feelings and scenarios in their play.
Please come prepared with 3 or 4 15-foot lengths plus 3 or 4 30-foot lengths of rope for use in tying.
Linworth's (they/them) journey as a rope performer started in 2011 when they started exploring the rope bondage medium as an aerial art. The next year they threw themselves into the deep end by driving to Toronto for a weekend of performing at Morpheus Bondage Extravaganza, where they continued to make an appearance for five years running. Since then they have popped up in exhibitions around the continent - from Baltimore to Detroit to San Francisco - and moved to the "big city" of Columbus, Ohio where they are based as an international presenter and performer.
RowanMars (he/they) has a kink for workshops and using them to explore niche facets of the human experience. He has spent the past decade helping organize arts-centric events throughout the Midwest. Recently, he's begun dipping his toes into Kink-specific events, as well as bringing elements of Kink culture into other productions he's involved with.
Rowan is passionate about the importance of Play in adulthood, be it wholesome or spicy, and frequently approaches Kink through a lens of gamification. As an asexual (?) trans(!) guy, he's found Kink to be a powerful tool in navigating identity and deepening connections with self and others. His favorite things in life tend to fall under the 3 S's- Silly, Sacred, or Sexy, with Kink often managing to hit all three.
It turns out sporting goods companies have thought up a special solution for sore, post-workout muscles - vibrating foam rollers. Of course, we kinksters can always come up with creative uses of everyday items, so why not translate that creativity here? In particular, humans (with clitorises especially) enjoy vibrations for other “therapeutic” reasons, and a foam roller is perfect for those humans to sit on. And so, I give you… the fuck log.
By using the simple rope bondage techniques of tension, body handling, and friction, Linworth will demonstrate plastering their tying partner to this novel vibrating apparatus. And not only will they talk through how to apply the rope, they’ll also discuss affected neuroscience aspects like the somatosensory system, vasovagal response, and why this exercise has even more profound effects on the human body than you might think. Rope and vibration together - it’s a wonderful, wonderful thing.
Linworth's (they/them) journey as a rope performer started in 2011 when they started exploring the rope bondage medium as an aerial art. The next year they threw themselves into the deep end by driving to Toronto for a weekend of performing at Morpheus Bondage Extravaganza, where they continued to make an appearance for five years running. Since then they have popped up in exhibitions around the continent - from Baltimore to Detroit to San Francisco - and moved to the "big city" of Columbus, Ohio where they are based as an international presenter and performer.
RowanMars (he/they) has a kink for workshops and using them to explore niche facets of the human experience. He has spent the past decade helping organize arts-centric events throughout the Midwest. Recently, he's begun dipping his toes into Kink-specific events, as well as bringing elements of Kink culture into other productions he's involved with.
Rowan is passionate about the importance of Play in adulthood, be it wholesome or spicy, and frequently approaches Kink through a lens of gamification. As an asexual (?) trans(!) guy, he's found Kink to be a powerful tool in navigating identity and deepening connections with self and others. His favorite things in life tend to fall under the 3 S's- Silly, Sacred, or Sexy, with Kink often managing to hit all three.
Syrup? Bananas? Whipped Cream? Honey? Cherries? Splosh along with us for some tasty and tactile fun. This class delves into the world of food fetish play, exploring its psychological, sensory, and emotional dimensions. Participants will learn about the dynamics of incorporating food into intimate experiences, including the role of texture, taste, and aesthetics. While food play is a relatively easy fetish to explore, we will emphasize safety, consent, and communication, and discuss tips for creating enjoyable food play scenes. And yes, we will get a little messy!
Gary Wasdin is the Executive Director of the Leather Archives & Museum in Chicago, and if you have any latent librarian fantasies about overdue books and creative ways to pay your fines, he's your guy. Gary is a Bi Dom Poly Leather Daddy Bear who flags red, yellow, tan, and hunter green on the left. He has started occasionally flagging on the right, but that is on a need-to-know basis. In his free time, Gary enjoys travel, food, and awkward silence. Gary is a passionate advocate for body positivity and sexiness in all shapes and sizes.
Gary's professional background is in academic and public libraries, where he has worked to build more inclusive spaces that are welcoming to everyone. He holds Masters degrees in Library Science and English and a Bachelor's degree in theatre. He lives in Chicago with his husband, Sir, boys, and pups, and you can find him in various places online as chicagocigardad.
Everything we know about the Leather community, we know because someone preserved the history. From meeting minutes to personal stories, history has helped shape the current Leather culture. The history we are making now will help shape it in the future. But whose history should be saved? Whose stories should be told? YOURS, that’s who! Join bridgid as she talks about why you should preserve your history and all the ways you can in the modern age. As she says, “Someone, someday, is going to tell your story if you don’t.”
Bridgid (she/her) is an Indigiqueer Slave and Bootblack from Southern Indiana. For nearly 16 years, she has been collared to her Sir and husband, Master Michael. She is also the current Director of Communications for the Carter/Johnson Library and Collection and personal assistant to Mama Vi Johnson. She was also appointed as the Midwest slave for 2023 and 2024.
When she's not serving her Sir or her community, bridgid is an avid gamer (PS5 for the win!), a knitter, and a reader. She also has a soft spot for souped-up cars, motorcycles, and other things that go fast.
In her community, she is a board member of her local munch and was a member of MAsT: Evansville when it was still active. She and her Sir have taught at their local munch, MAsT: Evansville and MAsT: Gettysburg. She is a member of the Council of Indigenous Leather (CoIL). Bridgid is a passionate advocate for Indigenous rights, leveraging her role as Midwest Slave to raise awareness about critical issues like blood quantum and the harmful ideologies it reinforces. A complete and updated class list can be found on Fetlife.
Do you have questions about Master and slave relationships or Authority Transfers? Have you heard things about Masters, slaves, or the dynamic in general that sound a little too good to be true? Or maybe you have heard horrible things about abusive Masters and manipulative slaves. What exactly is “topping from the bottom”? Bring your questions, comments, and concerns to this Q&A-style class on all the things you ever wanted to know about M/s but never got the chance to ask.
Bridgid (she/her) is an Indigiqueer Slave and Bootblack from Southern Indiana. For nearly 16 years, she has been collared to her Sir and husband, Master Michael. She is also the current Director of Communications for the Carter/Johnson Library and Collection and personal assistant to Mama Vi Johnson. She was also appointed as the Midwest slave for 2023 and 2024.
When she's not serving her Sir or her community, bridgid is an avid gamer (PS5 for the win!), a knitter and reader. She also has a soft spot for souped up cars, motorcycles and other things that go fast.
In her community, she is a board member of her local munch and was a member of MAsT: Evansville when it was still active. She and her Sir have taught at their local munch, MAsT: Evansville and MAsT: Gettysburg. She is a member of the Council of Indigenous Leather (CoIL). Bridgid is a passionate advocate for Indigenous rights, leveraging her role as Midwest Slave to raise awareness about critical issues like blood quantum and the harmful ideologies it reinforces. A complete and updated class list can be found on Fetlife.
Master Michael is the 2023 and 2024 Midwest Master. Along with his slave of 15 years, bridgid, he has made it his goal to educate and lead by example. Master Michael was a member of MAsT: Evansville and is a current member of the Evansville Munch. He is also a staff member for the Carter/Johnson Library and Collection, the main library in Evansville, Indiana. He is an avid gamer, rigger, and 3D print designer. Master Michael has taught in his local munch, at MAsT: Evansville, and MAsT: Gettysburg.
Gary Wasdin is the Executive Director of the Leather Archives & Museum in Chicago, and if you have any latent librarian fantasies about overdue books and creative ways to pay your fines, he's your guy. Gary is a Bi Dom Poly Leather Daddy Bear who flags red, yellow, tan, and hunter green on the left. He has started occasionally flagging on the right, but that is on a need-to-know basis. In his free time, Gary enjoys travel, food, and awkward silence. Gary is a passionate advocate for body positivity and sexiness in all shapes and sizes.
Gary's professional background is in academic and public libraries, where he has worked to build more inclusive spaces that are welcoming to everyone. He holds Masters degrees in Library Science and English and a Bachelor's degree in theatre. He lives in Chicago with his husband, Sir, boys, and pups, and you can find him in various places online as chicagocigardad.
A great scene explores the sweet spot between one's own desires, the desires of their scene partner(s), and the setting's unique elements. ProfessorSweet will guide participants in using tools derived from improv theater to co-design genuinely one-of-a-kind scenes. All experience levels are welcome, and a supportive environment will be created for all!
ProfessorSweet is a dominant top who loves to design scenarios that provoke strong reactions. He loves to design games that physically and emotionally challenge his scene partners, and he draws on decades of experience with improv to enhance connection and co-creation in his kinky play.
Building on a topic introduced at the Great Lakes Power Exchange Contest in January 2025, TheStingySmiley and ProfessorSweet will facilitate discussion around ways that power exchange dynamics can support individual autonomy and mutual consent. We'll bring in some feminist theory and discuss ways that culture coerces us to define our gender and kink roles through the lens of cis male gaze. We would love to hear about your thoughts and experiences related to this topic, and we will share ours as individuals in a committed power exchange dynamic for nearly three years. You don't have to have been present for the previous discussion; just jump in! We will create a fun and safe environment for all to feel comfortable speaking their minds.
ProfessorSweet is a dominant top who loves to design scenarios that provoke strong reactions. He loves to design games that physically and emotionally challenge his scene partners, and he draws on decades of experience with improv to enhance connection and co-creation in his kinky play.