Creative Californian Workshops
This week we officially became California residents after a good year of angling to make the move west. We have landed in Sacramento and are already planning trips that will take us around to the different corners of this glorious state. One of my favorite things to do in a new city is take a class, whether it's yoga or some kind of creative workshop. It's a super easy way to mix up your routine and meet interesting people in a new city.
This is in no way definitive but below is a round-up of some spots in California offering creative workshops I've been greedily bookmarking. Feel free to share your ideas and favorite spots in the comments!
(all images courtesy of each studio's website)
Pom Pom Mastery at Hand Craft Studio School
Bay Area
Hand Craft Studio School
Anywhere that offers a class in "Pom Pom Mastery" is a-OK by me. Hand Craft Studio was started back in 2013 by Marie Muscardini with the aim of being a space "where artists could share their knowledge and enthusiasm with the local community" of El Cerrito. Ceramics, calligraphy, perfume, sewing and the aforementioned pom poms are all among the upcoming classes.
More about hand Craft Studio School workshops.
Clay by the Bay
I love that Clay by the Bay has a single drop-in class listed because sometimes you're just not ready to drop hundreds of dollars on a multi-week course. But then sometimes you are - and they offer those too! I'm also completely onboard with collective studio spaces that offer monthly access for more serious makers. They're as important for printmakers as they are for ceramicists.
Ojai
Summer Camp
We've been following Summer Camp since they opened and are basically planning an Ojai trip for the express purpose of seeing their space. Their eye for beautiful vintage and homewares is similarly reflected in the kinds of lovely classes and workshops they offer.
Los Angeles
Graham Keegan
If you had a chance of producing something even half as beautiful as Graham Keegan's work in one of his workshops, we figure it's worth doing. He is a multi-faceted talent at using printmaking and natural dye techniques and learning from him would be a total dream.
Poketo
Poketo has become an LA design institution in the years since they opened in 2003. They have three retail locations around LA and typically their workshop offerings take place at the one situated in The Line Hotel, Koreatown. Their workshops are run by talented LA designers and makers and always hit the style nail on the head. Weaving? Check. Floral arranging? Check. Incense making? You bet.
Makers Mess
This Silverlake spot is the most perfect sounding catch-all creative space. Their website describes it as "a place for people to make messes or masterpieces while discovering and perfecting their artistic talents." The workshop offerings at Makers Mess are wonderfully diverse from brewing to your Kombucha to beginner's calligraphy and everything in between.
Good Dirt
This self-described "zen-like" pottery studio in Culver City offers classes for kids through to adults. At Good Dirt you can learn about the beautiful history and tradition of pottery, handbuilding basics as well as wheel throwing. I would guess that hands in wet clay may well be the purest antidote to Los Angeles traffic.
Joshua Tree
Casa Joshua Tree
This spot is part desert bed and breakfast, part creative residency escape and all parts beautiful. They often run specific workshops in LA in addition to their original Casa Joshua Tree location so check on what they have listed.
Block Shop
Block Shop is widely known for their gorgeous block printed scarves, wall-hanging and home goods. A few times a year they offer printing and dying workshops at their studio in Joshua Tree and they sell out in mere minutes. The best bet is to join their mailing list to get the heads up when a new series of classes is coming and JUMP ON IT!
