Crafty Classes for the Masses (So. California)
If you are crafty then you know how much fun, and how cathartic, it can be to take the occasional class at your local craft shop. This can be a great way to meet fellow crafters and learn new techniques, or just brush up on the ones in your arsenal! I was sent an email by an aspiring artist in Los Angeles asking me about local places to take classes and so I thought I would do a little searching and let you guys know what I could find. All the listings have the zip codes in parenthesis in case you want to map them out!
OH, I am sure that everyone out there has a favorite place to take a class. If you would like to share with the rest of us (please!!!!) leave a comment or send me an email and I will add to this list! Doesn't have to be strictly CA. Anywhere in the US would be awesome!!
If you are near La Crescenta, you should definitely check out the
class schedule at
Violets are Blue. (91214)
A Little Bizaar is a stamp shop "dedicated to the hands-on art experience," so you can bet their classes will be great! They are located in Lake Elsinor. (92530)
Every Saturday at the
French General there are workshops were you can learn to make a necklace, bracelet or earrings from vintage beads. (90028)
Paper Post will be my next stop for sure since they are not far from my home. Their list of classes includes an Assemblage Doll class where you get to decoupage a 15" wooden doll! Glue and paper? Sign me up!! (91301)
The Little Knittery offers a huge array of kitting and crochet classes, including one called "Disaster Control" where you can learn how to diagnose and correct your dropped and twisted stitches! Plus, the 2nd Thursday of every month they have charity knit-togethers. You must check it out! (90027)
The Pink Porch is a small yarn shop in the very quaint Tujunga Village area of the Valley. Anne, the teacher there, is a yarn genius! She will be teaching many upcoming classes and believe me, they are worth it! Here is the list: Tuesdays - open/sweater workshop 7:30 to 9:30 ($20 per week or 3 sessions for $50), Thursday - beginner (as in never touched needles) workshop 7 to 9 ($20 per week or 3 sessions for $50). Semi private lessons can be scheduled on tues, thurs, or fri between 2 to 7 ($60 for 3 one and half hour sessions). Most Friday nights the place is open late and we all sit around with beer and pizza and knit ourselves silly. Since they don't have a website for this gem, here is the info: The Pink Porch, 4379 Tujunga Ave., Studio City, CA (818)506.7899. Click here
for a map. (91604)
At the
Stampers Warehouse in Danville you can take a class on painting silk scarves or scrapbooking. There is even one called "Pez Totems" which I think would be a blast! (94526)
Kit Kraft has been a fixture in the San Fernando Valley since 1954. They offer a
Precious Metal Clay class. (91604)
In Monrovia,
Stampin' on Cloud 9 has a huge array of classes ranging from Paper Dolls to Stencils. Download the Newsletter on their site to see the full schedule. (91016)
They actually carry my work at
Creative Courage so I have personally gotten to craft there and the classes are awesome! I took a Tin Fairy House class that was just completely fun and interesting. The teacher ROCKED and the other students were so fun to meet and talk to! (91364)
The
ARTbar is the kind of place I don't think I would ever want to leave! Located in the Santa Ana Artists Village, they believe
"everyone is an artist". This mixed media art studio has a rockin'
events calendar. (92701)
I have been hearing about
Zinnia for months and have been dying to go check it out! They offer sock creature classes, and mini quilts. You can even take in an old pair of jeans and join a class that is all about painting them and making them new again! This is definitely on my must-check-out list! (91030)
There is an awesome yarn shop in Santa Monica called
Wildfiber. They have a great list of beginning and intermediate classes. (90404)
Sweetpeas and Snapshots is a scrapbooking mecca! You can find their list of upcoming classes in the right sidebar on their
blog. (90064)
Baron's Sewing Center has two locations, one in
Woodland Hills (91364), and one in
Camarillo (93010). Both offer extensive Quilting and Sewing classes. They also each run a children's sewing camp!!
Most locations of the
Paper Source offer classes.
Click here to choose your state for a complete list of workshops.
