Plan a getaway to create memories and handcrafted gifts
story by JULIE CAMPBELL
Imagine this: You desperately need a getaway and crave a creative outlet. But the holidays are coming up, and you don’t know if you can justify the luxury of recharging your batteries when you have so much to do. You’d love to create meaningful, one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your list. So why not combine all these things into a magical Make & Take weekend away?
As more people turn to creative hobbies to relieve stress, DIY opportunities are popping up all around the state. Kristen Brunton and her husband, Mark, cater to creatives at their charming 1940s-era Airbnb, Abington Cottage. As part of a getaway package offered through Visit Richmond, Kristen, a glass artist, teaches an hour-long glass class for up to eight guests in addition to their stay. “I teach guests how to cut glass and design their own pendant,” she explains. After the class, Kristen fires the glass in her kiln and mails the finished project to the crafters. The result is a unique keepsake to keep or give to someone special. While you’re in town, check out the plethora of DIY opportunities in the Richmond area. Throughout the fall and holiday season, The Barn at Helm Flower Farm in Williamsburg offers a variety of fun floral workshops. If you’re interested in working with clay and creating functional pieces, consider taking a pottery class at Ply Fiber in Richmond. They provide six potters wheels, clay and all the necessary tools. Various Make & Take workshops are available throughout the year, including Christmas needle- felted ornaments, knitting, weaving, and crocheting workshops.
Paint the Towne is an interactive art studio located in the heart of Richmond’s Historic Depot District, offering a wide range of creative experiences for all ages. With over 400 pieces to choose from, including pottery, canvas, clay, and glass, visitors can explore their artistic talents and create unique keepsakes while receiving guidance from the friendly staff.
Over in Anderson, be sure to check out Pulp & Pine DIY Craft Studio, owned by DIY queen Melissa O’Connor. Crafters can either reserve a spot or walk in during “open paint” times and put their creative spin on a variety of projects, including the ever-popular 3D door hangers and signs. Paints and all supplies are included, and the staff is available to help you with techniques and guidance.
At Minnetrista in Muncie, unleash your creativity in the very place where The Joy of Painting was filmed. This holiday season, give the gift of art with a Bob Ross Painting Workshop. Whether
you gift your own creation or surprise someone with tickets, participants will learn Bob’s iconic “wet-on-wet” technique from Certified Ross Instructors and craft a true masterpiece. Also at Minnetrista, plan on attending a glass workshop where you can make your own beautiful glass art to gift, or surprise someone with tickets to a hands-on experience. From glass blowing to fusing, participants will craft unique pieces guided by skilled instructors.
In Carmel, you can create your own bath and body product scents using salt scrubs, moisturizers, shower gel, and more at Bath Junkie. You can even plan a private party for groups of six to eight people. Penn & Beech Candle Co. offers a “pour your own candle” experience,
and at Painting With a Twist, they invite you to “sip, socialize, and create” with in-store events and private parties. Michaelangelo Candles on Main Street also offers candle workshops.
If painting pottery is more of an interest, Carmel’s Color Me Mine is a great choice, whether you’re a walk-in, or want to plan a group outing. And at Board and Brush you can create personalized signs for yourself or as a gift using a custom stencil process.
Up in Lafayette/West Lafayette, you can fashion your very own candy cane during McCord Candies Candy Cane Tour, held during the holiday season. McCord has been a fixture in downtown Lafayette for over a century. While you’re in the Lafayette area, why not try your hand at candle making? Flora Candle Company, Rose + Wick and Hairspa & Co. all offer custom candle making workshops. Hairspa & Co.’s scent stylists will also help guests create a personalized room spray or bath and body products.
You can paint pottery and create a one-of-a-kind gift at All Fired Up in West Lafayette. Guests can select from over 600 pieces of pottery, create their masterpiece, and pick it up in one week after it’s fired in the kiln. Want to try something even more daring? Take a workshop at Lafayette’s Inspired Fire, where creatives can choose between glassblowing and glass making classes. Beginners can also learn how to fuse and cut glass for pendants, suncatchers, magnets, and more.
PHOTO: Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette
Creating with flowers is always a fun group activity, and several Lafayette area flower farms and greenhouses offer workshops and flower bars. Check out 21 Petals Flower Market and Farm, Rubia Flower Market and Bennett’s Greenhouse for some floral fun.
Those with a sweet tooth will love a weekend getaway that includes a cake decorating class at Cochran’s Catering and Cakes in Jamestown. Classes are led by owner and cake lady extraordinaire, Beth Cochran Stokes.
Farther up north in Kosciusko County, Winona Lake offers several fun DIY experiences in the Village at Winona. Make your own jewelry at Belove Gift Shop with beautifully crafted beads from MudLOVE and Bel Kai jewelry. Belove will even invest a portion of all sales into local community needs. The Beaded Peacock, also located in the Village at Winona, has a huge selection of beads to make your own jewelry. Classes and bead parties are offered year-round.
While you’re in the area, check out Pottery Bayou, a paint-your-own pottery studio that allows you to create your own unique masterpiece. The studio also offers the option to design your very own fused glass jewelry.
In Wabash, there are lots of great options for a Make & Take Getaway. For starters, there’s Wabash Woollen Works where their workshops let you discover the whole process, from raw fiber and growing the plant to beautiful pieces made from luxurious, naturally dyed yarn. At JoJo’s Olfactory & Co., you can create your own custom one-of-a-kind scent to incorporate into the product of your choice. Offering a variety of ways to be creative, Make It Your Own Art Studio offers pottery painting, wheel throwing, slab work, canvas painting, mosaics, and board painting. If you’re in the Porter County area, check out the variety of classes and workshops offered. Three Moons Fiberworks is a full spectrum fiber arts studio, school, and store offering classes in weaving, spinning, and dyeing. They have special crochet nights and shawl classes, and even offer technical talks. Pieces of Jayde and Chelle’s Boutique are both unique shops that offer great shopping along with special workshops and classes. At Chelle’s, you can turn a recycled window into a treasure, or take a chunky throw blanket class where you can bring your own snacks and supplies and create a blanket with friends. At Duneland Pottery, you can create your own works of ceramic art.
For the ultimate getaway, why not combine a stay at the beautiful West Baden Springs or French Lick hotels with Fiber Friends Night at Red Hill Fiber & Co.? Every Tuesday night from 6 to 8 p.m., knitters and crocheters are welcome to bring along their current work-in- progress and join fellow crafters in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. Light snacks are provided.
The Sterling Butterfly in downtown Martinsville is not only a great place to shop, with works from more than 20 artists, but it’s also a great place to create your own art pieces. One of the most popular is their stained glass workshops.
Not into crafting? Most of these DIY experiences would also make fabulous gifts for crafty friends or relatives, so consider contacting your favorite businesses to purchase some gift cards.
