Central Austin residents can add a personal touch to their holiday gifts when they make them by hand. Here are six local purveyors of do-it-yourself projects—including jewelry, furniture and paper crafts, and using a variety of techniques from sewing to metalwork—that may assist you in gift-giving this holiday season.'
CRAFT hoards random stuff so you don’t have to, owner Eli Winkelman said.One can walk into the studio on East Cesar Chavez Street and make picture frames, wall hangings, treasure boxes and desk accessories, all crafted from items in the business’s mini junkyard. Among the materials are corks, doll parts, old records, encyclopedias for collage, fabric scraps, fake fruit and board games.
Customers pay an hourly rate of $10 for access to the studio. Crafting materials are included in the hourly rate.
CRAFT’s upcoming workshops will teach students to make do-it-yourself floral centerpieces, wrap gifts in unique ways and bind books, among other topics.[/caption]
CRAFT
CRAFT hoards random stuff so you don’t have to, owner Eli Winkelman said.
One can walk into the studio on East Cesar Chavez Street and make picture frames, wall hangings, treasure boxes and desk accessories, all crafted from items in the business’s mini junkyard. Among the materials are corks, doll parts, old records, encyclopedias for collage, fabric scraps, fake fruit and board games.
Customers pay an hourly rate of $10 for access to the studio. Crafting materials are included in the hourly rate.
CRAFT’s upcoming workshops will teach students to make do-it-yourself floral centerpieces, wrap gifts in unique ways and bind books, among other topics.
4704A E. Cesar Chavez St.
512-900-9957
www.madeatcraft.com
The East Austin child-friendly makerspace, which encourages do-it-youself creativity, features a full woodshop as well as arts, crafts and technology.At Austin Tinkering School, children use tools and materials to build, create and learn while collaborating with adults. Do-it-yourself gifts one can make at the school include handmade soaps, cosmetics pouches, candles and dish towels.
Upcoming events include a DIY ornament class with six different projects for making holiday season ornaments. The class takes place Dec. 4 and is for age 4 and older. Other holiday-themed classes include ones in which students learn to make succulent terrarium ornaments and handmade gift wrap, tags and bows.[/caption]
Austin Tinkering School
The East Austin child-friendly makerspace, which encourages do-it-youself creativity, features a full woodshop as well as arts, crafts and technology.
At Austin Tinkering School, children use tools and materials to build, create and learn while collaborating with adults. Do-it-yourself gifts one can make at the school include handmade soaps, cosmetics pouches, candles and dish towels.
Upcoming events include a DIY ornament class with six different projects for making holiday season ornaments. The class takes place Dec. 4 and is for age 4 and older. Other holiday-themed classes include ones in which students learn to make succulent terrarium ornaments and handmade gift wrap, tags and bows.
1122 Airport Blvd. Ste. A
512-579-6169
www.austintinkeringschool.com
Owner Courtney Gray opened Creative Side in 2006. The jewelry academy opened its studio to other jewelry artists to encourage collaboration, share equipment, learn and teach each other new skills.The academy hosts instructors from around the world and holds more than 75 courses a semester. Courses cover a variety of techniques so that students can develop their own approaches to the craft. Classes are also offered for children ages 10-15.
The business also recently expanded to offer welding and blacksmithing, based in another location and called Creative Side Metal Works. Upcoming classes include a holiday ornament workshop (Dec. 16), simple ring-making (Nov. 30 and Dec. 10) and a cuff bracelet-making workshop (Dec. 10).[/caption]
Creative Side Jewelry Academy of Austin
Owner Courtney Gray opened Creative Side in 2006. The jewelry academy opened its studio to other jewelry artists to encourage collaboration, share equipment, learn and teach each other new skills.
The academy hosts instructors from around the world and holds more than 75 courses a semester. Courses cover a variety of techniques so that students can develop their own approaches to the craft. Classes are also offered for children ages 10-15.
The business also recently expanded to offer welding and blacksmithing, based in another location and called Creative Side Metal Works. Upcoming classes include a holiday ornament workshop (Dec. 16), simple ring-making (Nov. 30 and Dec. 10) and a cuff bracelet-making workshop (Dec. 10).
321 W. Ben White Blvd., Ste. 204
2311 Thornton Road, Studio Q (Creative Side Metal Works)
512-799-0731
A locally owned retail paper shop and full-service workshop studio, The Paper + Craft Pantry aims to create inclusive and creative space in the community.The business’s retail shop showcases paper goods and home wares from local and international designers. Its workshop studio hosts a variety of classes ranging from calligraphy and hand-lettering to cookie decorating and marketing workshops. Past workshops include “The Small Business Guide,” “Intro to Loom Weaving” and “Intro to Screen Printing,” most of which require no previous experience.
The Paper + Craft Pantry also hosts pop-up markets, monthly book clubs and open studio hours. The retail shop and studio are open everyday except Monday.[/caption]
The Paper + Craft Pantry
A locally owned retail paper shop and full-service workshop studio, The Paper + Craft Pantry aims to create inclusive and creative space in the community.
The business’s retail shop showcases paper goods and home wares from local and international designers. Its workshop studio hosts a variety of classes ranging from calligraphy and hand-lettering to cookie decorating and marketing workshops. Past workshops include “The Small Business Guide,” “Intro to Loom Weaving” and “Intro to Screen Printing,” most of which require no previous experience.
The Paper + Craft Pantry also hosts pop-up markets, monthly book clubs and open studio hours. The retail shop and studio are open everyday except Monday.
2511 E. Sixth St., Unit A
www.thepapercraftpantry.com
The shop on North Lamar Boulevard offers custom upholstery, fabric and consultations as well as retail furniture and other gifts.But Spruce also empowers students in its upholstery classes to be able to create upholstery for chairs, benches, lampshades and headboards—among other projects—from scratch.
The team at Spruce guides students step by step through DIY furniture making.
Its retail shop sells an upholstery tool kit for $250, which includes such items as pliers, a rubber mallet, a ripping chisel, a staple remover, two types of regulators, needle kits and goggles.
Spruce is owned by Amanda Brown, who left her job in 2007 to open the furniture redesign studio. She has also authored a book and instructional videos on upholstery. Brown’s tutorials can be found at
www.creativebug.com/instructors/
amanda-brown.[/caption]
Spruce Upholstery
The shop on North Lamar Boulevard offers custom upholstery, fabric and consultations as well as retail furniture and other gifts.
But Spruce also empowers students in its upholstery classes to be able to create upholstery for chairs, benches, lampshades and headboards—among other projects—from scratch.
The team at Spruce guides students step by step through DIY furniture making.
Its retail shop sells an upholstery tool kit for $250, which includes such items as pliers, a rubber mallet, a ripping chisel, a staple remover, two types of regulators, needle kits and goggles.
Spruce is owned by Amanda Brown, who left her job in 2007 to open the furniture redesign studio. She has also authored a book and instructional videos on upholstery. Brown’s tutorials can be found at www.creativebug.com/instructors/amanda-brown.
6611 N. Lamar Blvd.
512-454-8181
www.spruceaustin.com
Owner Leslie Bonnell is a former costume designer whose sewing classes started in her Bouldin Creek home studio.In 2009, Stitch Lab expanded into a sewing school and fabric shop housed in two bungalows down the street from her home.
Stitch Lab has more than 100 classes for students of varying ages and skill levels. Students can enroll online or in person. Classes include Kids Intro to Machine Sewing series, Kitchen Essentials, DIY Fashion Design and embroidery.
The business also has a retail shop with fabrics, threads and felt in various colors as well as some equipment.
Store hours are Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun. 1-6 p.m.[/caption]
Stitch Lab
Owner Leslie Bonnell is a former costume designer whose sewing classes started in her Bouldin Creek home studio.
In 2009, Stitch Lab expanded into a sewing school and fabric shop housed in two bungalows down the street from her home.
Stitch Lab has more than 100 classes for students of varying ages and skill levels. Students can enroll online or in person. Classes include Kids Intro to Machine Sewing series, Kitchen Essentials, DIY Fashion Design and embroidery.
The business also has a retail shop with fabrics, threads and felt in various colors as well as some equipment.
Store hours are Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun. 1-6 p.m.
1000 S. First St.
512-440-0712
www.stitchlab.biz
The name of Creative Side Jewelry Academy's owner was incorrect in an earlier version of this article.
