Local artists and crafters share ideas for family-friendly activities
There’s no better time than the December holiday season to bring out the crafting supplies and spend time creating special gifts, decorations, and memories with family and friends. Below, find information on a variety of fun ideas and events to keep crafters of all ages in the holiday spirit.
Art of Soy Candle Making
Join instructor Becky Hallett as she guides you through the process of handcrafting and decorating a natural vegetable soy candle. Learn about melting the wax, creating colors, choosing fragrances, and selecting the right wick for your candle and container. The class is designed to show participants how fun and easy it is to handcraft highly fragrant natural soy candles at home.
The two-hour class will be offered on Tuesdays, Dec. 5 and Dec. 19; both classes start at 6 p.m. and will be held in the Centennial Park classroom building, 600 Nickerson Dr. $25 registration fee, plus $12 supply fee payable to the instructor. For more info, call 805-237-3991; pre-registration is highly recommended.
Craft a Boat or Gingerbread House
The annual Morro Bay Winterfest, billed as 12 Days of Fun, has something for everyone including a lighted boat parade and crafts for the entire family. On Dec. 3, in conjunction with the Paddle Parade, organizers are hosting a paper boat building craft event and other family-friendly activities at Tidelands Park at 1 p.m.
On Dec. 9 and 10, families and professionals are invited to display handmade gingerbread houses at the Inn at Morro Bay for a chance to win people’s choice and judges’ awards. A caroling concert and goodies help to keep the event festive and fun; stop by from 1 to 4 p.m. For a full list of activities, and to register for events, check out morrobaywinterfest.com.
Paint Party
Join Skye Pratt, artist and owner of Paint Party, and the folks at Mitchella Vineyard and Winery on Sunday, Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and tap into your creative side. Skye will take participants step-by-step through the process of creating a delightful winter themed painting, “Holiday Glow” – no experience needed!
Tickets include a glass of wine, two hours of instruction, and all painting materials. Call 805-239-8555 for reservations and more info. Mitchella Vineyard and Winery is located just off of CA 46 East at 2525 Mitchell Ranch Way in Paso Robles. Learn more about Skye and Paint Party at letspartyslo.com.
Weekly Arts & Crafts
Artisan children’s educator Anna Meyrick offers a series of dynamic art classes for young artists each week at Studios on the Park in downtown Paso Robles. In December, she is offering holiday-themed projects and, as always, is committed to encouraging and supporting students as they learn, experiment, and create! Pre-registration is required; contact Anna at annameyrickmosaics@gmail.com or 971-221-3438. Scholarships are available by request.
Classes are held on Thursdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. • Dec. 7: Polar Bear: create an adorable polar bear floating in the icy sea using a limited watercolor palette and ink; $20. • Dec. 14: Felt Donut Ornaments: work on sewing skills and create a delicious donut ornament for the holidays; $20. • Dec. 21: Whimsical Red-Nosed Reindeer: use watercolor and pen to create a whimsical red-nosed reindeer; $20.
Saturday Craft Time
Each Saturday, the friendly people at the Paso Robles location of Michael’s offer crafting ideas, instructions, and encouragement through their Kids Club and Make Break events. In December, the focus is on holiday fun!
Kids Club takes place from 10 a.m. to noon. Dec. 2: Create Slime; Dec. 9: North Pole photo props, and Dec. 16: Candy Cane decorations. Make Break happens from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 2: Gingerbread Houses; Dec. 9: Holiday t-shirts, and Dec. 16: Personalized gifts. For a full list of classes happening at the Paso Robles store in December, see www.michaels.com, call 805-226-0737 or stop by 2055 Theatre Drive in the Target Shopping Center.
Handcrafted for the Holidays
Be sure to stop by Studios on the Park, located at 1130 Pine St. in Paso Robles, through Dec. 31 as California’s premier craftspeople are featured in the invitational exhibition and retail sale – Handcrafted for the Holidays – devoted to bringing wide public attention to the field of fine craft. A portion of every sale supports Studios on the Park’s efforts to make the creative process available to the public through its unique nonprofit open studio facility and educational programming. For more information, see studiosonthepark.org.
