Craft workshops and DIY gift ideas
Owen Sound | The Georgian Bay Centre for the Arts
Guided workshops offer the perfect environment to create do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, no matter your skill level.
Polish your crafting techniques, learn something new and discover unique gift ideas for the holiday season. The experience itself could be the perfect gift for the hard-to-shop-for person on your list.
Explore your artistry and flex your creativity at these Ontario arts and crafts workshops.
Southeastern Ontario
Blackwood Guitar Making Workshop
Take your love of music to the next level! Join a five-week acoustic guitar-building class and learn how to create your dream guitar.
Blackwood Guitar Making School is located in the countryside, approximately an hour east of Kingston. Classes are offered four times a year, and no experience is needed.
Location: 340 County Road 5, Mallorytown
Hamilton, Halton and Brant
Art Aggregate
Artists of various disciplines share their expertise across Hamilton.
Purchase tickets for a variety of classes, workshops and events. Previous courses have included festive tree arrangements, couch table workshops and holiday decorations sessions.
Location: 637 Parkdale Avenue North, Hamilton
Caranina
Transform your jewellery ideas into the real thing at a custom workshop under the guidance of Caranina Bertone, a classically trained goldsmith.
Create a signature wedding ring, or design your own charm bracelets, pendants or signet rings.
Location: 16 Myrtle Avenue, Hamilton
Play with Clay
Register for a pottery class and discover all the fun and cool things you can create with clay.
You can also express your creativity by painting ready-made ceramics in the pottery studio or one-of-a-kind dishware.
Location: 198 Locke Street South, Hamilton
York, Durham and Headwaters
META4 Gallery
Tap into your artistic side at the classes Port Perry’s award-winning gallery offers. Experiences range from painting and sculpting to felting and metalsmithing.
Half-day, full-day and weekly art classes are available. Small class sizes make learning more personable.
Location: 200 Queen Street, Port Perry
Crafty Pots
Check out the walk-in activities available at Crafty Pots, such as ceramics painting, glow-in-the-dark painting and pottery.
For a more immersive class, book the Adult-Try-It Wheel Class. Enjoy project-based pottery activities that teach the foundation of pottery techniques with the option to make a small item.
Location: 126 Main Street Markham North, Markham
Niagara Region
The Watering Can
Take a floral arrangement class in the heart of Niagara’s wine country.
Workshops are offered seasonally, providing you with the opportunity to explore a wide array of floral design techniques throughout the year.
Location: 3725 King Street, Vineland
Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington
Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery
After admiring contemporary glass and ceramic art, book a private workshop to create your personalized mug or plate from clay.
Location: 25 Caroline Street North, Waterloo
Social Art
Meet new people at fun social craft events such as Paint Night and jewellery-making workshops, where you can channel your creative side over food and drink and lively conversations.
Social Art has been honoured with multiple Readers’ Choice Awards.
Location: various venues in Kitchener-Waterloo
Evergreen Tree Farm
Choose from a variety of workshops offered at Evergreen Tree Farm, including soap making, cookie decorating and crafting traditional fresh wreaths.
Group events are also available upon request.
Location: 7811 Wellington Road 22, Guelph/Eramosa
Ottawa Region
Cup of Intention
Based in a home studio setting in Stittsville, Cup of Intention promotes mindful creativity while encouraging self-care and connection.
Ignite your creativity in workshops such as making bath products with essential oils and designing and creating charm bracelets.
Location: Stittsville, Ottawa
Bruce, Grey and Simcoe
The Georgian Bay Centre for the Arts
Yarn spinning boot camp is just one of many classes at Georgian Bay Centre that will inspire your DIY craft ideas. Learn the basics of sewing, the fundamentals of oil painting, the art of printing on unconventional objects or take the wheel in a pottery class. The creative options are endless.
The Georgian Bay Centre is a community arts hub with fully equipped studios in pottery, jewellery, stained glass, fine art mediums, textiles and printmaking.
Location: 938 2nd Ave East, Owen Sound
Bliss Jewellery Studio
Make a statement with the personalized jewellery you create at a Bliss Jewellery Studio workshop. The metalsmithing studio is fully equipped for you to make wedding rings, bracelets, pendants and more.
Enroll in a gemstone cutting course to take your skills to a new level. Weekly, weekend and evening classes are available.
Location: 250 Bayview Drive, #10, Barrie
Southwestern Ontario
Hello Maker DIY Studio + Market
The event calendar at Hello Maker is filled with classes and events that beginners and seasoned crafters can enjoy.
Meet like-minded people in classes like Paint Night, lino cutting, printmaking and needle felting.
Location: 717 Richmond Street, Suite 202, London
Ottercreek Woodworks
Build your own artisanal live-edge charcuterie board during the hands-on tree-to-table workshops at Ottercreek Woodworks.
Join woodworker David Schonberger on an immersive journey starting in the forest and finishing in the studio with the option of a chef-curated feasting lunch box.
Location: Bell Side Road, Tillsonburg
Greater Toronto Area
Art workshops at AGO
Take a break from admiring art to create something inspirational at the artistic workshops offered at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO).
Single-day workshops and longer courses are available for all ages. Disciplines range from photography and printmaking to sculpture, drawing and more.
Location: 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto
Toronto Crafts
Whether you’ve got two or six hours, dozens of workshops are available to fit into your crafting schedule at Toronto Crafts.
Book a class to discover the world of leatherwork. Or take a woodworking workshop to make your own benches or charcuterie boards.
Location: 388 Carlaw Ave Unit 200A, Toronto
Studio Mooi
Craft workshops of various skill levels are offered monthly at Studio Mooi.
Holiday workshops include creating fresh and dried wreaths, crafting personalized self-care essentials and more.
Location: 926 Kingston Road, Toronto
Loom Studio
Get acquainted with spinning wheels, looms and warping mills in textiles and tapestry workshops. Channel your personal style with pattern making and experimenting with colours and textures.
Workshops are also available in Caledon.
Location: 15 Adrian Avenue Studio 150, Toronto
Gardiner Museum
Take a clay class at Toronto’s premiere ceramics museum. Classes are offered year-round and designed for adults and kids.
Tickets for informal single classes are released on the 15th of the month for the next month, so be sure to act fast.
Location: 111 Queens Park, Toronto
Kandl Artistique Yorkville
Add your personal touches when creating luxury candles in Kandi’s state-of-the-art candle-making lab, where you can blend your own candle fragrances.
Choose from an extensive library of Europe’s finest perfumery to customize a fragrance that reflects your style and preferences.
Location: 88 Avenue Road, Toronto
Orris Labs
Learn about the history and science of perfumery and get hands-on experience making a customized fragrance to take home.
It’s the perfect memento from the experience or a personal gift for a loved one.
Locations:
Let's Make It
Make wellness products from scratch, such as body scrubs, candles, creams and soaps in a warm and friendly environment.
Learn about the healthy ingredients used in the products. Attend the workshop at the Toronto location in STACKT market or the studio in Richmond Hill.
Locations:
Kawarthas and Northumberland
Canadian Canoe Museum
Visit one of Ontario’s most unique museums for a hands-on workshop inspired by the canoe, kayak and the timeless tradition of paddling.
Check the calendar for upcoming sessions on paddle carving, weaving, leatherwork and even canoe construction. The new lakefront campus also offers the opportunity to extend your time to enjoy the great outdoors.
Location: 2077 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough
Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley
The Hot Shop by Artech Studios
Experience the mesmerizing craft of glassblowing.
Designers and artists Terry Craig and Jennifer Wanless-Craig offer half-day, full-day and weekend glassblowing workshops in their cozy Haliburton Highlands studio.
Location: 18639 Highway 118, Tory Hill
Northeastern Ontario
Quilting by the River
Sign up for three-hour classes or one or two-day quilting workshops held in the beautiful French River region.
Novice quilters will learn the basics of traditional quilting, while more experienced crafters will enjoy tips and insights on innovative techniques to improve their skills.
Location: Alban
Last updated: October 29, 2024