Top Chicago Classes & Workshops

I have been teaching soap classes for many years. I really enjoy sharing this fun activity and meeting new people. I am an occasional community blogger for Mother Earth News on many topics, including soap making. I have been really fortunate to meet many travelers to Chicago in the past ten years, as we rent two vacation rental properties.

Spend a morning or afternoon observing Chicago’s iconic urban landscape as you work with a local artist to create your own urban sketch of the city. Learn professional techniques working with pencil, pen, and watercolor, and let your inner artist out onto the page. Explore the city, working inside or outside depending on the season, and go home with photo documentation of your work including photos you sketching in the city and with your final work of art. This tour is Ideal for budding or experienced artists interested in seeing Chicago in a different light and connecting with the urban world in an artistic way.

Want to start your own podcast, but you're not sure where to start? This course will take you through the podcasting process from start to finish! Find out how to choose the topic of your podcast, recording and editing techniques, the steps necessary to publish your podcast on platforms like iTunes, and more. Each attendee will leave with the knowledge necessary to launch their own podcast.

Native 312 offers a unique spin on paint night! Join us as we host an intimate look into the world of Urban Art as we learn about some different styles and techniques with guest artists. Then you get your hands dirty as you walk around our gallery setting and test out your skills in different mediums like aerosol spray and stencil. At the end of your private workshop you will be able to go home with your own piece of art!

In this class you will learn how to use gutta resist and silk paint to make a luminous silk hoop. These hoops look like stained glass when they are hung in a window and make a great addition to your home decor, or a gift.I will have lots of designs for you to trace onto your hoop, or you can bring your own artwork to inspire you. This is a great project for someone who is a talented artist, but also for someone with beginning art skills.I really love teaching the classes and meeting the interesting people who come to my house. I decided to share another craft that is easy to learn and which consistently produces beautiful results and so I am offering this silk painting class.

In this class you will make a one-of-a-kind  concrete stepping stone.  You may want to make a pretty mosaic stone to decorate your garden, or you may want to make a stone to commemorate a loved one or an event. I have several molds to choose from and a huge variety of mosaic tile, stained glass, river stones, marbles and mirror. You can bring special items from home to incorporate into your stone, including a photograph if you would like us to laminate it and and include it on your stone.We will be working one-on-one or in a very small group so that you can create something beautiful with as much or as little assistance from me as you want.