Craft your own leather pouch, build a terrarium, or even make soaps from scratch – these grown-up DIY workshops will appeal to the would-be artisan.
Craft your own leather pouch, build a terrarium, or even make soaps from scratch – these grown-up DIY workshops will appeal to the would-be artisan.
LITHOGRAPHY WORKSHOP AT SINGAPORE TYLER PRINT INSTITUTE (41 Robertson Quay, tel: 6336-3663, www.stpi.com.sg).
Discover the magic of traditional lithography – and create print editions of your own sketches! – at this two-part workshop. Here, you’ll get to experience the origins of modern-day printing – from drawing on a stone plate using a special lithographic crayon to prepping the plate for print – and learn how to operate various machinery and tools such as a lithographic press. This is the ideal workshop for all romantic souls feeling nostalgic about the fading art of print products.
The workshop costs $390 per person. It is compulsory to attend both sessions as there will not be any makeup lessons for sessions missed. For more information, visit www.stpi.com.sg.
MOSS TERRARIUM 101 AT THE GENERAL COMPANY (Level 2, 150A Tyrwhitt Road, tel: 8444-5589, www.thegeneralco.sg).
Under the guidance of instructors from local green venture Mossingarden, you’ll learn how to merge art and nature to build your own terrarium from scratch, as well as how to maintain it so your little ecosystem of moss plants flourishes. Then, take it home or to the office to bring a touch of nature to your decor. The best part: a terrarium, once completed, is extremely low maintenance, so you don’t have to pay too much attention to it. Just make sure it gets some room lighting, and mist it with a water spray once a week, or when the soil is dry – ie when there are water droplets on the glass. All tools and materials are provided, so just head down with your imagination.
The workshop costs $88 per person, and will be held at Mezzanine, Level 2, The Refinery (115 King George’s Avenue). For more information, visit www.thegeneralco.sg.
MAROU & CO.: DONG HO PRINTING WORKSHOP BY GALLERY & CO. (Ground floor, City Hall Wing, National Gallery Singapore, tel: 6385-6683, www.galleryand.co)
Get a dose of both art and history at this workshop. Tam Nguyen, a 21st-generation Dong Ho artist, will teach you how to create artworks with the traditional woodblock prints used in Vietnamese Dong Ho folk paintings (similar to those printed on the Marou chocolate wrappers on the left). You’ll also glean insight into the history of this popular heritage craft, which originated in Dong Ho village. While you can take home your handiwork, you won’t get to keep the woodblocks or the organic paint used, so treasure this rare hands-on opportunity.
The workshop costs $100 per person, and will be held at Rooftop Studios on Level 5 of the National Gallery Singapore, City Hall Wing. For more information, visit www.galleryand.co.
LEATHER CRAFTING WORKSHOP AT MAKETH PROJECT
(#02-02, 751 North Bridge Road, e-mail:makethproject@gmail.com)
Give this leather-crafting workshop a whirl if you fancy the idea of owning a leather pouch, wallet or passport holder that’s truly yours. Open to everyone, whether you’re a noob or a leathersmith, the customised workshop – book a slot any day, from noon to 9pm – will guide you through the entire process of leather crafting, including shaping, colouring and stamping. Just bring along an image or a sketch of your favourite leather product, and you will be taught how to make it with minimal errors. Also expect tips on the techniques of stitching and cutting leather, and the embossing of initials or names.
The cost of the workshop varies (depending on the amount of leather used, the number of hours committed and the time needed to complete the craft), starting from $45.90 per person. With $45.90, expect to make small items such as cardholders, coin purses and key pouches. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/makethproject.
BASIC HANDMADE SOAP & CANDLE WORKSHOP AT NAIISE (#B1-08 The Cathay, tel: 6252-7701, www.naiise.com)
Round up the girlfriends for a relaxing afternoon of making basic bathroom products from scratch. Conducted by Angel Chung, the founder of handmade soap, bath and health products specialist Natural Wellbeing, the workshop will guide you through the process of making an exfoliating soap bar, a calming lavender body lotion and soya wax massage candles, all of which will be made using natural raw materials sourced from Australia, Europe and the US. Besides your own handmade products, you’ll also get to take home goodies such as lavender essential oils, a DIY tool set and a measuring cup – so you have the necessary tools to continue practising your newly acquired skills at home.
The workshop costs $159 per person. For more information, visit www.naiise.com.
