The Wookroom As the gathering chill of the weather drives us away from the beach and off the patios, we’re choosing the glass-half-full option, celebrating some of the indoor activities the city has to offer. And what better way to while away a dreary fall evening than at a craft workshop. Even if the thought of picking up a knitting needle makes you cringe, there are plenty of artsy endeavours on offer–from vegetable dying to goldsmithing. The Make Den Who: Founder Irene Stickney offers sewing, knitting and other workshops for students of all levels, promising to help even the most inept sewer walk away with a tailored final design. What: One glance through The Make Den’s blog shows the studio’s love for all things hand-made. The self-described “vintage-inspired sewing classes” include tailored shirt making, knitting, prom dress-making and more. On October 28 is Vegetable Dying 101, where they’ll show you how to use walnut dye, insects, logwood and kitchen items to dye silk and wool. “Nothing like stirring a big cauldron of inky black walnut dye right before Halloween,” says Stickney on her delightful Make Den blog, also worth a read even if you’re not keen on taking a class. Where: 1207 Bloor St. W, above 69 Vintage Collective. Post-Post Graduate Studies Who: Multi-disciplinary artist Paul Butler, currently a participant in the AGO’s new artist-in-residence program What: Butler designed a free alternative art school program inspired by the likes of writer Ernesto Pujol and The Mountain School of Arts (a LA-based school that pairs fine art disciplines with science, law and philosophy courses). The classes, which started at the beginning of October, include money management, cooking, yoga, art etiquette, art politics, stress relief and hobbies for artists. Among the highlights: chef Jamie Kennedy this past week gave a talk on How not to be a Starving Artist; today, on October 22, there’s a bike ride from the AGO to Trinity Bellwoods for a tour with landscape architect Victoria Taylor; and on November 15, something we could all use, a prioritization and decision-making workshop. Where: The Weston Family Learning Centre at the AGO, 317 Dundas St W. Miracle Thieves Miracle Thieves Who: Showroom-slash-studio space-slash-gallery-slash-community arts space (phew) near Trinity Bellwoods on Dundas. It opened its doors at the end of July and has been bustling with creative activity ever since. What: In addition to open studio nights every Wednesday, it hosts a fascinating roster of workshops including visual branding, musical instruments, jewellery, even makeup application. “Miracle Thieves hopes to give Toronto a safe place where individuals can explore their creativity and continue to play,” says program director Jennifer Maramba. “We strive to provide a platform to Toronto’s emerging creative economy.” Where: 249 Crawford Street. Nanopod: Hybrid Studio Who: Yep, this independent artist studio and gallery launched the same year as the iPod nano. What: We were happily surprised to learn that there’s a studio in the city where you can learn metalworking in four weeks. Tosca Tern’s classes teach beginners about goldsmithing, metal manipulating and century-old molten glass techniques. If you’re interested, but not ready to commit to multiple weeks, Tern lets you drop in on any class within the schedule and join in for one night. Cutest offering: a one-day Saturday workshop for engaged couples where they can make own custom wedding bands. Where: 322 Harbord St. Japanese Paper Place Who: The name is pretty straightforward and this Toronto institution has been around since the early ’80s. The Brock location is now an office and warehouse, with a by-appointment-only artist resource centre. What: Washi (a type of Japanese paper made from the bark of the gampi tree) classes on everything from book binding to making wireform paper lampshades. The latter takes place on November 26, when graphic designer Stan Phillips will cover soldering galvanized steel wire, learning how to achieve a true minimalist aesthetic, model-making, scaling and, finally, assembling the final form. Not bad for a day’s work. A huge proponent of the city’s creative community, the Japanese Paper Place is also starting to promote workshops outside of its studio, like print artist Elizabeth Forrest’s Japanese woodblock printing classes. Where: 77 Brock Ave. The Workroom Who: By-the-hour sewing and crafting studio and shop. What: The studio offers sewing machines, sergers and other equipment available for use at a mere $7 an hour. But if you need more coaching, The Workroom offers plenty of classes at varying levels, from Sewing Machine Essentials (their most popular class) to project tutorials like men’s ties, Amish quilts and a-line skirts. Where: 1340 Queen St W. The Harbourfront Craft Studio Who: Artists-in-residence work in textiles, glass, ceramics and jewellery studios that are fully open to the public view 11 months a year (closed in January). What: Craft courses taught by the artists-in-residence include glass blowing, pottery, jewellery, textiles. The classes range from weekend-long and multi-week programs one-day workshops. $400, for example, gets you a glass blowing expert that will have you making paperweights, cups and plates in three days flat. Where: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. The Paper Place Who: The retail storefront of the Japanese Paper Place is a Queen West staple for crafters, graphic designers and artists. What: This fall’s schedule of one-night workshops include tutorials on Mizuhiki, a 1,400 year-old paper string art technique, and embroidered hardcover books (this could be the start of something big: we’re promised that the hand-bound single leaf hardcover books we make in this class are easy enough to make at home). They even offer a card making class where you get to play with the shop’s ample supply of stamps, punches, ribbon and glitter. Where: 887 Queen St. W. Re:Style Studio Who: Furniture and interior decor designer Andrea Ford opened this workshop to impart her knowledge through seminars, one-on-one tutorials, and private DIY parties. What: The roster of classes includes more general introductions to refinishing and re-upholstering, as well as more intensive classes like making a headboard or ottoman. Ford also offers antique buying trips as well as bring-your-own-piece re-upholstery workshops. She’s also looking to bring aboard more instructors to expand into things like jewellery making. “The word craft gives some people the shivers,” says Ford. “I’ve really aimed to bring crafting to a new level. I love the tradition of the old-school arts, but I give them a modern aesthetic.” Where: The Branding Factory, 344 Westmoreland Ave, suite 104A. __ Paige Magarrey writes on design for Toronto Standard.