Where to DIY and Craft in New Orleans

The Bead Shop 

The Bead Shop is a locally owned bead store that specializes in custom jewelry making. Conveniently located on Magazine Street, you can drop in and make jewelry yourself! You can also sign up for an expert-led class or plan your party there. The Bead Shop also does custom work and repairs. 

Wicks NOLA 

Wick’s NOLA Candle Company hosts private candle-making classes where you and your krewe can work with the Wick’s team to customize your perfect scent. You’ll walk away from the experience with a 12-oz glass candle and a room and linen spray. Best of all, they bring the fun to your location for this experience. 

The Secret Spot Flowers

The Secret Spot is your go-to florist for events, but they also offer hands-on workshops that teach you floral arranging. Think: wreaths during the holidays and the like. 

Ogden Museum of Southern Art 

Get hands-on with art at the O during one of their monthly classes. The classes are often inspired by one of the museum’s current exhibits on view. Around Mardi Gras, look forward to hand beading workshops taught by a Black Masking Indian. Enjoy basket weaving, watercolor painting, and even tea-making at these specialized workshops.

New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts 

Take a variety of classes at New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts including oil painting, watercolor, ceramics, drawing in charcoal, pastel, or graphite, and still life and figure drawing. The Academy also offers classes exploring different art movements in history like Abstract Realism and Abstract Naturalism. Photography and printmaking are also offered. 

Freaky Friday Figure Drawing 

Freaky Friday Figure Drawing brings fine art and live music together into an experience you won’t soon forget. Once you’ve purchased your ticket, you’ll find out the location for the event typically held on the first Friday of the month. Think: charcuterie, sketching, and live jazz in a candle lit atmosphere—the best way to start your weekend. 

GlassblowerBen 

Enjoy hand-on glass making experiences at GlassblowerBen in the Bywater. Classes to choose from include intro to glassblowing, hands-on molten glass experience, and sessions where you can make your own pumpkin, ornament, or stemless wine glass. 

NOLA Metalworks 

NOLA Metalworks specializes in metalsmithing and offers a variety of classes for everyone to enjoy. While their main draw is the workshops, they also offer drop-in classes from time to time, such as a one session cuff making class. 

Hands in Clay 

Hands in Clay is a New Orleans ceramics gallery and pottery teaching school. They offer six-week sessions that are great for beginners. All classes are project oriented with most of the attention going to beginner students and their projects. 

BellyFire 

With locations in both New Orleans and Baton Rouge, BellyFire is a local business that is all about pottery painting! Pick you vessel and paint away. This is a great spot for a date night or party. They also offer pottery making classes if you’d like to get your hands dirty and try out the wheel. 

ricRACK 

Located in the French Quarter, ricRACK offers a variety of sewing courses ranging from weeks-long courses to one-day sessions. Their one-session classes focus on a variety of sewing techniques including hand embroidery, needle felting on denim, crochet classes, and lingerie making. They also offer 101 courses on how to use your sewing machine at home. With an emphasis on sustainability, ricRACK also runs a textile recycling program. 

Chateau Sew & Sew 

Enjoy private lessons, either one or a pack of five, featuring hands-on sewing instruction at this shop on St. Charles Avenue. The shop is also filled to the brim with fabrics, patterns, and everything you may need to bring your sewing creations to life.