I've been taking handbuilding pottery classes at another space in town but I wanted to try out…read morewheel throwing before committing to a full semester. My hand/eye coordination is not great (which is why I tend to gravitate towards sculpture and more controlled building) but wheel throwing is such an amazing artform I wanted to give it a shot, but I knew if I didn't enjoy it right off the bat that I didn't want to be stuck for weeks doing it. Luckily, Yourist offers a "try it out" wheel throwing session once a month and I was able to sign up for the May session along with my husband, cousin, and aunt. It was so fun to do this experience together with my family and I surprisingly took to the wheel pretty easily. During this session you're given a tutorial on the equipment then a demo with explanation of how to throw your own bowl, including posture, hand positioning, and tips for success. Then you're given three balls of wedged clay and are let loose to practice on your own as they instructors work the room to help you if you're struggling and cheer you on if you're doing well. You're then welcome to keep any three of the bowls you make and they'll fire and glaze them (based on your choice of glaze for each piece) for you for pick up a month later. First piece is $10 with every additional piece $5. I'm proud to say that I made 2 very nice bowls and one bowl that turned into more of a sake cup after I got too ambitious and the top of my bowl collapsed. But they all looked nice in their own way so I decided to keep all three. The glazes they have are really lovely, too, and make any piece, no matter how wonky (like my sad sake cup) look beautiful. I also found I loved the experience so much that for my next class I signed up for a hybrid wheel throwing and handbuilding class so I could get better at both. I also really enjoyed my time at this studio and have bookmarked several classes I'd like to take there in the future, including day workshops focused on specific topics. Once I feel confident enough in my foundational education I hope to also join the community workspace where, for a monthly fee, you have access to their studio to work independently. It's such a welcoming environment, I highly recommend checking it out!

This is a cool little studio. I was actually just stopping in at the convenience store that's in…read morethe same little strip mall and thought I'd stop in to see what Yourist was about. They have a tiny one-room gallery, but it's full of nifty pottery. Some of the items are mostly decorative, but the display also included useful items, like an olive oil/garlic plate, a soap holder, mugs and so on. There were many items for sale under $20 and even several under $10, and this would be a good place to pick up unique gift items for the artsy friend on your Christmas list. The other half of the Yourist building is a studio/art school. They offer classes for beginners and more advanced students, ranging from a beginner's class in throwing pottery on the wheel to a class in learning to glaze and paint the pottery you've already created. In addition to several classes for adults, they offer after-school kids clay classes as well, at pretty reasonable rates.

I have been going to the Clay Work studio for three years now and I love it! The classes are…read moreamazing - jam-packed with info - but they also offer 'independent potter' status, which gives you access to the entire studio. And the other potters are amazing, eager to help, and full of useful information.

Clay Work Studio is a wonderful spot to learn and grow. There is a place for everyone from very…read morebeginners to experienced potters. The classes are great ~allowing for lots of open studio time! It is nice to have opportunities to practice what you learn in class on your own. The potters are very welcoming and everyone is respected regardless of where they are at with their craft.

I purchased a Groupon to try out a 2 day weekend class. Over the course of 3 months, I'd try to…read morecall and set up an appointment time, as per the instructions on the Groupon. When I called, the voicemail says "you've reached the number XXX. Mailbox is full." and then hangs up. Seems like no matter what time of day I call, the mailbox is always full and can't leave any messages. There is no identification as to what their hours of operation are. This is very lame and poor customer service. Luckily, I was able to get a refund from Groupon.

Haley is a kind, patient instructor & is fun to talk to! The Glass Shack Studio is nicely located…read morein a 2nd floor 20's business flat closely above the cloverleaf. It's a cozy setting to get your mosaic started and completed. You will definitely run into some intriguing individuals in your class. Prices are not bad either! Look for a deal for a class/ project on Groupon or Living social.

"A creative adult is a child that has survived." - Unknown…read more Calling all craftaholics!! AR Workshop is a DIY shop where you can sign up to do pre-determined crafts throughout the week and weekends. Examples include cake stands, signs, tote bags, and clocks. The inside is adorably decorated with a modern rustic theme. There are large tables where you and your group can sit at to work on your crafts together inside. You can also book a private event in advance through their website which is pretty easy to navigate. There is ample parking space which is always a plus. I came for their grand opening with a friend. This event was well-planned and so much fun! They had teal decorations and balloons everywhere and were well-stocked with alcoholic drinks, water bottles with their logo, sparkling juice, a charcuterie platter, shrimp with cocktail sauce, and burritos. Guests were able to make a simple craft which were small wooden boards with various stains and cute phrases stenciled on top you could choose to paint with a variety of shades and colored glitter. They even had a cute photobooth 'van' outside, live music, and raffles throughout the evening. Seriously well-planned, my friend and I had a great time. This would be a great place for showers, bachelorette parties, birthdays, and special celebrations. I'm excited to come here for another event in the future!

Meh. If you're into mediocre decor, this is the place for you. But beware, the employees don't…read morealways get your design right. One person in our group actually had an employee tear off her stencil before she was finished so she didn't even get to take her work home since they had to "fix it" for her. And if you step away from your project for more than a second, the employees take the liberty of doing whatever they want with it. I definitely wouldn't recommend this place if you expect your work to be "yours." They take it upon themselves to do whatever they choose to your project. I actually left without them even putting the legs on my stand because they split one of my friends projects by nailing where they shouldn't have. They ruined the whole look. I recommend going elsewhere or ordering your own design from Etsy.

All of David's pieces are beautiful and truly one of a kind. I'm lucky to own some of his work -…read moreone of his mugs is my favorite and I use it every time I make coffee. He prefers you to call ahead before stopping by the studio. Check him out if you're ever in the area! He also ships pottery if you can't make it in to the studio.

David is an amazing artist and teacher. Do your self a favor…read moreand buy his work you will love it for a life time! Also, you could not ask for a better teacher. Patient and fun!

Spun Ann Arbor is a fiber artist's dream!! I first heard about this establishment through Knitty…read moreNatty's YouTube when Natalie and Kent went on their cross country LYS tour. The video was fun and made this establishment look like a warm & welcoming space. I appreciated learning more of the owners' origin story as Natalie interviewed them. All of that to say, I was more than motivated to check the place out. When I walked in, I was not disappointed. Located in Kerrytown, Spun has a local charm to it. The store itself is a great size where it's large enough for patrons to explore without feeling too crowded yet still able to maintain a cozy hipster vibe making it a great reflection of Ann Arbor. The sheep artwork (designed and drawn by one of the owners) is creative branding and contributes to the memorable experience. The yarn selection is massive and easy to navigate because of how well organized it is based on yarn weight. The amount of yarn may be overwhelming to some because there is a lot to look at - not a bad thing, only something to take into consideration. I thought it was quite extensive which left me speechless! Some may find it helpful to have a shopping list going in or know ahead of time what your timeframe is because you will want to spend time exploring each aisle. I had researched ahead of time on their website though found that when I looked at the yarn in person, some of the color hues I was expecting were different in-store compared to the photo listing online. I didn't mind as I had time to look and adapt, perusing in person so I was able to choose something else. I appreciated that there were quite a few local dyers, artisans, and spinners spotlighted - from the yarn to the notions/yarn bowls offered. Staff was welcoming - Annri introduced herself, provided a basket, and made herself available if I had questions. It was very friendly of her! The selection of yarn ranged in price where many would be able to find something in their budget. I felt some items were on the pricier side but that's considering the college town factor as well as that I only recently began transitioning to independent dyers, natural fibers & hand-spun. I did appreciate that there were several economy priced yarns offered which seemed like more options compared to other LYS' I've visited but still considerably less in proportion to Spun's independent dyer options. I walked away with stitch markers, two sets of double pointed needles, and four skeins of yarn! What a great haul! The staff was also kind enough to wind it for me free of charge which I greatly appreciated. I only had to wait in line and return for my skeins after 30 minutes. I could have easily spent all day at Spun!! It sets the standard for LYS and I'm excited for my next visit!!

Just loved this yarn shop! I stopped in for the 2024 SE Shop Hop. It had been quite a few years…read moresince I had been here - in fact, they were not even in this location last time I visited them. I loved the layout of the yarn - everything was so easy to browse. There were several different areas to sit and knit or browse through magazines. I did find a few yarns to try and a new felt project. I will definitely be coming back here again.

I spoil myself and get facials at London Beauty, one of the best forms of self-care. My favorite is…read morethe Natura Bissé Diamond Luminous. All of the estheticians are great. From the smells, candles, and perfume, the goods, clean skincare, to the oh so many pretties, clean makeup. Highly recommend, you will love London Beauty!

My friend loves Lily Grace and we always make a stop when shopping in downtown Ann Arbor…read more I don't wear make up, but I love all the candles and bath care products they offer, especially the Molton Brown body wash/soap. They have a spa that offers various skin care services. I look forward to visiting the spa in the near future. The staff have always been very friendly and helpful. I highly recommend!