Great location, straightforward classes. I'm really enjoying…read moreToni Bueker's classes and the great location in the Owen Brown Village Center in Columbia, MD. It's across from Sonoma's which makes it so easy to find. I'm learning oil pastels, water color and how to paint. I also just learned that she offers Summer Camp for kids ages 6 and up. That's awesome. They do nature walks, crafts, painting and have fun.

Such a amazing place to visit for pottery making and learning especially for kids. Although, I…read morewould have liked to do more with the kiln and glazing aspects, it was still a very good experience with knowledgeable and patient instructors.

Phenomenal place, great staff, amazing environment for both beginners and intermediate folks. If…read moreyou are thinking about giving this place a shot I highly recommend it !

We arrived in Ellicott City on a beautiful windy winter day. I think you need a lot of patience…read moredriving around cause it's a small area and parking is as precious as gold. If you find a spot, take it. We meandered into HorseSpirit Gallery and just spent an hour overwhelmed by the talent of the work by different artists. They have fabulous jewelry, to die for wind chime sculptures and some art pieces that make you do a double take. I would definitely put this on my list of places to go if you are in the area. For this shop as well as all the others along the strip.

Beautifully curated gallery focusing on Maryland artists. Great location at Savage Mill. Robin,…read morethe owner, works so well with artists and clients. Highly recommended.

This was so much fun! My partner and I came for date night. We chose our projects before arriving…read more Once we got there, I understood WHY it was important to make those options ahead of time. They create templates and cut the wood specifically for the project you chose. It's located in a sort of strip mall, so there's plenty of parking. When we entered, we were quickly greeted, signed in, and directed to our table. Before I forget, this is a BYOB establishment. We brought a bottle of wine and glasses. What we didn't know was that you can also bring food. Had we known, we would have brought snacks. Good to know for next time. You might feel overwhelmed when you first arrive, as my partner did, but you'll get help along the way. I chose a clock as my project, and she chose a tray. You'll start with sanding, then distressing the wood (take your time with that part, I wish I'd have done more of that), then staining, then it's time for the template. That part can take some time, depending on the project you chose. Once the template is laid out, you start painting. So many decisions to be made!! It's a great date night event or with a group! Good times. We'll definitely be back. The entire staff was very helpful, especially Lupe!

Wow, I had a great time here! When my sister and mom suggested it I was very skeptical- I feel like…read moreI've done all the "painting" classes and I didn't want to do another one. I was wrong! This was great! The first step happens when you book- you choose your design online. They have hundreds of different choices, from signs to crates to clocks. You can pick from seasonal designs, designs for certain rooms, or designs based on a saying or hobby. Even with my small apartment I could find something that would fit my home well. When you get to Board and Brush, they check you in and have your project set up. You can distress the wood before you pick a stain and, if you want, a painting technique. They explain the options really well and have tons of examples with each different color. After you prepare the wood, you apply the vinyl stencil they have custom cut for you. This step can be tricky, but they have plenty of staff to help. Then you select colors and paint. Again, you need to use a specific technique but they're ready to help you. You remove the stencil and you have a beautiful piece! The process was easy to complete. At our session, we had tons of different people from a child under 10 to a senior citizen over 80. It was a fun environment and I felt like we had plenty of time to work on our projects. In the end, almost every piece was stunning and ready to go up on a wall. This specific location was especially helpful. They helped us add people to our booking after it was full, change our design choice, and gave color selection tips during the session. I would love to come back and make more, and this would be great to do with a bunch of friends.

Thank you for your response. However, I need to clarify several inaccuracies…read more The scheduled arrival time was 1:30 PM so the bus could warm up and the girls could enter at 2:00 PM. When I had not heard from you, I called at 1:46 PM to confirm we were still set for 2:00 PM. At that time, you informed me you were running late and would send your ETA. I did not receive proactive communication prior to that call. You later stated you were only 20 minutes late. That is not accurate. You were pulling into the parking lot approximately 20 minutes after the party was scheduled to begin, and after parking adjustments and setup time, the girls did not enter the bus until 3:00 PM. The original plan was for arrival at 1:30 PM for setup and a 2:00 PM start time. That timeline reflects a full hour delay in service start time. I have the call logs documenting our communication. Regarding the package, we did edit and finalize the package details through email, including an itemized list. That is exactly why Logan's grandmother and I repeatedly asked for the finalized itemized list prior to the party so there would be no confusion. Even after our phone conversation yesterday, I again requested a breakdown of what was included to justify the $1,000 total. I am still waiting to receive that documentation. To clarify another point, I never agreed to any "extra gift" from the case. The additional items were offered directly to the girls after they became upset, with the statement that you would "make it up to them." That was not a negotiated or agreed-upon substitution. You also mentioned the bus broke down, and at another time referenced coming from a previous party. The explanations have been inconsistent, which adds to the frustration. When discussing pricing, you asked what my budget was. I shared a number, but I also clearly stated I was willing to pay full price for exactly what I wanted. You offered a $195 discount. Naturally, I accepted. However, had I known the services would not match what was agreed upon, I would not have moved forward at all. At this point, this is no longer about emotion,it is about documentation and accountability. I keep detailed records, and I encourage any parent booking to do the same. If further clarification is needed, I am more than willing to provide it.

I want to share my honest experience in hopes that other parents are fully aware when booking,…read moreespecially because a lot of parents have been asking about my daughter's spa bus party. First, I want to say the idea itself is really cute. The bus was cute, and if properly organized, it could truly be a successful and memorable experience for little girls to celebrate their special day. The reason I am writing this review is not to steer parents away, because again, the concept is amazing. However, my experience was not what I expected, especially after paying $1,000 for my baby's party and before you ask no, no money was returned. Policy is money is never refunded for any reason, and I was also told it's not her fault it was raining and that her bus broke down. The spa bus arrived one hour late, and during that time I had to keep 8 little girls inside a hotel lobby while it was cold and raining outside. The girls became restless, hungry, bored, and uncomfortable. Parents who stayed also had to wait in the lobby and then find somewhere else to go, since parents are not allowed on the bus. Altogether, parents were left waiting around for nearly 4 hours. This was stressful, inconvenient, and not fair to the children or their families. We booked the most expensive package because if you know me, you know I like to go all out for my baby. I expected a high-quality experience that matched what was advertised and what I paid for. Unfortunately, that was not what we received. Payments could only be made through Cash App, Venmo, or Zelle, which in hindsight should have been a red flag. * The spa bus arrived an hour late, disrupting the entire party schedule.* Despite paying for the premium package, the girls only received services that closely resembled the basic package, not what was promised or paid for.* There were two staff members present, but the one assisting the owner showed very little patience with the girls. These are young children who were excited and deserved kindness and professionalism.* When I raised my concerns, I was told the staff member was tired from a previous party, which is not an acceptable excuse when providing a paid service. After confirming everything by email, I requested an itemized invoice outlining exactly what my daughter would receive, especially since full payment was required a week in advance. That itemized invoice was never provided. My advice to parents booking with this spa bus based in Columbia: please request an itemized invoice and keep documentation of everything. There were services promised and paid for that were simply not delivered. As a parent who invested a lot to create a special experience for my child, this was extremely frustrating and disappointing. No parent wants to see their child excited for something that doesn't meet expectations. I took the loss this time, but I learned my lesson. I am a strong supporter of Black owned businesses and will continue to be but we must hold each other accountable and operate with professionalism and integrity. I'm sharing this to encourage accountability, transparency, and to help other families make informed decisions when planning their child's special day.

Abruptly closed with no refund for prepaid summer classes. Absolutely terrible experience.read more

I had the exact same experience as the other review. She abruptly cancelled summer camp and…read moreindicated that we would get refunded for the remaining weeks that were cancelled. However, she has done nothing but lie about getting our money back. Scam artist.

Everyone knows that I don't give out five starts very often. A business must go way over and beyond…read moremy expectations to get all five! I have been to several paint nights and have even left in tears from one of those... that was not the case with Creative Mankind. This company travels around to different venues and offers a variety of painting options. I met up with a group of friends and we painted a Mardi Gras themed picture. Right off the bat I knew it was going to be an awesome experience. We were greeted with upbeat music and beads to celebrate the occasion. Our instructor really put a lot of thought and passion into the class ahead of time. Laying on the canvas was a template of the mask we needed to transfer to our painting. She let us know that we could "go rogue" and change up the colors and skip the sketching parts but I am way not that talented! She had one completed painting on an easel and another blank canvas for demonstration up on an elevated easel. It was visible to everyone in the room without having to stand up. She was extremely accommodating as far as time given for each step, which I really appreciated! It was fun how she would tell us how many songs she would play for us to finish each step... "okay you have two songs to do this step!" There was an assistant who walked around and offered advice and guidance which was helpful. Creative Mankind had partnered with a restaurant that offered drink specials and happy hour pricing for apps! The restaurant provided a dedicated server to us which was a nice touch. And huzzah... my painting actually looked a lot like the sample! Which for me is a huge deal because I am really not artistic or creative with paint. We were all encouraged along the way and our confidence was bolstered by telling us that everyone is an artist but we express our artistry in different ways. I was with a party of six and all of our paintings turned out different and reflected our personalities. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Creative Mankind for any event they host. They also do private parties!

I'm a remote employee in CA and work with a virtual team. We meet up on a quarterly basis in…read moreArlington, VA, (DMV area) so when we do come together, we try to make the most of our time and make it a point to sneak in some fun! For our last trip in July, I was tasked with coordinating the fun team activity and stumbled upon Creative Mankind. I was considering a couple other options, but when I started communicating with Staci (the owner and host), there was really no question that this was the activity (painting class) I wanted to plan for my team. She was so nice, so patient, and super accommodating in every way possible. She even found the most perfect venue to hold our team event (Lyon Hall). She provided all supplies, ensured the ambiance was great and lively, and her instruction was so thorough! She guided us -ever so patiently- every step of the way. We had so much fun! I would, 100% recommend Creative Mankind for your next work team event!!

Safe spaces as a queer black woman feel hard for me to find in the world. That with several layers…read moreof trauma and the recent loss of my brother have left me with a constant feeling of disconnect from my body, some days I'm just floating. By chance I found the blessing that is Jessica at the end of last year, and with her guidance I can feel little pieces of myself mending back together. In each part of my journey with grief Jessica has served as a check point on my climb to healing. I'm in no way healed, and I actually now don't think "healed" is a positive state to try and be in. Knowing yourself, learning your body and your spirit is a constant practice, healing is everyday. And jessica is a mirror of this. She's reflected to me that my feelings are valid, that the my safe space dwells in my body and that I have agency over it. I'm recommending her to every one- deep rooted trauma and everyday maintenance we all need to check in with ourselves, and if you need a guide- she's got you.

Jessica is so genuine and caring. I had never experienced Reiki and she took the time to explain…read morethe practice, talk me through the sessions and provide education to support my journey. As a Fibromyalgia warrior I'd decided to add Reiki as part of recovery from a car accident. I hadn't completely anticipated the emotional healing process Reiki would support, but I am forever changed and forever grateful. If you are a bit apprehensive about trying Reiki for the first time please know that Jessica will make it comfortable and the results will totally be worth it. In addition to the emotional healing and relief from pain, I've also found it helpful in supporting healthier lifestyle changes and as a form of relaxation/stress reduction. I'm truly thankful I tried Gentle Hands Reiki with Jessica and look forward to my next session!