It was a great experience learn how to make my first candle it's a nice venue only suggestion is…read moreneed two restrooms

"Faith through Art"...You might go there expecting exquisite art, and you'll certainly find it…read morehere! But don't be surprised when you're deeply moved by Akiane's life story and her world-reknowned painting of Jesus. Melani was an incredible tour guide, very knowledgeable and passionate about the gallery and its mission. We took our niece from out of town, along with a couple of friends, and they were all blown away. Just be sure to reserve tickets in advance, and arrive on time, and note their "clear bay" policy. I saw an 1-star review from a family with an autistic child, which breaks my heart. The intention at the gallery is to provide quiet time for viewing and reflection. Anyone with special needs should consider requesting a private tour and they would definitely be accommodated. Great staff at the Beloved Cafe, serving coffees, teas, sandwiches and pastries, too.

Decided to check out the Beloved Gallery in Marble Falls as I read there was a free exhibition of a…read morefamous childhood artist I knew about years ago, Akiane Kramarik. "Akiane: The Early Years" is a collection of original masterpieces painted by Akiane before the age of 16. I was so excited to know it was up here! You have to reserve a time slot online & I did it early this morning. Note that you cannot bring any handbags in the gallery, just clear bags. Also, no photos are allowed. They watch you like a hawk. We checked in the Beloved Cafe where there's a Concierge who can look up your name. The cafe has Beloved T-shirts, tumblers, mugs, trinkets, wallets, keychains & bags. Bathrooms are on the 2nd floor of the office space next door. You can take an elevator or stairs after the check-in clerk unlocks the door. We were led into the gallery by the Concierge where there was a tour guide starting her presentation by a stunning light blue marble wall as a backdrop. There's also a light blue marble waterfall wall below the gallery. The tour guide briefly explained Akiane's life & how she slowly developed her painting & artistic talent, how her parents used to be atheists & agnostic & how her most famous painting, "Prince of Peace" came about. The owners of the gallery met Akiane & her family obtained some of Akiane's works & that the goal is to receive 1 million visitors to the gallery. I believe they've already had 45,000 visitors from all over the world. The gallery has been opened since April 2023. The guide advocated us spreading the word. You're led to a screening room where Akiane speaks about her journey in a short ~17 minute film from 1:17pm-1:34pm. After the film ended, I asked some questions with the gracious tour guide until she told me we had until 1:55pm because the next tour was going to take place. She appreciated my questions but had to cut us off & said we should read Akiane's biography for more detailed info. We literally only had maybe 10 minutes to view all the paintings so it was a bit rushed. I didn't have enough time to read thru & examine the artwork. I thought the film was a bit lengthy & the room was hot. Hopefully the next time we go we can bypass the film. This is a must-see and inspiration. I didn't know it was up here until today when I was looking at the Christmas events at Marble Falls & their 44 Nights of Holiday Cheer.

POT DADDY!!! Yes!!! Amazing pottery experience. I will be back! I took myself on a solo date here…read moreand it was better than I expected! It's tucked away in a neighborhood in the owners home. There's limited parking, about 8 spots on the property. It's beautifully situated and the set up is so nice. They provide aprons, overalls and slide shoes if you don't want to get your clothes dirty. Today's group was super small just me and 3 others! We learned to use the wheel, the process that happens afterwards and then you practice detachment by leaving your piece and choosing 1-2 others to take home! It honestly takes time to glaze and finalize the pieces which is why you do not take yours home. I found the cutest pieces!! Katie was a lovely and patient instructor! I'll definitely be back!

My wife and I absolutely loved our experience at Pot Daddy Studio. She had wanted to try a pottery…read moreclass for years and this exceeded our expectations. First, I loved the venue. It's a bit outside of Austin. But it had an eclectic feel in the woods, which definitely aligns with what we expect in Austin. Second, the teachers are fantastic and patient to give you proper guidance. Third, the music was soothing while we made pottery. Lastly, there are great pieces that you can purchase and walk away with. Overall, an amazing experience!

Jeff Schneider studio is an outstanding metal fabricating firm that I recently contracted with in…read morecreating a steel mezzanine for a shop. They did outstanding work, on time and at a fair price, I can't say enough good things about this company.

Took my daughter to make a Christmas ornament yesterday to Jeff's studio and we had a wonderful…read moreexperience. It was super interesting and Jeff was very entertaining and informative. I would highly recommend it for a one of a kind ornament and experience. My daughter wants to take a class as well. He also sells beautiful work he has completed. It is worth looking at. He is a wonderful artist and a very nice person. Thanks Jeff!

Participated in Wine and Food event at the sustainable Food Center. What a beautiful space for a…read moreclass. I would grab a spot if you see an upcoming events.

The SFC has this gorgeous new spot out on E 17th. Yes, all of those words go together. Though I was…read morejust there for a cooking class (Sauces 101) I would like to spend a little time understanding what else goes on in that facility. My class was about 15 people all looking to learn about the mother sauces. Frankly, I took this because a friend was taking it and why the hell not? But there were people there to really learn. Like, never touched a dish style. I was surprised that the class wasn't individual cooking stations but more like a watch and learn. There was some class participation but you're not making your own. That's the first thing to know. The second thing is that it's like being back in a legit classroom. There will be idiots, there will be knowitalls, there will be class clowns, there will be tedious questions and please repeat thats. Our instructor was so kind and patient with these people, long after I would have asked them to test the boiling oil please. I wouldn't pre-eat exactly... but I also wouldn't go starving. You may end up eating a full meal but I'd be prepared not to. After we made each sauce, they were poured over pasta in a little ramekin and distributed. The things I'd like to see included: -- a way to watch the chef without leaning over the table. A mirror? A flat screen? Something so she doesn't have to tilt the pot precariously. -- an email later with the recipes vs. the paper recipes to take home -- a big disclaimer for dummies that if you're going into a class to make sauces, they're probably not going to be vegan or gluten-free. Overall a good experience. I definitely learned some things and hope to apply them to my next big pot of mac n cheese.

Been coming here for years great stuff good money maker for the youth and their mission trips. I…read morehave been a vendor myself for a few years now highly recommend to pick something up for yourself or a gift. We never miss one. Marina that sets it up she is phenomenal.

Quite a fun large crafts fair put on every year by Hillcrest Baptist Church on the last weekend of…read moreOctober. It's free and it's one of the earliest arts & crafts shows in the area, so you can get a jump on your holiday shopping. Walking in any of the entrances, you will be greeted by a friendly older lady sitting at an information desk who will be happy to answer any questions and hand you a colorful booklet with maps, listing and locations of vendors, and the church's ministries information. Over 80 vendors' booths fill the large and small rooms of this spacious church. Visitors are guided from one room to the next, along a well defined path. All kinds of vendors fill the rooms; unique jewelry makers, handsewn dresses, aprons, kitchen towels, home decor knick-knacks, canned jellies and pickles, and Austin-original items like birdfeeders made from colorful dishes. Some of the items' styling is up-to-date; others are very traditional. Not everything is handmade, and there are a few resellers such as Tupperware, cosmetics, or The Pampered Chef, but they don't overwhelm the feeling of the fair. This year I found cute travel pillowcases and wooden wall art. There's likely something for everyone on your list here. Prices range from reasonable to a downright bargain. In the center of the church is the gym which has several aisles of vendors as well as food for sale. Hillcrest has a large kitchen in the gym which is run by adults but cashiered by the youth group. "Margaret's Chocolate Cake" here is LEGENDARY (with or without nuts). It's a must have; the cake is moist, delicious and flavorful and it rivals any restaurant. You can pre-order a whole cake on their restaurant. They also offer enchilada dinners (not so great), chicken croissant sandwiches and other foods. There's a dining room set up around the corner. It's a fun, family atmosphere. The youth group also helps the vendors set up and tear down their booths. Well done, Hillcrest! They HAVE been operating for 24 years so they know how to do it.

I took my mom to their silver jewlery making class and we had the best time!…read more We were able to find paid street parking around the block no problem. The studio itself is really cute and our jewlery maker was sooo helpful and friendly. We loved picking out our stones and the style of the pendant we each made. There were a lot of great options and ways you could bring your creation to life. The class had a perfect balance of us working on it ourself vs having help. It was really cool to see the process as a whole too!

Attended a silversmith workshop at Sisu Studio with a friend during an almost-full Friday night…read moreclass (9 people). We had a great time!! The class ran about three hours and was mostly sitting, crafting our chosen piece. You can make either a silver ring, pendant, bracelet, or bolo tie. My friend and I both picked rings and it seemed like almost everyone else did too, although a few people made bracelets and a pendant. Class began with everyone picking their gemstones in the main room of the studio. They offered an assortment in all shapes, sizes, and colors -- the hardest part of class was selecting just one stone! Once we had our pick, we chose seats in the room where the magic happens (where we make the jewelry) and remained there until the end of class. You have the option to customize basically everything about your piece, with some customizations included and others costing an additional ~$5-$25. The overall price is around $140-$215 before tip depending on your chosen gemstone and details. We chose the band, bezel, and finishing touches like twisted metal or silver beads around the gem, shadowbox, or patina. The class was split into two, with everyone on my side being led by Bailey. She was super fun to work with and made sure all our creations were stunning. The workshop participants do the easier parts of the process like shaping the metal band, painting on flux, hammering down the metal piece for the backing, and placing silver solder. The instructors do about 70% of the process -- sanding the pieces down, guiding everyone through heating the metal, adding the silver backing to the gemstone, and finishing the piece. At the end of class, we were both very impressed by the quality of the pieces that we created and how much fun we had making them. I'd recommend this workshop to anyone who enjoys jewelry and hands-on crafting. Are we jewelry artists now?? (kidding).

I absolutely love the candle and wax melts! My favorite scent is 'Fairy Fartz'. It fills the whole…read moreroom with its amazing fragrance. Highly recommend, 10/10!

I love all of these candles and scents! My new favorite is "Lemon Paradize" and "Beach Whoopee"…read more A great family owned company. I highly recommend their candles.