I took the 4-hour stepping stone mosaic class with my 10-year old niece and we both had a lot of…read morefun. First time, taking any class at the Alameda Art Lab but not a newbie to mosaics or the arts. I used to be quite artsy and crafty back in the day and now, it seems like a luxury to find time to do something creative and take a break from adulting! All supplies of cutters, nippers, stepping stone and glass provided with a quick introduction to using the tools with some guidance and instruction to start your art piece. JaYing, the friendly and patient owner/instructor will walk around to assist if needed, check your progress and guide you to ensure you get your item complete. Item is left for grouting and student called when ready. A great class to bond with a friend(s) or family and make a day to get in creative mode and have fun. Personally, it allowed me to take time to enjoy something I really love as I find art very therapeutic along with spending time with my niece. The time flies by... :) The Alameda Art Lab offers a variety of classes from stained glass, mosaics, glass fusing and jewelry making and other fun things. Items are available for purchase for yourself or as a gift. Highly recommend trying out a class!

I absolutely love this place! Both my kids have attended summer camps here and my husband and I are…read moreregulars in her stained glass class on Wednesday eve. JaYing got me my start in stained glass and now I can't get enough! Plus, the community here is wonderful- you can meet some really nice people .

Kid: I love Miss Patrice and Studio Time so much. I really learn a lot and can't wait to go there…read moreagain! Mom: My daughter just LOVES her Studio Time art class, it is by far the best part of her week. She's so happy and she feels so proud of her work. I'm so touched by it. So much positivity and creativity abound! Miss Patrice is a magical fairy and her magnificent instructors are fabulous with the kids.

Today I took a class with Patrice in her fantastic studio. The classes are very small and…read moreintimate. I worked on a Day of the Dead Teatro for Dia de los Muertos. It was fantastic. I am sad the class is over and more inspired to create than I have been in a L.O.N.G. time. I can't wait for her holiday gift making classes. She also offers classes for kids (morning/afternoon/saturday), call early to register early, because space is very limited and the offering is like nothing else in Alameda.

We absolutely love visiting this store! The glass selection is incredible (though I've had the same…read moreissue with them not cutting down bigger sheets, making it harder and more dangerous to transport). The staff have been incredibly helpful, always willing to answer my random glass questions. I even had someone share insights on glass fusing, which I'll be trying once my kiln arrives! My best piece of advice, check for sales to save some cash. Twice a year they have sales of 50% off glass, so stock up and save big!

I took my partner here for the glass plate making class and had a wonderful time! Bryce was a…read morewonderful instructor and we were able to create such beautiful pieces! It took us about 3 hours, and we loved the accommodating time slot where we could work at our own pace. Will definitely be coming back :) Thank you Bryce!

I love Anita! She is an awesome art teacher and has amazing classes for people of all ages. On…read moreThursday evening's is adult art class. My semester was great and accomplished some really nice pieces with her help. Love how she nudges you to try all different types of media. My next piece was doing charcoal, a medium that I never used before. We just had an art show at the end of the semester. The talent from everyone was incredible! I was especially impressed with the kids art. Wow! She also has summer programs for the kids. Wish I had this outlet when I was there age. Highly recommend! Looking forward to developing my skills deeper over time with her. Thank you so much Anita. ;)

In my second semester and no plans to stop. This has become something of a Thursday evening ritual…read morefor me. I took a chance and signed up after admiring a new friend's collection of art in different mediums and styles and she told me all about Anita's class. This has given me a chance to try being creative, to trust myself and break out of trying to be pixel perfect. There's always a choice of assignment. I like to work slowly and deliberately. Others finish a project and move on to the next in a session or two. The perfect thing is that this is at your own pace, with guidance and education from Anita. I'm learning to appreciate the time and intention that goes into a creating a work. And I find the time relaxing and meditative...it's a wonderful change of pace from my day-to-day work. Give this a go - you won't be disappointed!

I don't even know where to start with Clay Clubhouse, Jo and Denise. 1.5 weeks ago, my friends and…read moreI randomly decided to throw a friend a surprise bachelorette night. We landed on ceramics and it was so fun! Jo was so kind given our short notice. Other places couldn't accommodate us because of the later time we needed (6-8pm), they don't do private events and it was simply too short of notice. Jo was able to make our dreams come true given all these factors and was so kind and chill about them! I asked if we could bring some light drinks and bites, and not only was it a yes, she actually provided the champagne flutes!! So easy to work with her. So we get there yesterday and Denise was our instructor. She greeted us, let us settle in and just had the best of vibes. Once we were ready to start, she explained very thoroughly what to do. I'll be honest, I was really bad! Like in the 1.5 hours we got to make stuff, my friends used probably 1-2 clay balls while I got close to 10 bc I just kept failing! Denise was so supportive though and tried to help without hovering or taking over. I never felt judged or like I was frustrating her, even though, wow, I was like such a toddler about it! I wasn't able to make myself anything, but she made me a bowl and I just thought that was so kind and sweet of her. She's really funny and so good at what she does, both creating ceramics and teaching it! I don't have all of their packages memorized, but it's very clear on the website. We did the private for 4 people and added 1 person. 2 hours and you can make whatever and however many you want. It was $465 total and so worth it! You get to choose your glaze, which are all gorgeous options, and it will be ready in 4 weeks. I loved this experience and even though I struggled, I would do it again, especially at Clay Clubhouse. I recommend wearing clothes you don't care about or bringing an apron or baggy tee you don't mind getting splashy. There's a really cute Mexican place next door. We didn't go because it was packed but you'll probably have the best night doing some ceramics and then celebrating at Bombera! Go do this, have so much fun, get messy, support local artsy businesses and enjoy!

Jo was cool, but the teacher that day, chris, she works at another location but I attended the…read moreBIPOC Queer open studio and I almost walked out. I'm used to be marginalized and excluded just didn't think it was gonna happen at this place.

Glass Hand Studio has 50 out of 50 five-star reviews for a reason:…read more Prax is the best! He goes above and beyond to make sure everyone feels happy about what they create while letting each person do as much as they can and want to do. He's a clear communicator and a kind and patient teacher. I've blown glass at a few other studios. Nothing comes close to Prax's non-scripted and in-the-moment presence. It takes intuition, logic, and a whole bunch of experience to course-correct liquid glass! Prax's 25+ years of glassblowing holds students safely in the process. Prax empowers each person who enters the studio; I've seen him work with others. He's versatile and a joy to create with. Don't hesitate to book a session! It'll be a memorable experience.

A fun way you experience this 'craft' and leave with a glass. Be aware that you will have to come…read moreback to pick up your object later after its time in the annealing oven. Suggest that it would be best on a really cold day since the area near the glory hole is so hot -even 6-8 ft away is intense. My finished glass was fun but a little thicker than I expected. That will make it difficult to break, I bet. The instructors were helpful and very attentive. Good when there are so many hazards in the studio. Keeps us beginners out of trouble.

Amazing space! Dave is very passionate about clay and that shines through with his teaching. I…read morehadn't ever thrown on a wheel before and after two sessions I was able to make two pieces I am quite proud of :) Check them out, I highly recommend!

From the owner: A pottery school for Alameda - learn to make and decorate ceramic forms!read more

When the invite initially arrived I was not thrilled thinking it was an indoor jump house (from the…read morename). I am an elementary school teacher so this is my weekend nightmare. I was SO wrong! This is a rare Bay Area gem for kids and families, every city should have one. All the attendees were impressed with the genius of the space, organization, cleanliness, and huge outdoor area. There are multiple indoor and outdoor "zones." The building is a duplex- home, when you enter there is a craft room with multiple round tables with crafts set up, in the center is a book/play area with tons of toys and cute furniture, a side room with a free personalized photobooth (email not printed) which is where the food was set up, and two bathrooms. Outside there was another bathroom. Down the ramp was a patch of fake grass where the party set up a piñata. Next to that, toddler equipment on wood chips. In the center, a huge table for kiddos to eat. Then the back corner has a large play structure and a fun bike ride where multiple kids could ride at the same time. This said, it's important for folks to consider that the two adults provided from Twirl are not enough to supervise an entire party. So keep this in mind as you are planning your party. This wasn't an issue at all for our group as the parents were all very hands on. The party I attended was from 10:30-12:30. I was so impressed with Duponte and Bella's ability to jump in- give the kiddos tattoos, help with the cake, clean up, and transition to the afternoon party. This is the PERFECT place to host your toddler- 2nd grade birthday party!

We hosted my son's 3rd birthday party at the Whimsy location and it was magical, even the planning…read moreprocess was effortless! The staff were so kind, accommodating and caring. I've been at birthday parties where you have to ask the staff the help but not here. Both Duponte and Emma were looking for opportunities to engage. Emma played with the kids and attempted to keep the group entertained with crafts. They both helped set up; Duponte even lifted heavy coolers filled with drinks out of my car (and then reloaded when the party was over). Both staff hung up banners and helped with random set up tasks that I asked to be completed before guests arrived. The morning of our party it had rained at it looked like the weather was cleaning up so both Emma and Duponte wiped down the outdoor play equipment so the kids could spend some time outside. Everyone here loves kids, and it shows. We also received lots of compliments from friends and family truly impressed with the space and the activities available. It was the best place possible to host a birthday party. Thanks to everyone at Twirl for making my son's day so special and my day so easy. We can't wait to come back!

I came to The Sewing Room room after teaching myself to sew on YouTube, which really worked for me…read moreup until I wanted to create more complex, personal things. I'm a total self-starter, but but eventually I needed someone to walk me through the hard things, explain techniques they've learned by applying them directly to my garments, and help me understand why a particular method works for a particular fabric or design. I was nervous walking into my first class. I worried I wouldn't fit in or I would feel out of place. That fear disappeared almost immediately. I was warmly welcomed by Christine Knobel, my first instructor, and by the other students. The community here is genuinely kind, diverse, and supportive. Apparently sewists are just really nice people (or at least the ones who come here are). I expected to improve my sewing skills, and I absolutely have, but what surprised me most was how meaningful the community became. In a world where most of my interactions happen through screens, spending time learning alongside real people has been incredibly grounding and joyful. I also love that they offer a fashion studies track, where you can learn from the very beginning, designing a sketch, all the way through creation. The classes are clearly structured to help you grow into a true sewist, not just complete a single project. Plus, they're always adding new classes, which keeps things fresh and exciting. This place has been a gift, both creatively and socially.

I moved to Alameda 6 months ago and wandered into The Sewing Room while exploring Park St. I am a…read moreself-taught hobby sewer and was so excited to have a sewing store walking distance from me. They have a beautiful small selection of fabrics, notions, and patterns but they really excel in classes. I decided to take a garment class (the lined jacket), not for help, but for community, and I'm so happy that I did! Christine was a great teacher and I do pick up some tricks! My goal this year was to grow my skills, so I decided to enroll in the Sketch to Garment class. It has been so fun working with Julie Ann and my fellow students. I was worried I'd struggle because I don't have sketching or design experience, but I love how easy and creative they made it! I'm looking forward to more. Come to The Sewing Room for community, creativity, and knowledge!

My 6 year old kiddo comes home with the most impressive art pieces when she attends classes at…read moreCorner House Studio, and while I know it's not all about the final product, clearly there is some legit instruction and creative inspiration that takes place. As a mom and an artist, It's such a beautiful thing to witness your kid falling in love with creativity. I love the location, responsiveness has been top notch, and my kiddo is happy, which makes me over the moon.

Obsessed with this place!! My son is 7 and just finished his second "season" here. I'm truly blown…read moreaway with the pieces they've worked on - we've hung them up everywhere because they're so unique and interesting. They learn a lot of art concepts too so pretty cool hearing him talk about organic shapes, how to use the light, etc. Also took the first adult workshop and absolutely loved it. Recommended big time for both kids and adults to check this place out!