If you enjoy shopping for natural lotions and potions as much as I do, you simply must take Rene's…read moreclasses. Like most women, I've wasted lots of time and money looking everywhere for just the right face and body products, only to be disappointed time and time again. That's when I thought I should just make my own, according to my own specifications. I've looked everywhere for soap and lotion making classes, and none of them appealed to me as much as Rene's because of her high standards of using organic and natural ingredients. After the first class, i was hooked. Why? My own vanity. Rene is the poster child for good skin. She has no makeup on and her skin is so smooth and blemish free! She is her own walking testimonial to the products she creates. When I heard how old Rene is, I knew I had to learn from her as much as possible because she looks over 15 years younger. My favourite products I've learned to make at Soap Making School so far are soaps (of course), butters, lotions, makeup remover, and shampoo. I read a lot about ingredients but Rene has encyclopedic knowledge about numerous ingredients that surpass anyone I've ever met. Needless to say, I've learned a lot from her. In class she is generous, patient, and so kind and sweet even when students mess things up. Even if you can't take her class just yet, I'd recommend signing up for her free newsletters. They are a wealth of information. If you are lucky enough to have the time to take a class, I'd recommend signing up early since I've seen how quickly some of Rene's classes fill up. Rene is one woman soap making empire. Besides all the selfish reasons I signed up for her classes, it's a treat to support small ethically-run businesses.

Beginners cold-process soap making class was amazing! The instructor Rene truly has a passion for…read morenatural products and sharing her knowledge with others. Classes are small, very hands on and easy to follow. During the 3 hour class we learned about the soap making process, how industry processes soap we see at the grocery stores. By the end of this class, we were able to create a customized 2 pound loaf to take home.

This sewing school is a wonderful community! I learned about this place when my daughter came here…read morefor a birthday party years ago and then my daughter and my niece did summer workshops... but I came back and took some adult lessons too! Every time I have a question or am confused about something... I can pop by and get answers- and look at the new patterns they are developing and fabrics they are hoping to inspire sewers with.

La Movida is absolutely awesome! Indubitably…read more I have been taking adult classes at la Movida for almost two years. I learned so much from their talented teachers. The infrastructure of the studio is high-end and so useful. There are many sergers available, and big luxurious tables for pattern-making and cutting. From absolute beginner to pro designer, la Movida has something to offer every sewer. There is a wide variety of fabrics available to meet all your fashionista needs. La Movida is selling three layer masks to help fight covid. Stay on-trend and safe simultaneously. Love it!!

My daughter has been taking music lessons here for 4 years and it's been consistently of high…read morequality. It's been great to see the improvement over the years. The instructors and the staff are all very professional and experienced. Our daughter's teacher is a good fit. The class structure is very rigid. Do not expect any credits if you need to skip a week. On the flip side, the instructors are allowed to cancel with short notice for their own personal reasons. Our daughter's teacher has musical commitments a few times each year and this she misses out on lessons 4 or 5 times a year. The actual spaces can be hit and miss. Our daughter is in a small room in the basement, with very poor acoustic control, immediately adjacent the early learning room where very young kids clang and bang loudly on instruments including pianos and other loud instruments. Not very condusive to a quality private lesson environment for our child. In general we are happy.

Place des Arts is wonderful! They have courses for children as well as adults in everything from…read moremusic, dancing, drama, visual arts and more. I have taken three courses here (two spinning classes and a weaving class, as well as a short felting workshop) and have loved them all. The instructors are so knowledgeable and experienced that even in a beginner class you come out of it feeling like you can take on any project. If you are interested in the arts, this place will surely have something for you. And one of the best things about them, other than how incredibly affordable the classes are, is that they offer most of their programs in the evenings as well as during the day so those who work or go to school can still go.

Kate is an awesome teacher. Highly recommend her services. She's got great knowledge to share!read more

I've only bought sale yarn but yes, they have a huge selection of yarns AND pattern books. Each…read moretime I come out to Steveston, I go for seafood, stroll around, grab a coffee and end up at Wool and Wicker. The staff is patient so if a customer is asking questions, be prepared to wait.

Great store, great service. They have a good selection of yarn and if they don't have the color you…read moreare after they will order it for you. I have always been pleased with the ladies who work there - pleasant conversations and help. Also, great location - you can lounge in Steveston and have a coffee and then visit the shop and pick the yarn for your next project. Perfect!

4Cats is an art studio which has a number of different workshops! We came here for their pottery…read moreclay workshop where we made a love snack plate. It was just a 1hr workshop which included instructions as well. It was $35 per person which I thought was very standard considering this was not a pottery wheel class but a clay pottery class. Our instructor was super nice and took her time to go over everything. She was around in case we had any questions. The class was pretty full considering it was a Saturday afternoon so I would recommend booking them in advance. They always have fun classes depending on the months/season. This was a special one they had for valentine's day. Their space is pretty big and has two floors with multiple classes happening at the same time. They also have special classes for kids and also host kids birthday parties! I would definitely come back to try some of their other workshops.

A friend of mine tried to register her daughter for a kids painting class and was denied access due…read moreto her daughter having a disability and needing the support of an aide (who she was happy to coordinate herself); another mom of a kiddo with a disability also had her child denied for the same reason. Your rationale was that it's a "kids only" space, so the fact that they needed the support of a human aide (adult) means they aren't welcome in your kids class. There are all different kinds of aids/aides that people with varying abilities and needs use for support - some are human aides and some are physical aids (like a wheelchair or glasses). When you start to think of a human aide as no different than a physical aid (both support an individual with a specific need to navigate the world) it makes denying someone access to a space or program much harder to justify. Would you deny a kid who requires a wheelchair a spot in your class because it might mean having to move a table or two? Your decision to deny these two access to your kids classes not only violate their human rights (which are protected by BC, Canadian, and International Law) but violate their humanity. It tells them that because they move through the world differently than some of their peers that they aren't as worthy, that they don't deserve to have the same opportunities as their peers or BE with their peers. It also denies their peers (and your staff) the opportunity to share space and an activity with THEM. I only know one of these kiddos personally but when I say this is your (and your other participants) loss please know how very sincerely I mean it. This kid brings a level of joy that I haven't seen matched by anyone else. She's funny, and she's creative, and she's smart, and she's kind, and she's talented, and she's joy-full, and she deserves to spend a few hours doing the thing she loves the very most (painting) with her peers. And the other kids in your class deserve for her to be part of their peer group. Inclusion isn't a favour that "typical" people do for "atypical" people. Inclusion is a right and it benefits all of us. As those of us in Canada sit here and watch in horror as the US government degrades diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to push the narrative that white, able bodied, neurotypical, heterosexual, cisgendered men are the "norm" and the only demographic that doesn't have to prove their worth I can't tell you how unbelievably disappointed and heartsick I was to learn that an art studio in my hometown has opted not to include a nine-year-old girl because she has a disability. Do better.

My spouse and I wanted to join an art and craft workshop together and came across Soigne. There are…read more30+ workshops available on their website and we decided to join the coin ring workshop. It's $80 plus tax for two. Reasonably priced for a two-hour workshop with a legit product to bring home. We booked the class two days ahead and the original 4pm time slot was full already. Our instructor, Kacy, opened a new slot at 1:30pm as many people wanted to sign up. We were able to join the 1:30pm class but it filled up quickly. The class was full (12 people I think). So, remember to reserve your spot earlier if you want to join the workshop on a very specific day. Kacy is responsive and helpful when we booked the class. The studio located at the sketchier side of town. Inside the studio, it is safe, clean and artsy. The workshop was fun. It involves some "hot work". I like that Kacy put a lot of emphasis on safety. She taught us each step very clearly and made sure we knew what we were doing. Each work station was set up neatly without any unnecessary items. I am very happy with the learning process and our end products. I would love to join more workshops by Soigne!

This was of one of kind experience. We went there to make a ring from a coin…read more Just beware to bring a variety of coins, because not all coins are made equally and the owner has an app to know what's it is made out of it. I meant to put in a review, but I forgot. So first off, the area can seem little sketchy, I parked my car there, it was fine. It was a little hard to find, but I called the owner and she met me outside the gates. The owner was very helpful with the entire process and provided instructions all the way through. You start from beginning, where you heat, shape, clean and polish. I got a Thai coin with my birth year for my wife to make, because I am Thai. Then I got a Filipino coin with my wife's birth year for me to make. As a backup I got some US quarters with our birth years just in case. Which came out handy because during the ring making process the wife messed up. Communication was great, she answered all of my questions and payment was done over PayPal. Overall, I would come here again, well worth price for the experience!

*You can see my original review and the owner's reply, below*…read more I didn't think my opinion of The ArtWay Studio could get any lower, but the owner, Denna, has replied to my review AND contacted me privately, eight years later. Instead of trying to make it right or even apologizing, she is asking me to remove my review. I even took the time to re-explain my issues in detail, and her response was nothing but gaslighting, sarcasm, and calling me entitled. Now that I know the teacher I had was fired, I feel even more like I wasted a lot of money and learned nothing. I am often hesitant to leave negative reviews for small businesses and I would have happily revised my review if Denna had made even a small attempt to make things right, but I now feel like I have to warn other people against spending money here. The classes were disappointing and the customer service is abhorrent.

Denna and The Artway Studio have been amazing to work with. I have been a student for several…read moreyears and learned so much from Denna that I now have my own studio and art practice. She has mentored many students who have done the same. She is a great teacher and I would recommend The Artway to anyone.