I hired Samantha from Painted Palettes to hand letter mini pumpkins for a fall themed event and it…read morewas THE HIT FROM THE PARTY (even three months later, in the dead of winter my personalized pumpkin is still going strong and it's so beautiful I do not have the heart to throw it away). Samantha was easy to work with from start to finish and was able to stay professional despite the long lines at the party (I mean, how could you not want something so beautiful as a keepsake?). I could picture using her for corporate events, bridal showers, baby showers and any other celebration that could you a personalized twist. She can write on any material and even engraves on glass! I have not had the chance to check out her Intro to Hand Lettering classes yet but for now, I'll leave it to the pros. Painted Palettes is simply the best!

I first saw and met Samantha from Painted Palettes at a Yelp Elite event back in 2018. Then I…read morestarted following her work on Instagram (@painted_palettes). A couple months ago, my friend Kim and I took an Intro to Hand Lettering class with Samantha at Steadfast Supply in DC. Oh that rush hour traffic and $20 parking was sooo worth it! Turns out, Samantha used to be a teacher, and it shows in the way she articulates the class. It was easy to follow her instructions, and she was very hands-on with showing examples. Plus we got a pretty decent set of tools and goodies to take home with us! Since, I've purchased some of her watercolor artwork to hang at home. I am such a fan! The artwork can be found on her website or in various shops in the area. And her classes are actually affordable! Next I want to take her Pointed Pen class!

Over the holidays, I was searching for a caricature artist and was lucky enough to connect with…read moreAlexandra (Alex) Cheek from Caricature Artists Group LLC on Christmas Eve. She patiently listened to my vision for a retirement gift and immediately put me at ease with her friendly, professional approach. Alex gave me a realistic timeline that allowed time for review and edits, which I really appreciated. She quickly delivered a draft that perfectly captured my colleague's personality, and the final inked and colored caricature exceeded my expectations! Amazing talent, great communication, and a wonderful experience from start to finish. Highly recommend!

I recently commissioned Audrey to create a caricature as a gift for a high-profile individual, and…read morethe entire experience was exceptional. From the very beginning, Audrey was incredibly patient and thoughtful. She took the time to understand the vision, asked insightful questions, and made sure every detail was handled with care and discretion. Her communication was clear, timely, and professional throughout the process, which gave me complete confidence--especially given the importance of the recipient. When it came to delivery, she exceeded all expectations. The final piece was not only beautifully executed but tasteful, polished, and perfectly suited for such a distinguished person. Aubrey has a rare combination of artistic talent, professionalism, and grace. I would absolutely work with her again!!!

The Torpedo Factory Art Center is housed in a former WWI munitions plant along the waterfront in…read moreOld Town. This is a unique building with three floors of artist studios. Many of the artists are working and you can go in and watch them in their studio and ask them about the process. What I enjoyed was that that there were so many styles and mediums. We particularly enjoyed the 3-D sculptures and bought some pottery for a friend. We enjoyed our visit so much that we went back the next day. Admission is free. On the way out, I stepped on the scale -- oops! -- it was unfortunately, all too accurate.

3 floors of art studios, and many welcoming artists! This is a great place to get out of the…read moresummer heat, and there's free admission! While it's open daily from 10am to 6pm, the amount of studios closed/opened varies. I feel that there's more open on Fridays and through the weekend. There's a great variety in art here, and I'm sure everyone can find a new favorite artist!

I needed someone to paint a unique prehistoric symbol on the chimney for my backyard fireplace…read more Marcelo was very receptive to the idea and came in on an afternoon and painted it. It looked absolutely fantastic!! Everyone who has seen it has commented on. It His attention to detail and artistry is well noted. I would highly recommend anyone using his services.

We hired Marcelo to do some art work in a nursery. He was extremely responsive, did an amazing job,…read moreand was very reasonably priced. He competed the work extremely fast too. If you need a mural or some sort of art work painted on a wall, Marcelo is your guy. I did my research and got quotes from numerous places and Marcelo was the best and his work was phenomenal.

George took a photo of me for a passport renewal. He knew exactly what he was doing. He emailed the…read morephoto to me. When I uploaded it into the State Department's add photo section, I centered the photo. Then I pick the test photo button and it was accepted with no problems. Thank you very much George. If you need a passport photo go see George.

It would be actually great if this business honored posted business hours. If you didn't plan on…read moreactually taking business at 6pm then don't say you are open until 7pm. Totally unreliable

Great family business. I've seen it driving past my husband's work but didn't realize they offer…read moreclasses until I googled. So glad my friend and I came to take a short project class. We really enjoyed ourselves and will be back. Great instruction, designs offered, and value. They also have small gifts up front if you don't have time for a class, but want something hand made locally.

Fiscus Glassworks is a gem in Alexandria. I have now taken all of their classes from beginner to…read morestructure/dimension and design and build. I even entered my pieces I created in these classes at the Arlington County Fair and won the Reserve Grand Champion for my division! I now frequent their studio during open hours with their studio time passes. Brad and Maré are kind, welcoming and extremely knowledgeable! They can help you create patterns and make your stained glass visions come true. Definitely check Fiscus out!