I've been talking about learning how to sew since forever so last birthday my friends got me a gift…read morecertificate to It's Sew Crafty so I could shut up and learn. Winter was very busy but I finally got around to using it and I couldn't be happier! Katie is beyond patient and teaches often to children so her approach is often animated and simple to remember which is great for newbies or someone who hasn't sewn in a long time. I only have 3 sessions, but I feel pretty well acquainted with the sewing machine again. I'd like to eventually be able to sew my own clothes so after this round I will practice and then try to get some more lessons this fall. If you have kids who like to craft send em here! She's right in downtown Maplewood or I believe LBI for the summer so lots of opportunity to get your craft on. Katie has a great approach from sewing, to crafting, to dyeing fabrics, it appears that she does it all! I'm excited to complete my first project and move on to more. Give her a try!

I've been attending this school for over a year, and have learned a variety of techniques for…read moremetalworking, lost wax casting, polishing / finishing, setting stones, etc. I had some experience making jewelry before coming here, but the studio I previously went to did not teach as many techniques and had less equipment. This school has equipment for all aspects of the process (crucible / investment for casting wax into metal, wax injector, enamel kiln, polishers, tumblers, etc.). The founder of the school, Robert, has been teaching jewelry making for around 40 years so he can answer most questions and give advice for dealing with issues as they arise. He also teaches lots of techniques that aren't covered in other schools, such as different ways to set stones / diamonds. I'm still in the process of finishing my current course (360 part-time comprehensive jewelry course), but once I'm done I intend to keep coming for open studio hours.

Studio Jewelers is the best jewelry school in NYC! Robert is a master of his craft, has an…read moreunbelievable wealth of knowledge, and is a patient teacher. The studio offers classes spanning many disciplines (basic metalsmithing, diamond setting, wax carving, pearl knotting, design & rendering, etc). It is an excellent venue for beginners and for more experienced jewelers alike. I highly recommend anyone interested in learning more about the jewelry trade to seriously consider taking a class here! I have been a student for over a year and plan on continuing to go to the studio for open workshop.

LB Brown is somebody you've got to know. After I and another customer walked in, people were…read moreknocking on the door trying to get in. She didn't even look at them, just arched a brow and me and said, "Doesn't anyone read signs anymore?" LB does not let more than two people in her store at the same time. Covid. Once she got me going with selecting my matte and framing, she came back and said, "Well. Look at you. You got it." A Park Slope mom came in, apologized for her late pick up. LB said, six feet apart, "You have the ten dollar courtesy fee? Cash." ($10? Seems reasonable enough.) "Yes." A beat. "You're a good woman." A pause. "So are you." LB is a good woman. She knows her craft, has been on Myrtle forever. I keep talking about her, her je ne sais quoi, and no one I know has encountered many women framers, let alone a Black woman framer who owns her own business. She's something special, so you better go support her.

Excellent and professional service. Educated me on the levels of framing and preservation. Top…read morenotch place. I recommend everyone and all to visit Miss Brown.

I must admit it was a little expensive (and I tipped in addition to the fee) BUT as a Brooklyn…read moreartist I think it is important to invest in other Brooklyn creatives. This will always be a superior choice to task rabbit because you get to learn while the task is being done. Erica was knowledgeable friendly and an incredibly thorough teacher. When requesting a project be sure to give them as much information as possible so that they can bring all of the equipment they need. She had everything and walked me through how to do it all on my own. I can't wait to work with them again! Thank you ladies!!!

I took a couple of workshops at Ms. Fix it and I loved it! The workshops are fun, interactive and…read moreeasy to follow. There are no dumb questions to ask and even as a total handyperson virgin, I was able to follow thru the teacher's instructions with ease. And the end of class, we get to drink some wine and mingle! :D

My fiancé mad my ring with Sam over here. I cannot talk about the service since clearly I wasn't…read morethere, but the product was the most beautiful piece of jewelry I have ever seen. Clearly Sam knows what he is doing and is amazing at it because he helped my fiancé, who has never crafted even a bead bracelet, make this amazing rose gold cathedral styled ring. There are some small imperfections, but these make my ring perfect since they remind me everyday that my ring was crafted by hand and will never be like another. If there is anything in this world I can recommend more, please let me know. I'm beyond excited to wear this ring for the rest of my life.

The whole time I was working in Sam's shop, I was so happy I'd decided to go this route. What are…read morethe alternatives? Going to De Beers and picking a ring at random? Thinking about that option felt gross by comparison. This is an intimate experience that you'll remember forever and, in the end, the recipient of your ring will proudly tell their friends and family (and maybe random people in the street) that you MADE their ring! You'll be proud too--"No, it wasn't too difficult," you'll say. "Yes, now that you mention it, I AM kind of like a superhero." But like most stories, the real hero isn't standing in the spotlight, but someone behind the scenes receiving very little credit. That hero in this story is Sam Abbay. Sam is an absolute professional whose demeanor makes it obvious he has tons of knowhow working with beginners to forge the perfect ring. He took the time to explain every step of the process to me so that I was learning as I worked, making this experience even more valuable. You'll work for hours--you'll polish and saw and sand and solder and file and polish (did I mention you'd polish?). You'll be tired and feel like you did good work. The end result is something you can be proud of, a feeling that simply can't be purchased in a store. This ring will be a symbol of the love you have for your partner--and, like your partner, you'll know everything about it. As far as symbolism goes, how much more meaningful can it get than making your lover's engagement ring with your own hands? I can't recommend this enough. She said yes, by the way.

Learning to weld is an extraordinary experience. This workshop, given to me as a gift from a…read morefriend, got me started with the basic techniques of MIG. Michelle is an expert teacher and guides you every step of the way to lay down a clean bead. The studio, totally Covid-safe, has large side by side open windows that allow for easy air circulation. There is a breeze from the waterfront. My first time holding a torch I got hooked, I love the small sculpture that I made. I now have it on display in my apartment. When I go back for another class, I will bring a friend to share the experience and fun. Who knew metalwork could be so exciting? But then Michelle Greene has been the master welding professor at the New School for decades, so I had high expectations!

Just did a one-on-one 2-hour class with Michelle and I can't recommend it highly enough. Michelle…read morewas smart and clear and an excellent teacher. She gauged my ability and comfort zone well and we progressed through the basics of Oxy-acetylene welding at the exact right pace for me. I walked out of there with a very clear sense of how to get started with what I need to do (and a candle holder!) I definitely need more practice and may go back to her for another session, but I'm very glad I spent the money and did the solo session rather than being in a class setting that others offer. Come to think of it, even the choice of the candle-holder project she came up with reflected the attention she put into it, because we used the same material that I want to use in a project, so the practice was tailor made for real-life.

Wanna learn how to make jewelry? Want to learn but not in one of those places where there are like…read more20 people in the class with varying levels of skill? Chie's studio might be good for you. Chie has been a master jeweler and instructor at FIT for almost 2 decades and it shows. Now I'm not even close to being a good jewelry designer but know I need to learn how to create things "the right way", so I came back to Chie. He was my instructor over a decade ago and he's still on point! The best thing about taking a class here is that you can start from any level and still learn something. You can be a super beginner and learn the basics or be a professional who wants to relearn everything, like myself. The class size is small (less than 10 people) and changes week to week. For $440 you get 8 weeks of 3 hour classes. Pay the one time $100 membership fee and you can take more classes as well as sign up for studio time for $8 an hour during his posted hours. Out of all of the classes I've taken around New York, which aren't many, I highly recommend Chie because he's patient and knowledgeable about almost everything. You can take classes from here for years and still be learning.

My office actually sent me to The Training Farm, as my department is upgrading to Final Cut Pro X…read moreand we all need training because it is SO different from FCP7. I was really impressed by how nice the facilities and equipment were. And they even provided snacks! The classes followed the Apple-dictated structure, but our Emmy-awarded (!!!) instructor, Scott, was always able to offer extra tips and even showed us his favorite industry blogs and websites. The class was really well paced, with plenty of breaks, and Scott is a very patient man. Much more patient than I..... classmates, ya know? However, the class size was super small, so that really helped that he was able to give individual attention when needed, and did a great job at keeping everyone at the same pace. At the end of the class, I decided to take the Apple Certification for FCPX Level One - I passed with FLYING COLORS! The class REALLY prepared me well for it, and I did as Scott suggested - spent a week studying on my own with just the book (that they provide you & you get to keep)! So happy with my experience there!! Overall - super nice people, super knowledgeable teacher, super good training.

So, after working on FC7, I made the move to Premiere Pro 6 recently. While it wasn't a HUGE jump…read moreto go from one editing software to the other, there were definitely some gaps in my knowledge. I looked into the Training Farm and what enticed me to try them out, was their one-on-one training sessions. I knew I was too advanced for beginning PP6 and I really didn't want to go through the mechanisms of "what is a timeline" and go into a beginner's class. I also work full time, can't just take a weekday off for what is usually their scheduled 3-day sessions, and I was paying for this class out of my own pocket, so I wanted the most bang for my buck. One of my frustrations with these types of establishments, is that I often feel that I am learning some things, going over things I mostly know, but the class never really focuses on the things I REALLY want to know. So, after some back and forth emailing with the Training Farm about my needs and expectations, I signed up for a one-on-one session. After sitting down with my instructor in the beginning to outline what I would like to learn, my interests and issues when editing, the instructor went through each of my requests. I learned at least 3 things that I wish I knew earlier that week when a big project was due, that would have made my life easier in post. That was definitely worth the money. The instructor was patient and knowledgable and tried to ensure that I wasn't skipping over anything he thought I needed to know. The facility is nice and clean and my session took place in a private room. The instructor worked on a computer, which was attached to a large screen, and I was able to follow along on the other computer. I am not going to give them 5 stars as I feel that I would need to take an actual class as opposed to one-on-one to assess them better. But overall, I would definitely come back here again for lessons.