I've been a member at Artisan's Asylum since 2017, and it's been one of the most meaningful…read morecreative communities I've been part of. I started out pretty tentatively, just learning and exploring. Over time, I got more involved and eventually became the laser shop lead for four years. That experience opened the door for me to build a small business creating bamboo candle lanterns and piggy banks--something I never would have been able to do on my own without access to the tools and support there. That's really what makes a makerspace like this so special. You get access to equipment that would be wildly expensive (and impractical) to own yourself, and you're surrounded by people who are both learning and generously sharing what they know. A recent moment really drove that home for me. I needed to test out my tent system for an upcoming show, but the weather outside was terrible. I was able to set everything up in the common space and run a full test. Honestly--such a small thing, but incredibly helpful, and exactly the kind of flexibility that makes this place so valuable. These days, my focus has shifted to painting, and having studio space at the Asylum has been just as important for this next chapter. I have the room I need to work in encaustic, lay out panels, prep surfaces, and wrap finished pieces for transport. The shared spaces make all of that possible in a way that would be hard to replicate anywhere else. It's a welcoming, diverse environment with something for everyone--whether you're just curious or looking to build something serious. If you've ever thought about trying something new, take a class and see where it leads. You might surprise yourself. Time to get creative.

completed the jewelry 101 course. Fantastic instructor who led us through a series of steps…read morelearning the correct techniques on every tool in the Artisan's Asylum jewelry shop. We completed a ring (which my wife liked) over the two day 6 hour course. I have had some previous experience but this was an excellent learning process that taught me many things that improved my skills. Highly recommend taking this learning journey!! Great value for your money.

Took a glass arts class with Eric with my best friend. This was the most amazing arts class I have…read moreever took. Not only did we get to do almost 100% of the work ourselves, we both ended the class with 3 pieces!! Eric is so patient and his customer service cannot beat. Truly an amazing teacher and guy. Definitely worth the money as it is a fully private 3 hour long class. Great options of what to make. HIGHLY recommend.

My partner and I did a private 3 hour glass working lesson with Eric and it was the best…read moreexperience! Eric is a great teacher and by the end of the lesson I felt as if I had really gotten the hang of it. His lessons are a hidden gem of Boston and I totally recommend them to others who want to learn to make glass art. Eric doesn't work with full-scale furnaces but with pretty intense mounted torches. However i think this was just as cool and I would absolutely come back again.

Well organized & communicated. Great instruction & just a BLAST TO DO AND LEARN. CANT WAIT TO GO…read moreAGAIN. It will be my fifth time, and I have enjoyed them all. You get to be creative, actually create something beautiful & bring it home to share or gift. Wonderful way to express yourself and your inner artist. SO MUCH FUN!!

Wonderful people and wonderful teacher. Just signed up after wanting to do stained glass for a…read morewhile. Tracey makes it easy for beginners and the other students are very welcoming. highly recommend giving yourself a chance to try something new and signing up for a class here! You get set up with a kit, a tutorial on how to cut glass, and help along the way.

I took the 12-week evening course and cannot say enough wonderful things about the training…read moreprogram. Dr. Steve is thorough and concise in his teachings and wonderfully encouraging making this a wonderful learning experience. I loved the course so much that I cannot wait to take the next advanced lesson course. Highly recommend this course!!!!!

I took the twelve-week night program in floral design at Rittners this spring, and honestly I can't…read moresay enough wonderful things about this little gem of a school. If you have a serious interest in working with flowers, you can't go wrong here. Steve Rittner (or "Dr. Steve," as he is known to his students) runs the place and co-teaches the classes, and he is a great person to learn from. He's been in the floral business basically from the day he was born, as his grandfather was a stalwart in the Boston floral scene, so he really knows his stuff. You couldn't ask for a nicer, more approachable guy, and he's got a charming, corny sense of humor. As far as his teaching goes, he's quite thorough and usually anticipates your questions. Each class usually follows the format of a lecture and demonstration of an arrangement, followed by a session in the floral studio to put together a design. A perk of the lessons is that all of them are videotaped, so if you miss a class, you can just call Dr. Steve and arrange a time to view the tape. The course material is extremely varied, ranging from designs for everyday delivery to funeral work to items for weddings. You'll learn to make traditional as well as more contemporary designs. Not every design will necessarily appeal to you personally, but the idea is to give you a broad education so that even if something isn't to your taste, you'll know what to do if you open up your own business and get an order for a certain type of arrangement. In a similar vein, you won't usually work with specialty flowers or hard goods here, but that isn't really the point - you're being given techniques that you can apply in a variety of situations. Overall, I'd recommend Rittners for someone who is serious about working in the world of flowers and wants to have some fun while learning. I had a great experience there and feel very ready to apply what I learned from Dr. Steve to my own original designs.

I took a nuno felting class at Nicole's Art Spot and I had so much fun! I have not ever worked…read morewith fibers but have always loved the look of felting on wearable fabrics. Nicole walked me through everything in a way that was easy for me to understand. Making the scarf itself was very hands on and a lot of fun. Nicole gave me a lot of really good ideas and walked me through the steps as we went. I would recommend Nicole's classes to anyone who is a little unsure in their artistic ability and needs skilled support.

I was interested in learning how to weld and recently contact Paul to see if he could provide…read morein-person lessons. He was prompt with a reply and was able to provide welding instruction in his shop in Natick. We talked through protocol and safety equipment. He quoted me a reasonable price and we set a time for the following week. Once there, we spent over an hour going over basics and practicing welding using several methods. His shop is well ventilated and perfect for metal work. Being a novice, he walked me through the equipment and started me on stick welding, then flux core, and finally some gas mig. I was having so much fun that we ran over our scheduled time. I enjoyed Paul's approach, competence and easy going nature. I will definitely return soon. If you have any interest or need for art or welding guidance, I highly recommend you connect with Paul.

Paul is a talented artist and experienced fabricator. He helped me with the design process to…read morecreate a presentation solution for my art work. Paul is wonderful to work with - professional, personable, and timely. I am so happy with the pieces he built for me. Thank you, Paul!

This is a great maker space right in the town center of Weston. I've now made espadrille shoes, a…read morewool bag, laser-cut coasters, a trivet, cards, gelli plate crafting and a few other items. The teachers are SUPER easy to understand and also very patient. I felt comfortable asking questions and actually barely needed to ask anything as instructions have always been clear and organized. I've also attended a couple evening events here, as well as a couple craft fairs. For a small venue it definitely has a lot to offer.

It's the second time that the classes I have registered for have been canceled and the calendar on…read moretheir website is not updated. It still shows the class you registered for being on schedule. The walkway was not shoveled, made it all the way for the class, almost fell on the walkway only to be told the class was canceled and the staff was unapologetic and rude.

The various art shows are wonderful and the classes are great. There's even a Gallery Gift shop…read morethat's open during the shows with handmade items like stained glass, ceramics, jewelry, wood and more. Plus there's free parking!

Right now, you can go to the Arts & Crafts Society to get your fix of handmade woodwork, pottery,…read morescarves, shirts, table runners, bottle stoppers, purses, jewelry boxes, vases, decorative plates, spoon rests, earrings, necklaces, watercolor paintings, and... I think that's about it. This month, the members have exhibited their wares - and everything's available for a very fair price. Perfect for getting that little "New England gift" for a family member. The staff is really friendly and talkative, asking lots of questions and giving you advice on how to make your own homemade things. Also, classes are available in everything from jewelry making to ceramics (hand building AND wheel throwing!), woodworking to knitting. Very nice, and perfect for those with too much energy.