Birthday Party Open House and Free Crafting
Duration: 2 hours (open house)
Ages: All ages
Led by: Locally Crafted Workshop (@createatlocallycrafted)
At Locally Crafted Workshop, we love celebrating birthdays, so we’re inviting you to see what a party in our studio is all about!
During the Locally Crafted Makers Market on Saturday, May 3, drop in to our workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. for a FREE open house to get a glimpse into our parties, and do some crafting of your own. All ages are welcome, so bring your family to look around and craft with us.
Here’s what’s in store:
FREE crafting stations where you can create a cute piece of cupcake-themed wall art; choose from dozens of designs to make flair buttons; make sticker collage masterpieces; and more!
Samples of our party projects, and an opportunity to ask questions about what a Locally Crafted Workshop party is like. (The answer is “super-fun,” but we’re happy to provide more details.)
A chance to meet our friends from Slimebar and Brick Builder Bashes — they host their specialized parties (slime and Legos, respectively) in our space.
This event is FREE, but if you think you’ll stop by, please grab tickets so we know how many people to expect. Stay for 15 minutes, or linger for longer to sample everything. And plan some time on either end to browse the market; our Patch Bar will be in full swing out in the market area. Let’s party like it’s your birthday!
Open Studio: Air Dry Clay
Duration: 3 hours (open house)
Ages: 6+ (under 13 with an adult)
Led by: Erika Fernando (@shopkapwa)
Join us during the second day of the Locally Crafted Makers Market to do some crafting of your own! Come experiment with the fun and versatile medium of air-dry clay — we'll provide you all the clay tools and necessary supplies you need to model magnets, charms, a trinket tray, polaroid holders, worry stones, clay pets and more. This is an open house event — bring a group and craft as long as you’d like.
Each ticket includes four packs of clay in colors of your choice and a small box to take home your creations. Additional clay will be available for purchase in the studio. We’ll be stocked with tools, hardware and art supplies to help you bring your project to life. Just bring your creativity!
Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door.
Hosted by Erika Fernando of Shop Kapwa (@shopkapwa).
Crafters as young as 6 are welcome to attend, but any participant under 13 but must be accompanied by an adult.
Open Studio: Fidget Bracelet Bead Bar
Duration: 3 hours (open house)
Ages: All ages, but under 8 will need adult assistance
Led by: Locally Crafted Workshop (@createatlocallycrafted)
We’ve been having fun experimenting at our Bead Bar, and our latest obsession is fidget bracelets. The first time we started to see these pop up online, we new we had to try it. We use a combination of small and large beads to create these cool jewelry pieces, where the large beads slide along the bracelet for a fun effect. These bracelets aren’t just for kids — everyone who sees them can’t help but play with them. And they add a fun and colorful pop to your spring accessories. Not a jewelry lover? Make bag or backpack charms.
Join us for an open studio afternoon during the Locally Crafted Makers Market and we’ll show you our tricks for making a stack of these fun and interactive bracelets.
We’ll provide:
Our favorite stretchy elastic.
Small beads for creating the base of your bracelet.
Large-hole beads to create the sliding effect. Rainbows, stars, hearts, sports balls and more!
Giant safety pins and other keychain hardware if you want to try making a fidget charm to attach to a bag or backpack.
Instructions and inspiration!
Because some of the beads are quite small, kids under 8 should be accompanied by an adult to assist in beading. They’ll love adding the larger beads to create the fidget effect. Make it a team effort!
Sweet Shop Summer Camp
Dates:
Duration: 4 hours each day
Ages: 6-12
Celebrate the beginning of summer with three days of crafting inspired by your favorite sweet treats. Kids ages 6 to 12 will create projects based on popsicles, ice cream, candy, cupcakes, doughnuts and more in this sweet shop-themed camp.
But these treats aren’t made of sugar! We’ll use paint, clay, beads, and more to create a mouth-watering array of eye-popping sweets. We don’t want to give away too much, but here are a few of the projects we’re planning:
Mosaic art
Polymer and air-dry clay creations
A project at our Patch Bar
Decorating (fake!) cakes
And much more!
Campers should bring a lunch and water bottle each day of camp.
Please note: This camp is scheduled to align with the final week of the Montgomery County Public Schools calendar, so it will run Wednesday through Friday.
Bring Your Own Project Night
Duration: 2½ hours
Ages: 12+
It’s been a few weeks (too long!) since we crafted together — bring your current project and join us for a few hours of creativity and cameraderie.
This FREE event is open to crafters of all kinds, so bring your in-progress project (or one you’ve been trying to find time to begin), and join our crafting community. It’s a the-more-the-merrier situation for sure.
Whether it’s knitting, papercrafts, junk journaling, needlework or jewelry-making, we’ve got a place for you in our space. Table space will be available, along with a few basic supplies like scissors, colored pencils and glue sticks, if you forget something. And feel free to bring a snack if that’s how you roll.
If you don’t have a project in progress but want to see what it’s all about, our Bead Bar will be open for business. For $12, it’s an all-you-can-bead situation, with a huge buffet of beads and basic bracelet-making supplies.
Joining us with your own project is FREE, but if you think you’re coming, grab a ticket so we know how many people to expect. See you on the 24th!
Drop-in Community Mah Jongg
Duration: 2 hours
Ages: 14+
We’ve had so much fun teaching Mah Jongg to new players over the last few months. Now we’re ready to open our space for drop-in community games. All levels are welcome — when you register, you’ll be asked about your experience so we can plan tables accordingly. Even if your only experience (so far!) is in our workshops or a casual lesson with friends, there is a spot for you at our tables.
If you have a card, please bring it (bring 2024 and 2025 if you have both). We’ll have cards to lend if you don’t have one.
Snacks will be provided. Obviously.
St. Patrick's Day Open Studio
Duration: 3 hours (open house)
Ages: All Ages
Come to Rio for the City of Gaithersburg St. Patrick's Day parade, and then join us for a few hours of open crafting — stay for a few minutes, or hang out all day. Bring a friend, a kid, a partner or come alone. Crafters of all ages will find something fun to make, we’re sure of it. This is a low-pressure, good vibes crafting environment. Just the way all crafting should be!
This event is not just for kids! Adults are invited to get crafty with us, whether you've got a kit with you or not.
We’ll have several stations set up for your crafting pleasure, including:
Our Bead Bar, stocked with plenty of green, gold and rainbows.
A cute decor project to bring some rainbow fun to your home this spring.
Coloring projects that will appeal to all ages.
All the projects are open-ended, and ready for you to put your own spin on them. There will be no official instruction, but we will offer lots of inspiration if you need it.
Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Crafters under 5 are free, but must be accompanied by a paying adult.
This is not a drop-off event. All children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
Makers' Mixer
Hosted by The Makers Valley and Locally Crafted Workshop
Creative small business owners, let’s get together! The Makers Valley and Locally Crafted Workshop are co-hosting a Makers’ Mixer on Friday, March 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. We’ll mix and mingle; share our successes; and get a little crafty.
Snacks and beverages will be served, and Locally Crafted Workshop will offer some open-ended crafting while you chat and connect.
Optional but strongly encouraged: Bring a small item that represents your business for our “show and tell” table, along with a small card that identifies your business. Include a website, social links or a QR code. We also encourage you to bring business cards to exchange with fellow makers.
Spaces are limited, so don’t wait to register. Tickets are $18, and include food, drink and crafting.
A Day for Feds: Free Headshots & Career Support
Duration: 4 hours (open house)
PLEASE NOTE:
We are so excited about the overwhelming interest in this event! Just a reminder that photo/makeup sessions will be on a walk-in, first come-first served basis, and we will try our very best to get through as many as possible. If you aren’t able to snag a headshot (and while you wait), please take advantage of the information/resources that will be available for you. We’ve lined up more than a dozen (and counting) people to help, including career coaches, editors, financial advisers, attorneys and more. Most of all, we hope the networking and community vibe (and snacks!) will be worth your time.
Facing a government layoff or employment uncertainty? Your community wants to help.
Join us Friday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Locally Crafted Workshop in Rio shopping center (35 Grand Corner Ave., Gaithersburg) for the following (all complimentary):
Headshots with Ginny Filer photography — because a strong, confident image matters.
Photo-Ready Makeup Touchups with Valerie Hammer Makeup Artistry — to help you look and feel your best.
Career Services and Guidance — resumé help, job search support and more.
Crafting & Community — because sometimes we just need to create and connect.
Free Hugs — because support is more than just resources.
And more resources to help navigate this difficult time.
No cost. No appointment. Just a space to feel seen, supported, and encouraged.
If you or someone you know has been impacted by the recent and pending federal layoffs, please stop by. Whether you need a fresh headshot, career advice, or just a space to breathe, we’re here for you.
And if you’d like to donate your time, expertise, or resources, we’d love to have you join in this effort to support our federal community. Let’s lift each other up.
The event is free, but if you think you’ll attend, please register so we can get an idea of how many people to expect. Makeup and photography sessions will be held on a walk-in basis.
Co-hosted by Ginny Filer Photography, Valerie Hammer Makeup Artistry and Locally Crafted Workshop.
Bring Your Own Project Night
Duration: 2½ hours
Ages: 16+
Come take a peek at our craft workshop space, and spend a few hours crafting with like-minded folks. This FREE event is open to crafters of all kinds, so bring your in-progress project (or one you’ve been trying to find time to begin), and join our crafting community. We hope these will be regular events, and we’d love a good crowd! It’s a more-the-merrier situation for sure.
Whether it’s knitting, papercrafts, junk journaling, needlework or jewelry making, we’ve got a place for you in our space. Table space will be available, along with a few basic supplies like scissors, colored pencils and glue sticks, if you forget something. And feel free to bring a snack if that’s how you roll.
If you don’t have a project in progress but want to see what it’s all about, our Bead Bar will be open for business. For $12, it’s an all-you-can-bead situation, with a huge buffet of beads and basic bracelet-making supplies.
Joining us with your own project is FREE, but if you think you’re coming, grab a ticket so we know how many people to expect. You can purchase the Bead Bar that night, but if you know you’d like to bead, please purchase a ticket so we can make sure our bead buffet is overflowing.
See you on the 11th!
Bring Your Own Project Night
Duration: 3 hours (open house)
Ages: 18+
Come take a peek at our brand-new craft workshop space, and spend a few hours crafting with like-minded folks. This FREE event is open to crafters of all kinds, so bring your in-progress project (or one you’ve been trying to find time to begin), and join our crafting community. We hope these will be regular events, and we’d love a good crowd! It’s a the-more-the-merrier situation for sure.
Whether it’s knitting, papercrafts, junk journaling, needlework or jewelry-making, we’ve got a place for you in our space. Table space will be available, along with a few basic supplies like scissors, colored pencils and glue sticks, if you forget something. And feel free to bring a snack if that’s how you roll.
If you don’t have a project in progress but want to see what it’s all about, our Bead Bar will be open for business. For $12, it’s an all-you-can-bead situation, with a huge buffet of beads and basic bracelet-making supplies.
Joining us with your own project is FREE, but if you think you’re coming, grab a ticket so we know how many people to expect. You can purchase the Bead Bar that night, but if you know you’d like to bead, please purchase a ticket so we can make sure our bead buffet is overflowing.
See you on the 11th!
Swiftie Mini-Camp
Duration: 3 ½ hours
Ages: 7+
Led by: Stacey Hammer and Heather Luxenberg (@locallycraftedshop)
Let’s party like it’s 1989! Join us on Monday, Feb 17 (Presidents’ Day) for a day of crafting inspired by the world’s favorite pop star. Whether you had front-row seats at the Eras Tour or are just a casual fan of her music, you’ll find something to love at our three-hour mini-camp.
The day will include painting, beading, mirrorballs, a Swiftie-friendly project at our Patch Bar, and of course an epic playlist. Nothing but good karma here!
We’ll take a mid-afternoon snack break (we’re going to need it!), so please email us with any allergies or other dietary needs.
FREE Knitting and Crochet Meetup
Duration: 2 hours
Ages: All ages, but kids under 13 must be accompanied by an adult
Fiber fans, let’s meet up! Due to a scheduling change, we’ve got a free afternoon in the workshop on Saturday. Knitters and crocheters, bring your current project and let’s hang out from 1 to 3 p.m. Get some help from fellow crafters; chat about favorite patterns and supplies; or just get a few rows finished in a cozy crafting space. If you’re knit- or crochet-curious, stop by and see what it’s all about.
Don’t have a project on your needles or hook right now? Bring some scrap yarn and play with our studio pompom makers. We’ll also have copies of our favorite tiny crochet heart pattern and some ideas for nonprofits to donate these “pocket hugs” to. This is a FREE event, but if you plan to come, go ahead and register so we know how many people to expect.
And don’t forget, if you WANT to be a knitter so you can join our next meetup, our two-session beginning knitting class begins next Thursday, Feb. 20, and there are a few spots left.
Valentine's Day Open Studio
Duration: 4 hours (Open House)
Ages: All Ages
We loved welcoming the community into our workshop on our opening weekend, and we’re ready to do it again. Join us for an afternoon of Valentine’s Day crafting — stay for a few minutes, or hang out all day. Bring a friend, a kid, a partner or come alone. Crafters of all ages will find something fun to make, we’re sure of it. This is a low-pressure, good vibes crafting environment. Just the way all crafting should be!
We’ll have several stations set up for your crafting pleasure, including:
Our Bead Bar, stocked with all the cute beads you need to create Valentine’s Day gifts.
A card-making station with lots of bits and bobs for making the perfect valentine for classmates, parents, grandparents, babysitters and everyone on your list.
A cute decor project to brighten up your home for the holiday.
All the projects are open-ended, and ready for you to put your own spin on them. There will be no official instruction, but we will offer lots of inspiration if you need it.
Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Crafters under 5 are free, but must be accompanied by a paying adult.
This is not a drop-off event. All children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Patch Bar Preview
30 Grand Corner Ave. in Rio (the former Pier One space, directly across from where Locally Crafted Workshop will open in January)