Get Crafty! Creative Classes to Try This Fall
Posted On : October 19, 2026
Put down your phone and pick up a paintbrush! From pottery and watercolor to wreath-making and cooking, the Shoreline is full of ways to flex your creative muscles this fall.
You might discover a hidden talent, learn a new skill, or simply enjoy a few hours doing something completely different from your usual routine. And if there’s wine involved, all the better. Whether you’re looking for a creative night out with friends, a new hobby, or a handmade holiday gift, here are some local classes and workshops worth putting on your calendar.
Get Your Hands Dirty
Shoreline Clay Club | Madison
Shoreline Clay Club offers one-night Sip ‘n Slab and Sip ‘n Spin classes, perfect for a creative evening out, as well as six-week beginner courses if you’re ready to dive deeper into pottery. It’s a fun way to try something new without committing to a whole semester of classes.
Explore classes at Shoreline Clay Club
Guilford Art Center | Guilford
If you’ve been meaning to explore your artistic side, Guilford Art Center has a wonderfully wide range of classes, from ceramics, fiber arts, painting and drawing to metalworking and forging. There are options for all sorts of interests, whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to build on an existing skill. Keep an eye out for the seasonal Craft & Sip: Holiday Glitter House workshop, too.
Spectrum Art Gallery | Centerbrook
Spectrum Art Gallery has some appealing workshops for anyone who wants to experiment with a new medium. Upcoming offerings include felting a pumpkin on October 25, delving into pastels on November 1, and painting a fall landscape in watercolor on November 15. A nice way to spend a fall afternoon—and perhaps come home with something suitable for your walls.
Spark Makerspace | New London
For those who like to learn by doing, Spark Makerspace offers a mix of hands-on creative classes. From introductory sewing and stained glass to screen printing and relief printing your own wrapping paper and cards, there’s plenty to explore.
Check the upcoming class schedule
A Little Art, A Little Wine
Flo Gris Museum | Art•Bar
The museum’s Art•Bar combines creativity with light fare and libations. Join Julie Garvin-Riggs for an evening of painting inspired by classic masters, from Munch to Monet. Canvases come with pre-outlined designs, and all materials are included, so no previous painting experience is needed. Upcoming sessions are November 8 and 15.
And if you’re already thinking about the holidays, look for Festive Holiday Crafting on November 17 and 24.
Make Something for the Holidays
Grace & Haven | Essex
Grace & Haven is getting into the seasonal spirit with a fall wreath-making workshop on November 7, followed by Christmas cookie decorating on December 2 and a special kids’ cookie-decorating class on December 6.
Pencil & Wool | Essex
Pencil & Wool has several creative offerings coming up, including watercolor and pen on October 29, hardshell gourd birdhouses on November 5, and watercolor-and-pen holiday cards on November 6. There’s also a Sip ‘n Shop on November 11. I particularly like the idea of making your own holiday cards: personal, creative, and a good excuse to get ahead of the December scramble.
The Three Two Store | Westbrook
If you like the idea of making something a little unusual, check out the workshops at The Three Two Store. On November 5, Robert Sheckler is teaching a turkey wing broom-making class at 1 p.m. ($75) and a cobweb broom workshop at 5 p.m. ($95). You’ll learn traditional broom-making techniques using broomcorn and colorful cord to create a functional piece that’s also a work of art.
There’s also a silver clay ring workshop with Aubrey, listed at $150 for three hours, where you’ll sculpt your own ring from silver clay. And a basket-weaving class is scheduled for November 15 at 11 a.m. Check the store’s current listings for dates, availability, and registration.
Get Creative in the Kitchen
Weekend Kitchen/Essex
I love Weekend Kitchen’s cooking classes and I’m all signed up for Focaccia Art on 10/21. Upcoming classes include A Taste of Peru, Plant Protein Made Easy & Delicious (with Terry Walters, who is fantastic!), Metabolic Health, and A Late Autumn Greek Table.
Chef Paul Barron | Madison
If your happy place is the kitchen, Chef Paul Barron offers private cooking classes for groups of one to six at The Table in Madison. This could be a fun idea for a small group of friends who’d rather cook together than go out to dinner—or for a special occasion with a culinary twist.
Book a class with Chef Paul Barron
Kitsch | Mystic
Kitsch offers cooking classes that travel around the culinary map, with themes including Asian fusion, brunch for dinner, cold-weather comfort food, and hearty vegetarian harvest dishes. Private cooking classes, baking, and mixology are also on the menu. Whether you want to expand your repertoire or just have a deliciously good time, there’s plenty to tempt you.
Explore Kitsch cooking classes
Madison Beach Hotel | Madison
For a festive outing with a delicious twist, the Madison Beach Hotel is planning a Gingerbread and Wine event on December 15, featuring gingerbread cookie decorating. It sounds like a particularly appealing way to ease into the holiday season—with a glass of wine in hand and no need to clean frosting off your own kitchen counter afterward.
www.eventbrite.com/e/gingerbread-cookie-decorating-wine-night-tickets-1583014682529
Expand Your Artistic Horizons
Lyman Allyn Art Museum | New London
Not every creative class requires picking up a paintbrush. The Lyman Allyn Art Museum is hosting a four-part art history mini-series with Barbara Zabel, Professor Emerita at Connecticut College, exploring the development of contemporary art since 1945. The Wednesday series runs October 28 through November 18, and you can register for individual sessions. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the movements that shaped modern art, gain context for your next museum visit, and perhaps see familiar works in a whole new light.
Happy Crafting!
