Long Island craft classes offer modern DIY projects

As the days grow colder and you find yourself spending more time at home, you might consider sprucing it up with some crafts you’ve made yourself. And, if you’re really proud of your craftiness, you might want to give your handmade artistry as gifts this holiday season.

Meryl Bohl, a frequent customer of AR Workshop crafting studio in Smithtown, plans to spread the cheer with some of her creations.

“I’m getting to the point where I might be running out of wall space, so I’ll be starting to gift them,” says Bohl, 48, of Ronkonkoma. There are centerpiece boxes and collages of handmade signs with inspirational messages hung around her home. “I love to see that I made it and that’s s my work up there,” she says.

Next she's taking a chunky knit blanket class, a new addition at AR Workshop that's been selling out sessions.

At Hitch LI’s pop up holiday shop in Massapequa Park, co-owner Joseph DeBello is organizing hands-on craft workshops in the cozy space that hosts a range of handmade giftable items. A recent session focused on oversized paper flowers, which are a trend in home décor (particularly children's rooms).

“There’s all sorts of techniques on how to fold, curl and assemble the paper to make them look like flowers,” DeBello says.

The paper flower classes are tailored to all levels of creativity, from beginning to intermediate, says Emily Mangano, who teaches the class. For Katie Schiraldi, 32, of Massapequa, it was a chance to learn how to make instead of buy — and it got her out of the house. “It gives it more meaning and makes it more special when it’s something you made,” Schiraldi opines. “Especially since I’m putting it in my daughter’s room, so it’s nice to know that it was from me.”                      

Nest on Main Market in Northport has just added a Thanksgiving-themed tablescape workshop where people will learn techniques for setting a beautiful table with a fresh floral arrangement centerpiece.

“The centerpieces that the attendees will make at the class and take home with them would be for them to take as a gift for a hostess/host for Thanksgiving or to use in their own home,” says owner Donna Moschella. “I’ve had some students say this is the first time they’ve made anything they’d like to put in their home.”

Besides coming away with great things for your home or for gifts, an added benefit to the workshops is they’re a great way to chill, Says Bohl, “It’s a great form of therapy if you’re having a stressful day.”