8 places to get crafty

Spring may be in the air, but that’s no excuse to run to the great outdoors quite yet. Between the recent Handmade Festival and new workshops springing up all over the city, crafting seems to be having its day in Barcelona. If you fancy yourself a crafter looking for a place to work, or you’re interested in picking up a new hobby, this guide will give you a taste of all the places to get crafty in Barcelona.

Kirei

Combining craft with the art and culture of Japan, Kirei offers a different kind of creative experience. From dessert decorating to traditional Japanese doll making, Kirei introduces participants to a range of new and unusual crafts. Learn how to make realistic-looking flowers, how to build and paint a ball-jointed doll, or to create a paper fish flag, a symbol of hope for one’s children to grow strong and healthy. Children, too, can participate in several of the workshops making it an ideal place for families to learn about the culture of Japan and a few of its unique art forms. Metro: Girona. Aragó 341. www.kirei.es

Betahaus

It’s not all about delicate handicrafts. Betahaus, a Gràcia-based coworking space, offers a unique workshop dedicated to woodworking. Not only do they provide a large space in which visitors can work on their own projects, they also have a wide range of high-quality tools on hand for participants’ use. It’s possible to simply book the space to work, or you can sign up for their workshops, which offer an introduction to woodworking and tools. Experts are on hand to help participants execute their ideas and bring their pieces to fruition. Co-founder Pedro Pineda Ballester says, “In the DIY workshop, you tell us where you want to go, and we help you get there. Little by little, we want to develop our repertoire so that our users can find anything they need in order to create a prototype of any idea.”  Metro: Fontana. Vilafranca 7. www.betahaus.es

Hangar

If you’re looking to step up your game in the crafts department, head to Hangar, a Poblenou-based creative space with workshops that take the art of handmade to a whole new level. Many of their workshops—3-D printing, digital typography, photo processing, glitch art—are technology-based. Textile crafters can learn about how to use simple decorative elements to repurpose their garments or how to incorporate interactive technologies into their handmade items. Others might be interested in the urban gardening course where you can learn to build, among other items, a composting plant feeder and an automatic watering system. Metro: Poblenou. Emilia Coranty 16. Can Ricart. www.hangar.org

Opcio Diamant

Opcio Diamant is a small studio that offers several types of workshops, from shoemaking to pattern design for custom-made clothing. Their textile workshops range from basic to advanced, and for those who are more inclined toward the 2-D arts, there are classes for drawing and painting as well. One participant, April Tamar Arevian, who took the shoemaking course, was so inspired by her work in their studio that she has gone on to pursue her dream of making hand-crafted shoes for a living. “It was an amazing learning experience to design and create handmade shoes following traditional methods,” she said. “Cristián and his wife, Carmen, provide a warm environment where you feel more like a friend than a student. They even offer a warm cup of tea during class.” Metro: Fontana. Carrer de l’Or 6. www.opciodiamant.com

Servei Estació

Serious crafters know that Servei Estació is heaven when it comes to finding the perfect tools. Yet, what they might not know is that they also run a series of workshops each month for adults and children as young as five. The workshops range from the practical—think wall painting and simple woodworking—to the more creative. You can bring in your old furniture and learn how to restore it, or you and your child can participate in a variety of different projects from creating hand-decorated bags using textile markers to folding origami. They also have several express workshops, great for people on the go, which last an hour and a half each and cost only €5. Choose from topics such as sustainable gardening, plate decorating and scrapbooking. Metro: Passeig de Gràcia. Aragó 270-272. www.serveiestacio.com/tallers

Taller Yu

With a style unlike traditional Western pottery, Japanese ceramics is known for its originality, delicacy and strength. What sets it apart is the unique relationship between the design of each piece, the food it will hold and the natural world. Visitors to Taller Yu learn this and more from owner Motoko Araki, who has earned several awards for her work. Students can bring their creative vision to life while learning both hand building and wheel throwing techniques. Heather Onderick, a full-time teacher and potter on the side says, “It’s great because for me it represents how education should be, with people of all ages designing their own projects while Motoko directs us based on our individual needs or assists us when we want to experiment.” In addition to studio work, Araki also holds exhibitions of student work in order to build a supportive network for the participating artists. Metro: Urquinaona. Argenter 18 bajos. www.motokoaraki.com

Carrousel Craft

For a small space, Carrousel Craft has an impressive range of workshops on offer. Book folding, jewellery making, scrapbooking, decoupage, lamp decorating, scarf making and textile stamping are among the crafts offered in this shop. If you can think of it, they can help you make it. Visitors can create personalised workshops for children as well as for baby showers, birthdays, bachelorette parties and other events. Owner Rosa Gonzalez says everyone has a creative side even if they don’t think so. She encourages her clients to “put a little DIY in their life to improve their humour and lower their stress.” Metro: Diagonal. Perill 19. www.carrouselcraft.com

Casamitjana 15

Casamitjana is a multi-modal space run by the Yranzo family. Once a simple woodworking shop for sculptor Antoni, the large loft-like space has been reinvented by his daughter Elsa into one of the most unique ventures in the city. Its focus has been reimagined to combine art, creativity, and gastronomy in a way that will strike a chord for those who have a passion for both food and art. Among others, they offer workshops in silkscreening, illustration and knitting. Past workshops have also included mural painting, personalised letter making and flower crowns. Even if you don’t end up taking one of their classes, it’s worth at least checking out one of their many gastronomic events. Metro: Poblenou. Passatge de Casamitjana 15. www.casamitjana15.com