The Craft Shop is a creative art and craft space available to SIU students, faculty, staff, and the southern Illinois community. We offer workshops and private lessons along with volunteer or community service opportunities. Our art supply shop features tools and supplies for ceramics, crafts, custom framing, fibers, painting, drawing, jewelry, leather, metals, sewing, stained glass, architecture, greek items, woodworking, and much more.
The Craft Shop is also home to Saluki Spokes, a bike repair shop with basic materials and tools available for check out.
Toss your troubles aside by “throwing” some clay in the Ceramics Studio. The Ceramics Studio features:
9 wheels: 1 kick wheel, 6 Shimpo electric wheels, 1 Brent rehabilitation wheel (wheelchair accessible) and 1 Brent electric wheel
2 electric oxidation kilns
Stoneware and porcelain clays, slips and glazes
An extruder
A grinding wheel
An extensive library of slip cast molds
All the tools you will need (must have ID to check out)
All you have to do is provide the inspiration and motivation. The Ceramics Studio provides a great atmosphere for all ages. The studio is set up in a “self-help” environment, however, ceramic workshops and private lessons are offered throughout the year.
Clay must be purchased in the Craft Shop
Prices are: 2.5 lbs. for $4 and 10 lbs. for $12
** The Ceramic Studio closes 15 minutes before the Craft Shop's closing time.
Ceramics Demonstration
Frame Shop
FRAME SHOP
Getting ready for an art show? Just had your family photo taken? Want to preserve that drawing you made in college? Our frame shop is here to help! Our professional framers will assist you in choosing the right custom frames, mats, glass, and mounting procedures to display your pictures exactly the way you want them.
THE FRAME SHOP FEATURES:
Four C+H Professional Mat Cutters: Three of our C+H cutters are available for customers to cut their own mats. We also teach private lessons on how to use these mat cutters
A Fletcher 3000 Multi-Material Wall-Mount Cutter
An upright frame chopper and miter saw for those perfect 45˚ corners
Four corner vices for joining frames
A 24” wide lamination press
A great variety of in-stock choppable frame lengths and stretcher bars and a full range of orderable custom frame mouldings
Archival and Acid-Free mats, backing, glass, and mounting procedures for conservation framing
A range of materials to suit any project or pocketbook
The best prices in town
Group Activities
GROUP ACTIVITIES
Group activities make for memorable birthday parties, fun and exciting group field trips, and Scout programs.
Reservations are required in advance one week prior to all activities. Book a date with the Craft Shop by phone 618/453-3636 or in person
Black out dates are: University Closures, Student Center Craft Sales, Sundays, and University Homecoming Weekend
Minimum number of participants 8. Maximum number is 35 (unless otherwise noted)
There are age requirements for certain activities. Please refer to activity description for specific age recommendations
The time required for most activities is 1 – 2 hours
Registration can be made by phone, email, or in person at the Student Center Craft Shop. The Craft Shop accepts major credit cards, checks, Debit Dawg, and cash. Please make checks payable to SIU, include note with your name, address, phone number, class title, section, and the number of participants. Fee must be paid one week prior to the class to ensure a spot in the class.
Refund Policy
Due to the expenses involved in course planning, no refunds will be granted within one week of the workshop start date. Dates and times are subject to change.
Contact the Craft Shop for more information or to register for an activity.
The Craft Shop is your place for handmade Saluki Memorabilia! Below is a list of constantly stocked items that can be picked up anytime down in the Craft Shop.
Volunteer opportunities are plentiful around the Craft Shop. Students and community members alike can volunteer their time to help with projects such as the Birdhouse Factory. Volunteer times are Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. unless arranged otherwise with the Craft Shop. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please send us an e-mail or contact us at 618/453-3636 for more information.
Instructors Needed
Would you be interested in sharing a skill, craft, and/or talent? The Craft Shop is always looking for optimistic and driven individuals who are excited about teaching workshops geared towards their craft or profession. Instructing at the Craft Shop gets people interested in your work, is a great way to make connections, and makes a great addition to your resume. Send us an e-mail or contact us at 618/453-3636 to schedule an interview.
Student Work
Are you a creative and energetic person? Are you a student at SIU? Do you qualify for Federal Work Study? Need an awesome job on campus? Come join our family at the Student Center Craft Shop! To find out if we are hiring this semester, stop by the Craft Shop, call us at 618/453-3636, or e-mail us.
The Craft Shop employs a handful of exceptional and knowledgeable students for our wood shop staff. In addition, Ron can help you with your next project, teach you how to use tools and equipment, and guide you when selecting the right wood for the job.
Birdhouse Factory
The Birdhouse Factory is dedicated to providing volunteer opportunities to the SIU community and the environment. We make birdhouses to help species that are endangered. At present this includes bluebird houses and soon to be bat houses. The bluebird and the brown bat are both in danger of extinction. Bluebirds have man induced non-native predators of the common starling and house sparrow, both of which have been known to kill young bluebirds. The brown bat is suffering from white nose disease. While the cause and cure has not been found. It is widely believed that taking stresses off of the bats will help them. We are also painting Saluki graffiti on the birdhouses to publicize our fine institution.
In the beginning we started as the Happy Factory, making toys for children. Regulations in the toy industries forced us to look for a new cause. The birds have not as of yet created any regulating officials for housing so it seem like the place to be. We will also have our volunteers help with other projects that are good for the community as needed.
How it works: We have a couple of plans. Volunteers 18 and older with proof of insurance can come in and volunteer. SIU students are covered on the insurance through the school plan. Volunteers can make kits, assemble kits, paint and decorate birdhouses, picking up materials, putting up birdhouses, and fundraisers for supplies.
In order to make birdhouses we need materials. Material donators can help us find places to donate the birdhouses. The Southern Illinois Audubon Society will take all we can make. We can take monetary or in-kind donations. When possible we use recycled materials:
2” x 4”s, 1” x 4”s lumber
exterior plywood
nails
exterior paint
poles
The ultimate benefactors of these birdhouses are the birds and ourselves as we enjoy these creatures and the work they do for us. Send us an e-mail or contact us at 618/453-3636 to set up an appointment.
Random Tokens of Kindness (RTK)
RTK Volunteer Program is currently on hold due to Covid-19.
The media is full of stories about bad and dangerous things that happen in this world. We want to bring attention to good things that happen, one Random Token of Kindness at a time. Volunteers will make clay coins from molds and stamps, refine them and glaze them. They will be fired in ceramic kilns. The RTKs are then distributed by volunteers as they witness individuals doing kind acts as reward and recognition of that kindness. The receiver of this gift is then invited to pass along this reward to others they witness doing kind acts, and continue this daisy chain of good will.
Groups interested in making RTKs can send us an e-mail or contact us at 618/453-3636 to schedule at least one week in advance.
Walk-in Activities
WALK-IN ACTIVITIES
These activities are available without a reservation and are great for both adults and children. Activities are open to ages 5 and up. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. There must be one adult per five children. Project times may vary with skill. Seven is the maximum number allowed without a reservation.
What class would you like to see? Would you like to be an instructor?
Please give us a call at 618/453-3636 or e-mail craftshp@siu.edu.
Private Lessons
Get a private Craft Coach and watch your skills grow fast. We offer private lessons in most of the workshop areas offered in our workshop brochures. Lessons are available mornings, afternoons and evenings depending on the availability of the instructors.
We also offer music lessons. Classes are for all ages unless otherwise stated.
The Craft Shop is located next to the Big Muddy Room at the south end of the Student Center on the Lower Level. The facilities and workshops are open to SIU students, faculty, staff, and members of the community.
The Craft Shop is handicap accessible. For elevator entry, take the passenger elevator located at the cross halls near the University Bookstore on the first floor to the basement (B) level, go through the lounge and past the International Student Council office, then through the hall past the Story of Little Egypt display. If you need help finding us, don’t hesitate to call!
