Workshops | Student Center | SIU

Date Night #1: Wheel Thrown Pottery - Friday, September 9 • 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Date Night #2: Wheel Thrown Pottery - Friday, October 21 • 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

This one-night wheel-throwing workshop is perfect for beginners and those wanting a try it out. Come with a friend or partner to throw pottery from start to finish using the pottery wheel to make a simple cup. Pick your glaze and our staff will glaze it for you. All materials are included. 

Cost: $20 students / $25 community. materials are included. 

Age: 16 +

Craft Shop Instructor: Emma Metz 

Intro to Wheel Throwing - 4 weeks 

Session One - Tuesday, September 20, 27 & October 4, 11 • 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. 

Session Two - Wednesday, October 12, 19, & 26 & November 3 • 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. * Canceled Low Enrollment* 

Learn the basics of throwing clay on the potter's wheel. Each week will focus on how to make a different form on the wheel from cups, bowls, and plates. The final class will focus on glazing and finishing. A return visit will be needed to pick up the final work after the glaze firing approximately 2 weeks after the last class.

Cost: $75 students / $85 community. Clay is extra $14 for 10lbs students / $16 for community. 

Age: 16 +

Instructor: Stephanie Dukat, Craft Shop Coordinator

If you have a group of 4 - 6 people and would like to schedule a wheel throwing lesson please email  craftshop@siu.edu for availability.

Colorful Polymer Clay Beads

Friday, September 30 •  5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m

Add some handmade style to your jewelry collection and create fun colorful polymer clay beads.  This workshop will focus on how to add layers and combine colors to create fun and funky patterns. Once baked in our oven we will apply a clear coat to protect them from everyday wear and tear.  Then string your beads onto a leather cord. We have all the supplies for you to be creative and create your own look! Polymer clay is extra and a variety of colors will be available at the Craft Shop front desk. 

Cost: $16 students / $18 community. Clay extra.

Craft Shop Instructor: Emma Metz

Printmaking with Linoleum Blocks

Saturday, October 1 • 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

This workshop will teach you how to design, cut, and print with a 6 "x 6" soft kut linoleum block. Younger students can use the foam print technique. This is a perfect way to make a series of multiple pieces of artwork. Print on paper or bring a t-shirt or fabric to print on.

Cost: $30 students / $35 community, materials included.

Age: 12+ for linoleum, younger foam printing. 

Craft Shop Instructor: Cole Moore

Intro to Sewing: Tote Bag

Saturday, October 8 • 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Rescheduled date, spots still available

Cost: $20 students / $25 community, materials extra.

This workshop is perfect for beginner sewers. You will learn how to use the sewing machine, lay out a pattern, sew, and add handles. Purchase fabric from the Craft Shop fabric selection or bring your own. Feel free to bring your own sewing machine and learn how it works.

Age: 16 +

Craft Shop Instructor: Becca Brinton, Student Worker

Slab Built Coffee Mugs

Saturday, October 8 •  1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Learn to make a custom ceramic mug using hand-building techniques of slab building with decorative surfaces.  Materials include 2 ½ lbs. of clay, slips, and glazes. Let us know what color to glaze or come back to glaze it yourself. Pick up finished work two weeks after the workshop.

Cost: $25 student / $30 community, material included.

Age: All ages welcome, children under 14 must be with a parent. 

Craft Shop Instructor: Alexis Hughes

Silver Ring

Saturday, October 8 • 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m

Make a silver ring using 1/2 round material, cutting, file, solder, sand, and buff. Fit it to your size or as that special gift for a special someone. Stamp a message into the band for a personal touch. Materials for one ring are included.

Cost: $35 students / $40 community, materials for one ring included.

Ages: 16+ 

Craft Shop Instructor: Arthur Gibson

Handbuilt Clay: Cups, Bowls & Plates (4 weeks)  * Canceled Low Enrollment* 

Thursday, October 6, 13, 20, 27 •  6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Learn the building blocks of ceramics during this hand-building workshop! Hand-building is a great way to make pottery without the learning curve of the potter's wheel! Each week will focus on how to make different forms such as cups, bowls, plates, and trays using pinch and coiling techniques. We will use bright and colorful underglazes to decorate. The final class will focus on glazing and finishing. A return visit will be needed to pick up the final work  2 weeks after the glaze firing.

Cost: $75 students / $85 community. clay is extra $14 for 10 pounds.

Age: 12+

Craft Shop GA Instructor: Sarah Willis

Saluki Print & Tie Dye

Saturday, October 15 • Stop in between 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. or while supplies last. Walk-ins are welcomed but online registration is appreciated as supplies are limited.

Get ready for homecoming weekend and make your own custom Saluki Tie Dye Tee Shirt.  Our staff will print a custom Saluki block print of your choice. Then you are free to tie-dye your shirt. Please email your T-shirt size to craftshop@siu.edu before the event.

Cost: $20 students / $24 community, All materials included dye, T-shirt. All ages are welcome. Activity will take approx—45 mins to one hour.

Age: All ages

Craft Shop Instructor: TBD

Clay Pumpkins

Tuesday, October 18 •  6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. 

Create a ceramic pumpkin using the clay pinch and coil technique. Perfect items to add to your fall home decor. Our staff will glaze it for you, a return visit in approx two weeks is required after firings to pick up the finished piece. All materials are included. 

Cost: $20 students / $25 community. All materials are included.

Age: 12+

Craft Shop Instructor: Becca Brinton

Paint a Pet Portrait

Saturday, October  22 • 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m

Learn the steps of painting a pet portrait with acrylic paint. Please email a photo of your pet in advance to craftshop@ siu.edu. So we can prepare it for painting. Supplies are included, canvas will be 16 x 20'". All ages welcome.

Cost: $30 students / $35 community, All materials  included -  16 x 20 stretched canvas and paint.

Ages: All ages 

Craft Shop Instructor: Cole Moore & Alexis Hughes

Intro to Woodworking

Saturday, October 22, 29, November 12 • 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m

(November 5 class moved to 12th due to School of Art And Design Iron Pour) 

Cost: $60 students / $65 community, materials extra.

Enhance your woodworking skills and learn to use the wood shop safely during this beginning woodworking workshop. Attendees will learn how to make a small project while learning both hand tools and machines in the wood shop safety. This course includes a semester wood shop pass. Materials are extra and can be purchased from the wood shop cage. 

Ages: 18+ 

Craft Shop Instructor: Clayton Curry

Advanced Stained Glass: Lead Came (4 weeks)

Tuesday & Thursday Nights – October 25 & October 27, November 1 & 3 • 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Using skills learned in the Intro to Stained Glass Workshop, students will gain experience working with lead came. The class covers planning your design, lead came, soldering, and finishing projects. Materials are extra. A large selection of stained glass and stained glass tools are available at the Craft Shop Supply Store. Closed-toed shoes are required.

* Intro to Stained Glass Copper Foil Workshop can take this workshop beginning steps will be shown

Cost: $100 students / $120 community, materials extra. Supplies can be purchased at Craft Shop.

Age:18+

Location; Craft Shop Paint Bar

Community Instructor: Tina Price 

Intro to Metalsmithing (2 weeks) 

Saturday, October 22 & 29  • 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m

Cost: $40 students / $45 community, materials extra.

Design a custom copper or brass pendant or brooch. You will learn to cut, add texture, file, solder, and sand for a beautiful finish piece. 

Ages: 16+ 

Craft Shop Instructor: Arthur Gibson

Glass Bead Making

Tuesday, November 15 • 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m RESCHEDULED DATE, SPACES STILL AVAILABLE

Learn to create colorful glass beads by heating and shaping glass rods with a torch.

Cost: $30 students / $34 community, glass purchased separately.

Ages: 16 + 

Craft Shop Instructor: Stephanie Dukat

Clay Ornaments * CANCELED LOW ENROLLMENT*

Saturday, November 5 • 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m

Make your own holiday ornaments with clay. We will learn to use the slab roller, carve, stamp, and add underglaze decoration. A return visit will be needed to glaze.

Cost: $24 students / $28 community, includes 5lb clay, high fire wire, underglaze, and glaze.

Ages: All ages 

Craft Shop Instructor: Alexis Hughes

Fused Glass Snowflakes 

Saturday, November 12 • 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m

Learn to create a fused glass snowflake to create snowflakes with sheet glass and glass frits. Perfect for hanging in the window or for a holiday decoration. A return visit will be required to pick up work after fuse firing. 

Cost: $22 students / $26 community, materials extra.

Ages: 16+ 

Craft Shop Instructor: Becca Brinton

Metalsmithing: Colorful Enamel Jewelry

Tuesday, November 29 & December 6 •  6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Learn how to cut copper metal and solder it to create a simple pendant and earrings. We will use the kiln to add a colorful enamel coating. 

Cost: $65 students / $70 community, materials included.

Age: 16 +

Craft Shop Instructor: Stephanie Dukat

Sewing Holiday Stockings

Tuesday, December 13 •  5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

This sewing workshop will teach you how to make a custom holiday stocking. The workshop will cover how to layout your pattern, use the machine to sew and add finishing details. Materials are extra a variety of solid, patterned, and holiday-themed fabrics will be available at the Craft Shop Supply Store. Feel free to bring your own material. 

Cost: $20 students / $24 community, materials extra.

Age: 16 +

Craft Shop Instructor: Stephanie Dukat