Bored with home décor shops? How about clearing your head this weekend with a 100% hands-on activity? Our editorial team has tracked down three workshops where you can become your own object designer, creating items that are as practical as they are decorative, with no supplies to buy and no prior skills required. On the agenda: a pretty woven basket made from vines gathered on a walk, an elegant ceramic cup shaped on a potter’s wheel, and an adorable wooden serving board that’s perfect for drinks and nibbles with friends.
The Most Nature-Inspired
Fancy getting some fresh air while trying your hand at a craft? This is the perfect plan. The workshop starts outdoors with Valentine. Head to Parc des Buttes-Chaumont to gather clematis and ivy, unless the weather has turned chilly. In that case, the walk takes place in Jardin Léon Zyguel, before you head to Valentine’s workshop, tucked inside the greenhouse at the La Grande Coco community hub. Next, you’ll prepare your plants, learn the basics of weaving and let your creativity run free as you make your own little basket, crafted entirely from natural materials gathered in Île-de-France. The session wraps up with a chance to chat, as Valentine shares her tips and stories. Discover local flora, pick up a new skill and leave with a lovely basket for mushroom picking. Sounds good!
The Coolest
If ceramic creations have been popping up in your social media feed lately and you’ve always dreamed of making a gorgeous cup of your own, now’s the time to get behind the potter’s wheel! At Pierre-Antoine’s studio, Les Céramistes, a team of passionate ceramic artists is ready to guide you. After a short introduction, it’s time to get hands-on: you’ll learn how to centre the clay, pierce it, open it up and pull it upwards to shape your own cup, bowl or tumbler. And there’s no need to worry about the finishing touches: the artisan takes care of the drying, glazing and two firings. All that’s left is to wait about a month to collect your piece, ready to make your morning coffee Instagram-worthy.
The Best for Aperitif Lovers
Your next get-together deserves better than a sad white plate for serving canapés! Head to the 18th arrondissement, where Nadine and François will teach you how to work with wood, from raw material to finished piece. First challenge: choose your wood, making sure it’s hard enough to withstand knife cuts (beech, oak, acacia…). Then let your inner designer take over: round, square, diamond, rectangular or even an adorable whale shape — anything goes. Next comes cutting and learning to handle the tools, before moving on to the finishing touches: sanding for a beautifully smooth surface and oiling to bring out the wood grain. The result? A fully personalised serving board, perfect for your next apéro.
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