Hi all,

We are excited to introduce our Makers’ Circle for 2026. This is a meet up for makers (all kinds) on selected Saturdays. 

Here are the specifics:

The meet up is free. It is open to all craft forms and creative endeavors. It will emphasize fabric and clothing. If you draw, journal, contemplate, and/or paint, this is for you as long as you’re cool with knowing that the person sitting next to you might be slowly stitching something together.

There will  be an experienced mender on hand to demonstrate a different skill at each session, help troubleshoot, and provide inspiration. Basic textile supplies will be available at each session include recycled cotton swatches, basic mending thread, needles, and embroidery hoops. We will also have a small stock of scratch paper and a small offering of writing utensils.

Our Makers’ Circle will be held Saturdays 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on the following dates: May 30, June 13 & 27, July 11 & 25, August 8 & 22.

Plant dyed fabric and thread will be available for purchase if you decide your project needs something more elaborate.

Here is the why:

We’ve done a lot of new programs in the past few years. We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what’s the most important part of a program is. Are skills you acquire and practice the most important thing? This might be the case with plant based water colors or plant based dyes where you can go home and create as often as you are able. Or isIs it the thing you create and take home? This might be the case if you come to arrange a bouquet. Still others are drawn in because creating makes for a rewarding experience. There is something really satisfying about smashing delicate floral patterns into fabric with a hammer. For some, these are the most important things and make the Garden their destination on a Summer Saturday. Yet, others come to the Garden to take photographs or to quietly sketch or journal. As one intern put it, we should not overlook the magic of getting to create in a beautiful space. And so for all the overlapping reasons people join us in the Garden to learn and make art with nature, we hope the Makers’ Circle might be a way to gather more and create however you already do with others in our Garden.