Modern Dream Catchers with Makers & Muse

{Photo from Makers Buffalo Instagram account}

I have been wanting to take this class with Makers Buffalo for a long time and my schedule never allowed it up until a couple weeks ago when Makers Buffalo and MUSEJar came together to host a Modern Dream Catchers class at Arden Farm- a place I've been before and really do enjoy going to. It was a Friday night class with some food {yummy food} provided by Daily's Catering. The class took place in the barn and you could BYOB - so clearly I brought a bottle of wine. My friend and co-worker Kelsey came along for the ride! Overall it was a fun crafty night! Every time I take a class with Makers and Muse they don't disappoint. Not only are the classes enjoyable, you create something that's for you and you meet some really great people as well. If you can ever take a class that fits your interest, I highly recommend it.

Below are some of my pictures from the crafty night out.

-B

{One of the first steps was picking your yarn and tying it to the metal circle}

{Kelsey being crafty}

{Separating the yarn to make it more wavy and full}

{Are finished products}

Think Spring! Things to do around town in April

Its hard to believe its April and there is snow on the ground today, well really, I guess not, I mean it is Buffalo. Regardless of what it is doing outside, there is plenty to do around town this month. Here is my list of some events and activities that caught my eye this month.

Take a fun tour with Explore Buffalo - whether its at the Fontana Boat House or an architectural tour you're bound to have fun and learn more about WNY

When I think of April I think of baseball and even though the Major League teams opening day was yesterday and today, the hometown team {The Buffalo Bisons} kickoff their season on the road this Thursday and are at home on April 14th #seizetheseason

Fern Croft Floral is hosting a class on Floral arrangements April 23rd...this comes at the perfect time, gardening season is right around the corner.

Makers Buffalo has a lot of fun DIY classes this month, Macramé Hanging Plants on 4/12, Pidge Podge is back with a weaving workshop on 4/30 and in between those dates there is so much more taking place! For a complete list of classes click here

Buffalo State College's Fashion and Textile program is hosting Runway ECOLUTION April 16th. For tickets click here.

Resurgence is hosting a Toy Brewbash on 4/14. For more details you can go here.

The new EXPO Market downtown is hosting their Grand Opening on April 18 & 19th. If you haven't checked out the popular downtown food hall, put it on your calendar to do in April.

Party in the Park is back on April 22 at Marcy Casino

If you're in need of a wedding planner or need some DIY tips for your big day, MuseJar is hosting a Secrets of the Trade DIY event on 4/24. For more details check out the Facebook event page.

One event I'd like to attend this year is the Knox Farm Spring Art Fest taking place at the end of the month - April 29- May 1

#BuffaloLinks

Its the first #BuffaloLinks post for 2016. And with it comes a lot of fun events taking place throughout the rest of January. From outdoor to indoor events, winter in Buffalo doesn't have to be as dreadful as some make it. Whether you hit up Chestnut Ridge park for sledding, Fountain Plaza for ice skating, Riverworks for curling and ice hockey or Tifft Nature Preserve for some snow shoeing Buffalo has a lot going on. Here is a list of events that look like they are going to be fun to attend:

Chillabration at Canalside - January 15th

Be a part of the Guinness Book of World Records and take part in what may be the Longest Ice Line and help Make a Wish WNY. My cousin Nathan {wish teen} will be leading the line.

{photo- Canalside}

Makers Buffalo has a lot of fun DIY projects over the next few weeks. Check out a full list here

{photo- Makers Buffalo}

Learn all about energy at Energy Day at the Science Museum on January 23rd.

{photo Buffalo Science Museum}

Exercise and brunch- why not- Sip n' Stretch at Marcy Casino on January 24th is an event I have tickets to. Knowing I will be burning those calories so I can enjoy a mimosa afterwards is enough motivation for me to work hard during the class.

{photo Sip N Stretch event page}

Looking to learn more about this city and the history behind it. Explore Buffalo is the perfect place to go for tours. And on January 23rd they are kicking off a Winter Celebration to share all of the awesome things coming up.

{photo Explore Buffalo}

A light show and more is coming back to Buffalo's Botanical Gardens at the end of January. Lumagination was on my list of events to attend last year and never happened, so this year I've made it a priority.

{photo Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens}

Friday Favorites!

{Volunteering - one of my favorite things to do}

{Getting to meet local business owners is one of the most rewarding things about my blog}

{WNY's Oldest Furniture Store- Scherer Furniture on Genesee St in Downtown Buffalo}

{A lunch break on the first day of Fall down at Canalside}

{Corpus Christi Church has a bowling alley that is still operable today - $2 per game!}

Makers are Gonna Make with this Woman Who Moves Buffalo - Gretchen Meyers from Makers Buffalo and Pegs Hardware

Makers are gonna make! And that’s what a number of people in Western New York {myself included} have done. If you’re looking for a fun class to take with a friend you should check out Makers Buffalo on Hertel Ave.

When it comes to things to do in Buffalo and Western New York I personally get tired of doing the same thing or going to the same place {restaurants, movies, etc.}. I like to find new and LOCAL places to go – and one of those places is Makers. I’ve taken a couple classes at Makers over the past year and each one is fun and unique in its own way. The biggest thing I have gotten out of taking a class is accomplishment – knowing you completed a craft and made something special is a pretty cool feeling.

So I asked the creative, fun and talented Gretchen Meyers for a few minutes of her time to talk about her awesome business. Read on to learn more!

-B

Gretchen has a business education experience along with a fundraising and event planning background. After working with both for-profit and non-profit she decided to start Pegs Hardware – an element based jewelry line {that you can find at Modern Nostalgia and online here}.

Makers was something Gretchen knew she wanted to do even when she started Pegs. She knew she wanted to do this for 2 reasons.

1. She wanted this for herself, an outlet where she could go to be creative and use her talents
2. Eventually Gretchen would like to turn Makers into a type of community center for the arts; offering cooking, music, 3D, 2D, classes, etc. Offering enrichment classes for kids whose school may cut art programs or those who are looking to enhance their portfolio. In Gretchen’s mind it’s about giving back in your community and paying it forward.

Gretchen stay’s fresh with upcoming, creative classes through blogs, Pinterest and various apps. She likes to offer trendsetting tastes and new ideas – that’s what makes, Makers!

When looking at adding new crafts she thinks of 3 things:

1. Time sensitive – classes are usually about an hour and a half to two hours long
2. Having the classes be beginner/basic level and cost effective {classes range from $28 to $42, about the average cost of a night out with dinner and drinks}
3. Making sure it’s something the people want. If people don’t find a use for what they are making, then it won’t be successful

When taking a class at Makers you can bring light appetizers and your own beverages {including wine and/or beer}. The most popular classes have been the hanging air plant, envelope clutches and the modern dream catcher. Down the road Gretchen is looking to add embroidery classes to the schedule too.

You can have Makers for team building exercises, bachelorette and bridal parties and birthday parties. You can even hold a private class at the Makers studio or Gretchen can come to you {there are some restrictions to check on when you book the class if hosting it at your own home or business}. It’s always better to book earlier {at least a month’s notice} for private parties or functions.

The class schedule varies from Tuesday thru Thursday – see the full schedule here. And if you’re looking for something to do this coming weekend you can see Gretchen at the Lewiston Harvest Festival on Saturday for Peg’s Hardware.

Down the road Gretchen hopes to host “Makers Present” – exposing other professionals in the art industry and cross promoting one another. The goal of this is for everyone to learn more about others in the community.

Makers even offers classes for kids!  Mini Makers . This past summer she offered 3 camps and had certified teachers for the classes. She offers them sporadically during the year so keep your eyes out for that if you have little ones who would enjoy attending.

When I asked Gretchen what she loves the most about Buffalo, if there is a favorite place she likes to go or activity she likes to do in town she said the following,

She loves the 4 seasons, “fall is gorgeous here. “ If you want to go skiing or hiking it’s not far away, Canada is 4 minutes from where she lives and seeing the growth of this city is amazing! She couldn’t have started her businesses in a bigger city, Buffalo works! Housing is affordable, you see cranes -showing good things are happening here. We have 30 year olds coming back and helping fix the city – we are helping fix and grow Buffalo and it’s awesome to see.

Sign up for a class and see how much fun it is!

Friday Favorites

{Being able to see the elephants outside at the zoo again makes me happy!}

{Visiting with Gretchen at Makers Buffalo - check out my post on her next week}

{Luna is a big hit and seems to love her new exhibit at the zoo}

{I spent my morning volunteering at the Make a Wish and 97 Rock Radiothon}

#BuffaloLinks

Today kicks off the North Buffalo Farmers Market. A place I'm looking forward to checking out this summer.

Also, tonight at 6pm Makers Buffalo is hosting their Grand Opening of their new space and Once and For All is celebrating their new line at Modern Nostalgia!

Saturday at Ralph Wilson Stadium is Namastadium - a yoga event with proceeds benefitting the new Children's Hospital. To learn more about the event click here.

I'm super excited for Bases Merloted this year! Wine, great weather, fun games and so much more. To find out more details go here.

Because the Makers are Gonna "Make, Make, Make"

{Picture above: Photo credit - Makers Buffalo}

This past Sunday I attended my 3rd Makers Buffalo class. This time it was being held at Revolution Buffalo and it didn't disappoint. We were making DIY workout shirts! My sister came along with me and we created shirts that I can't wait to wear.

The class was $28 and included all of the supplies - screen printing {we got to do this ourselves}, shirts and all the other craft materials we needed. The wonderful ladies at Rev provided champagne {delicious mimosas to go along with Sunday Funday!} and healthy snacks - salsa, chips, hummus and fruit!

It was a fun Sunday afternoon. If you haven't taken a Makers class yet, you should, I haven't taken a class that doesn't disappoint yet!

-B

{Getting the shirts prepped for screening}

{Gretchen from Makers, showing us the next steps to take}

{My shirt choice}

{My sister's shirt choice}

{Putting the finishing touches on the shirts.. stamping it with the word Rev}

February To-Do

We are in the second month of the year and not to get to boring, but the beginning of 2015 hasn't gone exactly as I wanted {yes, I know that's how life goes}. While I focused so much on what I didn't do and what didn't go right for me, I need to think of what did. I met some amazing people and did some pretty cool things. I, {like I think most people are}, am my worst critic, I focus on always improving myself and the things that I didn't do, that I don't take the time to enjoy what I've accomplished.

February is about getting back to me - focusing on my goals and enjoying the things I do for me and not being so hard on myself {or at least trying to - this isn't going to be an overnight switch-a-roo}. So today I'm kicking it off by heading to Holiday Valley for the day. I took the day off and am looking forward to a day of Ellicottville fun with Annette.

A  couple other things  I have on the calendar that I'm looking forward to this month are trying some new fitness classes out {Barre at Catalyst, Pound at BikeorBar, incorporating a little yoga in my life - if you know of a good studio to go to let me know! and learning more TRX at Revolution Buffalo}, a Makers Buffalo Class is always fun!, a Niagara Wine Trail wine tour for a friend's birthday, the Polar Bites event benefiting the Buffalo Zoo and planning the finishing touches for my 30th birthday party next month. Who knows what else will come up, but sometimes its those "unplanned" adventures that make the best memories.

What are some fun things you are looking forward to this month. Leave them in the comments section below and I'll pick a random person to win a gift card to 716!

-B

Creating, Making and Designing Something Different

Last week, my friends and I got together for a fun and creative ladies night out! We all met at Modern Nostalgia for Makers/Pear Design Studio, String Art Class. We had a blast! The class cost $42, came with all the supplies and you could bring your own vino and light snacks. You also received a discount off purchases made throughout the store. The class began at 6:30 and we left around 9pm.

Each one of us chose our own designs and hammered away at the reclaimed wood before picking our colors and stringing them all together. Laura from Pear Design Studio was an awesome teacher, motivating, guiding and encouraging us when we wanted to stop or thought are art pieces weren't good. She offered suggestions and was personable, just what you need for a class like this! Gretchen from Makers was great as well, making it easy to schedule the private class.

During a time, when everyone is super busy, this class was perfect because I got to spend an evening with some of my closest girlfriends catching up and doing something different. This was my second time taking a class from Makers and I highly suggest anyone who is looking for something fun to do, to take this or any other class by them, you won't be disappointed.

Check out some of the photos from my night below.

-B

Everything was all lined up, organized and ready to go when we arrived!

Just about done hammering away at my design.

We're ready to start stringing our colors together!

Hard at work!

Almost done!

Our finished masterpieces!