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Home & Garden

Cool Classes For a More Interesting You

Make this the year of you.
By D Home Editors & Alexandria Gomez |
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Intro to Sewing.
If stitching is a secret wannabe passion of yours, check out Urban Spools’ fundamentals course, which is offered several times a month. Once you’ve mastered the basic skills (like how to wind a bobbin and how to operate the machine’s feet), you can move on to more impressive endeavors such as pattern-fitting a cute frock. The class is $45, but if you’re not sure you want to commit to the craft, you can rent a sewing machine for an additional
$10. Jan. 23, 6 p.m.– 9 p.m. 214-324-5755.
urbanspools.com


Intro to Nuno Felted Scarves.
Sure, you can buy a scarf at any boutique in town. But so can everyone else. Instead, visit nonprofit center Craft Guild of Dallas, where you’ll learn how to make a beautiful, one-of-a-kind creation using hand-dyed silk gauze to felt in beautiful wools and other textures. You’ll never buy another scarf again! Nuno felting not your thing? Try leatherworking, macramé, or beading techniques.
Feb. 22, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. $90, plus $32 for supplies. 972-490-0303.
craftguildofdallas.com


Wine + Gems: (Get) Hammered.
Diana Thatcher, owner of Beads of Splendor, offers a relaxed and fun series she calls “(Get) Hammered” that merges two of our favorite things: wine and jewelry. The subject of the class rotates, but the earrings class is particularly popular because it’s great for beginners. Students master the skills of using a hammer—Diana jokes that it’s a great stress-reliever—and twisting wire into wearable works of art.
$35 per class plus materials (includes wine). 214-824-2777.
beadsofsplendor.com


Take a Seat: Basic Upholstery.
Perhaps you inherited a set of chairs that needs an overhaul. Or maybe you espied a deal at your favorite resale shop, but the fabric isn’t your style. Oil and Cotton, a creative exchange space in Oak Cliff, can help. They offer an upholstery class that covers a multitude of materials such as foam, cotton, and Dacron. Students cut, work with a pattern, sew, and assemble a new cushion.
Jan. 24, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. $125 + $50 for a chair (if you don’t bring your own). 214-942-0474.
oilandcotton.com


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Creating With Heart.
If you’re longing to be an artist, but you’re not sure why creativity doesn’t easily flow, this class offered by Studio Arts Dallas is for you. The weekly program, based on the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, helps you discover your mental blocks and clear them using art play and process work. As a bonus, the studio boasts a creative environment and “safe” atmosphere for budding artists. The 10-week course is available each semester.
$420 (includes supplies). 214-827-1222.
studioartsdallas.com


Art of Ceramics.
It’s hard to choose just one hobby to pursue at Creative Arts Center. In the course of a year, the nonprofit art studio teaches more than 1,500 students in 500 classes such as clay sculpture, oil pastels, glass, jewelry, and more. But if we had to pick, we’d watch Ghost and then sign up for the ceramics class. In eight weeks, they will teach you the art of wheel-throwing and hand building, as well as textural surface techniques.
$285 for non-members ($255 for members) and a $55 fee. 214-320-1275.
creativeartscenter.org


Beginner DSLR Workshop.
Do you have lofty goals of snapping Annie Leibovitz-worthy portraits of your family? Enroll in the Dallas Center for Photography’s full-day workshop. The eight-hour class offers hands-on instruction for how to use the major controls and settings on your DSLR camera, as well as exposure settings, depth of field, flash, and more. The class will shoot a live model, too.
$250 ($230 for early-bird registration, includes lunch). 214-630-4909.
dallascenterforphotography.com


Arts District Walking Tour.
The Dallas Center for Architecture is dedicated to bringing the public into the active conversation about the importance of architecture and design. That’s why they offer their popular Arts District Walking Tours on the first and third Saturdays of every month. Start your architecture education journey and join them rain or shine on a 90-minute tour to learn about buildings from the 1890s to present day.
Tours start at 10 a.m. $10 ($8 for members). 214-880-1550.
dallascfa.com


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Beginner French.
Parlez-vous Francais? Voulez-vous un autre croissant? You’ll be able to answer oui and bien sûr once you’ve mastered French at the Dallas International School’s Language Institute. Since 1987, DIS has taught kids and adults to speak a variety of tongues including Spanish, French, and Chinese. There are private, semi-private, and group classes and options to suit every proficiency level and schedule. Sessions last 12 weeks.
$219 for group classes. 972-991-6379. dallas
internationalschool.org


Meditations for Inner Peace.
The physical and mental benefits of meditation are well documented. Those looking to cash in should turn to the Kadampa Meditation Center Texas, which offers classes at two area locations as well as various venues around DFW. Their Meditations for Inner Peace class at the Crow Collection of Asian Art, held Sundays at 2 p.m., is a great place to start. You’ll learn breathing meditations that will calm the mind and relieve tension. No registration required.
Free. 817-303-2700.
meditationintexas.org


Sustainable Rose Gardening.
With all due respect to Shakespeare, a rose by any other name may smell as sweet, but it’d still be just as hard to grow. If your attempts to cultivate this finicky flower have left you with nothing but thorns, enroll in the Dallas Arboretum’s Sustainable Rose Gardening class. Attendees will learn how to prune, water, and maintain their specimens as well as which varieties can stand the Texas heat.
Apr. 11, 9 a.m.–11 a.m. $30 ($27 for members). 214-515-6615.
dallasarboretum.org


Makeup 101.
We know what you’re thinking: “Makeup? As ‘personal enrichment’?” Hear us out. When you feel beautiful, you feel confident. When you feel confident, you might be more prone to apply for that job that seems out of reach. In an hour-long, one-on-one session, a Blushington makeup artist will teach you application techniques and recommend the best products for you, helping you put your best face forward. If that’s not enriching, we don’t know what is.
Call for booking. $100. 214-521-9200.
blushington.com


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Introduction to Improv.
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f you’re sure that you, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler are destined to be best friends, you need to do the work. That means learning improv, moving to Chicago to join the Groundlings, and then auditioning for Saturday Night Live. Dallas Comedy House can help with the first part of this plan. For seven weeks, you’ll meet once a week for three hours with like-minded folks and learn fundamental skills through stagework and performance attendance.
Sessions are $245.
dallascomedyhouse.com


Bach’s Lunch.
Always dreamt of impressing your friends by waxing poetic on the merits of Brahms versus Tchaikovsky? You have very strange dreams, but the DSO Guild can certainly help. Their free series is all about arming you with general knowledge about classical music. Informal classes happen on certain Fridays at the Meyerson Symphony Center. Not only is the class free, you also get a complimentary boxed lunch.
Reserve a space by emailing [email protected]. Jan. 16, Feb. 20, and Apr. 24 at 12 p.m.
mydso.com


Beginning Acting Classes.
You’ve always had a flair for the dramatic, and you know with just a little instruction, a star could be born. Texas Actor’s Studio offers an eight-week course that will prepare you for the spotlight. The course focuses on improving auditioning skills for film, television, and commercials. Headshots, résumés, and how to get an agent are additional topics of study. You’ll also learn how to act in front of a green screen.
Classes are ongoing and cost $425 per session. 214-356-1058.
texasactingclasses.com


Voice Over/Radio Commercials.
Do your best Morgan Freeman with lessons on acting on a microphone. With a professional sound engineer and voice coach by your side, you’ll also learn practical skills like how to audition for local markets and how to navigate unions and agencies. Enrollment caps at eight, allowing for plenty of private coaching and studio time. The next cycle of classes begins Feb. 18 and lasts through Apr. 8.
Classes are Wednesday nights from 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. $450. 214-638-0484.
kdstudio.com


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Ballet Burn.
You don’t have to be a ballerina in order to look like one. Margot Martin, a former professional ballerina and founder of the Ballet Burn program, has brought her popular East Coast-based fitness class to Park Cities Dance. The program is designed to elongate and strengthen your body through fundamental ballet techniques. Set to fun, fast-paced music, this workout class is anything but boring and is sure to get your heart pumping and your quads in prima ballerina form.
$15/class. 214-357-8888.
parkcitiesdance.com 


Indo-Row.
The indoor rowing classes at East Dallas’ Crowbar Cardio utilize a WaterRower machine (à la House of Cards’ Frank Underwood) that mimics the elements of competitive, on-water rowing with the authentic feeling of pulling a blade through water. This provides students a full-body workout and delivers real results when it comes to burning off holiday calories. Although the 45-minute workout is intense, its low-impact nature means almost anyone can do it.
$20/class. 214-887-1200.
crowbarcardio.com


Adult Hip Hop Class.
One too many viewings of Step Up 2: The Streets have you yearning to up your hip hop game? Whether you’re a dance-off queen or rhythmically challenged, Power House of Dance has a class for your level of skill. Adult classes range from beginner to advanced and focus on learning proper body movement to music. The classes also help you develop your motor skills and coordination while channeling your inner Beyoncé.
$15/one-hour class; $27/90-minute class. 972-960-2484.
powerhouseofdance.net


Fit to Run.
If running a marathon is on your bucket list but you can barely jog your memory without breaking a sweat, don’t despair. Run On! offers training programs for all fitness levels. Newbies should start with Fit to Run, which gets you 5k-ready in eight weeks. (After that, Fit to Distance will help you earn that coveted 26.2 bumper sticker.) The first of five 2015 sessions begins Jan. 20, with morning and evening options to fit your schedule.
$110 early sign-up/$120 day-of. 214-821-0909.
runontexas.com


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Hands-On Cheesemaking Class.
The Mozzarella Company is going to make you smile and say “cheese.” Owner Paula Lambert offers a monthly in-depth lesson on how to make mozzarella and ricotta cheeses. Classes are small—between six and 10 pupils—and you get to take home the spoils of your labor. The two-hour session concludes with a cheese tasting featuring some of Lambert’s award-winning cheeses.
$75 per person. Classes are generally Saturday afternoons and/or weekday evenings. 214-741-4072.
mozzarellaco.com


10 Skills Every Cook Should Know.
If your kitchen skills start and stop with boiling water, the epicurean experts at Sur La Table can help. Several times a year, they offer a class that covers basic knife skills, the secrets of roasting vegetables, the best way to sear a steak, and more. The final part of instruction involves whipping some egg whites into an impressive soufflé. Your only homework: Invite your friends over and wow them with your culinary creations.
$69 per person. 214-219-4479.
surlatable.com


Basic Buttercream Cake Decorating.
Learn how to make confections that look as good as they taste with instruction from Jeri Kopecky and Kelli Duffy. The mother-daughter duo behind Cake Carousel offers classes for all skill levels, but learning how to create the perfect buttercream frosting and decorate with it is a good place to start. Post-class, enjoy your treats while pondering how you’d do on Cake Boss.
Sessions start Feb. 25 & Apr. 7, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.–9 p.m. $60 for five sessions. 972-690-4628.
cakecarousel.com


Whiskey Tastings.
Pencil this in: On the first Tuesday of every month, Trinity Hall Irish Pub holds whiskey tastings where you’ll learn how to properly sniff and taste the distilled beverage. Your entry fee (which varies depending on what’s on the menu that month) will get you six drams, snack pairings, and tasting notes from an expert. If whiskey’s not your drink of choice, the pub offers beer sessions on rotating Tuesdays.
Hold your seat by registering on the website, and get there around 7 p.m. 214-887-3600.
trinityhall.tv

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