Start Creating

In 1998, my mother and I took a quilting class. I remember her saying after the first class, “I don’t think I’m going to like this.” She had learned to sew in high school and enjoyed it immensely, but she was apprehensive about taking on a new skill. 

Fast forward to the present, where you will find my now-88-year-old mom still quilting. During almost three decades, she has created hundreds of quilts and wall hangings for her children, grandchildren, extended family, friends, and church picnic raffles. 

The moral of the story: Learning to create might feel uncomfortable at first, but it could lead to a lifetime of joy. Make it a priority this autumn to create something new. 

Create crafts at Ms. Audrey’s Crafting Emporium

Located in the Highlands, this crafting emporium offers a wide array of creative classes. You can sign up for a Monday Miniature class ($15 for two hours) or attend a class about Kinusaiga, a traditional Japanese fabric craft that requires no sewing. 

Create a powerful swing at Shawnee Golf Course

Louisville Metro Parks & Recreation offers golf instruction at Shawnee Golf Course for anyone interested in learning more about the game. Whether you are starting with zero knowledge of the sport or want some professional insight to up your game, Shawnee’s instructors offer what you need at a reasonable price. 

Create muscle at Pvolve

Muscle mass declines as we get older, but Pvolve might be a new way for you to help reverse that process. It is a low-impact exercise method that blends cardio intervals, weight training, and range of motion. The Pvolve studio located in St. Matthews offers a variety of classes to build strength and stay active longer. 

Create music at Louisville Folk School

It’s not too late to learn to use those fingers to create melodic sound, whether it’s with a fiddle, piano, mandolin, bass, guitar, ukulele, or banjo. Louisville Folk School offers classes in these instruments, as well as voice lessons. Dust off that instrument you purchased during COVID when you had loads of free time (note to self) and learn how to play it. 

Create a spectacle with Turners Circus

While most people who take aerial classes at Louisville Turners don’t perform publicly, you might decide that the sheer joy associated with learning to fly gives you the confidence to be in front of an audience. Gym director Cindy Law says the Intro to Aerials class strengthens the whole body, increasing agility and body awareness, while introducing participants to the fundamentals of the lyra, static trapeze, and silks. 

Create art through the COLLIDER Artist-in-Residence Program at Louisville Free Public Library

Sure, you can get books at the library, but you can also participate in free classes to create neat stuff. Each month, the library system has a new artist-in-residence who offers several classes in their area of expertise. This fall, create something using various mediums with Daviona Duncan in November, and collaborate in December with Allan Day in a joint musical creation – bring your own instruments or borrow what is provided.

Create a canopy with Trees Louisville

Efforts are being made to increase the tree canopy in Louisville because of its many benefits, and you can be a part of that by volunteering with Trees Louisville, a nonprofit with a goal of increasing our city’s canopy to 45%. Join the Canopy Corps to do the work of digging, mulching, and watering. You’ll enjoy knowing your efforts make our city prettier. 

Create a cocktail with the Cocktail Contessa

With her professional certification as an executive bourbon steward, Heather Wibbels has the knowledge and experience to help anyone learn to create a delicious cocktail through her informative and fun classes. “I want to make cocktails and whiskey easy, approachable, and fun so that people feel empowered to make their own cocktails and select bourbon bottles they know they’ll love,” she says. “The end goal is for people to get rid of the idea that cocktails or whiskey are hard, and to create curiosity for things they want to experience or explore after the class.” 

Create a terrarium at Mahonia

Now located in St. Matthews, Mahonia offers a wide variety of plant workshops. The creation offerings are wide, including sand art terrariums, carnivorous bog gardens, and moss art. Fees include all materials and an instructor to guide attendees through the process. 

Create a new-to-you space with Redefine Design on the Avenue

If you’re tired of how your home looks, a great place to start creating a new layout or color palate is Redefine Design on the Avenue, where you can find 22,000 square feet of high-quality consignment pieces interspersed with new ones. A visit here will spark new ideas of how you can liven up your home. And if you have absolutely no idea of where to start or what you want, they also offer interior design. 

By Carrie Vittitoe

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