If you’re looking for an outlet for your child’s creativity, look no further. There are plenty of local craft resources worth exploring, some of which are brand new! Whether your kids are interested in painting, sewing, cooking, decorating or creating a masterpiece from scratch, there’s a crafty place for them in St. Louis.

Fusion
Chesterfield Mall
636-536-0755
www.fusionbysmh.com
Fusion offers unique classes in non-traditional crafts for children ages 6 and up.  Kids can try dyeing silk, making a Soap Coat (a handmade bar of soap with merino wool), or decorating a Fleur de lis – the perfect outing for your child’s Boy Scout group! Other classes include tie-dying cotton (shirts, pillow covers or messenger bags), making resin bottle cap magnets, or creating a mixed media collage. Fusion has also provided mother-daughter classes for silk dyeing.

Preston Art Glass Studio
2651 Chouteau Ave., St. Louis
314-772-2611
www.prestonartglass.com
Preston Art Glass Studio offers a beginner class in stained glass creations for kids 12 and up. This class is sure to give your child a greater appreciation for the historic stained glass creations found throughout St. Louis. This beginner class covers basic leaded window construction and an introduction to copper foil technique. Preston’s staff will take the time to help your child select the perfect beginner pattern to match their interest and skill level. Classes offered include an 8-week, Thursday evening class, or a 3-week, Saturday class, and range in size from 5-10 students. While you’re there, be sure to check out Mr. Preston’s latest window repair project.

DIY Style Workshop
804 N. Second St., St. Charles
636-925-1829
http://diystyle.net/
Is your teen inspired to create great projects with fabric, a needle and thread? No prior sewing experience is needed before a visit to the DIYStyle Workshop. Workshops teach design-it-yourself projects, including fashion sewing, craft and home décor – while encouraging participants to have fun and create something crafty and stylish. If a class doesn’t seem to be the right “fit” for your child, ask about private lessons. Or, if you’re looking for a great group activity, organize a Stitch Party for your Girl Scout troop, church group, or even a Mom’s night out.

St. Louis Teachers Recycle Center – Play Your Art Out
Crestwood Court, 109 Crestwood Plaza, St Louis
636-227-7095
http://stlouisteachersrecycle.homestead.com/PARTY-4-ART.html
Crestwood Court has transitioned into a serious destination for fans of the arts. You and your kids ages 3 and up can get your craft fix at Play Your Art Out, located in the Food Court area on the lower level of the former mall (a new studio was also recently opened at Chesterfield Mall). Walk-ins are welcome at the Studio on the last Saturday of every month for painting, paper-making, journals, masks and more.

Fischer’s School of Cake Decorating, Candy Making and Supply
620 Charbonier Road, Florissant
314-921-3145
www.fischerscakeandcandy.com
If you have a future budding Betty Crocker at your house, you need to visit Fischer’s. In their cake-decorating classes, kids learn basic techniques and are given plenty of time to practice. Younger students (age 8 and up) can decorate a mini doll cake, while junior decorators (age 13-17) can try their artistic skills on their own cake. Upon completion of the class, students receive a certificate and take their cakes home with them. Junior Decorators can also keep their decorating bag, 3 decorating tips, and coupler.

Craft Alliance
6640 Delmar Blvd., University City
314-725-1177
501 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis
314-534-7528
www.craftalliance.org
Craft Alliance offers an extensive program of children’s classes in a range of media for ages 3 and older, year-round. Whether your child is interested in drawing, painting, creating masterpieces in clay, fiber or metal, glass beadmaking, or graphic design and mixed media, there’s a class to meet every interest.

Feather-Craft Fly Fishing
8307 Manchester Road, St. Louis
314-963-7884
http://www.feather-craft.com
Looking for a creative way to spend time with your pre-teen outdoors? One of the nation’s best fly fishing shops is here in St. Louis and provides free lessons on Saturdays for beginners in fly casting and fly tying. All fly casting lessons are taught by certified and knowledgeable instructors. Classes are open to those age 11 and older, and require registration by phone (preferably one week in advance). And, if you’re “hooked” after one class, Feather-Craft also offers advanced and specialty classes at no charge.

Third Degree Glass Factory
5200 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis
314-367-4527
www.thirddegreeglassfactory.com
A unique St. Louis resource, your teens can work with hot glass under the watchful eye of a pro. While glassblowing, flameworking and kilnworking classes are for teens 15 and older, a paperweights class is available for those 10 and up. Participants receive an intro to the tools and techniques of flamework before creating their own one-of-a-kind glass paperweights, with a little help from Third Degree’s instructors. Third Degree Glass Factory also offers free open houses on the the third Friday of every month.

Sarah Robinett is a native Michigander who is pure St. Louis at heart. She, her writing husband, and two blogging Toy Fox Terriers, live in Southwest City.

This article was originally published in March 2010 and was last updated on Jan. 20, 2011.

Best Bets articles represent the views and the research completed by St. Louis Sprout & About journalists and are not driven by advertising or requests by vendors or venues. Best Bets do not imply an endorsement of a business or activity.

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