San Juan Makers Guild

Island maker tours and activities starting 2021

Fascinating and Enriching, did we mention Delicious?

Spend a morning exploring Maker Studios and Shops, then dine on a locally grown lunch in a bucolic natural setting or at a great local restaurant. Transportation and buy-direct opportunities are bonus options.

Ready to roll up your sleeves? Sign up for a one day Make It Yourself workshop with a leading local Maker.

Hungry to delve in deeper? Master Maker Immersions provide a 3-5 day retreat to learn or hone a craft or artistic interest. Consider off-season sessions when the island is quiet, or request a summer session. Master teachers include island and guest artists - all offering an exceptional opportunity for enrichment.

See Orcas Island 2021 options below, San Juan Island and Lopez Island activities coming soon.

Orcas ACTIVITY SIGN-UPS

Orcas Island Maker Tours

Enjoy the beauty of the islands, meet local Makers with option to buy direct, then enjoy a delicious local lunch. Drive yourself or see group transportation option below. Afternoon tour and dinner options by arrangement.

Local Maker Hard Cider, Art & Food

$95 or $125

Visit a local artist's studio with hands-on Make it Yourself options, tour a cider makery using produce grown right on the island, then dine on a locally grown picnic lunch at a beautiful flower and produce farm. ($125 includes a take-home cider gift bag.)

Local Maker Distillery, Body Care & Food

$95 or $125

Sample award-winning distilled spirits made with local ingredients, then see how botanical body care products are harvested and made on a farm, and savor a locally grown picnic lunch in an heritage fruit orchard. ( $125 includes a gift bag of botanical products)

Local Maker Winery, Pottery & Food

$95 or $125

Sample regional wines, visit a breathtaking oceanfront pottery studio, and then tour and dine on a farm-fresh lunch at a local community farm. Learn about the San Juans local food movement. "Faint not, pottery is near" ($125 includes choice of a mug to take home.)

Heritage Fruit Tastings, Wood or Metal Working & Food

$95 or $125

See how local jams and shrubs are made (and taste) using island grown heritage fruits, learn about the island's agricultural heritage, then see a wood or metal working studio in action. Enter a drawing to win a finished work - winner announced during your delicious meal at a local restaurant that specializes in farm-to-plate foods. ($125 includes a local jam and shrub gift set.)

Homestead, Ceramics and Hand Crafted Foods

$125 or $160

Explore winding paths through a world reknowned permaculture homestead, visit an on site ceramics studio and glaze your own piece, then step into the kitchen of a local purveyor of global foods. Enjoy a superb locally grown lunch perched above a marina (two restaurant options; special chef option is $160). Your ceramic piece will be shipped to you.

Steam Car Ride after Lunch

$35

All aboard a magnificently restored Stanley Steamer Wagon for a 1 hour historical tour. Last ride at 4pm.

Group transportation, per person

$50

Relax and enjoy the tour with a van driver for 4 or more reserved seats on entire tour. We will keep a headcount to ensure the minimum of 4 passengers is reached.

Maker One to Five Day Workshops

Roll up your sleeves, learn a new tool or technique, and hone your skills with Island or Guest Makers.

Leather or Candle Making

$95

Enjoy a half-day immersed in these age old traditional crafts with emerging entreprenuers. Lunch included.

Papermaking Day

$150

Discover fine art and functional craft methods in papermaking. Take home functional or fine art pieces at end of session. For beginning or experienced.

Picnic lunch included.

Ceramics Studio Day

$175

Learn two different ceramic construction and glazing methods. Your small finished pieces will be shipped to you after firing. Includes lunch.

Watercolor, Oils or Both?

$225

You can choose time with two artists for a day, each an oil or watercolor painter. Or choose two half days in one medium. No experiene required but support for more advanced artists is provided. Lunch included.

Master Maker Immersion

3 and 5 day studio immersions with Master Makers

Fiber Arts, Wearable Felting in Mixed Media

$375

Choose from a selection of fiber art makers, - spinning, knitting weaving, felting, dyeing, wearable art or fiber sculpture. 2 day sessions.

Photography

$500

3 half-day sessions with free time for field and studio photography

Sound and Video

$1000

Sound and film making and editing workshops, custom designed

Private Small Group Artist or Author Retreat

$1500

Five days and four nights of activities; lodging options additional, camping to deluxe.

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