Make It Nelson

Make It Nelson Make It Nelson is a curated programme of hands-on activities happening every weekend in June 2026. Pick one workshop or stack a few across a weekend.

Try different types of making, learn practical skills, and spend time creating with others.

Hey! What are you up to this weekend?Maybe trying a drawing class? Or learning some stitching to fancy up your favourite...
03/06/2026

Hey! What are you up to this weekend?

Maybe trying a drawing class?

Or learning some stitching to fancy up your favourite jacket?

You could be having a go at felting and moulding to make really unique jewellery...

Or there's the opportunity to warm up by making flame glass beads

Or, just because, you could be going all-out fluffy with hook rugs for the wall and your floor.

So many choices - pick one!

The Mindful Mark Sat 6 June at 9am-5pm at NMIT
Rug Making as Art Sat 6 June 9am-5pm at Suter Art Gallery
Brooches, Beads & Body Adornment from NZ Fibre Sun 7 June 9am-5pm at NMIT
Life Drawing Sun 7 June at 2-5pm at NMIT
Flame Glass Beads & Pendants Sun 7 June 2-5pm FlameDaisy Glass Studio

More info & bookings at www.makeitnelson.co.nz

Arts Council Nelson Nelson City Council Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman

02/06/2026

We're on the Make It Nelson countdown to when it all kicks off this Saturday 6 June!

There are still workshops available this weekend:
The Mindful Mark (Sat 6 June 9am-5pm)
Rug Making as Art (Sat 6 June 9am-5pm)
Life Drawing (Sun 7 June 2-5pm)
Brooches, Beads & Body Adornment from NZ Fibre (Sun 7 June 9am-5pm)
Flame Glass Beads & Pendants (Sun 7 June 2-5pm)

And then on Saturday evening there's Make It at the Cathedral - FREE EVENT - it's filling up fast, so best to register your spot asap!

Go to www.makeitnelson.co.nz for info & bookings.

Arts Council Nelson Nelson City Council Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman

It's getting chilly - time to get woolly!Here are three ways you can get hands-on with wool - there's good ol' fashioned...
01/06/2026

It's getting chilly - time to get woolly!

Here are three ways you can get hands-on with wool - there's good ol' fashioned knitting; warm and wonderful jewellery; and gettin' fuzzy with a rug!

All the workshops provide all the materials - all you need is your sense of adventure.

- Chuffed to Knits (Sun 14 & 21 June) - Bettina Bley - learn to knit from a ball of wool to a finished piece and everything in-between.
- Brooches, Beads & Body Adornment from NZ Fibre (Sun 7 & 21 June) - Colleen Plank - discover wool as a material for making brooches and beads.
- Rug Making as Art (Sat 6 June) - Larisse Hall - this is actually 'painting' with wool - very fun and fuzzy!

More info and bookings at www.makeitnelson.co.nz

Arts Council Nelson Nelson City Council Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman

31/05/2026

How cool is this?! We have our fabulous design by This is Them Design Team, being made real by Renee Hadlow at The Armarie Room.

Renee's been busy making a very special set of posters for us. Nice!

Arts Council Nelson Nelson City Council Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman

30/05/2026

There was a fantastic turnout at the Open Day at the Centre for Fine Woodworking, New Zealand (CFW), and it was a bit of a queue to talk to Karissa Walker Méndez - she's incredibly passionate about fine woodworking - everyone wanted to talk to her!

CFW is a wonderful series of workshops kitted out for every woodworker's dream.

So if you're at all curious about woodworking, then the workshop, Make a Shaker (nesting) Box is the perfect introduction to the CFW, and a new passion for wood. That's Karissa assembling the different parts of a Shaker box - you'll make three of them the workshop, that "nest" inside each other.

A Shaker box is a design created by the Shakers, who were a break-away religious group from the Quakers. The Shakers were known for their celibate and communal lifestyle, pacifism, gender equality, and ecstatic worship, as well as their simple, functional craftsmanship.

Make a Shaker Box (2-day workshop)
Centre for Fine Woodworking
Sat 27 & Sun 28 June at 9am-5pm
Info & bookings at https://makeitnelson.co.nz/events/make-a-shaker-box/

Nelson City Council Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman

Always wanted to try a drawing class? Here's your chance to give it a go on a Sunday afternoon.The Life Drawing workshop...
29/05/2026

Always wanted to try a drawing class? Here's your chance to give it a go on a Sunday afternoon.

The Life Drawing workshop is led by experienced tutor Jeanie Robertson (Life drawing Nelson) with a live model.

Jeanie will show you how to tap into your own creativity through drawing the human figure. The studio space (at NMIT) is quiet and calm, so you can feel confident to dive into your inner artist.

All levels of abilities welcome - especially if this is your first time. No need to bring anything - we'll supply all the drawing materials.

And if you like the class, then Jeanie has regular drawing courses in Nelson.

Life Drawing Nelson
NMIT classroom in G Block
Sun 7 & 21 June, 2pm-5pm
$75+bf
Info & bookings at https://makeitnelson.co.nz/events/life-drawing-workshop/

The perfect outing to start the long weekend. Can't wait to inhale all those lovely wood aromas!
29/05/2026

The perfect outing to start the long weekend. Can't wait to inhale all those lovely wood aromas!

28/05/2026

Make It Nelson - coming soon to Whakatū! Oh, opps, argh!

Arts Council Nelson Nelson City Council Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman

27/05/2026

If you lean in, you can almost hear what she's saying - "come and join me in a puppet-making workshop" she whispers, "you can make a little friend and fill your heart with puppet-y joy".

We're so excited to have puppeteer Bridget Saunders bringing her puppet making workshop to Nelson after some incredibly fun sessions in Wellington.

Maybe you have a puppet character already in your mind? Come with a character in mind or invent them as you go.

This is not only about making a puppet, but the tips and tricks for moving and manipulation so that they come to life. Welcome to your next obsession - making and animating little creatures!

Bridget is a hugely experienced puppeteer and a gentle, supportive workshop leader.
She's passionate about puppetry and has recently established The Wellington Puppetry Festival. Bridget believes puppetry has the power to ignite our imaginations, enliven all our lives and offer a powerful alternative to screen culture for young and old. She believes in the power of live theatre to transform lives more than any other artform and especially puppetry!

Bridget is Producer & Creative Director at Birdlife Productions and has been making and performing with Puppetry for the last 15 years.

Make a Puppet and Bring It to Life!
NMIT Workshop G121
Sat 20 June, 9am - 5pm
Info & bookings https://makeitnelson.co.nz/events/make-a-puppet-and-bring-it-to-life-workshop/

Arts Council Nelson Nelson City Council Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman

Address

Refinery ArtSpace, 114 Hardy Street
Nelson
7010

Website

http://www.acn.org.nz/, https://www.instagram.com/makeitnelson/

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