Crafts and Brews

There’s something inherently gratifying about learning a new craft. But HOLLY REARDON, owner of Hand Make Studio, makes the experience even more enticing. At her classes, many of which are held at a local brewery or restaurant, old friends build new bonds and strangers become friends.  

“I wanted to create a community of makers,” Reardon says. “I offer classes with the idea of connection, where people do something together and create memories.” 

Reardon’s decision to open Hand Make Studio was a result of a dream deferred. While traveling the world as an educator, Reardon fell in love with the handmade goods she found in different countries and hoped to someday open a store for such products.  

However, upon moving to Wilmington, she continued to work in education as an educational consultant, and the import store didn’t materialize. Instead, Reardon dove into crafting, and a new idea emerged – she could offer craft classes and, through them, build a community.  

Reardon’s business started in the homes of friends and family who admired her work and wanted to delve into crafting themselves. Then, Reardon got her big break. A brewery in Leland asked her to give a class, and soon she was inundated with requests for classes by breweries and restaurants throughout the area. Between the classes held at breweries and restaurants and those held at Coastal Blue Gift Shoppe and in private homes, Reardon has a full schedule. 

“Bars, breweries, and restaurants call like crazy,” Reardon says. “People are desperate to get to classes. They fill up in days.”

It’s not surprising that Reardon’s classes are so popular. Each one is a carefully curated event. In addition to a welcoming and beautiful set up, Reardon ensures each student has fun. Though none of the projects requires a high level of technique, they are unique and beautiful, Reardon, says. Plus, she breaks the projects down into easily manageable steps, and her coaching helps students when they are stumped. 

“It’s an opportunity to try something new and see if you like it,” Reardon says. “You have a mentor there.” 

Under Reardon’s guidance, students take on a variety of different projects. She offers resin classes, at which students make cutting boards, lazy Susans, and other items, and sea glass classes all year as well as seasonal crafts classes. There, students engage in crafts such as making wreaths and Christmas ornaments and creating succulent pumpkin arrangements.  

Just as important as the crafting is the social aspect of Reardon’s classes. Many women attend as friends – she is booked for girls’ night out, mother-daughter classes, neighborhood groups, and other friendly get-togethers, Reardon says. But women come to the classes on their own, too. These individuals aren’t alone for long, according to Reardon. Strangers often leave with four or five phone numbers and plans to get together with their fellow students.

“It’s really about giving people an experience that is fun,” says Reardon. “Within that is meeting new friends.”

Reardon’s plans for the future include holding virtual craft classes and creating a craft club for children. 

Through Hand Make Studio, Reardon met her own goals as well as that of many others–to indulge their love of crafting and through that connect with other craft makers.

“I needed a community here,” she says. “We’ve built that kind of community.”

To view more of photographer Madeline Gray’s work, go to madelinegrayphoto.com.

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