Woodworking Sets Sights on Stringed Instruments
It's October and the Woodworking & Small Boatbuilding Studio is full of opportunities for you to try something you haven’t built before, from hand-cut joinery to your very own ukulele, from wood turning to cabinet hardware, toggle clamp jigs, end tables, and even spoons!
Writers Get Scared and Get Together
We're getting spooky with a night of ghost stories; opening registration for Story Island Writers' conference, which sells out every year; and celebrating a fellow writer's debut novel, among other things. Grab a notebook.
October Classes at BARN
Handwork Week general registration is open, Refract is back, and there's a harvest dinner worth clearing your calendar for. Here's what's happening at BARN this October!
Teen Night Is Back! Register Now!
Teens in grades 7 through 12 are invited to a free evening of art, friends, and creativity at BARN. This popular event returns Oct. 9 and runs monthly through May. It's completely free, and the perfect low-pressure way for a teen to try BARN out for the first time. Registration is now open and these fill fast, so grab a spot for your teen while space is open.
‘Tis the Season for Every Kind of Cooking
From tamales and bourbon tastings to holiday baking and a Persian-inspired feast, there’s a class for every kind of cook in the Culinary Arts Studio heading into the fall season. On our menu are classes for Afro-Brazilian, French, Korean, Vietnamese, and Japanese dishes, to say nothing of medicinal herbs, pumpkin tricks, youth classes, and more.
Handwork 2027 Registration Underway
BARN members can now register for Handwork Week, with general registration set to open Oct. 1. Handwork returns to BARN Aril 12-16, 2027. This five-day immersion in craft is guided by accomplished instructors. You and fellow makers will experience deep, hands-on learning.
October Sparks Fly in Metal-Fab
October is bringing sparks, literal and otherwise, to the Metal Fabrication Studio! You can channel your inner blacksmith with two Halloween-ready forge projects, sharpen precision skills in the machine shop, or work your way up the welding ladder from fundamentals to a confident MIG #2. Whether you're picking up a torch for the first time or leveling up existing skills, there's a project with your name on it.Plus MIG welding, machine shop skills, and more in the shop this month
Handwork Tickets on Their Way
Tech Lab access levels up for members. Handwork Week tickets are almost here. Scary tales will be told. And REFRACT is bringing a full weekend of glass art to BARN, complete with an exhibition, a documentary screening, and live demos. There's a lot going on in October!
REFRACT at BARN Includes Exhibit, Screening, Demos
This year’s REFRACT celebration turns the Glass Arts Studio into both an exhibition space and a gathering place. Events include a new exhibition in the Commons, a social hour and documentary screening, and a day of demonstrations. Refract is a regional festival celebrating the Pacific Northwest's vibrant glass art community Oct. 15-18.
New Workshop with Dana Harris Seeger
The Print & Book Arts Studio keeps the presses rolling this October, with letterpress, printmaking, and bookbinding classes on the calendar. A highlight is a new workshop with Dana Harris Seeger, a Poulsbo artist who teaches and exhibits internationally.
Don’t Miss the Rock Swap and Shop!
The Jewelry & Fine Metals Studio’s annual Rock Swap and Shop, a free community event, is set for 10 AM – 1 PM on Sunday, Sept. 20. Bring rocks, beads, tools, and lapidary odds and ends to trade or give away, and dig through what other makers bring, too. It's BARN's favorite treasure hunt, free and open to rock hounds, beginners, and curious neighbors alike.
Fall Holds Firsts and Favorites for Drawing & Painting
The Drawing & Painting Studio debuts its first-ever water-soluble oil painting class (starts Oct. 10, 10 AM – 12:30 PM), puts a Halloween spin on Inktober, and rolls out a full slate of pastel, ink, and mixed-media classes. Whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or looking to try a new medium, there’s a place for you at the easel this season.
Fiber Arts Welcomes a New Loom and New Classes
A generous donation of a Glimåkra loom, dedicated volunteers, and a few new class offerings (including open studio times for little loom weaving) means there's plenty to explore in the studio this season.
Tech Lab Hums Along This Fall with Hands-On Classes
Fall in the Tech Lab keeps brings hands-on classes covering everything from laser cutting to 3D design to soldering. Whether you’re chasing a specific project or just want to see what BARN’s tools can do, there’s an entry point for every skill level this September and October.
Rock September at Free Rock Swap and Shop (and Fall Classes)
Don’t miss our free, community-wide swap of rocks, gems, and lapidary finds, from raw stones to polished cabochons, at our Rock Swap and Shop 10 AM to 1 PM on Sunday, Sept. 20. And take a look at our highlighted fall classes in all 11 of our studios.
Writers’ Fall Fare: Comps Night, Short-Story Contest, and a Conference!
Fall brings three major events for the Writers’ Studio: A night to talk comps with local booksellers for expert input on where your work fits on the shelf (Sept. 19), a spooky short-story contest with real cash on the line (deadline Set. 30), and a Nov. 13-15 conference for genre fiction writers that’s filling fast!
Everything from Spoons to Ukuleles in Woodworking
September in the Woodworking & Small Boat Building Studio is full of opportunities — turn your first pen on the lathe, carve a spoon at a free community night, or dive into a 10-meeting build and walk out with a liquor cabinet you made yourself. A good month to come in with an idea and leave with something real.Free spoon carving, a tool sale, and five classes that need you
Tickets on Sale Now for Night at BARN
Tickets are going fast for BARN’s signature fundraising event, Night at BARN, set for 5:30-9 PM on Saturday, Oct. 3. This will be a magical evening rooted in craft and community, so get your tickets now!
Fall is Full of Flavor in Culinary Arts
Cooler evenings mean cozy suppers, and the Culinary Arts Studio has a full slate of them this fall. We're especially excited about our first Pacific Northwest Harvest Dinner, a seated four-course celebration of the region's autumn bounty, paired with wines chosen just for the occasion, on Oct. 23.
Fall is Fab in the Metal Studio
Fall is prime time to learn something new in the Metal Fabrication Studio! This month brings fresh sessions in the forge, machine shop, welding shop, and sheet metal area, with something for total beginners and returning makers alike.
Fall is for Fixing, Swapping, Supporting, and Learning
A granddaughter brings “A Handweaver’s Pattern Book’ back, Handwork Week returns in the spring of 2027, the free and popular Teen Nights are back on the calendar, Fix-It Fair is getting close, and, the next day, Rock Swap and Shop returns to the Jewelry & Fine Metals Studio. And get your Night at BARN tickets before they’re gone!
Meet Visiting Artist Joseph Cavalieri
The Glass Arts Studio welcomes visiting artist and educator Joseph Cavalieri for two free events this week! Joseph is a New York City-trained artist now living in France whose stained-glass work blends centuries-old techniques with bold, pop-art imagery. His pieces are held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Arts and Design, and he's taught more than 100 workshops around the world, from Pilchuck Glass School to residencies across four continents.
Night at BARN: Tickets on Sale Now!
Join us at BARN’s signature fundraising event, Night at BARN, 5:30 - 9 PM on Saturday, Oct. 3. It's a magical evening rooted in craft and community. Help support makers at all stages of life and all skill levels. Enjoy appetizers and beverages while you explore our studios and bid in the silent auction, then have dinner in a festive party tent followed by a lively live auction to support BARN’s mission.
A Wrap for Summer Youth and Dates for Teen Night
Another successful and creative summer for youth wraps up here at BARN, and we've pinned down the dates for the upcoming season of our popular - and free - Teen Nights. And take a peek at some our studios' upcoming classes.
Youth Update: Fall Registration Opens, Summer’s Last Gasp
Catch the last week of Summer Youth, and mark your calendar for noon July 31 when registration opens for Fall Youth.
Photo Gallery: Summer Youth
Nightstands with secret drawers, welded wildlife, backstage magic, and the science of baking. Our young makers have been busy! Check out these highlights from ...Full story »
Celebrate Glass at BARN: Refract
Save the date for Refract this October, plus kiln casting, stained glass, boro, and mosaics.
Our New Platform Is Almost Here
On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, we'll be completing a migration to a new platform that will improve the way you register for classes, manage your membership, and interact with BARN online. Class and event registration, as well as account access, will be unavailable for most of the day while we complete the transition.
From Fields to Pages: How Poetry Saved My Life with Handwork Week Instructor Ricardo Ruiz
In this powerful conversation, award-winning poet Ricardo Ruiz shares his raw, unfiltered journey to discovering his voice through verse.
Handwork at BARN Featured on Senior Center Podcast
Something to Talk About, the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center's podcast, features Handwork 2026 on Bainbridge Island!
Fix-It Fair Returns Saturday, March 7
Got a broken lamp gathering dust? A small appliance that stopped working? A beloved piece of jewelry in need of repair? Bring it to ...Full story »
Home Automation Tech Talk
Free! Learn about the benefits of home automation.
HANDWORK: Bringing Bronze to Life With the BARN Foundry Team
Monkey Wrench Fabrication on Wardwell Avenue is adorned with vintage signs and found metal objects, a fitting detail for a craft that has transformed ...Full story »
All Aboard: Metal Fabrication Lead Andy Dupree Brings His Train Collection to The Commons
Walk into BARN's Commons this month and you might hear the gentle hum of model trains crisscrossing their tracks. Metal Fabrication Lead Andy Dupree ...Full story »
HANDWORK: Weaving Light in Glass with Richard Parrish
Growing up on a farm in Eastern Idaho, young Richard Parrish was mesmerized by harvested grain fields, their parallel rows marching across the landscape ...Full story »
HANDWORK: Ricardo Ruiz, the Poet Who Turns Silence into Story
Ricardo Ruiz didn't set out to reinvent poetry—he set out to save the stories disappearing from his community. Growing up in Othello, Washington, Ruiz ...Full story »
Weekly Watercolor Meetup
Don't miss these classes and events
New Letterpress Certification and Printmaking Class
Don't miss these classes and events
HANDWORK: Finding Your Story with Jonathan Evison
Jonathan Evison knows what it's like to fail. The Bainbridge Island novelist wrote seven unpublished books before his breakthrough at age 40. He literally ...Full story »
HANDWORK: Daniel Winterbottom on Sketching the World Anew
When University of Washington landscape architecture professor Daniel Winterbottom started wandering the streets of Seattle during the pandemic lockdown, sketchbook in hand, he wasn't ...Full story »
HANDWORK: Brian Gillespie Brings Calder’s Legacy to Life
By day, Brian Gillespie manages the development team for Rhino 3D, the industry-standard modeling software used in aerospace, automotive, and architectural design. But step ...Full story »
HANDWORK: ‘Root Reading’ with Alisa Banks
Dallas Artist Helps Writers Transform Personal Stories into Sculptural Books At the age of 4, Alisa Banks received her first book — a thick ...Full story »
Registration Now Open: Teen Night! (Grades 7-12)
P.S. Register for Teen Night, too
Culinary: 15+ Reasons to Sign Up for Open Studio
We provide basic supplies, such as flour, sugar, salt, butter, oil — and a dishwasher! Full-size sheet pans full of cookies fit into our ...Full story »
Woodworkers’ Monthly Presentation: Master Luthier Neil Miller
Don't miss these classes and events
November in the Writers’ Studio: Take the Novel Writing Challenge!
Don't miss these classes and events
BARN Holiday Bazaar Returns!
Saturday, Nov. 22, 10 AM - 3 PM Bazaar is back! Buy direct from the maker at this annual celebration of the creativity at ...Full story »
HANDWORK: Weaving traditions, stewardship and place with Melinda West
Forty years ago, Melinda West sat on a Pacific Northwest beach watching her young sons play. Nearby, someone had discarded a pile of willow ...Full story »
Glass: Photos from Refract
With careful planning, enthusiastic participation, and a whole lot of heart, the Glass Arts Studio hosted another fantastic “Celebration of Glass” event as part ...Full story »
What a Night at BARN!
What happens when over 100 volunteers, months of careful planning, and a shared love of creativity come together? Magic. Our recent Night at BARN raised an incredible $403,935 for creative opportunities across our community!
Handwork Week at BARN and Fall Events
General registration for Handwork Week at BARN is now open! Plus, learn more about upcoming October events.
Attention: BARN Classes Subject to Sales Tax starting Oct. 1
The Washington State Legislature recently expanded the definition of "retail sale" to include classes and workshops. Effective Oct. 1, BARN will start collecting and remitting sales tax to the state for all class registrations.
Member Registration Now Open for Handwork Week at BARN
Join us for an extraordinary celebration of American craft as BARN participates in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a national initiative led by PBS's Craft in America and the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery.
Fix-it Fair: Community Repair Event
Join us Saturday, Sept. 20 for a free community repair event! Register to bring up to two items, such as small appliances, clothing, lamps, ...Full story »
BARN News: Handwork 2026, Night at BARN, Fix-It Fair
Introducing Handwork 2026! Experience intensive workshops with nationally renowned artists celebrating American craft. Transform your practice as you explore the unique voices and techniques that define our creative past, present, and future.
Night at BARN Tickets on Sale Now!
Tickets on sale now!
Thank You for an Amazing Season of Teen Night!
Last month marked our final Teen Night of the 24/25 school year, and what a journey it's been. This year, 364 teen attendees attended ...Full story »
Expressions in Line and Color: Photos of an Exhibition
"Art is not an end in itself, but a means of addressing humanity." - Modest Mussorgsky This spring's exhibition in The Commons features work ...Full story »
Wood: Ask an Arborist at the May Monthly Meeting
May’s Woodworkers Meeting: Speaker Rob Reed Saturday, May 10,10:30 AM BARN Great Room Join us for a presentation by Rob Reed, an International Society of ...Full story »
Writers: Happily Ever After, Indeed!
We're thrilled to report that our "Happily Ever After" event was a spectacular success! With over 60 people in attendance, the room was buzzing ...Full story »
Wood: Expert Tips for Home Remodeling Success
Planning a home renovation? Before you knock down that first wall or pick up that sledgehammer, join us for an invaluable presentation that could ...Full story »
Writers: A Celebration of Romance
Looking for the perfect Valentine's season celebration? BARN invites you to an enchanting evening of literary romance featuring some of the Pacific Northwest's most ...Full story »
The Art of Connection: Yori and Dana Seeger Find Their Place
In the rolling hills outside Poulsbo lies an acreage called Tuuleveski Talu—Estonian for "Windmill Farm." Here, sculptor and blacksmith Yori Seeger and his wife ...Full story »
Weaving Traditions: Sara Bixler Returns to BARN
When Sara Bixler talks about weaving, you're not just hearing from an instructor – you're connecting with a living thread of textile history. After ...Full story »
Holiday Bazaar!
This year's Holiday Bazaar was the best yet, with 70 talented artisans and well over 900 visitors kicking off the holiday season with craft ...Full story »
Renaissance Recipes, Modern Connections: A Culinary Journey in Tuscany
Landscape architect and culinary enthusiast Bob Ross is crafting an intimate journey that marries Renaissance gardens with traditional Tuscan cuisine—and he's inviting just six ...Full story »
Writers: Giving Local Writers a Boost with First Annual Collection
In Spring 2025, the BARN's Writers' Studio will publish its first-ever Annual Collection, creating a fresh opportunity for emerging voices in the Pacific Northwest ...Full story »
BARN on Display at Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce
More than a makerspace, BARN is a hub of creativity, craft, and community at 8890 Three Tree Ln NE, on Bainbridge Island. BARN's 25,000-square-foot ...Full story »
Real Tools. Real Skills. Real Fun. Upcoming Youth Classes at BARN
In today's screen-dominated world, there's something magical about watching a child create something real with their own hands. At BARN, we offer your child ...Full story »
The Art of Reflection: Recreating the Blacker House Mirror
BARN Instructor Tim Celeski has designed and built more than 100 custom pieces of fine furniture for homes built by Charles and Henry Greene, ...Full story »
It Was a Dark and Stormy Night: BARN’s Spooky Storytelling Event Returns!
Get ready for a spine-tingling evening of literary chills as BARN's popular "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night" event returns on Saturday, Oct. ...Full story »
Building Character: Q&A with Writing Instructor Bob Balmer
Bob Balmer is a writer and instructor with over three decades of experience in the craft. Bob, a retired school teacher turned humor writer, ...Full story »
Nathan Sandberg: The Art of Repetition
The phrase “systematic creativity” might seem an oxymoron, but for glass artist Nathan Sandberg, it’s been a life’s work. The Portland-based glass artist has spent ...Full story »
Woodworking Basics Certificate Program: How it’s Going So Far
BARN's Woodworking Basics certificate program, launched in the fall of 2023, has seen encouraging growth and adaptation in its inaugural year. This comprehensive program, consisting ...Full story »
Drawing & Painting Studio Launches in September
Get ready to broaden your creative horizons with the launch of the new Drawing & Painting Studio in September. The studio builds on the ...Full story »
Glass Menagerie: Pet Portraits with Cheryl Chapman
In a delightful fusion of color and creativity, students at the BARN Glass Arts Studio recently learned to capture the spirited essence of their ...Full story »
Writers: Exploring the Craft of Editing and Writing with Instructor Erin Wilcox
Erin Wilcox is a distinguished writer, developmental editor, and copyeditor whose expertise spans literary genres, from speculative fiction to creative nonfiction and children’s literature. ...Full story »
BARN News: Don’t Miss These Upcoming Classes
BARN offers both online and in-person classes. Sewing: Pants Fit & Sew with Marla Kazell 3 meetings, beginning May 30, 9 AM ...Full story »
A Celebration of Art and Poetry
The April 5 opening reception for the Ars Poetica exhibit was a great success, with artisans and poets mingling and talking about their work. ...Full story »
See You at First Tuesday!
Tuesday, February 6, 7 - 9 PM Are you curious about what happens in BARN’s 10 maker studios? Come to First Tuesday Show & ...Full story »
Barn Draws! Community Sketching Returns
Thursdays, 10 AM to Noon Never miss BARN News! Subscribe today to receive it in your inbox. Do you enjoy putting pencil to paper? Meet up ...Full story »
The Boatbuilders Behind ‘The Boys in the Boat’
While theatergoers flock to screenings of "The Boys in the Boat," many BARN woodworkers have a unique connection to this fascinating story. In 2019, as a community ...Full story »
Come to Show and Tell
Tuesday, Dec. 12, 7 - 8:30 PM, in the Tech Lab Ever wonder what's going on behind the doors of BARN's 10 maker studios? ...Full story »
“What’s for Dinner?”
Help set the table for a new, interactive exhibit in the Commons. "What's for Dinner?" is the Kitchen Arts Studio's delicious exploration of culinary ...Full story »
Welcome to the New BainbridgeBARN.org!
Welcome to the new online experience at BainbridgeBARN.org. Enjoy easier searching and navigation, plus more ways to explore and participate. Try out the new ...Full story »
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