Distill Creative

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Free & Low Cost Online Workshops, Resources, and Content to Help You Be Creative and Build Your Business

Stephanie Eche

Me setting up my heddle via Hello Hydrangea’s Online Loom Heddle Class

I live in New York City. Things are scary and weird right now, but one thing has not changed: the internet has an infinite amount of content ready and waiting for us to consume. 

Below is a roundup of some resources, workshops, and content that I think might be useful, particularly if you are an artist, if you want to be more creative, if you run your own business, or if you want to run your own business. 

But first, please read this blog post about how to curate your content. There is so much out there and it’s important to be smart about what you take in and what you spend your time on. I find it much harder to focus when I don’t have a set place to go (I can no longer go to my studio) and a set deadline (I have lost clients and projects are on hold).

This post includes affiliate links, see my disclosures here. 

Topics included below: Crafts, Cocktails, Art, Fitness, Music, Language, Meditation, Politics, and Plants!

CRAFTS

  • Distill Creative Craft Tutorials — Free

    Obviously, I have a lot of craft resources. I started my business as a monthly craft and cocktail meetup, called cocktails+crafts, that then turned into my business. It has since evolved into what Distill Creative is today. If you want to learn any of the following but do not have the necessary materials, please email me. I may have them in my studio (I can still go and grab something) and I would be happy to sell it to you! It would help me make some money and help you practice a new craft. Seriously, I used to teach all these workshops, so I likely have whatever you need. If not, check out Amazon, which is still delivering as of date of publishing. 

  • Distill Creative DIY Craft Guides — $5

    These guides will teach you step-by-step how to make a craft or teach a craft in a group setting — which you can still do online using google hangouts or zoom! 

  • Learn how to Shibori Indigo Dye Your Textiles — $29

    A Introduction to Shibori Indigo Dyeing: Craft, Culture, and History

  • Macramé Plant Hanger Course — $29

    Everything you need to know to make your own macramé plant hanger!

    I made these two courses to share what I know from teaching many of these workshops and researching macramé and shibori. These are my two favorite crafts and have helped me evolve in my style as an artist.

  • Hello Hydrangea Weaving Tutorials — $30 - 60

    I just used Hello Hydrangea’s Loom Heddle Class to add a heddle to my lap loom, which is what I’m using at home in lieu of my large tapestry loom. 

COCKTAILS

Liquor Lab, which honestly I can’t recommend because I’ve never tried a class, is having their classes online, which means you can learn to make cocktails via video from your home! They look like live classes and they give you a shopping list.

ART

I’m taking an online drawing course right now by Sarah Grass (check her out and see if it still open) and my NYC Crit Club is going online now. It’s a bummer we can’t meet in person, but we’re making do. 

FITNESS

  • Pvolve VIP Online Classes — 30 days free with the code ’ OnePvolve ’

    I just started doing these workouts. Ok I’ve done one day of these workouts and bought some ankle weights, but hey I’m trying! These classes are an hour long, like a normal class I think, which is nice if you want to distract yourself. They seem easy and like nothing is happening at first but I promise you will be sore later.

  • Walk outside. You can still do this (but check with your local policies because things are changing real fast) — Free

    I’m walking at night with my fiancé and I am thankful we can walk together really late when there are not that many people out. It’s kind of surprising how many people are still out every day — stay inside!

  • FitOn App — Free

    I used to use the Nike Workout App, which is also free, but they stopped doing the workout plans so now I’m using FitOn. There’s a good variety of workouts and lengths, great if you just want a little pick-me-up. 

  • Gibney Online Dance Class Resources  - Varies

    I like this roundup, which includes online dance classes (some are free or donation based — others range from $15/ea - $40/mo). Gibney is an amazing studio here in NYC and I appreciate their quick roundup of these dance classes. Ballez anyone? I really, really want to join the tap class, but I don’t think I should considering people live below and above me. 

LANGUAGE 

  • Las Kikas Spanish Film Club — Free plus cost of films, ~$3-4/each

    I just launched our *virtual* version of Las Kikas Spanish Film Club! Join us!!

  • Itakli — Varies

    This site allows you to find a teacher and hire them to teach you or talk to you in whatever language you want to learn. I use it for Spanish. 

MUSIC 

I’m looking for online classes to actually learn music — if you know of any good ones please email me and I can update this!

WELLNESS 

POLITICS 

  • The People’s Forum Online Events — Free - Varies

    The People’s Forum is an educational and cultural space that serves the working class and marginalized communities to build unity across lines of division. They have some of their programing now available online.

BUSINESS 


PLANTS

What free or low-cost online workshops and content has helped you be more creative or build your business?