Studio How-To invites community to June 22 open house

Sarah Nemecek inside Studio How-To.

Studio How-To, a new handcraft studio school, opened on June 1 on the second floor of the Douglas Fine Arts Building, at the corner of Cedar and Lee roads. The space offers workshops and private parties for both adults and children, teaching the how-to of leather-working, sewing, knitting, block-printing, embroidery, jewelry-making, journaling, working with clay, and more.

Sarah Nemecek, owner of Studio How-To, invites community members to attend the studio’s first monthly open house on Thursday, June 22, 4–7:30 p.m.

Nemecek founded Studio How-To as a way to share the knowledge and love of making that she has developed across several disciplines. A self-taught artist, Nemecek grew up in a family of makers and has been sewing, quilting, painting and drawing since she was 5.

Nemecek curates and plans each workshop for an all-inclusive experience, supplying all materials and tools, as well as snacks and beverages.

“It takes the prep work off the students so they can register and just show up for an entertaining maker session,” Nemecek explained. “I love making things myself and figuring out how to do new things all the time, and it’s fun to share that with other people as they discover the same joy from making.” Her favorite response from students is, “I can’t believe I made this myself.”

While the workshops teach specific art and craft skills, the real benefit from the experiences, said Nemecek, is the connection with other makers, the relaxation and focus gained from working with one’s hands, and the “keen sense of accomplishment after you create something beautiful.”

Studio How-To features an open, light-filled space for workshops and a separate leather-working area. There is also a large space separate from the main studio that Nemecek hopes to make available as creative entrepreneur co-working space and as a place to host pop-up shops and events. “I see [it as a] space for creatives, artists and the community to come together, learn, and make,” she said.

In collaboration with Destiny Burns, owner of CLE Urban Winery, Nemecek is planning a leather project and wine night event at the winery on July 21, 6:30–9 p.m.

Nemecek moved to Cleveland Heights last year with her husband and son, after living in several different states. According to Nemecek, they sought a vibrant city with culture, activities, and residents that love their city as a better place to raise their kids and enjoy life. Nemecek's husband grew up east of Cleveland and, after several years of marriage, he converted her to a “Clevelander for life.” 

Nemecek said she thinks the studio will be a positive addition to the Cedar Lee neighborhood. She loves her life in Cleveland and wanted to contribute to the Cleveland Heights and Greater Cleveland arts community by offering a space for people who are curious about making or may not otherwise feel they can be creative.

For more information, and to view the schedule of upcoming workshops, visit www.studiohow-to.com.

Sruti Basu

Sruti Basu is the director of community-building programs at FutureHeights.

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Volume 10, Issue 7, Posted 1:50 PM, 06.16.2017