At Whimsy Antiques in Carpinteria, a group of beginner and seasoned crafters are ready for some lively scissor wielding and hot glue gunning. They’ve gathered for the first class in a seven-month series of “creative retreats” curated by the store’s owner, Karen Clark, and will soon be creating a book-like sculpture called a “Petite Paper Garden.”
This week’s instructor, Julie Ippoliti, is a Los Angeles–based pro crafter who sells her work online and at craft shows. “A lot of art starts through crafts,” explained Ippoliti. “There are many artists that didn’t know they were artists until they started some small project and opened the door.”
Ippoliti met Clark through Instagram, where they have become fast friends through a mutual love of arts and antiques. “There has been a great and weird evolution of finding all these artistic people from all different backgrounds,” said Ippoliti. “We’re hoping these workshops will build that community.”