workshops you’d want to attend
Wondrous Workshops
For mindful makers who want to lead joyful & well-planned creative gatherings.
Dear Maker,
Have you ever considered hosting a creative workshop but wondered if it's actually for you?
Perhaps (like me) you're someone who has limited social energy, prefers small groups and individual connections, and the idea of standing up in front of a group tends to make your stomach flip?
Maybe your hesitation is in the logistics (how do you even find and book a venue?), or simply not knowing where to start?
In Wondrous Workshops, you'll get practical guidance & resources that take the guesswork out of planning and hosting.
I'll support you to learn quiet confidence in creating workshops that feel genuinely yours:
well-prepared, welcoming in-person gatherings where you can share your craft in a way that's nourishing to both you and your guests.
Whether that's hosting a playful painting afternoon in the park with late 90's pop on your speaker, or a relaxing Sunday morning clay class where participants nibble fresh scones.
Whatever events feel uplifting and joyful to you is what I'll help you create for others!
Hello, I’m Amber!
I’m the sensitive-souled ceramicist behind Sunfish Studio.
And it's not just alliteration that sets my heart aflutter: it's the feeling of clay beneath my fingertips, the slower pace of island life here on Haida Gwaii, and makers sharing their skills with the world.
I'm all about the deliberate, the meaningful, the fulfilling and the connected.
I believe the world needs more spaces where people can slow down and make things with their hands.
And I think you're likely a person who can create those spaces.
Hosting workshops can be part of how you build a sustainable, creative business while also creating the kind of nourishing & joyous in-person gatherings that folks are craving.
“Amber’s workshops have such a warm and inviting energy... Haawa (thanks) for hosting a thoughtful and intentional gathering and for sharing your art form with our community and beyond!”
Wondrous Workshops is for you if you…
Have been wanting to share your craft but feel overwhelmed by all the moving parts
Have floundered your way through a few workshops and felt scattered or totally burnt out afterward
Have been asked to teach a workshop but don't know where to start
Are drawn to creating thoughtful, welcoming, and inclusive workshop experiences
Want workshops to be a viable and enjoyable part of your maker business
Would love another income stream that doesn't require making more physical products
Are willing to be brave, experimental, and open to trying new approaches
“The [workshop] was a fantastic experience! Amber created a lovely, calm learning environment for all levels, with many practical and visual examples and demonstrations... I would highly recommend any of her workshops...”
FAQs
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I use the term "established makers & artists" but even if you shy away from being considered an "expert" at your craft, I bet you have valuable skills to share.
Here are some signs you're ready to teach: You've moved beyond the very basics in your craft, people naturally ask you questions about your work or process, you can troubleshoot common problems when they arise, and you feel genuinely excited about sharing what you know.
Most likely the folks who would love to learn from you don't actually care whether or not you're a master of your craft. You know more than they do, and most are probably just wanting a chance to let go and be creative. -
Like any course or program, what you get out depends on what you're willing to put in, but I've designed this to be manageable alongside your maker life.
If you can set aside even just 30 minutes a week, you’ll get a lot out of the material.Each week you'll receive a new module with an audio teaching you can listen to in the studio or during a walk (about 20 minutes).
Each module also includes reflection questions and practice that are flexible by design.
You can write out your thoughts, ponder them during studio time, or discuss them with others in the Slack community.
And with the catch-up week built in mid-way, you have breathing room if life gets busy.
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I'd invite you to self-deselect if you:
Are already successfully teaching workshops and feel confident in your approach
Prefer working alone and have zero interest in sharing your thoughts or experiences with others
Are not willing to step outside your comfort zone or try new things
Want a completely hands-off, done-for-you solution without any personal investment
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Absolutely. Wondrous Workshops is ultimately about creating thoughtful gatherings centred around art.
So even though you might not always resonate with the lens I use or the challenges I tend to face (as an introvert), the foundations will still teach you how to design and facilitate the types of art workshops you want to see in the world.
Bonus: you'll probably also learn a lot about those who lean toward introversion, which will ultimately make you a better facilitator. -
You'll have access to the curriculum and resources for the lifetime of the program (basically for as long as I'm running it in the future).
For the Slack community: I'm actively available twice a week for 12 weeks once the program starts.
After that window, you're welcome to stay connected with other makers in the community (and you'll see me pop in occasionally too).
This becomes an invaluable, ongoing resource even after you've completed the modules. -
While the program will primarily focus on teaching in person, we will cover how you might adapt to teaching online, as many of the foundations are the same.
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Here are the modules:
Finding Your Starting Point - foundation work, purpose, main components
Setting the Stage - venues, accessibility, materials, setup
The Nuts & Bolts - registration, pricing, policies, marketing, communication
The Art of Facilitation - your skills and presence as facilitator
The Flow & Feel - workshop structure and experience design
Handling the Unexpected - problem-solving and adapting
Endings & Onwards - post-workshop and your ongoing practice
From Room to Zoom (Bonus) - translating your workshop to a virtual setting
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Yes, both!
Payment PlansChoose the option that works best for you: pay in full, spread it over 5 months, or take 10 months.
All payment plans are interest-free and will automatically charge your card each month.
Payment plans are binding for the full course amount, with no refunds or cancellations.
Solidarity Pricing
I offer a solidarity rate (also available on a payment plan) for those facing financial barriers due to circumstances like disability, chronic illness, caregiving responsibilities, or systemic marginalization.
This isn't about temporary cash flow, as that's what payment plans are for, but about making my work accessible when financial circumstances would otherwise keep you out.
I offer this rate on an honour system because I'm committed to living my values in my business, even though I do need most participants to pay full price for my own sustainability.
If you need it, please use it without shame.
If you don't, please choose a standard option so I can continue offering these rates to others.
“Excellent preparation, instruction, group size and space. Thanks Amber for the passion and support you showed! You are a natural teacher!”
my story to workshops
The pull toward teaching and gathering runs deep, and maybe it's genetic, since alongside the long line of makers, bakers, growers, entrepreneurs, and mould breakers in my family, there are also plenty of teachers (both in classrooms and beyond them).
Even as a kid, I'd rope my younger sibling into playing "school," complete with lessons, classroom rules, and yes, actual tests (sorry, Alex!).
Though I ultimately chose a different path in university, those first-year education classes I took have come in handy over the years, and
Over the past two decades, I've been learning the art of bringing people together:
from working as a server, to assisting with conferences and weddings, and more recently co-hosting community festivals and my own workshops.
Each experience taught me something different about creating spaces where people feel welcomed, the importance of thoughtful details, and how putting intention into the purpose can transform a simple gathering into something so much more.
As an introvert myself, I design the kinds of gatherings I actually want to attend.
That usually looks like smaller groups with space for real connection, opening questions that spark unexpected bonds early on, and an atmosphere where participants feel nourished enough to quiet their busy minds and truly connect with both the clay and each other.
Join The Waitlist
Wondrous Workshops opens for registration again later this year!
It's about learning how to create the kind of workshops you'd actually want to attend.
Whether you're workshop-curious or ready to refine your approach, Wondrous Workshops will help you design gatherings that feel nourishing to both you and your guests.
