March 22, 2026
All classes during the weekend are offered “ala carte.” Register for one, or register for many. Just be mindful not to register for two classes during the same timeslot!
All of the RETREAT weekend details can be found by clickling here.
The full list of classes can be found on the Class Line-up Page by clicking here.
Note: Classes held on the 2nd floor of the Hot Shops Art Center are accessible by stairs only while the Hot Shops upgrades their passenger elevator.
Creative Fish: Mastering Aquatic Colors
Class Level: Beginner
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 9:30 am –11:30 am
Location: Studio 202 (2nd floor, access via stairs or elevator)
Fee: $65
Instructor: Pamela Martínez Oquendo
Explore the vibrant world of fish! This class will teach you techniques to create dazzling, colorful fish while capturing the sense of underwater movement. We’ll focus on layering colors to achieve an iridescent effect on scales and use specific brushstrokes to suggest light and water movement.
Let the Light SHINE!
Class Level: Beginner
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 9:30 am –12:00 pm
Location: Studio 206 (2nd floor, access via stairs or elevator)
Fee: $40
Instructor: Anna Walker
Learn an easy technique to create a tea light sleeve with undyed wool, silks and fun yarns! All supplies included.
Students asked to bring scissors.
Customized Stamped and Painted Leather Stuff
Class Level: Beginner
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 9:30 am –12:00 pm
Location: 2nd Floor Common Area (2nd floor, access via stairs or elevator)
Fee: $60
Instructor: Angie Simonson
We will use a variety of different tools to add personalization and character to leather items before dyeing/painting and finally sealing your items so they last.
Items to bring: If you have these items, please bring jewelry hand tools (wire cutters, round nose pliers, flat nose pliers)
Vintage “Tinnage”
Class Level: Beginner
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 10:00 am –11:30 am
Location: Crystal Forge Studio
Fee: $40
Instructors: Valerie Russell, Natalie Runyon, Kim Mueller, Lisa Kee from The Soul Creates Art Studio
Get ready to boogie with our tin snips! In this far-out mixed media workshop, we’ll transform vintage cookie and popcorn tins — or choose from our righteous stash (no supply fees, baby!) — into funky geckos, birds, or any other metal magical mystery motifs. Using cold connections and glammed-up repurposed jewelry, you’ll create ornaments that shimmer, shake, and strut like they just stepped out of a disco jungle. Whether you hang your tin critters in the window, above the sink, or on your lava lamp, they’ll bring serious groove to any space. It’s the perfect way to upcycle winter leftovers and welcome spring with style, sparkle, and soul.
Students are welcome to bring any tins they’ve been saving for “just the right project”, but we will have an incredible selection for them to choose from at no additional charge.
Flowering Cupcakes
Class Level: Beginner
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 10:00 am –11:30 am
Location: Event Center (NW corner of 1st floor)
Fee: $45
Instructor: Stephanie Wolcott
Learn the art of creating gorgeous designs on cupcakes. Basic borders, so many styles of flowers, and fondant skills will be taught. No experience necessary. Recipes and all supplies and so many ideas are included in this Workshop. Take home a box of beautiful cupcakes!
Batik Painting
Class Level: Beginner
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 12:30 pm –2:30 pm
Location: Event Center (NW corner of 1st floor)
Fee: $45
Instructor: Stephanie Wolcott
Create a beautiful work of art while exploring new techniques with paint and wax. Choose a design that reflects your personal style—flowers, mushrooms, owls, butterflies, and more.
Encaustic Explorations
Class Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: Studio 208 (2nd floor, access via stairs or elevator)
Fee: $60
Instructor: Kelli Sweet
Explore encaustic painting in this beginner-friendly class! You’ll work with melted beeswax medium and colorful pigments to learn essential techniques like layering, fusing, tinting, and embedding. Whether you’re drawn to texture, translucence, or playful experimentation, this hands-on session will guide you in creating your own richly dimensional, one-of-a-kind artwork.
No experience needed—just a sense of curiosity and a willingness to play with heat, wax, and color. Come explore the possibilities!
Each student will work on a 8” x 8” piece. All materials included.
Junk Journal Jam Session
Class Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Studio 202 (2nd floor, access via stairs or elevator)
Fee: $75
Instructor: Nicole Dittus
Using an accordion style book as the base for the journal, you’ll then have access to and use junk mail, recycled papers, tea/coffee stained modern papers, ephemera, painted, collected papers and envelopes to create a journal to use for writing, drawing, or as a memory book, etc. Bring mementos of your own to use (think tickets, tags, flyers, photos, bags, other product packaging) and add to your journal if you’d like.
Bring personal items you might want to include. For example; tickets, receipts, photos, letters, envelopes for using as pockets!
Spill the Tea(cup) so we can upcycle it!
Class Level: Intermediate
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm –2:30 pm
Location: Crystal Forge Studio, 1st floor
Fee: $35
Instructors: Valerie Russell, Natalie Runyon, Kim Mueller, Lisa Kee from The Soul Creates Art Studio
We’re gonna boogie-oogie-oogie our way through vintage teacups, candy dishes, and tchotchkes, transforming them into soulful, one-of-a-kind creations. This hands-on session blends rescued dishware with your wildest imagination. Whether you’re here to craft, groove, or spill a little T(ea), you’ll leave with a piece that’s part keepsake, part conversation starter, and part useful…maybe even two. We’ll provide vintage dishware, fabrics, and ephemera—including the swan candy dish pictured—but feel free to bring any special items you’d love to reimagine. Peace, baby. Let’s make it funky.
Vintage dishware, fabrics, and ephemera provided. Of course, students are welcome to bring any special items they’d like to transform.
Beaded Purse Charm
Class Level: Beginner
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: Event Center (NW corner of 1st floor)
Fee: $25
Instructor: Karla Klein
Sew together a fun purse charm and bead around a resin cabochon. The project kit includes: faux leather charm parts, embroidery and bead needles, embroidery thread, seed beads, resin cabochon and hardware. There is no additional kit fee. Instructor provided tools include: scissors, bead mats, bead scoops, extra needles and needle threaders.
Items you may want to bring: Task lighting, magnifying glasses or your readers.
Play & Paint Process
Class Level: Beginner
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 2:00 pm –4:30 pm
Where: Hot Shops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas St, Omaha, Nebraska
Location: Studio 116 (1st floor)
Fee: $85
Instructor: Jackie Jacober
This class is about playing with your creativity, and your inner child. Using paint on canvas and a variety of tools we will spend the class experimenting. Using an approach with light yoga, aromatherapy, music and visualization for idea inspiration, You will have full permission to create a personal painting on a 9X12 canvas. Each artist will create their own image, so it is a class full of play and freedom. I will also guide you as needed so you don’t paint yourself into a corner. Nobody puts Baby in the corner! All supplies are included. Humor is free.
Spoonful of Sparkle
Class Level: Beginner
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Location: Studio 206 (2nd floor, access via stairs or elevator)
Fee: $35
Instructor: Stephanie Harris
Unleash your creativity in this hands-on workshop where you’ll craft a funky, one-of-a-kind pendant or magnet using the bowl of a vintage spoon as your canvas. Combine an eclectic mix of vintage jewelry pieces, beads, buttons, chains, charms, and other sparkly treasures to design something truly unique. You’ll also learn how to seal your creation with a layer of UV resin, ensuring your design stays beautifully in place. A generous selection of “bits and bobs” will be provided, but feel free to bring your own cherished trinkets to incorporate into your design for a personal touch.
Polymer clay jar and desk pen class
Class Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Where: Hot Shops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas St, Omaha, Nebraska
Location: Event Center
Fee: $35
Instructor: Skyler Thomas Koehn
In this class, you will be decorating 1 jar (approx. 3 in. tall) and 1 desk pen with polymer clay. This is a beginner class, no experience with polymer clay is required! You will have hundreds of premade designs to choose from to customize your project. Your registration includes all the supplies to decorate your jar and desk pen (including a blade to slice the clay with), instructions and tips/tricks from Skyler, and directions on how to bake your creations in your home oven. 14+ preferred, unless accompanied by a guardian
* Pre-registration required.
** Class fees are non-refundable
If you have any questions, please email us at hibernatecreate@gmail.com
Crochet Pigs
Class Level: Intermediate
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: 2nd Floor Common Area (2nd floor, access via stairs or elevator)
Fee: $45, includes all materials
Instructor: Val Kemp
Learn how to crochet an adorable no-sew plush pig! Basic knowledge of how to crochet a single crochet stitch is the only prior knowledge you need! You will learn all additional stitches in this class and you’ll create a one-of-a-kind plushie to take home!
Pottery Sgraffito
Class Level: Beginner
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 3:00 pm –5:00 pm
Location: Event Center (NW corner of 1st floor)
Fee: $45
Instructor: Stephanie Wolcott
Learn how to decorate a handmade pottery piece. Choose from a dinnerware tray, soap dish, or mug, then design, carve, and transform it into a one‑of‑a‑kind work of art. You’ll be introduced to sgraffito decorating techniques
The fine print: In registering for the retreat or retreat classes, participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Sweet Creative LLC DBA Degrees by Kelli or DBA as Hibernate and Create, the Hot Shop Art Center, Crystal Forge Studio and any event sponsors, instructors or volunteers from any and all causes and action which may arise from the Hibernate and Create Retreat. I grant permission for Hibernate and Create / Degrees by Kelli to use any photos, videotape, etc. taken of me, my products or classes in any and all publicity and advertising promoting the retreat. By signing the Registration Form or registering online, I Agree and acknowledge that the waiver has been read and understood and that I will abide by all Rules.