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If you’ve been craving a slower pace, a little less screen time and a few more hands-on moments, next month is the perfect time to start. Lean into cosy hobbies and fill your analogue bag with handmade goodies from workshops around the city.
From crafting stained glass to blending your own tea, these things to do in Melbourne are all about switching off autopilot and getting creative. The best part? Each experience is hosted by passionate local makers, so you’re supporting small businesses while learning something new.
Here’s how to romanticise your calendar next month.
Play and experiment with stained glass
Stained glass has a way of adding a little bit of magic to any space, creating tiny rainbows everywhere as light hits the glass. Instant mood-lifter.
At this stained glass workshop, you’ll learn the foundations of traditional leadlighting from the experts at Glass Inc. Think cutting glass, shaping pieces and assembling your own panel to take home. It’s tactile, meditative and just challenging enough to feel satisfying without being overwhelming.
This is one of those hobbies that feels delightfully old-world. You’re working with your hands, focusing on precision and watching something beautiful slowly come together. It’s the opposite of doom-scrolling and the perfect excuse to unplug for a few hours.
Just a short stroll away… Settle into breakfast and coffee at Journeyman on Chapel Street. It’s relaxed, welcoming and ideal for fueling up before your workshop over something hearty and comforting.
Blend a signature scent from scratch
If you’ve ever wished you could bottle a memory, this one’s for you.
Head to Samatha Copland’s perfume making class and explore botanical essences and the art of scent layering. Instead of grabbing a fragrance off a department store shelf, you’ll create your own signature perfume from scratch.
Scents have a way of unlocking memories and feelings you didn’t know were waiting. You might find yourself drawn to grounding woods, bright citrus or soft florals that feel like late-summer evenings.
As far as cosy hobbies go, perfumery feels luxurious but intimate. You leave with your own bespoke bottle to spritz whatever the occasion.
To take a breather after the class… Wander down to Flinders Walk. Breathing in fresh air after a scent workshop is such a grounding contrast. Find a quiet bench and debrief with your friends or walk along the Yarra River for a mindful walk.
Design your own tea ritual
There’s a reason tea rituals have lasted centuries. They force you to pause.
At Crafternoon Tea, founder and tea lover Amy, is excited to share the “magic of tea drinking” with you. In her class, you’ll experiment with black, green and herbal bases, learning how to balance flavour, aroma and what suits you. Want a calming bedtime brew? A zingy morning blend? You can design it yourself.
The beauty of this class is that it doesn’t end when you walk out the door. Every time you boil the kettle next month, you’ll be reminded that you made this. It’s small, simple and quietly satisfying—the definition of an analogue habit.
It’s also a lovely idea if you’re looking for wholesome things to do in Melbourne with friends that don’t revolve around loud bars or crowded venues. Think gentle conversation, warm mugs and a slow afternoon.
Looking for a brunch spot with friends? Just a six-minute walk from the class, Mavis the Grocer in Abbotsford is a lovely choice to unwind with good company and eat delicious food.
Keep things interesting this winter with these unexpected winter activities.
Relax and unwind with watercolour
Watercolour is the ultimate lesson in letting go.
At this beginners watercolour painting workshop, you’ll learn foundational techniques like wet-on-wet blending, brush control and layering washes. But more importantly, you’ll learn to embrace the unexpected.
Unlike acrylics or oils, watercolour has a mind of its own. It blooms and flows in ways you can’t fully control, which is part of the charm. For anyone trying to build more mindful rituals into their routine, this class is a gentle reminder that not everything has to be perfect.
You don’t need to be “artistic” to enjoy it. Think of it as a creative reset before the year gets too busy again.
For a dose of inspiration… We recommend driving up to McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery before your class. Wander through the garden and look through all the sculptural artworks on the trail. Even a quick lap can spark ideas for your painting session. Finish with a quiet coffee at the McClelland café.
Make your own cute bag charms
If you’re ready to fully embrace your soft era, this one is impossibly cute.
This moru doll workshop at Yi’s DIY Workshop is all about making your own plush companion. All it takes is one fluffy pipe cleaner, and you’ll learn how to twist and form it into a cute bear or bunny you can hang on your bag or display on your shelf.
It’s the kind of cosy hobby that feels like a hug. And when you walk away holding a tiny bear or bunny you made yourself? Pure serotonin.
Don’t be surprised if this workshop sparks a new obsession with handmade gifts or textile crafts. Once you realise you can create something this charming from scratch, it’s hard not to keep going.
To fuel your trinket obsession… Head on over to Mailing Road Antique Centre and find all sorts of antiques and treasures. Great for some casual window shopping or picking up a new decor piece for your home.
Make next month your analogue month
Melbourne is famous for its food, coffee and nightlife, but it’s also a city that quietly champions makers and creatives. If you’re searching for things to do in Melbourne next month that feel meaningful, not just busy, cosy hobbies are a beautiful place to start.
Each of these workshops invites you to slow down, use your hands and learn from someone passionate about their craft. You don’t need prior experience. You just need a little curiosity and a spare afternoon.
So build your analogue habits. Fill your calendar with colour, scent and yarn. Next month could be the one where you stop scrolling and start making instead.
4 years in business
Runs regularly
Brunswick & Burwood
1 to 18 guests
$110 - $119
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