5 Maker Getaways for Your DIY-Lovin’ Besties

1. Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC: The Penland School is situated on 400 acres of land in the Blue Ridge Mountains (read=gorgeous!). The school prides itself on being an “international center for craft education dedicated to helping people live creative lives.” Awesome, right? They offer one-, two- and eight-week workshops that focus on paper, clay, drawing, glass, iron, metals, photography, printmaking and letterpress, textiles and wood in 41 buildings sprinkled across the huge campus. With so many fab-sounding offering, your biggest problem is going to be making aadecision. The lodgings are simple yet comfy — sell it to your girls as minimalist glamping. Classes plus room and meals average about $640 a week. (Photo via Penland School of Crafts)

2. Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, CO: In the Colorado Rockies, about 10 miles away from Aspen, the Anderson Ranch Arts Center draws a really wide variety of wonderful artists to teach their one-, two- and three-week workshops. You and your DIY-savvy gals can fine tune your woodworking, ceramic, photography, printmaking skills among many more. Anderson Ranch Arts Center has been around for 50 years, so they know what they’re doing. They offer basic dorms (call the bottom bunk now!) and meal plans, but one week will still run you at least $1000. If you want to go all out, you can stay at a nearby spot that’s more luxurious (remember, it’s just 10 miles from fancy-pants Aspen). (Photo via Anderson Ranch Arts Center)

3. Rancho la Puerta, Tecate, Baja California, Mexico: Head across the border to the plush and luxurious Rancho la Puerta for some rest, relaxation, spa treatments, yoga and, last but not least, DIY workshops. They host classes on making jewelry, sculpture, landscape sketching and watercolor that are led by visiting artists and craftspeople. Even if you get frustrated while learning blending techniques, there’s absolutely no way you won’t love it here. Rancho la Puerta has 86 garden casitas sprinkled around their tranquil grounds, plus really yummy organic food grown on-site. (Photo via Rancho la Puerta)

4. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN: If you weren’t sure how gorgeous it is from the picture, Arrowmont is only a mile from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Their workshops for beginners and advanced artists range from weekend classes to ones that last one and two weeks, and focus on subjects like ceramics, fiber, metals/jewelry, painting, drawing, photography and so many more. If you’re an advanced student or into something really quirky, this may be the school for you, since they’re know for teaching funky new techniques.

Their 13-acre residential campus features a variety of dorms but for your BFF getaway, you might look into their Teacher’s Cottage or the Red Barn so y’all can bunk together. In addition to all their workshops, they also have wine and crafting nights, like the aptly named Sip & Stitch. Count on spending about $500 a week for classes, a bunk and meals. (Photo via Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts)

5. John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC: If there’s a DIY you want to learn, odds are that the John C. Campbell Folk School has it. At this old-school establishment for crafty learning, you can chose between about 860 weeklong and weekend classes, with subjects like traditional rivercane basketry, beginning blacksmithing and quilting chevrons. You and the ladies can stay in dorms or private rooms, or you can camp on the property or bring an RV for you all to stay in. Now that sounds like an adventure. (Photo via John C. Campbell Folk School)

Which spot would you like to go to most? Tweet us by mentioning @BritandCo.

(Featured image via Getty)