Looking for a place to make some art in Travelers Rest, SC? TR Makers Co offers art activities for both children and adults. You can plan a birthday party or girls’ night here, or take advantage of summer sessions, playdates and even homeschool classes.
“I want to help people express themselves,” Kristin LaRoy told me at her shop in Travelers Rest called TR Makers Co.
I sincerely hoped that did not mean she would let my fiery toddler express herself by banging the mallet on Kristin’s finger as she held the print stamp in place for the handmade design my daughter was attempting.
That’s some serious trust and she won me over quickly.
In 2019, Kristin was brought into the SmartARTS program organized by the Metropolitan Arts Council, which is a pretty big deal. She uses her style of multi-disciplinary arts integration teaching to educate students in schools across Greenville County. And she also received the 2019 Carrie and Skip Gordon Emerging Teaching Artist Award for my work with SmartARTS. Brava!
Become A Maker
TR Makers Co. is right on Main Street in downtown Travelers Rest and is home to a beautiful little shop that sells goods from local artists, including soap, printed shirts (that are the softest I’ve ever felt, by the way) and sweatshirts, jewelry, dolls, and pottery. But the coolest part, at least for the kids, is all of the neat stuff Kristin has for the art section of TR Makers.
Seated at an art bar, my kids were able to make their own designs for cards and paper. They designed what the art on their little handbags would look like, and with Kristin’s help and patience, had a lot of fun becoming little makers themselves.
Adults also can get in on the action. TR Makers offers Play Dates for groups of one to six people. These can be for families or friends or girls night outs – pretty much anything. Grown-ups need to play, too. TR Makers also offers homeschool classes, art camps, and tons of art experiences for kids and grown-ups.
If you have a young child wanting to explore art, the Mini Makers program will help! One Saturday and two Tuesday’s a month, TR Makers Co. offers Mini Makers, where you child can explore a theme through art. Parents participate as well, and your kid can take their art home after they are finished.
Arts Lead Learning Homeschool Classes
TR Makers Co offers homeschool classes called Arts Lead Learning.
Classes are held throughout the fall and spring. Each half day arts-integrated lesson covers an age-appropriate academic study in areas of either Science, Math, English, Social Studies, or cultural studies.
Students get the opportunity to make 2-3 projects during the lesson and come home knowing more about the chosen topic of study. Detail on current classes as well as general information on this program can be found online: Arts Lead Learning at TR Makers.
Summer Fun and Birthday Parties
TR Makers also offers Summer Maker Camps and Summer Maker Days for students age 5-11. Camps are half-day events with the kids meeting from 9 am- Noon and or 1-4 pm. Classes are a 5 day week long.
The Summer Maker Days are flexible. Students can join for one, two, or more classes during the week. They offer discounted passes for 2-Day maker days.
Summer classes and camp this summer look like a lot of fun with hands-on creating, problem-solving, and eating all in the name of art.
TR Makers also offers unique birthday parties where the birthday boy/girl receives a special block print t-shirt made during the party. Parties include art instruction and materials for 9 guests ages 4 and up and cost $250. Options are available to add food but parents can also bring in their own food or order in (Sidewall Pizza is just down the street, you know, for reference).
Shopping
TR Makers Co has always carried local goods, jewelry, art pieces, and unique gifts. They are always adding a ton of new items to their inventory, including DIY at-home art kits, new items from local, regional, and global artists, and artisan gifts. They offer free local pick-up daily as well.
If you’re in Travelers Rest, be sure to stop by TR Makers Co., or make a trip just for this place. It’s definitely worth it. Travelers Rest has so many gems. Don’t miss any of them.
Plan a trip to TR Makers Co.
TR Makers Co.
3 South Main Street, Travelers Rest
864.610.0996
Open Monday 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
Tuesday – Saturday 10:30 am – 5:30 pm
Closed Sunday