When I stumbled across a Facebook post about a craft camp at The Works earlier this year, I had no idea there was such a creative haven tucked away in our neighborhood. My daughter’s experience there was great, she came home proud of her beautifully crafted creations, and I knew I had to learn more about this special place.
You’ll find The Works nestled in the alley next to Pel Meni Dumpling Tzar, sharing the Dubliner Building with Maven Yoga in the basement. It’s the kind of spot that feels like a cool secret once you discover it, just a stone’s throw from the Lenin statue at 3516 Fremont Place North. The entrance might be tucked away (accessible from either Fremont Avenue or Fremont Place), but what happens inside is anything but hidden.
“Fremont is a dream location for The Works,” founder Kellie Phelan said via email. “It feels like we are a part of a thriving community of small businesses and people who support them.”
Phelan’s journey with The Works began in 2018 as a one-woman pop-up, driven by her desire to share skills like knitting, canning, and gardening with the community. After spending a decade in environmental consulting, she pivoted to, “change the world on a much more local level – by building community, connecting over passions, and sharing skills,” according to The Works website.
The Works found its way to Fremont after completing the Seattle Restored program in Pioneer Square. “We were open to any city neighborhood and we loved the space in Fremont,” Phelan said. “The community responded enthusiastically with folks even celebrating, ‘yay now I can walk to The Works.’”
What strikes me most about The Works is how it lives up to its mission of, “bringing people together through shared passions.” Phelan shared some heartwarming stories: “People who come alone leave as friends more often than not. They swap numbers during class! We’ve even had a proposal happen in the shop.”
The Works offers hands-on classes spanning crafting, food, and botanicals. Their curriculum development process is thorough. They maintain “a very robust ideas funnel” that’s reviewed seasonally, and every new class is developed and tested before launch. They also take informal requests from the community on Instagram, making it truly responsive to neighborhood interests.
What I find particularly admirable is their commitment to accessibility through sliding scale pricing:
- Standard: Regular ticket price
- Supported: Discounted rate (up to 50% off) for those who need it
- Sponsored: Pay it forward to help someone else experience the magic of learning
They also offer a generous scholarship program, awarded “no questions asked.” As Phelan put it, “I believe everyone is creative and I want our programming to be accessible to everyone, but it is a balance because we have to keep the lights on, right? That is where the sliding scale program was born.”
This summer, The Works launched their first youth camps for middle and high schoolers, a natural evolution for Kellie, who’s experienced firsthand as a mom how relevant their programming is to kids. “We’ve always prided ourselves on programming for adults because I think it fills a gap in the market, but this year I challenged the team to think outside the box.”
They still have spots available in their Creative Projects inspired by East Asia camp (July 28 to August 2), featuring mochi making, indigo shibori dyeing, and a bubble tea bar finale. Looking ahead, Phelan’s excited to expand into even more year-round kids programming, including options for younger children.
For Fremont neighbors who might be hesitant about trying a hands-on class, Kellie’s message is simple, “Whether you come alone or with friends, you are sure to feel welcome. We’ll provide all of the materials, hands-on instruction, and take care of all the clean up.”
The Works embodies everything we love about Fremont: creativity, community, and that special neighborhood spirit where small businesses aren’t just shops, but gathering places that enrich our daily lives. As someone whose daughter experienced the magic firsthand, I can say this hidden gem is absolutely worth discovering.
Ready to unleash your creativity? The best way to stay updated on classes is to sign up for their newsletter at theworksseattle.com (at the bottom of the page).