Upcoming Workshops
From Bangkok to The North: Jewelry, Metalsmithing and Pottery Workshop in Thailand With Oops+
July 23 – August 2, 2025
Reserve your spot now! Space is very limited for this exclusive trip.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE:
June 20, 2025
GET 20% OFF WHEN YOU ALSO SIGN UP FOR OUR AUGUST 2025 “METALSMITHING IN CHIANG MAI”
TRIP! (CHECK IT OUT)
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Travel from Thailand’s vibrant capital city to the scenic north, stopping at breath-taking ancient ruins along the way. This trip revolves around two workshops: The first working with indigenous masters in Sukhothai to learn metalsmithing techniques focused on fine silver-weaving, pattern-making, and enameling; The second is a two-day ceramics workshop at a Lampang pottery studio working with Engobe colored slip.Please join us for this exciting and unique opportunity to learn and make with Thai traditional metalsmiths!
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Oops+ has designed this experience to provide all translation, accommodations, and cultural liaison services so that you can spend your time engaging with local craftsmen and communities.
At Oops+, we uncover the magic of Thailand's cultural tapestry and make it accessible to the global arena. Our offerings center around meaningful interactions with local people, craftspeople, artists, chefs, and designers. We providing travelers with unique opportunities to learn traditional crafts, witness cultural practices, and immerse themselves in the diverse heritage of the region. envisions a world where cultures and ways of life converge creatively so that traditional heritage flourishes in harmony with sustainable practices.
Oops+ was founded by Taweesak Molsawat, an artist, educator, cultural researcher, and advocate for cultural, social, and environmental causes. By collaborating with local artisans, working towards ecological conservation, and advocating for cultural creativity, Taweesak curates experiences that result in positive outcomes for host communities and the surrounding environment.
Taweesak's diverse background and deep-rooted connection to Thai culture serve as the driving force behind Oops+'s commitment to promoting cross-cultural exchange and diversity while fostering new forms of cultural creativity, and sustainability in craft, art, gastronomy, design and ways of life.
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Chiang Mai, often referred to as Thailand's "Rose of the North," is a captivating destination renowned for its rich cultural heritage and exceptional craftsmanship. Nestled in a natural wonderland with ethnic diversity, Chiang Mai is a place where history and modernity coexist harmoniously. This extraordinary 8-day workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore traditional jewelry and metalsmithing alongside local artisans in this cultural oasis.
Chiang Mai, which translates to "new city," has celebrated over 700 years of existence while retaining its historical charm. Founded by King Meng Rai the Great in 1296, it served as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, playing a pivotal role in the development of Buddhism in northern Thailand. The city's historical and modern facets seamlessly blend within its ancient moat-encircled old city, preserving centuries-old stupas and temples alongside contemporary conveniences.
This workshop takes place in a UNESCO Creative City that is well-known for its craftsmanship and folk arts. Chiang Mai is widely regarded as the craft center of Thailand, offering a vast array of crafts, including silver jewelry, metalsmithing, silverware, embroidery, Thai silks, basketry, celadon pottery, furniture, lacquerware, woodcarvings, and parasols.
Chiang Mai boasts over 159 craft communities specializing in cultural crafts and folk arts such as Baan Wualai, known for its silver and metalworking with traditional Chasing and Repoussé; Muang Sart Luang Village, famous for mulberry paper and lanterns; Baan Tawai, a woodworking hub; and the Sri Pan Krua and Baan Nantaram communities, specializing in lacquerware; Baan Nong Khwai and Baan Kad, where silver filigree jewelry flourishing.
This exploration of Cultural and Craft Treasures of Jewelry and Metalsmithing embark on a remarkable cultural journey through the heart of Chiang Mai's craft communities, particularly in Baan Wualai and Baan Nong Khwai with traditional metalsmithing and Jewelry experiences. Each step reveals the treasures of a bygone era, enriching your understanding of local craft traditions that have embraced their heritage for generations. Allow the essence of these remarkable villages to captivate your heart as you engage, indulge, and marvel at the wonders that await you.
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We will always stay in at least 3-star hotels with private ensuite bathrooms in each room with hot showers and complimentary bottled water. All rooms will be equipped with air-conditioning and daily turndown service.
Once in Chiang Mai we take care of all travel logistics to cover our itinerary. While Craft Abroad does not arrange international travel to nor from Chiang Mai, we are more than happy to talk with you about good flight times and our preferred airlines. Furthermore, we are happy to talk about ideas for how and where you might want to travel before and after our time together, just get in touch!
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Receive 20% off your total trip when you also sign up for our July 2025 “Forming, Chasing & Repoussé, and Weaving in Chiang Mai, Thailand” Trip, which lines up directly after this trip! (Discount given after deposits have been made for both trips)
Private Room:
$6,505 USDFor this price you get your own private room in each location.
Shared Room: (per person)
$5,905USDTraveling with a friend or partner? This price secures your double room in each hotel (can choose either shared bed or separate beds).
Payment Breakdown:
Registration Deposit:
$1000The Registration Deposit reserves your spot on the trip.
Remaining Price After Deposit:
Private Room:
$5,505
Shared Room (per person):
$4,905This price includes all hotel accommodations, ground transportation, most meals, workshop fees and materials, and select excursions indicated in the full itinerary.
Detailed Itinerary*
Day 1
Arrival in Bangkok
We meet you at Suvarnabhumi International Airport and bring you to the hotel in the heart of the city. We will have a nice cold beverage for you, and give you time to rest up after your long journey. We will have dinner together at the hotel and get to know one another and go over some important information for the adventure that awaits us.
Day 2
Day 3
Bangkok to Ayutthaya: Museums, Ruins, and Ancient Gold Objects
Departing from Bangkok after our hotel breakfast, we will venture north to the city of Ayutthaya, the former capital of the Kingdom of Siam. There we will visit the UNESCO World Heritage recognized ancient city, complete with staggeringly beautiful ruins and ancient Buddhist temples.
After lunch around the historical park we will visit the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum for a focused exploration of their impressive collection of fine-worked ancient Siamese gold jewelry and objects.
We will end the day with a river tour as the sun sets, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 4
Day 5
Art, Culture, and Chinatown in Bangkok!
After a restful night in the hotel we will spend our first full day exploring some of the hottest spots in Bangkok. With bellies full of food and coffee from the hotel, the morning will begin with a trip to the Grand Palace and connected Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
We will have lunch around the Charoenkrung Creative District and check out some of the hip galleries and spots around the Warehouse 30 Art and Creative Space. Then it’s off to wind through the hidden gem of the Talat Noi Neighborhood before getting dinner at one of the amazing restaurants in China-Town, hands down one of the best places to eat in the entire world!
After a full day we will head back to the hotel to rest up for our upcoming trip to the North!
Day 6
Day 7
Ayutthaya to Sukhothai: Ancient Ruins and Local Goldsmiths
After breakfast in the hotel, we will travel from Ayutthaya farther north, to the studios of traditional goldsmiths located in the ancient capital of Sri Satchanalai. After visiting some mind-blowing ruins, we will head to the home goldsmith studios of the Tha Chai neighborhood to prepare for our upcoming workshop.
Dinner will be local food had out at a night market with lots of nick-knacks and craft-goods on offer, as well.
Day 8
Ceramics Workshop in Lampang
Lampang is a center of handicraft production, and well-known for its ceramics industry. In the morning we will tour the Dhanabadee Ceramics Museum, where we will learn about the history of ceramics in northern Thailand, and see world-class pieces in their collection. Then we will move on to the Koh Kha community, which is famous for its pottery production.At Koh Kha we will learn hand-building techniques for ceramic jewelry and small-scale pottery. This will include trying our hands at the use of Engobe (colored slip) as a way of decorating our creations.
For dinner we will eat in a local market, and then retire to our hotel for a restful evening.
Fine-Silver Weaving/Pattern-Making Workshop
With a good-night’s rest behind us we will head directly to the studio for our wire weaving and pattern-making workshop. The morning will focus on getting to know the gold-smith community at Tha Chai, and trying our hands at the fine-wire weaving techniques that they have developed over many centuries. After lunch in the studio, our afternoon workshop will focus on soldering and fabrication of wire pattern-making pieces, again learning from the masters at Tha Chai.
We will have dinner at a street-food market, eating like locals!
Day 9
Enameling Workshop
After breakfast in the hotel we will head right to the workshop at Tha Chai to learn their specific enameling techniques, which are used to embellish the fine wire weaving and pattern-making that they are famous for. In this enameling workshop, the masters at Tha Chai will guide you through the enameling and finishing of the pieces you made the day before. By the end of the day you’ll have a traditionally-inspired finished piece of your very own!
We’ll have a final dinner on the streets of Sri Satchanalai before retiring to our hotel to rest up for our continued adventure.
*This is a preliminary itinerary, subject to change based on weather, availability, and unfornseen events. In those cases comparable services will be substituted.
Sukhothai to Lampang: Beautiful Buddhist Temples
A hearty hotel breakfast prepares us for our morning trip further into the north, from Sukhothai to Lampang. Lampang boasts the must-visit Buddhist Temple, Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang, where relics of the Buddha Gotama are enshrined in a giant metal-clad stupa.
After visiting the temple, we will tour the Lampang museum to learn all about the area, and the history of the Lanna Kingdom, of which Lampang was an important center of culture before becoming part of Siam (present-day Thailand).
Cermics Workshop in Lampang
After breakfast at the hotel we’ll head back to Koh Kah to continue our ceramics workshop. We’ll spend a full day finalizing our pieces and Engobe glaze before firing in the kiln. By the evening our pieces will be cooled and we will enjoy a special BBQ at the Koh Kah studio, partying with our workshop leaders and celebrating all we have accomplished.
Day 10
Lampang to Chiang Mai: Temples in the Old City
Our next short jaunt takes us from Lampang to Chiang Mai, the old Capital of the Ancient Lanna Kingdom, and second-largest city in Thailand. Chiang Mai is one of the world’s top travel destinations, and we will take full advantage of what this charming city has to offer. We will walk around the old walled city, and visit spectacular Buddhist temples. We will sample street food for lunch, and end our day with a big “khantoke” dinner complete with a cultural floor-show that features northern Thai dancing, martial arts, and cuisine. With bellies, hearts, and minds full, we’ll go back to the hotel to prep for the rest of your journey, wherever that may be.
Day 11
Farewell from Chiang Mai
After breakfast you will pack away your last bits of things, and then we will check out of the hotel and drop you at the Chiang Mai airport—saying farewells and thanks for a great adventure!