Stories

Like Mother, Like Daughter

What lessons have you learned from the women in your life? Here’s four makers whose mothers and grandmothers inspired them to pursue a creative ...

Who Said Women Can't Make Sausages

Discover how a sausage maker, a talented threader, a glass smith and a macramè master challenge gender stereotypes in their chosen craft.

How Paint Pouring Helped Me Embrace My Individuality

Beyond mesmerising swirls and splashes of colour, I discovered that there’s a lot more to paint pouring than making pretty pictures.

Drool-worthy Sour Cocktail Recipe

How the founder of Drool found love (and gin) in Melbourne lockdown.

Make Your Own DIY Garden Bouquet

Surprise your special someone with a heartfelt bouquet using flowers from your very own backyard!

What Kintsugi Taught Me About Life, Love and Healing

Our Editorial Manager Laine tries the art of Kintsugi and discovers what it can teach you about life, love and relationships.

10 Ways to Unwind with the ClassBento Crew

Despite what the $1.5 trillion global wellness industry would have you believe, taking care of your physical, social and emotional wellbeing doesn’tDespite what the $1.5 trillion global wellness industry would have you believe, taking care of your physical, social and emotional wellbeing doesn’t require fancy French candles, powdered mushroom supplements or cryotherapy – unless you want it to. That's right, self-care doesn’t need to be shoppable, Instagrammable or endorsed by the beauty editor of the weekend paper – and we're here to prove it! To celebrate the many wonderful ways we can look after our health and wellbeing, we called on the ClassBento crew to share their favourite ways to relax and unwind. From nostalgic 90s re-runs and rock climbing to private dance parties, it’s safe to say there really is no “right” way to practice self-care… 1. Cook slowly, eat mindfully “My favourite way to unwind is by cooking. Making pasta from scratch, experimenting with stir-frys and curries and making apple pies are just some of the recipes I've been trying out. The most important aspect of cooking is to have a good few hours on hand and to simply enjoy the process. The key is good tunes, patience and plenty of taste-testing throughout.” – Kellie, Content Writer “Nothing beats sitting on the beach with a good book and some healthy dinner while watching the sunset!” – Adelaide, Social Media Manager 2. Travel back in time “Sometimes, I just like to watch re-runs of nostalgic shows I grew up with or look at old photos and videos. I like to take a trip down memory lane by looking at old keepsakes like drawings I did as a kid, magazines I used to read or toys I loved.” – Veronica, Designer 3. Wash the day away “On these hot summer afternoons, I jump into the ocean at the end of each day which has been sublime.” – Natasha, Community Partnerships Manager 4. Dance, cos this time, there’s really no one watching “My favourite way to unwind or get myself into a better mood instantly is to have a mini dance party by myself. No one’s there but me, and I just dance with (and for) myself. I groove depending on what my mood is… sometimes, you’ll find me jumping around with my hair out twirling and singing, sometimes I have a little slow dance with myself and give myself an embrace, other times I'll be discovering a completely new move.” – Rez, Customer Service Hero 5. Spend time with yourself “I love taking a bath and doing a ridiculously long skincare routine.” – Phoebe, Content Writer “I find taking long baths particularly relaxing because I'm forced to not use any electronic devices for a while. And I know I won't be picking any phone calls or getting any other distractions in there! There's also no pressure to do anything and it's a nice sensory experience to be surrounded by warm water!” – Iain, Co-Founder & CEO 6. Relax into your favourite reads “I like to read nf!The Happy Newspaper. It's full of really cute, funny, happy and heartwarming stories and is a nice break from the mainstream news which can be overwhelming at times.” – Laura, Head of Editorial “More often than not it’s reading a book. Hard copy books make it all the better but a Kindle Unlimited book is my guilty pleasure. If I’m not reading a book at the time (which is rare) I’m usually watching a French TV show to keep up my language skills or scouring the internet for new true crime podcasts.” – Charlotte, Content Writer 7. Do a little DIY “I knit and listen to podcasts, I'm one of those people who likes to keep my hands busy, even when I need downtime. If I could find a way to read a book while knitting and not messing up my project, that would be amazing!” – Jane, Content Writer 8. Skip the gym for the great outdoors “I like active relaxation, like going on a trek in the nearby mountains or getting up and confronting my fear of the ocean by paddleboarding or kayaking out in the sea. I also encourage my kids to do active relaxation activities after school, rather than extracurricular classes that they really don’t like. They go out rollerblading, swimming or rock climbing (the best activity out there!).” – Luis, UK Country Manager 9. Get crafty with the kids “Going for a walk, taking my kids to the park, doing a jigsaw or colouring-in books with the kids.” – Ryan, Community Partnerships Manager 10. Tend to your plant pals “Before 2020, my downtime didn’t expand much beyond binge-watching reality TV shows like Love Island and scrolling on Instagram for hours. Fast forward two years and I’m now a proud plant parent with over 30 green friends. I even have an app called nf!PictureThis to keep up with my ever-growing garden, which helps me make sure I’m meeting all their watering, fertilising and sun needs. Between Henry the aloe vera, Olive the olive tree and Hazel the sansevieria, my hands are well and truly full. Nothing feels more rewarding and relaxing than tending to my beloved plants and watching them grow and thrive!” – Laine, Editorial Manager Regardless of whether you're an avid reader, a weekend hiker or a nightly bubble-bath-taker, it pays to remember that self-care is not synonymous with self-improvement. In fact, it can be totally private, unapologetically personal and utterly un-Instagrammable. So go on, treat yourself to some true "me-time" and fill your cup! ...

7 Trending Crafts to Sink Your Hands Into in 2022

From glass and flame to looping, arranging and painting with thread, our Head of Editorial shares the mesmerising crafts you won’t be able to step ...

How I Travelled to Turkey Without Leaving Sydney

When looking for things to do in Sydney, our Editorial Manager Laine realised she could experience cultures from all across the globe without even ...

How to Be Your Own Art Therapist

Try out this simple, creative exercise and get a glimpse into what art therapy is and how it can improve your wellbeing.

Think You're Not Creative? Try Pottery

How potter and academic Bettina Stevanovic rediscovered her childhood love of clay and used it to tap into mindfulness and find her balance.

Why We Turn to Craft in Times of Crisis

From global pandemics to natural disasters, we explore the role of craft in helping humankind cope with crises.

Make Churros with Tere and Colin Experiences

Unwind with experienced artists Tere and Colin at their inspiring and creative experiences in London!

Make Chocolate Truffles with R&M Fine Chocolate

Meet head chocolatier, Raanan Malkin, founder of R&M Fine Chocolates!

Make Healthy Christmas Cocktails with the Cocktail Camp

The founder of San Francisco’s Cocktail Camp is a health-conscious mixologist helping everyday Americans feel lighter and brighter with just one ...

Make Turkish Mosaic Lamps with Art Masterclass

From Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar to their colourful and cosy studios across Australia, meet the business using Turkish mosaic-making as a form of cultural ...

Make a Christmas Wreath with Ferris Heart Sloane

Meet Natasha, the flower-lover behind decorative interior design company, Ferris Heart Sloane!

Make Resin Christmas Baubles with Sheri Vegas

From teaching her close friends the basics of resin art to cultivating a mass online following, Sheridan Vigers shares her creative upbringing and ...

Make Bath Bombs with Craft + Light

Long Beach craft teacher, Shelley Williams, believes that everyone needs a space to cultivate their creativity, so she opened a place to welcome ...

Make Italian Meals with Cook with Luca

Make mouthwatering, rich and flavourful Italian meals at Cook with Luca's fun classes.

Make Japanese Gift Wrapping with Larkswold Creative Workshops

Melinda and Emma from Larkswold Creative Workshops share their crafting journey and why they love sharing their creative passion with others!

Make Santa Studs with Zara Avila

Zara Avila shares her story on how colourful and cute polymer clay creations help her and others see the bright side of life.

Learn Calligraphy with Pascribe

Masterful calligrapher Paul Antonio has a penchant for sharing his passion with like-minded creatives... find out why!

Make Chocolate with Z.Cioccolato

It’s hard to resist chocolate – just ask Mike Zwiefelhofer, who’s been making customers happy with his sweets and hands-on virtual classes ...

Make Christmas Flower Arrangements with Peony Story

Fall in love with the art of floristry at Nikki Zeng's fun flower arranging classes with The Peony Story in Sydney.

Make Christmas Cocktails with Pineapple Jam

Pineapple Jam creator and lead cocktail shaker Clinton Weir shares how he got his start in mixology and the motivation behind his creative cocktail ...

Make Clay Christmas Ornaments with Au Revoir Shiloh

Meet the heart and soul behind Au Revoir Shiloh, Shiloh Blondel, the inspiring pottery teacher who believes clay is best shared with others.

Make Calligraphy Christmas Baubles with Vanessa Opazo

From full-time architect to calligraphy artist, Vanessa Opazo from Bondi Letters shares her inspiring journey into teaching and her mission to empower ...

Why Drawing for Beginners Will Inspire You to Follow Your Creative Dreams

Transform a blank piece of paper into a masterpiece at these drawing classes in Melbourne.

5 Ways That Drawing Classes in Melbourne Will Improve Your Wellbeing

Uncover creative talents you never knew you had and get inspired at drawing classes in Melbourne!

Discover How to Take Good Photos with Your Smartphone in Sydney

Grab your smartphone and your walking shoes and learn how to take good photos on your smartphone at photography courses in Sydney!

Learn Photography in Sydney at 7 These Local Neighbourhoods (2024)

See the suburbs of Sydney like never before with photography courses in Sydney where you can explore your local neighbourhood as well as hidden ...

Make Vegan Shortbread with Caroline Rowe

Meet Caroline Rowe, the passionate foodie inspiring everyday Aussies to get creative in the kitchen and uncover the joys of cooking for one.

Make a Watercolour Christmas Card with Blair Zhang

From picking up a kid’s watercolour kit to becoming a full-time illustrator, Sydney-based artist Blair Zhang shares her creative journey.

5 Unique Drawing Classes in Sydney to Explore Your Creativity

Sketch something completely new and unique at drawing classes in Sydney.