Public Craft Workshops in Boston, MA

Frequently asked questions

What is Ma Happy Place?
Ma Happy Place is a Boston-area craft studio offering DIY craft kits and hands-on public workshops — from Japanese kintsugi pottery mending and Boston mahjong tile painting to miniature bookcases, fairy forest book nooks, scent labs, and vintage teacup gardens.

Where are workshops held?
Public workshops pop up at local favorites around Boston like Long Live Roxbury (152 Hampden St, Boston), Molly's Bookstore in Melrose and Allston, and Trident Booksellers & Cafe (338 Newbury St, Boston). Private workshops can be hosted at your home, office, or venue anywhere in the Greater Boston area.

Do I need any experience to join a workshop?
None at all. Every workshop is beginner-friendly, with step-by-step guidance from the instructor, and all materials are provided.

What is kintsugi?
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold — treating breakage as part of an object's history instead of something to hide. In our beginner-friendly workshop you'll mend ceramic pieces using modern, safe materials and gold paint (rather than traditional urushi lacquer, which takes weeks to cure), and take your finished piece home the same day. Bowls are provided, and you're welcome to bring a small chipped mug, plate, or pot from home to mend.

What is mahjong tile painting?
You'll hand-paint your own mahjong tiles featuring iconic Boston landmarks — no painting experience needed. Choose 8 joker tiles ($35), or 8 joker tiles plus 8 flower tiles ($50).

How long do workshops last?
Most run 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Exact start and end times are listed with each date on the workshop calendar.

What's included in the ticket price?
All materials, tools, and step-by-step instruction. You take home everything you make.

How do I book a seat?
Reserve public workshop seats on my Public Workshops page which lists all my classes.

Do you host private or corporate workshops?
Yes — private workshops are available for team building, birthdays, bachelorettes, and celebrations, at your location or ours. Usually a minimum of 6 guests are required to book private workshops and a travel fee applies 15 miles from West Roxbury

What ages are workshops for?
Most workshops are designed for adults; guests under 16 are welcome with an adult.

What is your cancellation or refund policy?
Public workshops can be refunded or rescheduled up to 24 hours before the event — or within 24 hours of booking, as long as the event is at least 7 days away. Private events are non-refundable.

Do you sell DIY kits?
Yes — take-home DIY craft kits are available in the shop, and they make great gifts.

Is this a good date-night or girls'-night activity?
Absolutely — small groups, hands-on fun, and you leave with something you made. Kintsugi and the Scent Lab are local favorites for date nights.