Community art studio
Hand built ceramics, fused glasswork, textile embellishment, and you.
End of Summer Sessions
Siga, siga. Slow down and embrace the island lifestyle for an afternoon, stitch by stitch.
Inspired by the colors, textures, and folk traditions of the Greek islands, this beginner-friendly embroidery workshop explores simple hand-stitching techniques through a contemporary lens. You'll learn foundational embroidery stitches while creating a one-of-a-kind textile piece influenced by Mediterranean motifs, coastal landscapes, and traditional Greek decorative arts.
Whether you've never threaded a needle or you're looking to reconnect with a slower creative practice, this workshop is designed to be approachable, inspiring, and deeply satisfying.
During class you'll:
Learn foundational embroidery stitches and techniques
Explore color, pattern, and composition inspired by the Aegean
Create your own embroidered artwork to frame, display, or continue at home
Receive individual guidance from artist and maker Despina Papadeas of Depy Zepo
All materials are included, including fabric, embroidery hoop, thread, needles, and design templates. You'll leave with your finished piece, a stitch guide, and the confidence to continue embroidering long after class. You are welcome to bring fabric tote bags or fabric napkins to stitch upon!
Class size is limited to encourage one-on-one instruction and plenty of creative exploration. No experience necessary. Ages 16+.
Join us for an afternoon of slow making, thoughtful conversation, and Mediterranean-inspired creativity at Big Sky Studio in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood
Workshop Details
Saturday, September 19 1:00-3:00 PM
Limited to 10 participants
BYOB (21+)
No textile experience necessary
All materials included
Class will be held at Big Sky located between Logan Square & Humboldt park, near Washtenaw & North Ave in Chicago. Exact directions will be sent after registration.
Accessibility: ASL interpretation is available upon request. Please email des@depyzepo.life at least one week before the class so arrangements can be made.
Want first access to new workshop dates and subscriber-only discount codes? Sign up for the Depy Zepo newsletter.
ALTAR PARTY
Build a little shrine to everything you believe in.
Join us in turning your creative obsessions, personal symbols, and favorite little things into a one of a kind ceramic altar. Altar Party will be held on Friday October 30 from 6-9pm, open to particpiants 21+ up and is BYOB!
At the Altar Party, you’ll design and build your own sculptural shrine out of clay using various surface design and textural tools, exploring the visual language of altars, devotional objects, reliquaries, and personal talismans.
This class is open to all skill levels! There are a few different approaches to making these altars that we will collectively explore, and ultimately your creative intuition will be the guiding force during this workshop. By connecting to your inner truth, you’ll be able to see more clearly what you need from your altar, and what your altar needs from you.
You’ll learn handbuilding and surface design techniques while thinking about what we choose to honor, celebrate, protect, or dote on. Maybe that’s your ancestors or your pets or your plants or BTS (jk?lol), or simply your own damn self!
Come make something worth putting on a pedestal.
Workshop held at Big Sky Studio in Humboldt Par, the entrance is thru the alley. The space is accessible via a small concrete ramp leading to a 3” door sill, with two 1” dips getting from the foyer to the space. This workshop is open to 12 participants.
All materials and firing included. Previous clay experience always helps but is rarely required.
Your dinner parties deserve better serving ware!!
In this intimate workshop, you'll design and hand build your own four piece ceramic serving set: a mezze plate, a charcuterie platter, a serving bowl, and a matching spoon. Whether your style is playful, sculptural, minimal, or delightfully weird, every piece will be completely your own.
Working in a small group of just 10 participants, Depy will guide you through foundational hand building techniques while helping you bring your ideas to life. You'll leave having created a one-of-a-kind serving set that's food-safe, dishwasher-safe, and made to be passed around the table for years to come.
No clay experience? Fine by us!! All skill levels are welcome.
Your workshop includes all materials, glazing, and kiln firings. Choose from the studio glaze palette, and your finished pieces will be ready for pickup in approximately three - four weeks and we can ship them to you, if you’d prefer for a small fee.
Workshop Details
Sunday, September 5th - 1–4 PM
Limited to 10 participants
BYOB (21+)
No experience necessary!
Located between Logan Square & Humboldt Park, near North Ave & Washtenaw. Exact directions will be sent after registration.
Want first dibs on future workshops and subscriber-only discount codes? Join the Depy Zepo newsletter.
Turn your wildest clay dreams into a weekly reality!
How CLOUD CLUB Monthly membership works:
Choose a day/time of the week that works best for your schedule and for 4 consecutive weeks you will join your cohort in making ceramic objects that are uniquely yours. Each session lasts 3 hours and is open to all skill levels. This 4 week long club can be viewed as open studio time, where you are free to create any kind of object your intuition can imagine. Your instructor Despina of Depy Zepo will be there boots on the ground to lend support in figuring out your project goals and will share some techniques to help build upon your clay experience. Cohorts can accommodate up to six people per session.
Monthly Cloud Club Members can expect to make a variety of objects during this session both big and small. Included with membership is 25 lbs of red clay (with access to steeply discounted clay pricing for additional material) and 30+ studio glazes.
SCHEDULE
WEEK 1 (BUILD): Members begins conceptualizing their projects and making work.
WEEK 2 (REFINE): Members continue to build work and refine pieces, adding finishing touches and preparing pieces for a long dry,
WEEK 3 (DRY/PLAN): Members meet to make a glaze plan, which glazes you will use, how they work, and learn best application methods. No clay touching as the work will still be drying to prepare for bisque firing.
WEEK 4 (GLAZE): Members will wax, paint, and glaze their bisqued work utilizing studio glazes and tools.
Members will be alerted when their work will be ready for pick up following the final firing!
**If CC Members need additional time to finish work between weeks 1+2+3, one hour sessions can be individually scheduled and purchased for $30**
Upon check out, please sign up for the DZ Newsletter - this will be the best way to contact you regarding Cloud Club details! This program structure is deeply inspired by studios Korkodilos (Athens, GR) and Tiny Bit of Wood (Lansing, MI), we thank them for their labor and for being leaders in the field!
AUTUMN CLOUD CLUB SESSION DATES/TIMES :
THURSDAYS 10-1pm 9/24, 10/1, 8, 15
SUNDAYS 2-5pm 10/18, 25, 11/1, 8
A note on pricing: It’s important to Big Sky founding ethos of accessibility for our community. If pricing is a prohibitive factor to joining Cloud Club, send us an email - we are interested in experimenting with labor trades and alternative economies and can feasibly accommodate two sliding scale spots per session that are available on a first come, first served basis.
Upcoming Events
Grand opening
Join us for our Grand Opening Glendi Celebration!
We’ll have tarot readers to inspire us for a DIY Grecian pottery painting experience paired with good bevs and better snacks!
Come for the creativity and stay for the vibes 𓁿
Aug 29
Three Moons Artisan Residency Program
Are you in the mood for creative community? BIG SKY is opening our doors to artisans of all media, ceramic studio assistants, and resident artists.
Sign up to receive updates as the program develops.
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☀︎ about class schedules/ residency opportunities/ open studio hours/ pay to clay/ party rentals/ etcetc ☽
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