What services does Hammer & Stain Rockville offer?

Hammer and Stain is a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) workshop that provides an encouraging and collaborative space for individuals and groups to  create art.  There is a little something for everyone, no matter what your creative abilities are.  In addition to open studio time, we offer classes in a wide variety of media including painting, glassblowing, pressed wildflower art, chunky yarn crafting, wooden signs, candle making, jewelry making, even cooking.   Our instructors can guide you through the process, or you can guide yourself.  We offer creative and social events, kid events, including summer camps for kids ages 7-14.

What makes Hammer & Stain stand out in the DIY Workshop space?

Our employees.  Most of them have an arts background, and we encourage them to do their own thing.  If they have an idea for a class, we’ll run a tester and if it is popular we’ll add it to our schedule.  They started classes in resin, polymer clay, alcohol ink – even painting on sports balls.   Our vibe is not stuffy or formal.  We keep it funky and our people make you feel welcome so you walk out feeling lighter. Art should be fun, and that’s what we get across.

What motivated the founding of the business? 

I was an art major and am an artist; I have taught at VisArts and done commissions including murals.  I was working full time in a corporate job and part-time as an instructor for the former Hammer & Stain owner when COVID hit.   I recognized an opportunity to take a chance and bought the business in January of 2022.

Why Rockville? 

I grew up in the area: I went to Magruder High and the University of Maryland.  Rockville is the perfect mecca.  It offers easy access for our corporate clients – we get a lot of them – and there is so much diversity here.  You can find something for everyone in Rockville.

What was unexpected about your business?

I did not know that I would have to be a content creator when I started this.  Fortunately, some of my employees are theatre/ videography people, so they direct me a lot.  On the positive side, I discovered that I’d learned a lot in my corporate job that transferred over.