A series of new workshops and experiences have just landed in Ballarat.

From cooking to pottery and candle making, it’s the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill or simply do something a little bit different with your family and friends.

Malaysian and Indonesian cooking experiences

Born and raised in Malaysia by her Indonesian mother, Lilly Wright moved to Ballarat almost four years ago.

An “itching for good food” saw Lilly work in the local hospitality industry before launching her own food venture – Flying Chillies – during one of last year’s COVID lockdowns.

After starting out selling jars of chilli oil and sambal (and subsequently running a stall at local farmers’ markets), Lilly is now branching out into hosting Malaysian and Indonesian cooking experiences.

“I am also a new City of Ballarat intercultural ambassador and as part of working together to strengthen our intercultural community, I want to showcase my melting pot of cultural cuisine that has external influence, adapting ingredients and techniques from other countries,” Lilly said.

Coming up on the Flying Chillies menu is:

• Malaysian Peranakan Cooking Experience (Saturday 16 July)
• Balinese Cooking Experience (Saturday 6 August)
• Sambal Masterclass (Saturday 3 September)
• Indian Banana Leaf Rice Cooking Experience (Saturday 15 October)

Click here to find out more

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Tiny pottery workshop

Discover how to make tiny pots on a miniature pottery wheel with passionate Ballarat potter Steph Wallace.

Steph’s Tiny Pottery workshop on Saturday 9 July includes all the tools and materials you need, plus the firing of your successful work.

And should you fall in love with the technique, take-home packs (including mini pottery wheels) are available for purchase.

Click here to find out more

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Wax and Wine workshops

Get a glimpse into the art of beeswax candle making at one of Backyard Beekeeping Ballarat’s upcoming Wax and Wine workshops.

Local beekeeper and candle maker Amanda Collins will guide you through how honeybees produce wax, how it is collected, rendered and filtered to create the clean, natural beeswax used during the workshop.

Over a 90-minute session, you will create four unique beeswax candles to take home while enjoying some nibbles plus a glass of wine or the uniquely-blended Beekeepers Blend tisane (herbal infusion).

Upcoming workshops are scheduled for 25 June, 2 July, 16 July, 6 August and 20 August.

Click here to find out more

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Sugar Rush workshop

Have your cake and eat it too with Ballarat boutique Windflower and Melbourne’s Digby Cakes.

Digby Cakes is coming to town on Saturday 30 July for a kaleidoscopic workshop where you will learn how to make your own technicolour frosting.

Queen of the cakes Louie Digby will share her favourite piping techniques while you decorate your very own chocolate cake with colourful vanilla cream cheese frosting.

Click here to find out more

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Make your own earrings

Make your own earrings anytime you want at the Pink Nade stand at Ballarat’s Hattie and the Wolf.

Pink Nade’s statement earrings are hand-drawn, laser cut and hypo allergenic.

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Pottery wheel workshops and clay dates

Pottery classes are returning to Beck Davies Ceramics from July.

Take your pick from wheel workshops, Friday and Saturday clay dates and even eight-week courses.

Click here to find out more