The Nova Studio

I’ve taken several soap making classes at The Nova Studio, and more recently a «Handmade Product Business Bootcamp.» This is one of the great resources for fun, creative education the East Bay, especially now that the «maker movement» has started to seep into the general consciousness. They have a varied course selection and are very good at finding engaging, experienced teachers willing to share their knowledge. On top of that, the staff is helpful and friendly. For anyone interested in exploring any of the art/​craft subjects they offer, go for it!

I have been taking classes at The Nova Studio since it first opened its doors. I have also taught classes there once or twice.
With so many years in business, The Nova Studio has ironed out all the issues that might crop up and they have their educational systems down pat which is really helpful to the student.
The mix of students in every class I attended was diverse in interests and ages (although they do tend to be predominately female). I really enjoy interacting with the other students because they tend to be engaged and interesting people out to have fun and get some learning done! The class size is large enough to make it interesting all around but never so large that you don’t feel like you are getting enough personal attention.
The people who run The Nova Studio are very knowledgeable about their crafts and they are really kind, interesting and supportive.
A nod must also be given to the location in Point Richmond. Point Richmond is a lovely town to spend an afternoon with your new found friends.

Melanie’s candle making class is SO slow! She talks for an hour and then we spend 5 minutes making a candle. I spent half the time reading emails on my phone because the class was interminably slow.

The Nova Studio is absolutely amazing! I have had many wonderful experiences there! If you would like to learn how to make soap, lotion, or most any bath and body product yourself– just take a class! I have been successful in everything I have tried to make after taking a class!

I am in love with taking classes here! I am a bath product addict and in the past I have spent more than my share of $$ in places like Lush and Bath and Body Products. Using the information that I’ve learned from the knowledgeable teachers here I have totally cured myself of that and now make most of my own products and they are much better than anything that I have spent at least twice the money on anywhere else!
Classes I have taken:
Cold Process Soap 101
Soap Boot camp 1
Tub Treats
Sugar Scrubs
and I have plans to take more this year!
I like the setup of the classes, small numbers of people so that there is plenty of time to have all your questions answered and have time for demonstrations and hands on lessons. All the teachers that I have met there are so friendly and patient which is also really important, not to mention that they are giving you great recipes for products that they create, which can be either the only recipes you ever use, or they can be a jumping off point to start making your own creations.
Now I make all my own soaps, scrubs, and lotions, as well as making loads for my friends and family. It started out innocently enough… giving my mom and a couple close friends the extra product from test recipes that I made for myself, and now they are buying me ingredients so I can keep them in product haha. Don’t be scared off by what seems like pricey classes, they will pay you back in fun and maybe if you’re lucky like me, you can start to make some $$ off your new hobby

Very nice place, the owner is very informed on the topics that are taught and the products sold.

Fantastic customer service first or all! I had a zillion questions and all were answered with right away via email with kindness. I took the lotion classes and they were wonderful, great and clear instructions. My products were super yummy! I highly recommend the Nova Studio!

I have taken classes at The Nova Studio AND volunteered to be a teacher’s assistant.
I LOVE the Studio — it’s charm, the location etc. and as another reviewer pointed out, Lori is über-​organized (love that!), which I borrowed some tips/​tricks for organizing the guest room which I hi-​jacked to be my «soap room»
I didn’t receive any weird «vibe» from Lori or the other instructors. They are all so knowledgeable and personable. My first time encountering Lori and David Critchfield, I felt I was in the presence of Soap Royalty :)
Lori’s «gangsta» — (meaning she «knows her sh*t!») — LOL!
I love The Nova Studio and recommend it to everyone I meet who want to learn how to create their own soap and bath & body products — to the point you’d think I was a Nova Studio sales rep (he, he!)
Check it out when you can!
E.

Over the past couple of years I have taken many classes at The Nova Studio. I have taken soap making, candle making, perfume, etc. I cannot say enough good things about Lori and her classes. She is very professional, thorough in her teaching methods and is very passionate about the industry. If you are looking to take a class so that you can make product for friends and family you can do so right here. If you want to take classes so that you can start a business you have also come to the right place. Fabulous education!

I had been wanting to learn how to make my own products for a long time and was at a total loss until I found The Nova Studio. I haven’t been able to find anywhere else where you can learn about how to make your own soap, makeup, lotions and creams, candles, perfume, and much, much more.
And, it’s really well done too. I’ve taken around five classes there now and the instructors are always very knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. And Lori, the owner and one of the instructors, is amazing all around. She’s incredibly organized, practical, creative, dedicated, and so friendly and sweet. She works so hard to keep the place going. The look and feel of the studio itself is so charming and perfect for the topics being taught.
And Pt. Richmond is such a sweet place to go to. I can’t imagine it being any better than this and it makes me feel good that my money is going to a local small business. I am so grateful that this place exists, thank you Lori!

What a cute place. Took a PMC class (silver jewelry making) recently and liked it a lot. The instructor, Patrik, was helpful and talented. It was a fun day and the other students were nice. The one concern I had was that it was crowded with 10 people in the class. It was hard to walk around the table to get to around, which you need to do. Also, they could get more comfortable chairs because a full day in a hard plastic chair is not very good for the back. All in all, it was a good experience and I would return.

I LOVED the lotions class. We made Body Butter and Light Body Lotion. Came out great and totally works well. The instructor was very informed, full of great resources, and had a great vibe. I was intimidated by the process at first, but once you do it, you’ll want to make your own lotion all the time. It’s super easy!
I followed-​up this class by throwing a «Beauty Nite» party with my girlfriends. We made lotion for holiday gifts. A month later, we used the Body Scrub recipe for another girls’ night. Yep, we drink and laugh and get rowdy, and still end up stumbling home with amazing stuff. That shows you how easy it is, once you have good instructions by a qualified teacher.
I will continue to take classes here. I always walk away with a lot of great info and skills that I’ll use for a lifetime.

I love this place!
Took a bath salts and scrubs class back in the spring of ’07. Then, just this month, I took 2 classes: aromatherapy soy candle-​making, and melt and pour ‘sweet treats’ goodies.
Here’s why I love taking classes at the Nova Studio, and why I will continue to take classes there: I love crafts and want to be a ‘crafty’ mama. However, in reality, if I just get a book or look online at craft diy sites, my projects turn out terribly. I’m out $$ from buying the supplies, and I’m stuck with a bunch of stuff I can’t giveaway as gifts ’cause it all looks like crap.
Not so with the classes I’ve taken at the Nova Studio. I think it’s a combination of the face-​to-​face instruction (where I can ask questions, etc), seeing the projects actually being made by the instructor, and following along (because these classes are hands-​on).
I’ve always left with great-​looking products that I would be proud to give away. At the bath salts and scrubs class, you leave with an good-​sized container of each, nicely packaged and labeled; at the aromatherapy soy candle-​making class, we left with an amazing-​smelling container candle (which looked like one of those $ 25 Votivo candles) plus a votive candle in a different scent, plus a couple of candle ‘melts’; and, at the melt and pour soap class, I left with a ton of cool-​looking and yummily-​scented soap (peppermint bark soap, pb&j soap, neapolitan ice cream soap, and mint chip soapwiches), all packaged and ready to give away for Xmas.
Lastly (and this is the most important thing, in my opinion), after taking these classes, I’ve been able to replicate these results when I’m back home in my own kitchen. I made the bath salts and scrubs last Xmas, and everyone loved them. This Xmas, I did candles and soaps, and I was really pleased with the results. And I feel all capable and crafty cool when I see my finished projects looking so great.
One last thing: for the people who don’t know (like me, before I took classes at the Nova Studio), Point Richmond is *not* Richmond (as in scary-​high murder rate Richmond). It’s on the other side of 580 and it’s like a cute (safe!) small town. There are pretty houses up on the hill, and down below are a few restaurants, a Starbucks, and a couple of boutiques.
Oh, and P. S., a reviewer on Unilocal commented on Lori’s personality as being a negative, but I thought she was super nice and down-​to-​earth. The other instructors were top-​notch, as well; the aromatherapy candle lady was certified in aromatherapy (sounds new-​agey, but it’s not an easy thing to get certified in), and the melt-​and-​pour soap instructor literally makes a living selling her famous ‘soapsicles’ worldwide (and she was featured on the DIY Network).

The Nova Studio is yet another reason why Point Richmond rocks! I’ve taken a number of classes with Lori over the years, and I love that she and her studio have done so well.
Taking one of her classes is a great girls’ day out. Make some body products or candles or soaps, maybe head out to the little beach, and then dinner in the Point.

If you’re into the natural body product thing — this is the place to go. If I could recommend one with a cooler instructor. I would.
Lori has a personality that I just don’t vibe with — she’s like plain toast. But I wasn’t there for friendship and she did show me how to make soap. So, we aren’t heading to Happy Hour. but I can make a mean bar of fatty soap.
Gave the studio 2 tries. first class was full of useful information about turning your passion into profit. 2^nd time was the Cold Process soap making.
I don’t think I would return for another based on the vibe. Just not my type of peeps to kick it with on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
If you can get around the uneasy vibe I got & you love people and all that shit, her studio has a lot to offer.
4 Stars for the variety of classes & the class topics. minus one star for her personality and overall instructional method.

I first met Lori Nova when she taught a Melt and Pour Soap Making class through DeAnza’s Community Education in June 2003. I wound up taking all of her classes that she offerred there.
But, I really wanted to take some of other classes she offerred ie lotions and creams, body butters, cold process soapmaking & others which she only offerred at her studio. So finally in May 2007 I finally took my first class at her studio. I was hestiant because it was so far. But when I found out a route via BART, I really found it a great pleasure to go to her studio.
If you are hesitant to travel to Point Richmond because taking Lori’s classes is well worth the trip for her expertise.
***Since the last posting I have take CP Soapmaking, Hot Process Soapmaking, Body Balms and Butters. Really enjoyed the classes. I am looking forward to an advanced CP class.

Point Richmond is one of those places that sounds remote and far off. So I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to get to this great arts & crafts studio there. The Nova Studio is a colorful, cheerful looking studio. They offer a variety of classes including candle making, soap making (hot and cold process), salts and body scrubs, and mineral makeup. The classes use all-​natural ingredients to make and scent products so you can feel good about the good-​smelling creations you take home.
Lori, the owner and one of the teachers there is really good at explaining and teaching material, which is great for people like me who love getting crafty, but are a bit artistically-​challenged. She gives out a lot of information and resources for doing more crafting on your own.
The studio has samples from other classes on display, which will get you excited about trying another class there. You can sign up for their email newsletter. They also offer gift certificates – I got one for my mom and it was a great excuse for both of us to take a class together.