Meet the Makers. Make the Journey.
The Maker’s Trail invites you to experience Alabama’s Black Belt through the artists, craftspeople, cooks, and storytellers who bring its traditions to life. Each stop offers an intimate, hands-on encounter—from quilting, natural dyeing, and found-object sculpture to Southern cooking and other heritage crafts—led by makers deeply connected to the region. Visitors can tour working studios, hear the stories behind each practice, learn time-honored techniques, and create something of their own to take home. Designed for small groups and meaningful interaction, many experiences are also available as private bookings for families, friends, and organized groups. The trail pairs these one-of-a-kind experiences with nearby places to stay, eat, and explore, making it easy to plan an unforgettable journey through the Black Belt.
GEE’S BEND, AL
Stitching Style & Stories
with Andrea Pettway Williams & Claudia Pettway Charley
Join Andrea and Claudia of Sew Gee’s Bend Heritage Builders for a hands-on “heritage-to-runway” experience exploring Gee’s Bend quilting traditions and their influence on contemporary fashion. Designed for individuals or small groups, guests will experiment with patchwork techniques to create a wearable or carryable piece while discussing identity, style, cultural ownership, and collaborations with brands such as Target, adidas, and Marfa Stance. The experience concludes with a mini runway share-out, giving each participant a moment to present their finished piece and the story stitched into it.
GREENSBORO, AL
Exploring Indigo + Shibori
at Sumac Cottage with Aaron Sanders Head
This hands-on indigo workshop is rooted in the land, history, and quilt traditions of rural Alabama. Guests learn the basics of dyeing natural fibers, maintaining an indigo vat, and creating patterns through resist and shibori techniques using folds, ties, and clamps. Set within a restored early-1800s cottage, working studio, and dye garden, the experience offers an intimate look at the creative process and its connection to place. Each participant leaves with a collection of dyed samples and the skills to continue experimenting at home.
SEALE, AL
Memory Jugs & Cabinets of Curiosity
with Butch Anthony at The Museum of Wonder
Explore an ever-evolving world of art, artifacts, handmade structures, and unexpected treasures shaped by a lifelong practice of turning overlooked materials into objects full of meaning. Scheduled experiences include a guided tour of the property, early cabins, display spaces, and the world’s first drive-thru museum, followed by a hands-on Cabinet of Curiosity workshop using personal and found objects to create a story-driven assemblage. Private visits offer a similar full-site tour paired with a more intimate Memory Jug workshop, rooted in Southern yard-art traditions. Guests bring small objects connected to a person or memory and combine them with found materials to create a deeply personal keepsake.
SELMA, AL
Something from Nothing
with Charlie Lucas “the Tin Man”
Explore the imaginative metalwork of Charlie “Tin Man” Lucas through a guided studio tour and hands-on sculpture experience using recycled materials. Scheduled sessions invite guests to create a small figure or relief while learning simple shaping and assembly techniques centered on silhouette, texture, and storytelling. Private opportunities are designed for individuals or small groups seeking a deeper experience, with a day-long intensive offering one-on-one guidance as participants develop and build a larger metal sculpture from concept to completion.