Maison Venu Blockprinting Workshop at barnsleyresort: Handcrafted Indian Prints in Adairsville, GA

On a quiet afternoon at barnsleyresort in Adairsville, Georgia, Maison Venu's Block Printing Workshop turns slow, precise craft into a communal, hands-on session. Led by founder and creative director Olivia Massie Brown, the class teaches a centuries-old Indian technique using hand-carved wooden blocks and water-based pigments. You’ll learn how to ink, register and print on paper and canvas, producing finished pieces that range from place cards and gift tags to canvas wine totes and small table linens.

The workshop opens with a practical demonstration of tools: carved wooden blocks—many drawn from Maison Venu’s own collection—metal trays for color mixing, and palettes Olivia learned to blend while training in India. That direct line to master artisans shapes the experience: students study rhythm, pressure and alignment so prints read intentionally handmade rather than stamped. Expect to leave with a handful of finished goods and the confidence to repeat basic motifs at home.

Set in Adairsville, Georgia, the class pairs Southern landscape with South Asian craft. barnsleyresort’s grounds and nearby hardwood ridgelines frame the session, offering a calm contrast to the intricate work at the table. The scene centers on tactile materials—teak and rosewood blocks, cotton canvas, textured papers and pigments that react to humidity and pressure—so each print develops its own character.

Beyond technique, the class emphasizes application: how printed elements function in a hosted table or wrapped gift. Olivia demonstrates scale and repeat—how a small motif reads on a place card and how that same motif scales up on a napkin or wine tote. She also covers simple care: hand-wash cold printed cotton, avoid harsh detergents, and press on the reverse to protect pigment. The workshop is useful for event designers, makers, and anyone who wants to bring a tactile, handcrafted touch to entertaining. Many students note the confidence to design table palettes afterward.

This is a social, collaborative session for creatives and hosts who want structure and expert feedback. Instructors circulate, correcting registration and suggesting color shifts; beginners often finish surprised at how quickly distinct patterns emerge. Practical items: bring a smock and a willingness to experiment—this is about learning and making, not perfection. As part of the Art of Entertaining: Design Symposium, the workshop also offers a chance to meet fellow designers and source ideas for unique hostess gifts. Whether you’re expanding textile skills or hunting for memorable gift-making techniques, Maison Venu’s class connects historic craft to contemporary entertaining with clarity and warmth.