Located at: 301 Harrison Street, Oak Park, IL
Spring Store Hours: Wed / Thurs / Fri 1-7, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4, closed Mon & Tues
Serendib House is hosted by Mary Anne Mohanraj, and offers local art & writing, along with nature-inspired handmade gifts, many made from flowers grown in her Oak Park garden. (You can visit the front garden at 332 Wisconsin Avenue, the blue and purple house — neighbors are welcome.) ‘Serendib’ is one of the ancient names of Sri Lanka, where Mary Anne was born. It’s where we get the word ‘serendipity’ — something wonderful, unlooked for.
We aim to be a community hub, offering free events (such as yarn circle, garden club, board game night, co-writing, and more), with the hope of fostering neighborliness and friendship. (Mary Anne also hosts two local FB groups — Oak Park Area Garden Club, and Oak Park Area Illinois Neighbors.) We love teaching art and writing workshops (primarily aimed towards adults, though we may offer more child-focused workshops in the future.) We’re delighted to share our space with Laurette Anderson’s Dive Bar Soap Company.
Our Serendib Cowriting and Book Clubs events are co-sponsored with our friends at the Speculative Literature Foundation.
Space Rental
The studio is available limited hours for space rental & community use. It can hold 12 people around two 6′ tables, or up to 16 for standing room. Tables, tablecloths, and chairs are available for use on site.
– To rent the entire space (excluding the Dive Bar Soap Company room) for a private event ($50 / hr), contact Mary Anne at mohanraj@mamohanraj.com with the SUBJECT line: RENTAL SPACE REQUEST
– To rent space to teach a paid workshop (30% / 70% tuition split), contact Mary Anne at mohanraj@mamohanraj.com with the SUBJECT line: WORKSHOP SPACE REQUEST
– To use the space for a free community event (no charge), contact Mary Anne at mohanraj@mamohanraj.com with the SUBJECT line: COMMUNITY SPACE REQUEST
WORKSHOP INFORMATION (SPRING 2026)
Flower Preservation Workshop
Dates: Fri 4/3 (4-4:45 pm, 6-6:45 pm), Sat 4/4 (4-4:45 pm), Sun 4/5 (1-1:45 pm)
Learn how to preserve flowers (and other botanicals) through various methods (old books, flower press, microwave, floral desiccant, dehydrator). We’ll discuss what methods are suited to which types of flowers, and also review some of the many things you can create with those flowers. Please bring a book (that you don’t mind having stained) if you’d like to press some flowers to take away with you. (Ages 10+, children must be accompanied by supervising adult.)
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Flower Paper Bookmark Workshop
Dates: Fri 4/10 (4-4:45 pm, 6-6:45 pm), Sat 4/11 (4-4:45 pm), Sun 4/12 (1-1:45 pm)
Learn how to make floral bookmarks (paper); you’ll leave with up to 3 bookmarks (depending on how fast you work!). You may bring your own pressed flowers, or choose from my selection. (Ages 10+, children must be accompanied by supervising adult.)
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Stamped Greeting Card Workshop
Dates: Fri 4/10 (4-4:45 pm)
Learn how to make stamped and embossed greeting cards. You’ll leave with up to 3 cards (depending on how fast you work!) and envelopes. (Ages 5+, children must be accompanied by supervising adult.)
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Flower Greeting Card Workshop
Dates: Fri 4/17 (6-6:45 pm), Sat 4/18 (4-4:45 pm), Sun 4/19 (1-1:45 pm)
Learn how to make lovely floral cards on handmade white deckle edge paper. You’ll leave with 1-2 cards (depending on how fast you work!) and envelopes. You may bring your own pressed flowers, or choose from my selection. (Ages 10+, children must be accompanied by supervising adult.)
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Resin Flower Barrette / Keychain Workshop
Dates: Fri 4/24 (6-6:45 pm), Sun 4/26 (1-1:45 pm)
Learn how to use UV resin to make small dried flower pieces: barrettes or alphabet keychains. You’ll leave with two pieces (your choice, so you could do one each of the barrettes and keychains, or just do two barrettes, etc.) You may bring your own pressed flowers, or choose from my selection. (Ages 10+, children must be accompanied by supervising adult.)
APRIL EVENTS
Friday 4/3, 4-4:45 pm: Flower Preservation Workshop ($25)
Friday 4/3, 6-6:45 pm: Flower Preservation Workshop ($25)
Saturday 4/4, 9-11 am: Yarn Circle Meet-up
Saturday 4/4, 4-4:45 pm: Flower Preservation Workshop ($25)
Sunday 4/5, 10 am-12 pm: Garden Club
Sunday 4/5, 1-1:45 pm: Flower Preservation Workshop ($25)
Friday 4/10, 4-4:45 pm: Flower Paper Bookmark Workshop ($30)
Friday 4/10, 6-6:45 pm: Flower Paper Bookmark Workshop ($30)
Saturday 4/11, 9-11 am: Yarn Circle Meet-up
Saturday 4/11, 4-4:45 pm: Flower Paper Bookmark Workshop ($30)
Sunday 4/12, 10 am-12 pm: Serendib Cowriting
Sunday 4/12, 6-6:45 pm: Flower Paper Bookmark Workshop ($30)
Friday 4/17, 4-4:45 pm: Stamped Greeting Card Workshop ($25)
Friday 4/17, 6-6:45 pm: Flower Greeting Card Workshop ($35)
Saturday 4/18, 9-11 am: Yarn Circle Meet-up
Saturday 4/18, 4-4:45 pm: Flower Greeting Card Workshop ($35)
Sunday 4/19, 10 am-12 pm: Serendib Cowriting
Sunday 4/19, 1-1:45 pm: Flower Greeting Card Workshop ($35)
Friday 4/24, Resin Flower Barrettes/Keychain Workshop ($35)
Friday 4/24, 7-9 pm: Board Game Night
Saturday 4/25, 9-11 am: Yarn Circle Meet-up
Saturday 4/25, 1-7pm: Dive Bar Soap GRAND OPENING! Join Dive Bar Soap company for their grand opening on Saturday, inside Serendib House. Light snacks and drinks will be served, and sample bags will be available, while supplies last.
Sunday 4/26, 9-11 am: Serendib Cowriting
Sunday 4/26, 1-1:45 pm: Resin Flower Barrettes/Keychain Workshop ($35)
ARCHIVED EVENTS
Saturday 3/28, 9-11 am: Yarn Circle Meet-up
Sunday 3/22, 5-7 pm: Serendib Book Club
Sunday 3/22, 9-11 am: Serendib Cowriting
Saturday 3/21, 9-11 am: Yarn Circle Meet-up
Saturday 3/14, 9-11 am: Yarn Circle Meet-up
Saturday 3/7, 9-11 am: Yarn Circle Meet-up
Friday 2/27: Grand Opening Weekend (Store open 1 – 7)
2 – 2:30 pm: Storytime — Mary Anne will read some of her favorite picture books.
3 pm: Ribbon-Cutting
7-9 pm: monthly board game night (all are welcome, ages 14+)
Saturday 2/28: Grand Opening Weekend (Store open 9 – 6)
9 – 11 am: Yarn circle — Join us for our weekly yarn circle!
12 – 2 pm: Mimosas and samosas: Kick off Saturday’s festivities with mango mimosas, non-alcoholic mango punch, and spicy samosas.
1 pm: First raffle drawing
3 – 4 pm: Free card-making workshop: Stop in for a little creative treat — we’ll have supplies on hand for making stamped and embossed cards. Kids welcome (with supervision).
5 – 6:30 pm: Meet the artists reception: We’re delighted to feature artwork by Jane Sirinek, Michael Doyle, and Stephanie Bailey. Stop by and meet the artists! Light refreshments will be served.
6 pm: Second raffle drawing
Sunday 3/1: Grand Opening Weekend (Store open 9 – 5)
9 – 11 am: Monthly garden club meet-up and seed / cuttings / perennial exchange (all are welcome)
12 – 1 pm: Free flower preservation workshop — learn how to press, dehydrate, and use silica gel to preserve flowers
1 pm: Final raffle drawing
2 – 3 pm: Free UV resin / two-part epoxy resin talk — I’ll talk you through working with UV resin and two-part epoxy resin (this is NOT a hands-on workshop, but we’ll have lots of examples for you to look at)
4 – 5 pm: Poetry circle — bring a poem to share as we close out the weekend; it can be one you’ve written, or a favorite by someone else. Nature poems particularly encouraged.
Saturday 2/21, 9-11 am: Yarn Circle Meet-up
Saturday 2/14, 9-11 am: Yarn Circle Meet-up
Sunday 2/8: Beginner Crochet Class
Saturday 2/7, 9-11 am: Yarn Circle Meet-up
Hosted a pop-up in December by Bungalow Garden + Home (by Tomato Lady Oak Park)
Saturday 12/20, 4-7 pm: Bungalow Garden + Home pop-up
Friday 12/19, 4-7 pm: Bungalow Garden + Home pop-up
Saturday 12/13, 3-7 pm: Wine Walk in Arts District
Saturday 12/13, 4-7 pm: Bungalow Garden + Home pop-up
Friday 12/12, 4-7 pm: Bungalow Garden + Home pop-up
Saturday 12/6, 6-10 pm, at Mary Anne’s home, 332 Wisconsin Ave., OP: ICIRR benefit, featuring Three to Tango and Sway Dance Chicago — live music and a tango lesson.
Saturday 12/6, 4-7 pm: Bungalow Garden + Home pop-up
Friday 12/5, 4-7 pm: Bungalow Garden + Home pop-up
Saturday 11/29, 12-4 pm: Bungalow Garden + Home pop-up
Friday 11/20, 6-9 pm: Whistlemania 2.5: a whistle kit-making party.
Wednesday 11/19, 7-9 pm: The Community Exchange: hosting a wreath-making workshop fundraiser for A House in Austin.
Saturday 11/15, 10-6: Women’s Clothing Swap
Friday 11/14, 7-9 pm: Whistlemania 2.5: a whistle kit-making party.
Friday 11/14, 10-6: Women’s Clothing Swap
Sunday 11/9, 3:30-5 pm: Community singing circle — all are welcome.
Saturday 11/8, 11 a.m. – 2 pm: Hearts in Motion: collecting care items, uplifting letters, and holiday packages for unhoused members at K.L.E.O. and Franciscan Shelter, as well as comfort items for families whose loved ones have been detained — all are welcome.