Amanda Romero
Amanda Romero is a multidisciplinary artist and instructor based in Colorado Springs, originally from the vibrant, bustling city of Houston in southern Texas. She studied photography in college in Denver, focusing on beauty and fashion and later expanding into product photography and professional headshots. Her creative path has taken her across the United States, gathering inspiration from each place she’s called home.
Throughout her life, Amanda has always loved teaching, whether in a business setting, in the kitchen, or in the studio. She finds joy in the moment when someone tries something new and realizes they can do it. That spark of happiness is why she teaches with patience, encouragement, and a gentle, hands-on approach, especially when she is guiding people through unfamiliar skills.
She founded Afton Oak Studio as a warm, welcoming space for people who want to slow down, work with their hands, and discover the joy of making something from scratch. Amanda’s workshops are designed to be gently challenging and deeply supportive. Students are invited to step outside their comfort zone, knowing they will be met with guidance and a space where it is safe to explore, experiment, and create.
When she is not in the studio, you will usually find Amanda working on a new craft, following a thread of curiosity into another technique or medium. Nature, movement, and everyday moments are constant sources of inspiration in her art and in the way she designs each class experience.
Amanda’s practice spans multiple disciplines, and that curiosity is reflected in the variety of workshops she offers at Afton Oak Studio. She currently teaches and explores cyanotype, macramé, weaving, embroidery, terrariums, sun catchers, photography, pottery, and mixed media, and she is always learning new crafts to bring into the studio. Each class is an invitation to expand your world, learn something new, and leave with a piece that feels uniquely yours.
Story of Afton Oak Studio
Growing up in Houston, Texas, Amanda spent long days in the dappled shade of the oak trees that lined her neighborhood streets, in an area known for having just the right conditions for these trees to thrive, especially willow and live oaks. Those trees—arching, wide-spreading, and deeply rooted—quietly shaped how she thinks about creative work: slow, patient, and built to last.
After moving to Colorado Springs, she went looking for a place to make things. She wanted more than a loud, crowded studio focused on a single craft. She imagined a cozy, welcoming environment with good materials, a caring guide, and projects that anyone could try, even without prior experience. When she could not find a space offering versatile, beginner-friendly classes across different mediums, she decided to create one herself.
Afton Oak Studio grew out of that wish: a small, hands-on workshop space where adults can explore a range of mediums and crafts in an intimate, supportive setting. Classes are intentionally kept small, with plenty of time to learn, play, and feel genuinely proud of what they have made.
Rooted in community and growth, Afton Oak Studio helps people explore new mediums, build confidence, and create meaningful work. Like the oak, the studio is designed to foster strength, growth, and connection—inviting people to create with confidence, curiosity, and ease.
The name “Afton Oak” comes from Amanda’s childhood neighborhood in Houston, a place where those old oak trees grew and where her love of slow, grounded creativity first took root. It felt right for this studio: rooted in memory, growing in a new place, and offering others a chance to put down their own creative roots.
Photo source: https://aftonoaks.org/AFTON OAK VALUES
SLOW MAKING
In a world built for speed, the studio deliberately slows things down. Every class is unhurried, and every piece takes time. Afton Oak is a place to move at a human pace, with room for process and care.
ROOTED IN COMMUNITY
Afton Oak Studio is shaped by the people who gather here. It is a place for neighbors, friends, and new faces to come together, share time at the table, and build a creative community that feels welcoming and supportive.
ACCESSIBLE CRAFT
Anyone can learn to make something beautiful. Amanda designs every class to be approachable, clear, and achievable, with no gatekeeping and no expectation that you already know what you are doing. It is a space where people can gather, try new things, and grow their confidence through hands-on making.
MADE BY HAND
Everything sold in the shop, and everything made in workshops, is created by hand. There is no shortcut for that, and Amanda would not want one. The studio honors the texture, imperfections, and honesty of handmade work.
If Afton Oak Studio sounds like a place you would like to spend time, you are invited to join us at the table. Whether you are brand new to making or already have a favorite craft, there is space here for you to explore, learn, and grow.
Explore upcoming hands-on workshops designed to be approachable, beginner-friendly, and deeply satisfying, with small groups and plenty of guidance.
We would love to make something with you.
COME MAKE SOMETHING WITH US
JOIN US IN THE STUDIO