Oops! Art Happens Hat Bar Review: I Made My Own Cowboy Hat in LA

Oops! Art Happens kindly hosted me for this experience in exchange for editorial coverage. All opinions and experiences shared are my own.

If there’s one thing I’ll always say yes to, it’s an experience where I get to make something, have a cute night out, and leave with a souvenir I’ll actually use. And I just so happened to find exactly that at Oops! Art Happens, where I spent the evening getting creative at their Hat Bar.

Instead of simply picking out a hat, the Hat Bar lets you completely make it your own—from choosing your design and painting it by hand to adding branded details, ribbons, feathers, and all the finishing touches. I decided on a brown cowboy hat that I fully intend on wearing during my future line-dancing adventures, and after about two hours of painting, experimenting, and getting a little creative, I walked out with a hat that felt completely me.

Want to make your own? You can book the Oops! Art Happens Hat Bar here.

The Story Behind Oops! Art Happens

One of my favorite parts about visiting small businesses like Oops! Art Happens is getting to learn a little more about the person behind them.

Founder Sonya created Oops! Art Happens with the goal of building a space where people could come together, enjoy art, learn new techniques, and—most importantly—have fun being creative. You definitely feel that philosophy when you’re in the studio. It isn’t about already being “good” at art or perfectly recreating someone else’s project. It’s about learning something new while still having the freedom to make it your own.

Sonya also sells her own artwork and handmade pieces through her Oops! Art Happens Etsy shop, so if you love her work but can’t make it to a workshop, you can check out her creations online.

And there is a lot to make here. Oops! Art Happens offers more than 10 different workshops, ranging from textured ocean art and candle making to painting, mosaics, and, of course, the Hat Bar I tried.

What the Oops! Art Happens Hat Bar Is Like

The first thing I noticed when I walked into Oops! Art Happens was color. The studio is bright, vibrant, and filled with artwork, including some of Sonya’s own past projects. It immediately feels like a place where you’re supposed to play around and make something.

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And I should mention there was another very important member of the welcoming committee: Banana, quite possibly the cutest studio dog ever.

For the Hat Bar, we started by looking through some of Sonya’s previous hat designs for inspiration. We also did a little searching for designs before eventually deciding I wanted to create a blue floral design on a brown cowboy hat—the obvious choice for all of my future line-dancing adventures.

Then it was time to actually make it.

Since decorating a hat was a completely new art medium for me, Sonya walked me through which techniques and materials would work best. I started by sketching out my design with fabric markers before going back over it with acrylic paint to build up the color and detail.

I also got to experiment with a branding tool, which uses heat to imprint designs directly onto the hat. This was easily one of the coolest techniques to try because it added an entirely different texture and look to the finished design.

What I really appreciated throughout the class was the balance between instruction and creative freedom. Sonya was there whenever I needed help or wanted advice, but I never felt like I had to make my hat a certain way. She gave me the tools and guidance I needed and then let me run with my idea—which also makes the experience incredibly beginner-friendly.

Once the painting was finished, I got to choose the final details. I added ribbon with fringe around my hat and picked out a few feathers to bring everything together.

About two hours after starting with a plain brown cowboy hat, I had something completely customized—and, more importantly, something I was genuinely excited to wear.

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The Hat Bar: What to Expect

You don’t need any previous painting or art experience to do the Hat Bar. Everything you need to decorate your hat is provided, including your hat, painting supplies, decorating tools, ribbons, feathers, and instruction throughout the experience.

There were several cowboy-hat colors to choose from during my visit, including pink, purple, brown, and white. I went with brown because I wanted something I could easily style and actually wear again.

My paint dried quickly enough that I was able to take my finished hat home with me that night, so there wasn’t any awkward “how am I getting this wet painting home?” situation—which I appreciated.

My experience was a private, one-on-one class with Sonya, so keep in mind that the exact experience may look a little different during one of their group workshops.

Know Before You Go

📍 Location: 10836 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

⏰ Duration: Plan for around 2 hours

🎨 Skill Level: Beginner-friendly; no previous art experience needed

💰 Price: The Hat Bar was $120 at the time of my visit and included the hat, decorating materials, and instruction.

👯 Perfect For: Girls’ nights, date nights, birthdays, solo creative days, or anyone looking for something different to do in LA

📅 Booking: Booking at least 24 hours in advance is currently recommended

🚗 Parking: I found metered street parking right in front of the studio and had no trouble parking

👗 What to Wear: Something comfortable that you wouldn’t be devastated about accidentally getting a little paint on

👜 What to Bring: Honestly? Yourself and your creativity. Everything I needed for the project was provided.

📸 Photos: Don’t leave immediately after finishing your project! There’s an adorable photo setup toward the back of the studio that makes the perfect spot to show off your finished creation. I, of course, had to snap a few photos of my own—and get Banana to pose with me while I was at it.

Details and pricing were accurate at the time of my visit and are subject to change. Check Oops! Art Happens directly for current availability and pricing.

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Other Workshops at Oops! Art Happens

The Hat Bar is far from the only reason to visit. Oops! Art Happens offers a rotating selection of creative workshops, including experiences like Whispers of the Tide, Petal and Play, Mosaic Muse, Wax and Wicks, Lather and Luxe, Bottle of Light, and more.

Since workshops and availability can change, I recommend checking their current workshop calendar to see what’s being offered during your visit.

And I liked my first class so much that, before I had even left the studio, I was already telling Sonya I wanted to come back for Wax and Wicks next.

Is Oops! Art Happens Worth It?

For me, absolutely.

There are plenty of places in LA to grab dinner or drinks, but sometimes I want to actually do something. Oops! Art Happens gives you that same excuse to get together for a date night, girls’ night, birthday, or afternoon out, except you spend those couple of hours learning something new, being creative, and making something you get to take home afterward.

And in my case, that “something” isn't going to sit forgotten on a shelf. My cowboy hat already has plans. She will absolutely be making her debut at one of my favorite line-dancing bars in Hollywood.

I also love that this is an experience I could recommend even if you don't consider yourself particularly artistic. You don't need to show up knowing exactly what you're doing—that's part of the fun.

If you're looking for a unique thing to do in Los Angeles that goes beyond the usual dinner-and-drinks plans, this is definitely one to add to your list.

Final Thoughts

I absolutely loved my time at the Oops! Art Happens Hat Bar. I walked in with a plain brown cowboy hat and left with something completely my own—and a new art technique or two under my belt.

More than anything, I loved having the freedom to be creative while still having Sonya there to guide me whenever I needed a little help. The entire experience felt relaxed, welcoming, and genuinely fun.

And yes, I left with the perfect hat for my next line-dancing night.

Yeehaw. 🤠

Ready to make your own? Check current Oops! Art Happens workshops and book your experience.