A creative morning in Cardedeu with cyanotype, local food, and an easy train ride from the city.
Sometimes you just need to get out of Barcelona for a few hours.
Not in a dramatic way. Not for a full weekend escape. Just enough to see a bit of green, walk somewhere quieter, meet a few new people, and come back with the feeling that you did something with your day.
That is what Made My Día offers.
Based in Cardedeu, around 35–40 minutes from Barcelona by train, the project was started by Joanna Steele, an artist and event organiser originally from London. Her idea is simple but very thoughtful: take people slightly outside the usual Barcelona circuit and bring together nature, local history, Catalan culture, and hands-on creative workshops.
I joined one of the Sun Prints experiences, where you make cyanotype prints using plants, flowers, and sunlight. It was one of those mornings that felt easy from the beginning.
Meeting in Cardedeu
The day started at the train station, where Joanna met the group. That already made the logistics feel simple. You don’t need to figure out where to go once you arrive. You just get off the train and she is there.
Our group was small and international, and Joanna made everyone feel comfortable straight away. There was no awkward “group activity” energy. It felt relaxed. Like meeting someone who had planned a nice morning and was genuinely happy to share it with you.
From the station, we took a short walk through town. There was time to grab a coffee, use the restroom, and settle in before heading out into the countryside. Along the way, Joanna pointed out details about Cardedeu, its architecture, and some of the local history. It was not a formal tour, which I liked. More like someone giving you context as you walk.
Then, quite quickly, the town opened up and we were outside in the landscape.
A walk into the countryside
The walk was not strenuous. It was more of a slow countryside loop, with everyone chatting as we went.
Joanna had come very prepared. At the start, she gave us small linen bags so we could collect leaves, plants, flowers, and little natural shapes to use later in our prints. That changed the way we walked. You start looking more closely. A leaf is not just a leaf anymore. It might become part of the final image.
The weather helped too. It was sunny and bright, which is exactly what you want for cyanotype. But even without the workshop, the walk itself would have been worth it. We moved through quiet paths, with views opening up around Cardedeu, and Joanna pointed out local landmarks along the way.
Picnic in the park
The walk brought us back into town and into a large park, where Joanna prepared a picnic.
This was one of the best parts of the morning. Not because it was fancy, but because it felt cared for. There were lots of options, and everything was based around local products. We sat down, ate, talked, and had time to rest while she set up the materials for the workshop.
It gave the whole experience a good rhythm. Walk first. Then food. Then making.
Nothing felt rushed.
Making sun prints
After the picnic, Joanna explained the cyanotype process clearly. Cyanotype is an old photographic printing technique that uses light-sensitive chemistry and sunlight to create blue-toned images. You arrange objects on treated paper, expose it to the sun, rinse it, and slowly the image appears.
It feels a little bit like magic, even when you understand what is happening.
Joanna talked us through the steps, showed us how to place the leaves and flowers, and explained how the materials work. She also shared where she buys ingredients and how we could try the process ourselves later. I really appreciated that. It did not feel like a workshop where you only follow instructions and leave. You actually learn enough to take the knowledge home with you.
The making part was fairly quick, but satisfying. We used the things we had collected during the walk, arranged them into compositions, exposed the paper in the sun, and then laid the prints out to dry.
By the end, you have something physical to bring home. Not just a souvenir, but something you made from that particular morning.
What I liked about it
What I liked most was the balance.
It was social, but not forced. Creative, but not intimidating. Outdoorsy, but not a hike you have to prepare for. You get a bit of Cardedeu, a bit of countryside, a bit of local food, and a bit of art practice.
It is also a good activity if you live in Barcelona and feel like you have fallen into the same routes every weekend. The train is easy, the timing is manageable, and you are back around lunchtime or early afternoon. It does not take over the whole day.
At the same time, it would also work well for visitors who want to see something beyond the usual Barcelona version of Barcelona. No queues. No postcard checklist. Just a slower, more local morning.
About Made My Dia
Made My Dia was founded by Joanna Steele, who studied Fine Art at Central Saint Martins and has worked across art, events, and creative programming. The project brings together local artists and guides for workshops rooted in nature, craft, and Catalan culture.
The Sun Prints activity is led through Made My Dia’s creative network, with cyanotype connected to the work of Beatriz Puppo Amo, a photographer and darkroom printer based in Cardedeu. The wider project also includes painting walks, birding and mindfulness activities, and printmaking experiences inspired by local architecture.
What ties them together is the same idea: getting outside the city, paying attention, and making something with your hands.
Practical details
Cardedeu is easy to reach from Barcelona by train. You can take Rodalies toward Cardedeu from central stations such as Sants, Passeig de Gràcia, or El Clot. The journey is roughly 35–45 minutes, depending on where you start.
The Sun Prints experience lasts around four hours, from approximately 10am until 2pm. It includes a countryside walk, time to collect natural materials, local snacks, and the cyanotype workshop.
The activity is currently offered in English and Spanish, and it is suitable for people who do not consider themselves artists. You just need comfortable shoes, curiosity, and enough space in your bag to bring home your print.
During May 2026, use code FRIKIFISH to get 15% off you next workshop!
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