CRAFT

I’ve had many artistic aspirations over the years that involve dining room table projects, Pinterest fails, glitter catastrophes and lately, the ubiquitous «drink and paint» nights where I soon discover I will not be the next Dali. As someone who eaten around half-​finished pinspired projects for weeks on end before scrapping them, I can tell you that this will restore faith in your own creativity.
I joined a group of gals here for a dreamcatcher night. (This is already MUCH cooler than painting by numbers.) I walked in, bottle of wine in hand and heard my inner voice whisper… «oooooooooohhhh.» Paints and pots and beads and baubles and jars full of sparkly things and feathers and old glass bottles. All the crafty shit you love in one place… but like, not in your closet.
As we had wine, Ellie took us through how to make dreamcatchers. They’re the perfect level of difficulty. Each person made a dreamcatcher their own way… some were sweet and feminine, others brightly colored and outrageous. One girl made hers with leather and glitter and another person’s looked straight out of Free People. As we crafted, we chatted and poked around for the perfect shiny bits or silky string. It’s legitimately the only time in recent memory where no one touched their phone for a good three hours.
This is $ 10/​hour to craft to your hearts content using whatever you come across in the store. If you’d prefer a more regular craft experience, they’ve got a limited number of «all you can craft» memberships for $ 30/​month. I’d suggest scheduling a little craft sesh to see where your imagination takes you.

CRAFT is so much fun! The staff are great, and extremely helpful. I went with a group of people, and we all did our own crafts, it was so fun to see what everyone created at the end and appreciate how different everyone’s artwork was! Will definitely be returning!

I live around the corner from Craft and I will have to frequent this place more often. I popped in with some friends a few days ago for my 25^th Birthday. We grabbed a few bottles of wine and walked in to Craft not knowing what to expect.
Two silly little dogs and the owner greeted us when we walked in and Eli the owner gave of us a little tour of the stations.
I was a bit overwhelmed by all the options I had but Eli was very helpful with questions about paint and crafting tools. A bottle of wine later I had an amazing project completed.
Looking around at my friends I could tell they were having a great time as well. I feel like every adult should take some time to explore the creative side at Craft, it made me feel like a kid again.
I’m so excited for my next visit!

I literally live around the corner from Craft and now I am annoyed that I haven’t stopped by sooner.
It was my room mates 25^th birthday and we grabbed some wine and headed over.
The owner was amazing (just like the reviews promised) and we had SUCH A GOOD TIME. Like, seriously. It was a blast. We even had plans to go dancing afterwards but we expended so much energy crafting a variety of creations that we were knackered.
The five of us created
— A Yankee Logo built out of Jenga blocks (for Dave, first time crafting!)
— A trippy space galaxy collage
–A canvas /​trophy platform
— Gorgeous plates on a plate rack
— A funky wine bottle face.
Sorry Eli, you are going to be seeing a whole lot more of us in the future.
Great way to spend a couple of hours

I am the Director of Volunteers & Interns for a nonprofit, so a creating a healthy community and unified team is an essential part of my job and a crucial part of keeping our organization functioning. Our team of staff, volunteers and interns spent the afternoon creating sustainable valentines at Craft. Spending an afternoon out of the office and immersing ourselves in a creative way allowed us to bond and create community in a way that we hadn’t before. Eli was helpful by providing us with all of the supplies needed and allowed us to bring whatever food and drinks we wanted. By the end of the afternoon, we felt more like a team than just coworkers, and I owe that all to Eli and the amazing atmosphere she created at Craft. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone who is wanting to build unity and friendship among their coworkers.

These guys went above and beyond for my Bachelor Party!!! I reached out to them 2 months before my big weekend. They worked with me week-​by-​week to plan an awesome shocker for my friends! I cant speak highly enough of the staff and experience. Great job guys!!!

What a unique, cool spot! My friend that lives out of town actually found this place on the internet somewhere when she was planning activities for my bachelorette party.
We ended up having CRAFT for our own private event. There was 12 of us at the Craft house and it was the perfect size. It is BYOB if you would like to bring your own beverages. My friends had actually put together some snacks and wine for the event. We ended up doing a screen printing class as a group. I really did not know what to expect.
So Eli is the owner of CRAFT and hosted our group. She started out by introducing herself and her awesome business. Then she moved on to talking about screen printing. Now I can be crafty if I need to, but I had never actually screen printed like this. My vision of a screen print was when you go to the beach and pick a print from the wall and have it put on a tshirt. This was NOT what we were doing. We were encouraged to come up with our own designs and then there is a process of using an exacto knife. Then there is a frame with a screen and paint … I mean I could go on and on or you could come experience Eli show you how to do it! She is definitely the expert.
Eli was very understanding and encouraging to peoples levels of artistry. She was willing to help you understand the concepts of what we were trying to achieve and carry through. She was a great teacher. She was clear with her delivery and instructions. If you messed up it was not a big deal and she made you feel good about it, your individuality and the art you had created.
Eli’s little shop is really cool and she has pretty much everything you could possibly imagine to do anything crafty. When she does not have a private event, she charges $ 10 an hour for you to come in and craft away. You get to use all their supplies and go where ever your creativity may take you! I have bought craft supplies before and this is a great deal in my opinion!
This ended up being the perfect little spot to start my bachelorette festivities. I highly recommend checking CRAFT out and finding your inner artist or crafty mccrafterson that is just waiting to explode out!

I was in Austin for the Nonprofit Technology Conference with my LinkedIn nonprofit team and we decided to have a team off-​site at CRAFT. It could not have been more fun!
We started our off-​site pretty early in the morning, and Elisabeth was extremely accommodating, providing us with coffee, tea, snacks, etc, and letting us play with her adorable pups. The space was a perfect size for our very spread-​out 16 person group and we could have fit a lot more people.
The first half of our day was a meeting that didn’t technically involve crafts, but I didn’t hesitate to take some crayons to the scratch paper that lined the table. Elisabeth had set up some computer monitors, which we didn’t end up using, but it was nice to have them available. Since it’s a craft studio, there’s outlets hanging down from the ceiling so we could all easily plug in our laptops and it turned out to be a great space for a meeting.
The afternoon is when we got into the really fun part and we each created a craft based on the very, very broad direction we were given. This gave us free-​range to pull items from the shelves filled with trinkets, figurines, beads, trophies, googly eyes, glitter, paint, oil pastels… you name it. We pulled out the glue guns and even some power tools and got to work, with Elisabeth and her friend helping us wherever needed, even if it was just for some inspiration.
By the end of it, as I started to clean up my space, Elisabeth insisted that I leave my mess for them to clean up. This gave us some extra time to present our crafts to each other and take pictures.
While I don’t live in Austin, I would LOVE to have a place like this near my home for those one-​off craft projects where you need some supplies but maybe not a set of 100 googly eyes, or want to paint and use glitter without destroying your home. I cannot recommend CRAFT enough, especially for corporate outings because it really does bring out the kid in everyone and it’s a perfect multi-​purpose space for groups. Thank you for everything, Elisabeth!

I had a girls night birthday party at Craft and it was so fun! Elisabeth put together a custom dream catcher event for us. She was so nice and helpful and it’s BYOB which helps with the crafty shy. Highly recommended and can’t wait to go back!

I’ve never left a Unilocal review, but this was SO awesome. Elisabeth ran a screen printing class on a Saturday afternoon for my friends and I for my bridal shower.
It was amazing. So fun. She is a great teacher, and the things we created – tote bags, tea towels, t-​shirts, and standard prints on paper – were all unique and memorable. Plus for the cool things you get, the price is a steal.
I don’t live in Austin, but the next time I’m in town I will definitely make a stop here!

I was introduced to the studio in a very strange context. Looking for a place to print my son’s picture for a document I knocked on Elisabeth’s door and I had one of the most pleasant surprises since I am in Austin.
My picture problem was solved in few minutes (this is definitely not their core business) and I had the opportunity to know and talk about how art comes alive there.
More than a business, an important place to keep people’s creativity alive.

Best. Idea. Ever. I took a Saturday morning screen printing workshop so I could finally learn how to use my screen printing kit I’ve had for nearly two years. The time spent there was better than an hour of therapy or working out or yoga or a hike through the greenbelt AND I got to bring home a ton of prints, a t-​shirt, and a little pencil bag featuring my work. With glitter. I didn’t even have to clean up after myself too much, which really makes it all worthwhile, even if the whole experience hadn’t been so amazing.
Elisabeth is crafty, cool, and obviously a genius for opening this place. She really believed I could free-​hand draw a unicorn and I did, with her encouragement. It actually looks really impressive. She’s still adding different types of crafts so I can’t wait to see what else there is to work on.
Once I can leave the house again after dark, some time after my baby daughter starts sleeping regularly, I fully intend to take advantage of the BYOB nighttime crafting sessions.

I think some people spy the house on 1^st as they drive down to the Gordough’s (we both know that’s where you are going) and they think to themselves, «I wonder what that funny little house is? Is it like a craft store? I’m not very crafty.»
CRAFT is more than just a craft store. It is art therapy. You don’t even have to clean up the piles of glitter you are sure to get everywhere! Featuring a miniature junk yard, you are free to create to your heart’s content. $ 10 is a bargain.
I got a lawn flamingo, covered it in three (THREE!) Kinds of glitter and hot glued some yarn to it. Was I judged? No! Was I ashamed of it? No! (Well, maybe a little). Did I create something awesome with basically no crafting skills? Yes! Did I have fun? Absolutely, yes!
It is places like CRAFT that makes Austin the city that it is.

I had my birthday party here a couple months ago with about 10 of my friends. It was great — plenty of table space to work, they let us bring in food, tons of random supplies available (I brought a few of my own, too), reasonably priced.
Even my not-​so-​crafty friends got inspired and found something to make. One gal hand stamped her own wrapping paper, others made cards or silly collages, we learned how to use the cool embossing powder and how to melt crayons in glue guns! Everyone had a great time and Elizabeth, the owner, was so sweet and helpful.
Best part was — I didn’t even have to clean up the mess! It was a nice, stress-​free, party for me and and everyone got to go home with something fun they had made.

I came here seriously not expecting to like it (my «art libido» has been low lately), and I walked away very glad that I came.
You pay $ 10/​hour (30 minutes free with the Unilocal app!), and you essentially get to go nuts, and make a mess. They have bits and bobs, random books, pieces of paper, beads (of all shapes and sizes), shells, Legos, and more. You just grab what you want, and make stuff with it.
At first, I was lost: «WTF am I going to make with this random stuff?» Then, I found a miniature dinosaur. The light bulb went off, and I picked up a plain wooden block, then grabbed: glitter, purple paint, a hot glue gun, and no less than 20 giant «jewels.» The end result is awesome, and I had a lot of fun. Next time, I’m going to pack wine and snacks.

This place is super fun! As people have said, you can craft to your heart’s desire with no clean up! My boyfriend & I came here not sure what to expect and it was overwhelming. I had no idea what to make and there are so many things to see! So after thinking about it for what seemed like forever I settled on an idea. They only charge you when you start crafting so you can take your time deciding. From there they charge by the hour for unlimited access to all their stuff (they have a lot!). I’d recommend coming with an idea in mind (unlike me). You can even bring something you’d like to paint/​decorate/​craft. I think I would do that next time! There is no shortage of glitter here and it’s also BYOB. The owner was super cool and she has an awesome paint tattoo (ask to see it!). This is certainly a perfectly Austin original date idea or a fun place to go with friends.

I first discovered this place not too long after they opened last year, and I wish I could go back even more frequently than I already have. The website can give you a good idea of what the place is, but until you go you can’t really get it. Your first reaction is probably like mine was: «wow what a cool idea! Too bad I’m not really crafty…». But you have to just go there to realize nobody cares how «artistic» you are, and everything about CRAFT is structured to cater towards you finding your own zone and feeling good about getting your hands dirty, creating something yourself. And suddenly hours have passed and you realize you’ve had a blast and hey, you made something awesome too! And then you’re hooked.
CRAFT is magical. It’s about more than «just» arts and crafts: it’s a little pocket of tranquility in south Austin — the ultimate no-​judgement zone! Its owner, Elisabeth, is a rare, genuine soul: spend some time in the shop and you’ll see how completely she pours her heart into making CRAFT the amazing thing that it is.
Don’t ever stop, CRAFT — keep being awesome.

Craft is a gem of a business on South 1^st Street between Monroe and Annie. The owner Eli and her business partner, Simone, are both highly passionate about Craft and the endless amount of creativity that’s possible. This place is exactly what Austin needs when I comes to self-​expressive and individual design! Craft is such a sweet and special place for pretty much any event ranging from children’s birthday parties, a fun bachelorette outing, and even a low key date night. My husband and I always look forward to our adventures at Craft. Try it out as soon as you have the opportunity. We look forward to seeing this place grow and gather a local following.

Walking into the petite Craft house, my girlfriend and I didn’t know what to expect. We thought «Why make crafts here when you can just make them at home?»
In the house, we saw random glass Coke bottles, old doors and windows, canvases, and a tire rim (say what?). Upon arrival, Elisabeth, the owner, gave us a fun and unique tour of the house. My brain was spinning wildly from all the different inspiring craft decorations. I loved how Craft reused old materials to create unique objects and used them as decorations throughout the house (the black widow spider ceiling light, glass table filled with marbles, etc.).
Putting on an apron, I felt like a true artist. At first I shyly grabbed random materials, unsure of what to make. But minutes later the people around me were in their own zone; people started painting, gluing things, making ornaments, creating cards, etc. which was an awesome sight to see. I love how Craft provides all the tools and materials for everyone. If you think about it, utilizing Craft’s space is far cheaper and convenient than buying all the materials yourself. My girlfriend was obsessed with the scoring board, which helped her make little place cards. Even though my finished project didn’t turn out the way I imagined I am still very proud of it and immediately hung it on my wall when I got back home. Another great thing about Craft is that they clean up for you afterwards; no need to put away any of the materials you used. Craft is a place where you just have to go to understand the concept, how it works, and why it’s awesome.
I want to thank Elisabeth, Colin, and Rebecca for the help and inspiration in making this a fun crafty event. Elisabeth… we will definitely be back! Elmer’s Glue rules!!!

Well this business on South 1^st seems new in town
But Alison L. had seen it around
It seemed really tight, and I wanted to know
I was feeling pretty artsy and I wanted to go
It’s CRAFTy, it’s in town
I’m crafty, I’m always down
I’m crafty, might make a kite,
It’s CRAFTy and it’s just my type
I love to create but hate the mess
That’s why CRAFT is totally the best
They straight up told me, «My place, not yours!
Let’s create some crafts behind closed doors»
I got to CRAFT, Elisabeth and Colin said
I could make whatever I wanted, whatever was in my head
They said a little something about glitter and glue
They have lots of supplies, I even saw a shoe
It’s CRAFTy, it’s here in town
I’m crafty, I’m always down
I’m crafty, might make a kite,
It’s CRAFTy and it’s just my type
It’s CRAFTyyyy

Recipe for success? Perhaps! This place is neat because it has the tools and most of the supplies you need to make something crafty. Better yet you don’t have to worry about cleaning up the glitter at the table at your house instead you can make everything sparkle and someone else will clean it up! It is a workshop away from home for anything crafty. If you can cut it, glue it together, paint it, stamp it, and more, this is the place to do it.
Their plans: workshops that have a focus, free for all crafting, craft parties and more. Leave your to do list and chores for later and take in some free creative time for yourself here!

This place is super Austiny awesome. You basically just walk in and create any art project you can think of. Picture an explosion of hot glue guns, ink stamps, colorful pens, and all things sparkly. Pay by the hour, use as much as you want, and the best part is that you don’t have to clean up after yourself!
I had the pleasure of working with Colin during my visit and he is truly fantastic — friendly, funny, helpful, artistic. I had exactly zero project ideas so we browsed Pinterest together and decided to make a card and then make some crayon art on a canvas. I had a blast just chatting and gluing junk together for an hour, I found it extremely cathartic.
It’s one of those places that really is good for all ages and personalities. Colin even told me that they just hosted a bachelor party who came in to paint a nude model — that’s some next level brotime right there. It’s a perfect place to paint, glue, cut, create, and well… CRAFT.