A few weeks ago, Stephen and I had the BEST date night at AR Workshop
in Worthington. It is hard to come up with a good date night while pregnant with triplets (especially something we both are super excited about), but, this solved that dilemma. I love ‘arts & crafts’ and Stephen loves building things. This was the perfect combination.
While I would love to take the credit for planning this, I can’t. Jen, the owner of the Worthington location, reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in coming in! Of course I said, “YES!”
Jen is the type of person you instantly feel like you know, even though email. When I walked through the doors, she gave me a big hug. I introduced Stephen as if I already knew her, even though it was the first time I had met her in “real life.” Another thing you instantly notice is her passion for what she does! She has a corporate marketing/retail background, but, while she was on maternity leave – she decided to take a leap of faith into one of her other passions – DIY projects! I feel like she is the child of Pinterest and Etsy in real life. She credits the passion to her mom, who is equally if not even more crafty than she is!
If you aren’t familiar with AR Workshop, let me give you a quick overview. They are a boutique style, {franchised} DIY studio – focusing on creating wood signs, canvas pillows, wall hangings, framed signs, wood boxes, lazy susans and more! They have all of the supplies and tools you will need. All you need to bring is yourself and maybe a bottle of wine. Yes, that’s right – it’s BYOB. I brought water on the rocks and a few beers for my husband.
If you’ve done the ‘DIY Paint’ class and had little success (raising my hand), you might be a bit turned off by this idea. The paint classes always promise you that ‘everyone is a painter’ and ‘it will look like the painting you choose.’ While I believe everyone is a painted, I disagree that it will look like the painting you choose. I get SO frustrated during those classes because mine usually ends up looking like a hot mess. Pretty sure all my ‘masterpieces’ are packed away somewhere in the basement. Hoping they’re never making an appearance ever again.
Now, AR Workshop is DIY (with the help of great assistants), but, what you choose is what you are going to create. If you look at an idea online, that is what you’re going to get. They give you all the tools and help you need to make your DIY dreams come true. Am I lying? No, not at all. I promise (99% promise because sometimes people don’t follow the rules) that what you envision is going to be what you take home.
(Keep in mind as you read through the different steps, your experience may differ. It depends on which project you choose)
Step 1
The first step is to pick out what you want to make. As I mentioned before, you can choose from wood signs, canvas pillows, wall hangings, framed signs, wood boxes, lazy susans and more! There are two main ways to choose what to do. One – you can stop into their shop and get inspiration from her shop. Two – you can go online and browse the different projects. You choose your project before you go in. If you didn’t, believe me, you would be there for an extra three hours. It is so hard to choose!
Step 2
After choosing your project and picking your time online (you also pre-pay), your next step is head to the studio! When you walk in, Jen (owner) or one of her assistants will greet you. They will already have your seat picked and your supplies ready to go. Yep, that’s right. You don’t even have to collect your supplies when you get there. I loved that we each had a roomy work space. Close enough for conversation, but, far enough away to not bump into each other.
Step 3
Once you find your table and supplies, you will chat with your assistant. While you pick out your project before hand, you will have a few more decisions when you get there. You will need to pick out your paint/stain colors. If you aren’t sure (raises hand), there is a ton of inspiration around you + the assistant is a great person to bounce ideas off of.
I chose to do paint and Stephen chose to stain his project, followed by a white wash. If you’re thinking, “What was a pregnant person doing in a roomful of paint and staining?” Don’t worry. They have their own like of non-toxic stains and paints which means NO odor and NO headache!
Step 4
After the paint is dry (they have a blow dryer you can use to speed it up), it’s time for the stencil. This is where ‘picking your project before hand’ comes into play. They have a fancy machine that prints your custom stencil before you arrive. With the help of an assistant, you lay down the stencil.
Once it is smoothed out (they have a tool for that), you pick out the insides of the letters. Once you have the letters peeled out, you paint over the stencil.
Once the paint is dry, you might have to do a little more work peeling off the inside parts of the letters, such as ‘a’ or ‘o’. Don’t worry, they also have a tool for that!
Step 5
Just a bit more staining if you choose to do something similar to mine. Once you finishing staining and drying your frame, it’s time to use the nail gun! This may have been my favorite part. Ha. I have never used one before, but, I loved the power behind it. I instantly thought about adding it to my amazon wish list. Oh, the possibilities. Keep in mind, not all projects utilize the nail gun. Think wisely when choosing! ๐
Step 6
The last step is to ‘ooo and ahh’ over your completed project!
Reasons Why I loved AR Workshop
- The atmosphere is great. You might not think this would be the most relaxing environment, but, really it is. Everything is at your own pace. You’re at a table with the people you come with. It’s not loud, making it easy to have a conversation.You have wine, if you choose to bring it. It’s fun. It’s different. Plus, the staff from owner to assistants are PHENOMENAL. Such amazing energy! You can tell this is their passion!
- I’ve said it before, but, using the nail gun is great. I think it might be a stress reliever! Ha.
- I love that they guide you every step of the way. It is not like other DIY studio’s you’ve been too. You have someone walking around helping, as well as an individual helper at each table. Any questions you have, they are there to answer them. They don’t make you feel bad for not knowing how to do something or not knowing where something is. They want you to have a great experience.
- I absolutely love that they have non-toxic stains and paints. First, being pregnant, I didn’t want to be stuck in a room full of smelly paints and stains. Second, even if I wasn’t pregnant, I wouldn’t want to be in a room filled with that. When you’re at the studio, there might be 10 other project going and your won’t smell a think. Wait, not true. The yummy candle they have burning – you might smell that!
- In the end, the goal is to create a DIY project. Not just any project, a gorgeous project that you are PROUD of. There is no reason to pay xx amount of money if you’re not going to love your project! I guarantee if you take the time to pick a project and listen to the instructions they give, you’re going to love what you make.
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Tip
While you can bring food, I am glad we didn’t. I would have been too distracted. With that being said, I can’t wait to go back in the spring with my girlfriends – bottle of wine in hand. I suggest hitting up The Whitney House for happy hour before your assigned time if it is during the week. They have a fantastic happy hour from 3-6pm. Bonus: It is right across the street, making it very convienent.
P.S.
How cute is this sign that Jen, the owner, made for me. It was such a sweet surprise when I arrived. We can NOT wait to come back and make our next project. Thinking signs for the girls room? Hopefully it will be sooner than later. If not sooner, we already have a girls day planned for the spring, which includes all things Worthington.
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Address:ย 695 High Street, Worthington, OH 43085
Email:ย worthington@ARWORKSHOP.COM
Phone: ย (614) 721-5057
