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Where To Get Crafty in NYC, From Supply Stores to Classes

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There's something about spring that unleashes a creative bug—maybe it's all those flowers popping up that are just begging to be drawn and painted (well, the flowers that will be popping up). But not all of us are bonafide artists once we get behind an easel or a sketch pad, and not all of us even have easels and sketch pads handy. Of course, New York has several solutions to that.

After the jump, we've mapped out 29 places to get your arts & crafts on, whether that's taking classes in painting, knitting, or jewelry making to hone your skills (or just have a good time), or picking out supplies to do your own project. Since doing art projects if you're not a serious artist often has a little-kid connotation, we've stuck to places that have a healthy offering of adult-only classes. Start planning out your masterpiece now.


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Michael's

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The big box chain is making a major move into the thick of Manhattan with an additional location on Sixth Avenue. While we wait for that to open, head uptown to shop for supplies, as well as attend in-store classes for painting, knitting, and cake decorating. [Photo]

The Art Studio NY

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The Art Studio bills their classes as suitable for anyone ages two through 102. Adult classes have names like "Dare to Oil Paint" and "Fear Free Drawing," guaranteeing a stress-free atmosphere where you can let your creative freak flag fly. Outside of their Upper West Side studio, they also offer drawing classes at the Met. [Photo]

Make Meaning

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Though this Upper East Side craft spot, which also has a location on the other side of the park, has an emphasis on family fun—parents can paint a mug for just $10 with children in tow—there's also plenty of kid-free options. Consider taking classes in candle making, jewelry, or canvas painting.[Photo]

Paper Source

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Your first thought might be that a store specializing in invitations doesn't exactly sound crafty. But with their options for customized stationery and rubber stamps, not to mention their crafting kits and in-store workshops on card making and geometric decor, you'll be surprised how much you can do with a little bit of paper. [Photo]

Brooklyn Yarn Cafe

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While their name suggests your activities are limited to knitting, crocheting, sewing, and embroidery—which, in fact, is not very limiting at all—they also offer classes in baking, soap making, and skincare products. Enough categories for you? [Photo]

Lee's Art Shop

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You'll get inspired to make a sick scrapbook just upon walking into this multi-story landmarked shop. While their offerings have expanded to furniture and lighting since their 1951 founding, the owners promise that they're dedicated to art supplies first and foremost. [Photo]

Mud Sweat Tears Pottery

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Don't worry, creating art here is a lot less painful than their name makes it sound. In fact, their upcoming pottery class combined with a wine tasting sounds like the exact opposite of painful. Check out their website for details on signing up, along with info on their one-time class sessions and multi-week packages. [Photo]

M&J Trimming

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One of several stores in a string of bead shops (pun intended) on Sixth Avenue, M&J has a standout selection of rhinestones, ribbons, buttons, and trim that add that little something extra to any DIY project. Not sure what that DIY project is? Pick up one of their craft kits. [Photo]

La Mano Pottery

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Whether it's your first time sitting down at a pottery wheel or you're an experienced thrower, this Chelsea studio is ready for you. Book an eight-week pack of classes for $300, take a one-time introductory class for $75, or book some open studio time. You can also make jewelry out of silver clay. [Photo]

Paint Along

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Forget Etsy and create your own 16" x 20" masterpiece painting in just a couple hours with a group of friends. Their online booking calendar handily shows an image of what will be painted at each class—we're liking the row of poppies and the "Starry Night" replica. [Photo]

DaVinci Artist Supply

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From Moleskine journals to Van Gogh oil paints, DaVinci's got you covered for art projects, and they offer a discount to students and teachers in store. This location opened in 2005—their second came to East 23rd Street in 2007. [Photo]

Paper Presentation

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Bet you didn't know that so many permutations of paper existed. Party details are on lock here, from customizable invitations and RSVP cards to the endless options of envelopes. Add in a craft section, and this Flatiron shop is pretty much a DIY-er's heaven. Photo]

The Ink Pad

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Put your own stamp on your work—literally—with a personalized rubber stamp from New York's only store dedicated to them. They also have an impressive collection of paper and scrapbooking materials so that you actually have something to stamp. [Photo]

Utrecht Art Supplies

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One of New York's premier art supplies store since 1949, Utrecht provides artists (and wannabes like us) with every imaginable tool for every imaginable medium. Other city locations include Soho, Chelsea, and Brooklyn. [Photo]

University Stationery

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NYU students flock to this art supply store for pens, sketchpads, and more—so that when inspiration strikes in Washington Square Park, they're armed with more than an iPhone and an Instagram account. [Photo]

Blick Art Materials

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Snicker-inducing name jokes aside, Dick Blick Art Materials is a one-stop shop for art and DIY projects. The country's oldest art supplier boasts a top-notch staff that can recommend any product you need for a competitive price. [Photo]

Downtown Yarns

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Though their East Village storefront may look skinnier than your apartment, you'll be surprised to find just how much yarn is tucked away here, ready to be knit into scarves and sweaters. Their most popular class offering is a four-week package where you pick your own item to craft with an instructor's help—and it's only $100, with materials included. [Photo]

Make Workshop

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Nothing is off-limits in this artistic lab, where classes that are currently on offer range from beginner's sewing and embroidery to shoe making and soap making. Their class index reveals even more options, like tie making, a weekend-long draping workshop, and even panty making. Be sure to say hi to Rita, the shop chihuahua. [Photo]

Purl Soho

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If you don't know what "purl" means, stop by the shop for a beginner's knitting class to learn how to craft scarves, beanies, and baby booties (aww). And if you do know what it means, check out the retail section for an awesome selection of organic yarns and books on knitting. They also offer materials for needlework, embroidery, sewing, and more. [Photo]

Soho Art Materials

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Yelp reviewers rave over this store's selection of painting supplies and sketchbooks, not to mention the friendly customer service from a staff that obviously knows what it's talking about. Beginners to seasoned vets will no doubt find what they're looking for here. [Photo]

Pearl Paint

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Update: This store is now closed. Trying to be creative on a budget? Stop into this Soho spot for more paint brushes, drawing pencils, and easels than you'll know what to do with—all at a discount. Expect to see a starving artist or two wandering around and drooling at the prices. [Photo]

Brooklyn Craft Company

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Cat Lady Craft Night, anyone? This Greenpoint shop is hosting a party on April 5 dedicated to cat-themed projects—think earrings, mugs, and even feline nail art. If you can't make it that night, or have an aversion to cats, you can take classes to create a skirt or sew a leather tote. [Photo]

Brooklyn Charm

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This jewelry design shop gives you the option to take classes with an instructor, or purchase materials to take home and play with in the comfort of your own living room. But given how complex their wire-wrapped pendants look, we'll probably be going the class path. [Photo]

Baked in Brooklyn

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No, this studio's name doesn't refer to a bakery, or some other favorite pastime of neighborhood hipsters—it refers to the ceramic pieces that you paint and then are baked with a glaze finish. Go home goods-crazy and paint mugs, bowls, plates, and dog dishes for your apartment. [Photo]

Artist & Craftsman Supply

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This employee-owned art supply store opened in Maine in 1985 and quickly expanded across the country. Other locations around the city include one in Harlem and another coming soon to Park Slope. [Photo]

Choplet Studio and Gallery

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This Williamsburg ceramics studio had us at "Sip & Spin," their two-hour Friday night class where you bring your own libations to the pottery wheel. There's also a variety of individual and packaged classes, options for open studio time, and sessions geared toward kids. [Photo]

Liloveve

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Select a handmade engagement ring or wedding band from the Williamsburg store's collection, view local artists's work in the gallery, or attend their jewelry school—options range one-day intensive ring making to workshops in wire crochet and enamel. [Photo]

Fiber Notion

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Get crafty and save the environment at the same time—founder Kat Ridel takes the unbelievable amounts of textiles that would otherwise end up in landfills and sells them for your next home project. They've recycled more than two tons of fabric in the six years that they've been open, and can call themselves a one-stop shop with their sewing materials, buttons, and trim. [Photo]

Brooklyn ARTery

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Who says that drinking-related art activities have to be relegated to Friday happy hours? This studio offers "drink and draw" classes at local Bar Chord every Wednesday. The subject? Oh, just some burlesque models. They also define "art" pretty loosely—classes include pickle-making and a medicinal weed walk through Prospect Park. [Photo]

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Michael's

The big box chain is making a major move into the thick of Manhattan with an additional location on Sixth Avenue. While we wait for that to open, head uptown to shop for supplies, as well as attend in-store classes for painting, knitting, and cake decorating. [Photo]

The Art Studio NY

The Art Studio bills their classes as suitable for anyone ages two through 102. Adult classes have names like "Dare to Oil Paint" and "Fear Free Drawing," guaranteeing a stress-free atmosphere where you can let your creative freak flag fly. Outside of their Upper West Side studio, they also offer drawing classes at the Met. [Photo]

Make Meaning

Though this Upper East Side craft spot, which also has a location on the other side of the park, has an emphasis on family fun—parents can paint a mug for just $10 with children in tow—there's also plenty of kid-free options. Consider taking classes in candle making, jewelry, or canvas painting.[Photo]

Paper Source

Your first thought might be that a store specializing in invitations doesn't exactly sound crafty. But with their options for customized stationery and rubber stamps, not to mention their crafting kits and in-store workshops on card making and geometric decor, you'll be surprised how much you can do with a little bit of paper. [Photo]

Brooklyn Yarn Cafe

While their name suggests your activities are limited to knitting, crocheting, sewing, and embroidery—which, in fact, is not very limiting at all—they also offer classes in baking, soap making, and skincare products. Enough categories for you? [Photo]

Lee's Art Shop

You'll get inspired to make a sick scrapbook just upon walking into this multi-story landmarked shop. While their offerings have expanded to furniture and lighting since their 1951 founding, the owners promise that they're dedicated to art supplies first and foremost. [Photo]

Mud Sweat Tears Pottery

Don't worry, creating art here is a lot less painful than their name makes it sound. In fact, their upcoming pottery class combined with a wine tasting sounds like the exact opposite of painful. Check out their website for details on signing up, along with info on their one-time class sessions and multi-week packages. [Photo]

M&J Trimming

One of several stores in a string of bead shops (pun intended) on Sixth Avenue, M&J has a standout selection of rhinestones, ribbons, buttons, and trim that add that little something extra to any DIY project. Not sure what that DIY project is? Pick up one of their craft kits. [Photo]

La Mano Pottery

Whether it's your first time sitting down at a pottery wheel or you're an experienced thrower, this Chelsea studio is ready for you. Book an eight-week pack of classes for $300, take a one-time introductory class for $75, or book some open studio time. You can also make jewelry out of silver clay. [Photo]

Paint Along

Forget Etsy and create your own 16" x 20" masterpiece painting in just a couple hours with a group of friends. Their online booking calendar handily shows an image of what will be painted at each class—we're liking the row of poppies and the "Starry Night" replica. [Photo]

DaVinci Artist Supply

From Moleskine journals to Van Gogh oil paints, DaVinci's got you covered for art projects, and they offer a discount to students and teachers in store. This location opened in 2005—their second came to East 23rd Street in 2007. [Photo]

Paper Presentation

Bet you didn't know that so many permutations of paper existed. Party details are on lock here, from customizable invitations and RSVP cards to the endless options of envelopes. Add in a craft section, and this Flatiron shop is pretty much a DIY-er's heaven. Photo]

The Ink Pad

Put your own stamp on your work—literally—with a personalized rubber stamp from New York's only store dedicated to them. They also have an impressive collection of paper and scrapbooking materials so that you actually have something to stamp. [Photo]

Utrecht Art Supplies

One of New York's premier art supplies store since 1949, Utrecht provides artists (and wannabes like us) with every imaginable tool for every imaginable medium. Other city locations include Soho, Chelsea, and Brooklyn. [Photo]

University Stationery

NYU students flock to this art supply store for pens, sketchpads, and more—so that when inspiration strikes in Washington Square Park, they're armed with more than an iPhone and an Instagram account. [Photo]

Blick Art Materials

Snicker-inducing name jokes aside, Dick Blick Art Materials is a one-stop shop for art and DIY projects. The country's oldest art supplier boasts a top-notch staff that can recommend any product you need for a competitive price. [Photo]