Amazing experience! Owner of the place is super friendly and sweet! Definitely would come again!read more

Went with friends for a girls' day out, and we had a great time! But honestly, a day with my…read morefriends is fun no matter what we do. The staff was helpful, encouraging, and created a really laid-back craft experience. Tips if you go: * Plan for about 4 hours for a small rug. * If it's your first time, keep your design simple--straight lines are much easier than curves. * Be prepared for tired arms and hands by the end! * If you're using the stencil projector, Apple phones seemed to connect better than other types of phones. * Bring some jams--music definitely makes the 4 hours more enjoyable. * Bring something to drink because 4 hours is a long time! Pros: Overall, it was a fun, creative, and completely new learning experience. There's a lot of talking, problem-solving, and figuring things out together while you work, so I could also see this being a really fun date-night activity. Cons: It was a little pricey at $80+ per rug. My biggest issue is the size--you end up with roughly a 1' × 1' rug, and I'm still trying to figure out what you actually do with it. It's a little too small for practical floor use and kind of heavy for wall décor. Maybe just the right size for a very firm seat cushion... lol. Bottom line: Fun experience, especially with friends, but I'd love to see a larger finished rug option for the price!

Tosca Rae showed me her studio Lively Mind Art Studio. LivelyMindArt.com What a great place to…read morecreate! Yes, they have a kiln and make pottery happen, baby! They have classes, studio time, you name it & Life sculptures (which I am a big fan of). They were open on Sunday when I popped in. They have very reasonable rates and tons of different mediums to work with. Great vibes and a very friendly environment await you. 3232 N 16th St Phoenix AZ 85016 my old stomping ground of 12 years. #livelymind #livelymindart #livelymindartstudio #toscarae

I was looking for a place near me to bring my granddaughter to create. I cant belive how lucky I…read morewas to find this place. Let me say, it's wonderful! You walk in and there's an immediate sense of calm. The owner, Tosca, is so sweet & chill, she was great explaining to Zoey how to create w clay. Zoey worked on her piece for 3 hrs! I painted a piece that was pre-made, I can't wait to see how it looks after firing it. I'm truly looking forward to going back.

A great place with outstanding hosts! Find your closest friends or those you've not had quality…read moretime with in a while. This is the experience to be relaxed, have a glass of wine (or two), listen to music, and create--even if you're challenged with a paintbrush or a bottle of glue. My wife and I along with our friends had a great night! I was skeptical at first, but we will definitely return. Wish I had a picture to share but I was the only one not taking them.

5 stars all around! Hammer and Stain is such a fantastic place for personalized gifts. Scott was…read moreable to special customize this welcome mat for my mom for her birthday! My parents loved it. At the Hammer and Stain studio I received hands-on help in setting up the stencil, choosing complementing colors, making sure I was applying the paint correctly, and lots of emotional cheering!! There are other studios around. However what makes Hammer and Stain different is the passion that Scotty and Denise put into making sure that their makers feel empowered, encouraged, and supported no matter what your creativity or skill set. They are the heart of Hammer and Stain you'll feel it as soon as you come in the door.

I purchased a gift card for my daughter. So we came in so she could have some fun designing her own…read morescent. Everyone was so nice and helpful. While I believe it was a little expensive (likely because of the area) it was to be expected. You get to smell as you go along because once you select what you want, you get the liquid that corresponds with the scent. It doesn't take long initially but depending on the time you may have to come get it the next day so account for that.

Compliments to the staff member Tina! She was kind,…read moreconsiderate, informative, and a great people person. The company itself is fun, niche, and seems to have a great culture present. The scents are also impressive. I enjoyed taking time to find new smells I like.

Super cute place! Made a reservation with a $10 deposit. It was 4 of us and we had a table waiting…read moreon us when we arrived. The table is booked for 2 hours. I love that the price for each activity is listed no matter what items you use for it. We made magnets and a planter. Cute for all ages.

Oh, this place! I can't and won't stop praising about this place. Have you ever felt so stressed in…read morelife that you are just tired of being an adult, and you just need an escape or want to be a kid again? Crafty Tomato is THE PERFECT PLACE for such escape! I was at the studio for 3 hours TWO different times, and all I did was let my brain go blank and paint and create with air clay. The vibe was so chill that I wish I could just stay there forever! The owner, Charlotte, is super sweet and was always open to chat. The most challenging part was really just mixing the right paint color to match the easily recognizable Sanrio pink and blue. When I got the color right, I was soooo happy and as if the dark clouds above my head were gone! Charlotte came to check on my artwork and I got a thumbs up! I just love this place so much and I will definitely come back again for some more art therapy!

Great time at Desert Dragon Holiday Party. As a Clay Dad we have been going to Desert Dragon…read morePottery for many years. Great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Friendly people, great ceramics made by local artists. Food, music, clay and great memories are made here. If you are a novice or master potter, it doesn't matter. Great instructors, fun time and a supportive community. Love this place!

Just for fun my husband and I signed up for pottery wheel classes (3 for each of us) neither of us…read morehad ever tried pottery. My husband is extremely creative and me; not so much. Anita was our instructor. She gives very explicit instructions and I had success fairly quickly with my small creations. I learn by following instructions. My husband's experience was not good. He had success, but Anita told him several times that he didn't listen and he wasn't following instructions (in a rather harsh tone of voice. I think she calls it as she sees it without sugar coating her instructions). My husband learns by making mistakes and figuring out what works. He wasn't given the freedom to do that in these 45 min working sessions. So, overall my experience was OK. His experience was not good. So, I cannot recommend Desert Dragon, based on our personal experiences. But I found it was a good intro to pottery and the wheel.

BEADWORLD! BEADWORLD! BEADWORLD!…read more Best place for your beads, I love their sales and selection. When you go in make sure to sign up for the email list because you'll get good deals weekly!

It's a neat store with a large variety of beads! I've been a patron for a few years. I was highly…read moredisappointed when the new lady I've never seen before treated us like savages. You're selling beads in the southwest!! Of course interested Native Americans are going to come in and see what you got! Don't be so quick to judge us all lady. Your attitude towards us was not cool at all.

I'm so glad they're in Old Town! Super fun thing to make your own candles for Mother's Day, having…read morea friend in town, girls day, etc. Their Christmas in July sale had such good deals on pre made candles.

Light + Bark is such a cute addition to Old Town, and I especially love their commitment to…read moresupporting rescue dogs! We were in town for my brother's ASU graduation, which happened to fall on Mother's Day weekend. I was searching for Mother's Day activities that didn't involve food (so much of the graduation festivities were ALL about food), and I came across Light + Bark. I decided to book a candle pouring reservation for our group of seven, and was grateful they still had availability on such a busy weekend. I've done candle pouring before, and it's been more of a private experience, where we had the space to ourselves. Light + Bark has a bit different of a layout ... the candle pouring takes place right in the middle of the shop, and felt a bit crowded at times for a larger group like ours. Even still, the instructors made us feel welcome, and encouraged us as we selected our scents! They even had free mimosas for Mother's Day, which was such a thoughtful touch to make moms feel special. The scent selection is expansive, and we especially loved the desert-themed collection. We felt the pricing was fair for the experience as well ... it's $38 for a small vessel, $48 for a medium vessel, and $58 for a large vessel. We ended up getting really into the scent mixing process, and had a great time smelling everyone's final products! The candles take two hours to set, and then you can pick them up at your convenience during regular shop hours. I'd definitely recommend this experience to anyone looking for a unique way to celebrate, and you could absolutely pair your experience with brunch reservations elsewhere in Old Town.