The low down: I mean drinks and painting, what could go wrong? super easy, fun and a great way to…read morebe more creative than you actually are! Just make sure that if you purchase a ticket in advance for others that they show up, they don't refund your money! This is the only reason I gave them a 4.

I took an acrylic pour class here one night and it was so much fun! My instructor was engaging,…read morecreative patient and kind. They do everything in their capacity to make your experience Fun and educational! You're allowed to go here with food as well as beer/wine. All kinds of people who come here this is a place where your creative juices can flow and you can just have a good time. Clearly, the owners emphasize and distressing and unplugging from the daily distractions in life. I highly recommend this business if you want to have some time for yourself or if you're genuinely want to go to learn paint or create something beautiful. This would be a great friends night/date night/mom and daughter night/ family night/solo activity.

I received a surprise gift certificate for the beginners' clay course from our kids for Christmas…read more My husband & I participated in the 3-session course (2 hours each) & loved every minute of it. Doesn't matter how crafty or creative you think you are/aren't, this experience is good for your health. So fun, informative, relaxing & productive. Jeff is a great instructor, the studio has everything you need & you'll wonder why you didn't try this out sooner. I haven't picked up our final pieces yet but we are excited to use them.

I took Intro to Wheel and loved the class. Jeff and Lisa are great and I can't wait to take another…read moreclass here!

the artist that was there was super helpful and we had a great time. The problems start when you…read moretry to pick up your projects. They tell you that you will be emailed when it's ready and should be ready in two days. Two days go by, three days go by and then you make a phone call to which you get no response. Then you email, again no response. Call again leave a message, no response. Stop by during the hours of business no one there. Call the corporate office and there are so many messages the mailbox is full. Call again and finally get a text back stop by and pick up projects. it shouldn't be this hard to pick up things that you have paid for or to get communication back. Won't go back ever

I recently ordered a door hanger DIY kit on 8/15. In an attempt to check on the status of my kit, I…read morewas told that it would be arriving 9/2 or 9/3 due to shipping notifications that this store received. On 9/4 when I tried to contact the store to schedule a pick up, I received the run around about when my kit would be delivered to me. I advised that I was willing to pick up to which they opted to ignore. This morning (9/5), I initiated contact again to attempt to schedule a pick up and was told that my kit wouldn't be arriving until 9/9 and was met with a bit of an attitude. The person I spoke with (assuming it's Amanda) is unprofessional and could use some customer service and communication training. I've frequented plenty of wine and design's throughout the triangle but this location will never get a penny of my money.

The building is beautiful. When you walk in you're surrounded by art of all types: ceramic, fibers,…read morewood, painting, etc. Parking is easy if you have an NCSU parking pass or it's after 5pm. Here's the reason why the Crafts Center earned this one star review. I enrolled in the beginning sewing class taught by Roberta. Roberta wasn't able to effectively teach all 8 students at once in my experience. For some students she was incredibly attentive and they (first time sewist) finished fabulous projects such as a jacket with set in sleeves. My experience was very different. Roberta could not help me read a beginner pattern (pull on Pietra shorts from Closet Core Patterns), shamed me for not using a Big 4 pattern (which I don't fit into for bust and hips so that wasn't an option) and making a muslin (which is super necessary for my body proportions to check fit), couldn't pivot to tell me how to adjust for high (15") waist/hip difference, or help me learn (in the last class) to sew a basic zigzag stitch. There were constant issues with the equipment in the room and basic supplies such as seam rippers were not provided (Roberta never told us to purchase them, so when I needed a seam ripper during class and there was none, I had to leave to go purchase one). Roberta chose not to wear a mask during the first session of the class (~January 2022) during an Omicron surge. I asked over email several times to talk to someone about this class so that no one else would have to have the atrocious experiences I did. They said that they reminded Roberta about the mask policy and suggested that I talk to someone at the front desk but for the two subsequent classes, there wasn't anyone at the front desk when I arrived to the building. Roberta apologized at the end of the class for not being able to teach me but the bigger question is why would the Crafts Center hire a teacher that can only teach some, but not all, students? The Crafts Center charged me $95 for class where I learned absolutely nothing. I could say you get what you pay for but in this case I paid for getting nothing. Future students should know that the Crafts Center has a zero refund policy once the class starts. Save yourself time and hassle by taking a beginning sewing class somewhere else that actually is invested in teaching *all* students with folks who are good teachers, not just good artisans.

Very impressive crafts center! I go here for night drawing…read moreclasses, and it's teeming with life. Every studio has some kind of class going on: clay, jewelry, photo, painting, woodwork, you name it. The classes have reasonable schedules that accommodate full-time working adults. The prices are quite low. I'm always excited to come here and learn some neat techniques despite it being Monday night. If you are considering anew hobby and looking for classes, check out this place first.

Very cute little shop! It's small but they have plenty of unique items in the store. Its definitely…read morea spot to pick up a gift for someone. Staff was friendly and helpful and directed me to the areas where they have product outside of the front entrance.

This is the cutest store! Everything is beautifully curated and just aesthetically gorgeous. I…read morepopped in to pick up some polymer clay earrings from Lauren of Lauren Makes. The ladies in the shop are super sweet and very friendly! I'm hoping to take some classes here soon. I noticed some conflicting reviews regarding location. At the time of this review, the shop is at 417 Kildaire Farm Rd in downtown Cary near the new park. Parking is a bit tricky when it's busy but the big parking garage is just across the street.

Creative, unique, fun...and great to drink from! A good Carolina blue gift for UNC fans, too!read more

My friend and I browsed through here while killing some time in downtown Cary. The two ladies…read moreworking greeted us kindly. The space isn't too large, but has a good amount of inventory. They feature artists of different backgrounds with different techniques. The shop has your standard handmade pottery wares. I loved all their vintage Christmas trees. If they weren't so pricey I'd have an entire wall full of them!

Perhaps the time to stop by here is during SPARKcon when presumably everyone will have their best…read moreon display. It kills me to give this place a low rating since anyone who can do what I cannot -- create art -- deserves all the kudos she or he can get. VAE was disappointing. The venue itself is perfect, well organized, good lighting, and with the art thoughtfully displayed. With the exception of the oil paintings of birds on wood, with the corresponding feathers in jars below; the crayon bunches spelling vandal; and the clay slab with hammerheads embedded within, there was really very little else that captured attention in such a way to make you feel the emotion of what the artist was attempting to capture. Still, I freely admit what was displayed showed a talent beyond anything I could do, but I cannot give this a higher rating without minimizing the other incredible art available in other galleries in the area. Timing is everything, and maybe my timing was off. I'll try again another day and perhaps then be able to change my rating upward.

I really enjoy stopping by the VAE (Visual Art Exchange), although I admit, I usually go by during…read moreRaleigh's First Friday Art Walks. I really enjoy that VAE changes their exhibits, sometimes by extreme measures, with the different artists they bring in. The large space is divided partially by a wall and they also have an area in the back called "The Cube" that always features one exhibit. The artist that ends up in the cube is usually a little more "modern" then those in the larger space. I've seen a whole variety of works, everything from puppets to hanging pieces of brush to animated short films, the list goes on. I love that VAE rotates their galleries monthly and is always bringing in a variety of artists. I've seen a lot of photography, mixed media and oils, it's definitely always unique, beautiful and covers a spectrum of work. I truly think that each gallery change provides something for everyone, but even if you aren't a fan of the work one month, I HIGHLY encourage you to return and give it another try the next month. The works of art are usually all for sale, plus they'll sometimes have local pop-up shops in the gallery. Their website is a wonderful source too for all things happening. Plus, if you go early enough on First Friday, they'll have wine and sparkling juices, a nice treat to sip on while you enjoy the gallery. VAE also helps put on PBaRt every year, a once a year event that benefits Raleigh's SparkCON. Unfortunately, if you're reading this review and it's current, you JUST missed it (it was last weekend!) But definitely put it on your agenda for next year, it is a AWESOME event! VAE is definitely more of a "traditional" art gallery then DesignBox next door [not that the pieces are always tradition]. If you're looking for more artistic ideas and gadgets, I encourage you to check out the studio next door!

A great spot to support local artists, with a wide range of mediums on display: painting, pottery,…read morejewelry, photography, and more. Prices vary by medium and artist, but there are plenty of affordable pieces. I loved browsing all the beautiful and unique work! I also appreciated that one of the artists was there running the store.

Jane, one of the featured artists at this gallery, was very welcoming and friendly when I stopped…read morein briefly. The art is very high quality, and I'll be back to check out their holiday popups and such. It's amazing to see a place with so many local artists. The selection was varied--jewelry, paintings, sketches, 2D/3D art, and more. Truly impressive, pricey but for good reason.