Studio Blog

Whether you're moving into your first apartment or tenth, moving into a new place is an exciting time and opportunity to try something new!  We've put together 15 creative ideas to help you express your style and turn your new digs into a cozy home.

1. Personalize Your Door

Make a fun first impression by creating decorations for your door.  It’ll be more personal than just a door number and makes it super easy for your friends to find you when they come to visit!  It’ll be a great conversation starter with new neighbors!

One unique art form that we love is string art. String art is the art of wrapping string around pins or nails to create shapes and designs. You can do this yourself at home by using a cork board and push pins to create shapes before winding string around the pins or stop by Craft Loft where all the supplies are ready for you. 

 

2. Custom Wall Tapestry

A wall tapestry is a dynamic and easy way to add color and pattern to your walls.

Usually, we prefer to use a frame loom to create woven tapestries, but you can easily make your own loom at home using a piece of cardboard. Just take a long piece of cardboard and cut small notches along the bottom and top edges. Make sure your notches line up from top to bottom. Using these notches in the cardboard, you can thread your cardboard just like you would a frame loom!

You can also attend a Tapestry Weaving Workshop for expert advice and walk away with a ready-to-hang tapestry.  All materials are included!

 

3. Create a Succulent Terrarium

Introduce a touch of nature to your desk by creating a succulent terrarium. Not only do terrariums look sleek and elegant, but succulents are super easy to take care of if you have a bright window.  You can also augment lighting using an LED or fluorescent desk lamp.

Terrariums are also fairly simple to create, requiring only a glass bowl or terrarium, a succulent, rocks, and soil. For extra fun, you can personalize your terrarium with fun figurines, unique stones, and other fun decorations like plant tags!

Come by Craft Loft’s walk-in studio and make your own!  

4. Paint a Pot and Plant It!

Do you like painting and plants?  Then Paint and Plant is the perfect combo for you.

First, paint a pot with fun designs and colors, or even decorate it with charms and jewels for extra bling.  Then, plant it!  We actually recommend planting first and then painting, that way you don’t have to worry about getting any soil dust on wet paint.

Plants that are great for this project include dwarf snake plants, pothos, palms and succulents.  

5. A Mini Easel Painting

It’s the little touches that surprise and make a place feel like home.

We love creating mini paintings because they're quick to make when you're running low on time, yet so much can be captured in a miniature canvas.

Not sure what to paint?  We’ve seen lovely abstracts, landscapes, floral and insect inspirations.  Most importantly, enjoy experimenting with watercolor, acrylic, or oil paints while you delve into your creative side. Even a simple block of color can brighten a corner.

6. Make Your Own Scent Diffuser 

Did you know that our sense of smell has a direct link to memory?  A great way to make a new place your own is to impart your own scent to it.  Scented candles, incense, and maybe even Febreze can do the job, but perhaps those are not your thing or you want to create your own?

Enter scent diffusers! Scent diffusers are completely customizable, using a mix of essential oils and use the principles of capillary action and vaporization to diffuse scent particles.  There is no burning.  It works subtly all the time and the bottle looks elegant as a décor. 

Craft Loft walk-in studio has all the materials you need to create your own scent diffuser (and add some color too)!

 

7. Create a Dried Floral Arrangement

We love a beautiful floral arrangement, but of course it doesn’t last. Dried flowers offer beauty and color forever, the ultimate plus for nature décor.

It’s easy to make:

1. Pick a vase.  This can be big, small, tall, etc.  Or you can make one using air-dried clay. 

2. Choose the dried flowers. Dried foliage, pine cones, grass seed heads, and many more can be combined to create a beautiful arrangement.  You can even try drying your own flowers. 

Craft Loft also has a large selection of dried flowers that you can choose from and workshops if you'd like to learn how to arrange them!

 

8. A Moss Art Frame

Did you know you can create art with moss? By using different colors of moss and other natural materials – like dried florals, wood pieces, and branches – you can create beautiful patterns and images. 

The best part? Moss art is a touch of green and none of the maintenance! Moss art also does really well in a humid environment, so if you're looking for art for your shared bathroom this might be the perfect thing.

Come to a Moss Art Workshop or drop in at the walk-in studio to make your own.

 

9. Knit a Cozy Chunky Blanket 

To take the coziness up a notch, why not knit your own chunky blanket?  Not only is it something that’ll keep you cozy on a cold night, but it also looks great as a throw over a couch or foot of the bed year-round!  We recommend using an extra chunky yarn gauge for extra coziness. 

If you've never tried knitting before but are interested, this is a perfect place to start!  Craft Loft’s Chunky Knit Blanket workshops are perfect for beginners.  The best part is that you’ll walk away with finished projects!  Get ready to be the envy of all your friends on movie night!

 

10. Hand-knit a Velvet Tote

New place means new friends.  What a great way to start a conversation by carrying a conversation-starter!  Make a velvet tote using soft, velvety chunky yarn!  These are also great for both casual and more formal occasions.  

Hand knit velvet tote is taught as a workshop at Craft Loft and is designed for beginners.  Come with curiosity and leave with a bag!

11. Pressed Flower Frame

Dried flowers but in a flat frame!  Nature always looks great and you don't need to water these flowers for them to keep blooming!  Check here for workshop schedule with everything you need. 

 

12. Hand Painted Glassware

What a great and unique way to host new friends and visitors!  It's also a nice way to show off your newly acquired local sports team and your painting skills.  Walk-ins and workshops are available 

13.  Resin Light Switch Plates

Yep, light switch plates don't need to be white!  You can make your own and make your new home super fun, wherever you go.  Resin is indeed a fire retardant.

14.  Mosaic Coasters and Serving Trays

What a fun way to serve beverages and snacks!  Your mosaic coasters will sure to be a conversation starter.  Make one or make a whole set!

15.  Bring back disco!

Make your own disco-covered candle jar, vase, bear, or letters.  Let its shine and light bring you magic and good luck in the new place! 

If you’d like to learn more about any of the techniques discussed, we offer a range of beginner workshops in arts and crafts, including yarn arts, plants, mosaics, resin art, and more.  Walk in during store hours at our open studio space or attend a workshop!

We hope these 15 ideas ignite your creativity and set you up for a fantastic start in your new place!

Happy crafting!

Are you interested in learning how to crochet or knit but don't know where to start?  Have you crocheted or knitted a scarf and are now wondering what to tackle next?  How do you know what's right for you?  We have been there too and here is our guide on projects and some suggestions for what to try!  

If you are a confident crafter or fast learner, you'll likely progress through the levels faster and can also try skipping levels. 

Level 1: Beginners
For beginners, most projects are oriented towards pieces with right angles and lie flat.  Your stiches are likely going to vary quite a bit and you might also find yourself starting over or undoing as you work through common mistakes.  Stay patient, take breaks and relax into the journey!  

Recommendations:  Coasters, Scarves, Hand-knitting Blankets and Pillows
What to know:  Cast on, Cast off, Chain, Single Crochet (crochet), Knit Stitch (Knit), Perl Stitch (Knit), Yarn over, Slip Stitch
Workshop to help you get there:  Beginner Infinity Scarf (Crochet), Hand knitting a Chunky Blanket (Knit)

Level 2:  Advanced Beginners
The next step is typically to tackle something round with a 3 dimensional shape, known as 'working in the round', such as hats, cozies, gloves or a simple piece of garment.  Working with multiple colors (known as color work) is also a fun variation to add.  Your stitches will become more consistent and automatic at this point.  This may also be the first time that you try to read a pattern and splurge on premium yarn such as hand-dyed colors, wool or cashmere.  You are proud of what you make and gift them to close family and friends!

Recommendations:  Key-Hole Scarf, Beanie Hats, Pet Bed, Fingerless Gloves, Simple Tote Bags, Hair Wrap, Storage Basket, Simple dolls
What to know:  How to Increase and decrease stitches, Perl Stitch (knit), Turn your work, Double Crochet, Half Double Crochet, Magic Circle (crochet), Working in the Round, Combining multiple colors, Joining Pieces, Reading patterns
Workshop to help you get there: Amigurumi crochet, Knitting a Hat with Pom Pom, Crochet a Pet Bed

Level 3:  Intermediate
Project complexity and difficulty increase as patterns become more intricate, number of colors increase and the number of components increase.  Perhaps the requirement for precision and consistency between stitches becomes more strict.  People might ask "where did you get that hat / sweater / bag?" as your work takes on a more polished look.  You may start to experiment with modifying patterns to suit your own aesthetic and preferences.  Your speed will increase and maybe you will start to sell your items on Etsy or a local craft fair.  

Recommendations:  Granny Squares (crochet), Sweater Vest, Amigurumi  stuffed animals and dolls (crocheted)
What to know: Rib Stitch, Seeded Stitch (knit), Stockinette Stitch (knit), Counting stitches, Pick up stitches, Problem solving 
Workshop to help you get there:  Granny Squares and Totes

Level 4:  Advanced
Projects at this level tend to be much larger and intricate.  You are very confident in planning and making your own projects without the need of a pattern, although you may still use patterns for reference.  You can pull different parts from multiple patterns to create your own design.  You might share or sell your patterns.  You can reverse engineer a pattern simply by looking at the finished project.  Friends and family want to learn from you!  Perhaps you would teach at a local craft store or explore how to spin your own yarn! 

We'd love to see what you make. 

Follow and Tag us on Instagram:  @craftloft_studio

We have a full section dedicated to air plants at Craft Loft and they just about make the perfect companion to some very fun craft projects.  The most common questions we get are ... What's an air plant?  Do I have to water it?  Is it pet safe?

So, this blog is dedicated to the topic of air plants and some fun ways to display them!

1. What's an Air Plant?
'Air plant' is a common name for plants that don't grow in soil or rely on conventional root systems for their nutrients.  Scientifically, many plants considered to be air plants are part of the Tillandsia or Bromeliad species. Most air plants have roots for anchoring purposes only and grow tiny little hairs on their leaves that do all the work of absorbing nutrients. 

Air plants' natural habitat are the tropics where rain fall is expected almost daily and ambient humidity is quite high.  They usually get lodged and thrive between tree branches.  They get moisture from rain fall and light fertilizer from foliage and bird debris that gets washed down the tree branches. 

Air plants are not parasites, but simply anchor themselves on the tree bark and 'borrow' the height of the trees to reach favorable lighting conditions.  They range in many different sizes and they do indeed, bloom very beautifully!

2. Do I have to water it since it gets water from the air?
In typical homes, the humidity (and rainfall, haha) is not anywhere near the level needed by the plant.  To compensate for that, we recommend watering an air plant by submerging it in a bowl full of room temp water once per week for 20-30 minutes and fertilize with a diluted liquid fertilizer once or twice a month. 

3.  Can I water the air plant by misting it? 
We actually do not recommend misting as the sole method to water your plant.  The main reason is that mist evaporates too quickly for the air plant to absorb and you would need to mist very frequently (like once every 10-15min) in order to supply enough humidity.  If you have something like a terrarium or enclosed vivarium with high humidity and raise pets like tree frogs, then your air plant is likely going to be happy with the level of humidity in there. 

4.  How much light does an air plant need?
Air plants love dappled sunlight as that's basically what they receive in nature.  In a home environment, this equates to bright indirect light or East facing window.  If the temps are higher, you can adjust watering schedule to be more frequent.  We don't recommend full sun as that can easily burn the leaves.  If you have access to outdoor space, air plants love a 'summer vacation' being tucked amongst branches in your backyard and getting rained on by Mother Nature. 

5. Are air plants pet safe?
Yes!  Air plants are perfectly find for your pets to nibble on, although they're not super fast growers, so for your plants' health, we recommend keeping them away from curious paws and jaws. 

4 Fun ways to display air plants!
Because air plants are not attached to a pot of soil, they are fun to play with in terms of creative ways for display!  Here are some of our favorites:

Modern - mini-cement cube with a wire or geometric metal shapes as hangers

Natural - on top of a piece of drift wood, rock or sea shell

Whimsical - Hair planter or a hanging jelly fish, anyone?

Cozy - Macrame air plant pod!  You can also learn to make your own at our macrame air plant pod workshop.  Check here for upcoming schedule. 

We are excited to announce that Studio by Garden Streets has a new name, Craft Loft!  Why did we change our name, you ask?  Well, it's not that anything was wrong with our old name, but our new name is a better reflection of what we do and who we want to be.  It has some undeniable advantages:

1. It's easy to say!  'Craft Loft' is only 2 syllables vs. 7.

2. It's easy to spell!  2 words, 9 letters vs. 4 words, 21 letters.

3. It's easy to remember!  We know it doesn't quite rhyme, but two words both ending in 'ft' has got to count for something?  

Our team has collectively shared happy memories and experiences that all involve fluffy clouds on a summer day, flying balloons at parades and soap bubbles!  This joyful feeling became the inspiration and outline behind our new logo.  Lastly, we want our customers to think of us when they think of creativity, so the background shape is a bit like a thought bubble as well.

Name and brand change is a bit of a process, but we are excited for the focus that our new name and logo will help us achieve and communicate in the future!

Oh, what to do in the summer?  Short of grand vacation plans, might we suggest a stay-cation?  We love stay-cations because it's not only great for your budget, but it also allows for a truly low-stress and refreshing break.

Here are 25 cool things that we would do if we were having a stay-cation.  And just so you know, 'we' are a team of locals who knows how to have fun without ever leaving town:

1. The Museums!  Even for locals, the MFA, Isabella Steward Gardner Museum, the New England Aquarium and deCordova Sculpture Museum are all great to visit on the regular for their changing exhibits.  Why travel if the world comes to you?  Also, your local library will likely have free museum tickets if you book ahead.

2. Enjoy Nature!  Boston is home to some beautiful walking and easy-hiking trails.  Take a stroll in the Boston Public Garden, then keep going along the Esplanade to enjoy the view by Charles River.  Another gorgeous patch of nature is in the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain.  Not only are the gardens meticulous, but their orchid and bonsai houses are open year round.  You can even bring your dog or your bike to the Arboretum!  Check out The Minuteman Park and read the plaques along the paths to learn about the Revolutionary War.  Dogs and bikes are welcome here as well!

3. Do the touristy things!  Why not see the town from the viewpoint of a tourist?  Duck tours, Charles River Boat tour and fresh seafood are great fun, for locals or tourists alike.  Walk along the bustling Newbury street and check out the latest eateries or fashion brands.  If you like window-shopping, Newbury street on a weekday (without the weekend crowds), is quite a treat!  Besides high fashion, Newbury is also dotted with ice-cream parlors, bubble tea shops and bakeries.  Our latest favorite is Beard Papa, a cream puff destination.  Make sure you get multiple flavors because they're all great and the light puffs don't feel heavy so you can down as many as you like!

4. Go on water!  Boston is home to many small and large waterways.  The Charles River is dotted with boat rentals for kayaking, paddle boarding, pontoon boats, electric boat or go big and rent a sailing boat with a crew and captain.  You also don't have to travel far to get to a proper beach at Revere Beach, or take a ferry and check out Spectacle Island, Castle Island or the Boston Harbor Islands.

5. Learn something new.  Always wanted to learn how to arrange flowers, knit, crochet, or sew?  Do you miss doing a favorite art like watercolor, air-dried clay?  Perhaps you'd like to try something new like basket weaving, tufting, resin art, pressed floral art?  Head over to Studio by Garden Streets, Boston's largest arts & crafts studio at the CambridgeSide mall (2nd floor).  They have lots of workshops (make sure you book at least 24 hours in advance).  Or plan a leisure day dedicated to creativity and hang out at their Walk-in Studio where lots and lots of fun projects and board games await!  Their friendly staff is always on hand to help.  Go with friends and ask for the Table Rate (good for up to 4 or 6 depending on activity). 

6. Go on a world culinary tour!  Boston has some amazing offerings for the worldly eater.  Check out North End for authentic Italian cuisine, Pho Pasteur (Vietnamese) in Chinatown, Ariana's (Afgani), Oliviera's Steak House (Brazilian BBQ) in Somerville, Wori (Korean) in Arlington and Sichuan Gourmet (Chinese) in Burlington. 

7. Historic Boston.  Boston is home to many historic sites that are worth checking out if you haven't yet.  Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum has interactive exhibits, live reenactments, and a tour of authentically restored tea ships.  Tour the USS Constitution Museum which honors the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world.  Walk the Freedom Trail.

8. Local Breweries.  Boston is home to a thriving craft beer scene, with numerous breweries offering tours and tastings.  Samuel Adams (beer) is headquartered in Jamaica Plain and gives regular tours.  Lamplight brewery (beer) in Cambridge is packed regularly.  There are also quite a few distilleries!

9. Music, shows and theatre!  The Boston Symphony Orchestra is renowned and so is the Symphony Hall that they perform in.  Blue Man Group is always entertaining.  Check out the Citizens Bank Opera House for live musicals and plays!  Improv Asylum has live screenings of standup acts and open mic nights!

10.  Spend time with friends and family.  Have a picnic, catch a movie, attend a crafting workshop or simply go for a walk.  Spending time with friends and family is free yet priceless!

We hope you have a wonderful summer and that you'll come to visit us at Studio by Garden Streets!