Insider Pages Reviews for Little Shop of Crafts

5 Stars: Stressed? Try the Little Shop! (by Viv P.)

Viv P. — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 04:21:00 GMT

I stumbled across the Little Shop whilst searching the net for something "craft-related" to do in New York. I have to say that the Little Shop is the little jewel of New York City!I am so glad I found our about it.

It is nestled in a nice, quiet residential part of the Upper East side. I have been going there for about a month now, once a week. It is a great stress release and so enjoyable. I have always loved art projects but didn't always have the time or money to invest in all the resources to allow me to complete them. I mean, who owns a kiln in their apartment in New York?? Thankfully, at the Little Shop you can wander in and all you buy are the products itself. So, if you want to do a mosaic jewellery box, you only have to buy the box from the Little Shop and they will supply you with all the pretty little tiles, glue and grout you need to complete the project. Best of all, they won't charge you for a sitting fee so you can take all the time you need to complete the project. Believe me, I have sat there before for 8 hours and I never felt pressured to leave, in fact it was so friendly and comfortable, I could have stayed longer!

The staff who work at the Little Shop are amazing. They are really friendly and always remember you if you go more than once. They are also very helpful in offering technical advice, assistance or just chit-chat. They also don't overstep the mark too by chatting too much or influencing your creative decisions too much, which is great because you can still be as creative as you like but with guidance on hand if you need it - it's kind of like art class at school but without the bossy teacher! Sometimes, I forget that I am in a store that is trying to run a business because it feels like I am at a friend's house or in an open to the public studio, it is that relaxed!

The other thing I really like about the Little Shop is their "menu book". If you are working from morning through the day, around lunchtime (or any time really!) you can peruse their menu book and select food to have delivered to you fron the surrounding cafes and diners. It's a great system because you can sit through lunch and eat while you work without any interuptions and you can also have all the local menus in one place in case you do decide to head out and grab a bit or drink.

The Little Shop is a hidden treasure in New York. I really hope you will give it a go, even my husband has joined me and enjoyed himself (then again, he was drinking the free wine they offer adults in their evening hours!!).

Some things you may need to know:
- Loads of kids go and they tend to be very inquisitive and talkative so be prepared to have kids randomly come up to you and ask about the project you are working on!
- It is unfortunately not open very early, which can sometimes be annoying because the day does tend to fly when you are so relaxed and comfortable!
- the items you buy are not cheap. To give you an idea, pottery mugs are around $20, small pottery bowls are also around $25, a tissue box for mosaic is around $40 and the frams for mosaic are over $30 (without tax, rough prices)

What to bring: at least $30, a friend, moisturiser because your hands tend to dry out, bottled water/drink, a cushion if you can't handle sitting on hard wooden benches for extended lengths of time and your imagination.

What to leave behind: all the worries in the world!!!

5 Stars: crafts (by Bev B.)

Bev B. — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 00:59:00 GMT

Little Shop of Crafts is a great craft house. They offer a huge selection of plastercraft, pottery, mosaics, chairs, tables, mirrors, frames, and more. There is something here for all ages. They also offer classes for both children and adults. These items make great gifts. You can also get a gift certificate here. The staff here are very friendly and helpful. The prices are great too. I highly recommend it.

1 Stars: not very accommodating (by Andy S.)

Andy S. — Thu, 17 May 2007 03:28:00 GMT

Very disappointed with this place. Came from far away (drove 1 and 1/2 hour) to take my kids, then was told they don't take kids after 6 or 6:30 (can't remember which one it was, but we came in just a few minutes past. We saw a child leaving with her mother when we came in). Very disappointed as the kids were looking forward to making something for their mother (for mother's day), and didn't understand why they wouldn't let them do any crafts. There were no other customers, but they wouldn't make an exception even for these two young children, because it was a few minutes into the "adult only" time.

4 Stars: Great Slection (by lazarus m.)

lazarus m. — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 15:50:00 GMT

I LOVE this place. I find myself spending my weekends there and think nothing of it. All it takes is a little creation and you have a great gift for anyone. The time is spent thinking of nothing but your creation and not of any troubles. I can not recommend this place nay more than this. And if you sign up for their newsletters, they send you coupons so your saving money on something that is already affordable. Check it out...I'm glad I did.

4 Stars: Little Shop of Crafts (by Christine C.)

Christine C. — Sun, 02 Oct 2005 00:53:00 GMT

This is a great place in the city, where all the artsy folk can design their own pottery, beading, mosaics, etc at a reasonable price. There is no time limit on making the pieces, the staff is very helpful, and the atmosphere/vibe of the place is great. It's a great thing to do with friends, while chatting and catching up on each other's lives.