Get Crafty at AR Workshop! Don’t worry if you don’t have a crafty bone in your body, they will walk you through every step!

I recently took a class at the Tampa location where the owner of Olfaction taught us all about creating your own candles and then helped us create our very own. Every step of the way I got to customize, from the label on the candle to the scent!

After that, I got to create my own tray. I got to customize the design, the wood stain, the paint colors and handles. I had no idea what I was doing and the people at AR Workshop walked me through every step. They were a great sounding board as well if I couldn’t choose between colors. I decided to keep the candle for myself and I made the serving board for my cousin as a housewarming gift. (I hope she doesn’t see this before I give it to her LOL).

AR Workshop also has a retail space where you can purchase some of the items they make as well as items by local artists. If you aren’t into making your own, you can put in an order for AR Workshop to make something for you. If you want to little DIY action you can pickup kits to take home! They also offer youth summer art camps, too. So many options!

You can also rent the space out for private parties and events. I have seen on social media some of their posts of kid birthday parties and it looks so much fun. When I was 10 I would have loved to have my birthday party here. It would also be a fun place for a baby shower or a bridal party.

I had so much at my first workshop I signed up for another one. For my next workshop they will show me how to make chunky pumpkins to take home as a fall decoration.

AR Workshop was started by two women in the design space and had a very successful blog, design company and Etsy business, among other things. In three years the female led company has grown to over 150 franchise locations across the country.  I love their tag line “be a round peg in a square hole”.

There are three locations in the Tampa Bay area, South Tampa, Brandon and St. Pete. You can find the location that best fits your lifestyle on their website.

Written & Photos by Rachel Pitts

Hear more about AR Workshop (:46) on the Experience Tampa Bay in 10 Minutes or Less podcast. You can also hear about Sesame Street Weekends at Busch Gardens (:46) and learn about 92.5 MAX!MA Monstruos De La Bahia (5:13). 

Produced by Micaela Figueroa