When Patrice Chatman first entered AR Workshop in Westfield -- the company she’s owned since September 2023 -- she was working in corporate America and looking for a creative outlet. “I came across AR Workshop through a friend,” Chatman explained. “I’m not artsy and I’m not crafty but I took a hand lettering workshop. I didn't get it.” She lacked ability but compensated with determination and open-mindedness. “We tried [to make] a chunky knit blanket in another workshop and my brain wasn't understanding, so we tried a wood project. I fell in love,” she said. Later, for her first-ever shift as an instructor, she led a wood project for 20 people.
Chatman offers between 5-7 workshops every week. Standard workshops offered weekly include wood-based projects, canvas-based projects, and chunky knit blankets, while specialty workshops, like bottle painting, take place every other week. Additionally, there are seasonal workshops. Her ideas often come from Pinterest or friends’ recommendations, and the project always goes through testing before becoming a workshop. “I don't make decisions for our store lightly,” she says. “If I like it I have the staff try it, and…then my friends. I'm notorious for getting feedback.”
Each workshop lasts two and a half to three hours, and Chatman promises participants will leave with their completed projects within that time frame. “The goal is always the sense of accomplishment,” she said. “You completed something you didn't think you'd be able to do, and I hope it's something you love.”
Chunky knit blankets: These cozy crafts are a standard workshop offering. While this was originally a craft Chatman didn’t click with, she’s since grown comfortable with it. For others who are hesitant, she says, “The great thing…is we've really eliminated the opportunity for a serious issue on a project. There's really nothing you can do that we can’t fix. Just give it a chance.”
Twinkling wood projects: “I always love a personalized wood sign,” Chatman said, sharing that she recently gifted one to friends who’d renovated their home. The wooden signs can also include lighting. Beyond signs, however, twinkling wood projects can include festive decor, such as haunted houses or holiday villages with fairy lights, depending on the season.
Candle pouring: Candles make for popular presents. ”A lot of people want to make candles because it's a… small, tangible gift,” Chatman said. With candle pouring, Chatman said she’s been “experimenting with tips and tricks,” such as new colors to increase vibrancy and placing beads in the wax that reveal hidden messages as the candle burns. For one seasonal workshop, candle pouring is paired with limoncello.
Hat burning: In hat burning, there is no open flame, despite what the name implies. Instead, a stencil is traced onto a suede or felt-based hat with a heat-scoring tool. The possibilities are seemingly endless. “We have something like 250 templates and acrylic paint markers so we can color through afterward to make it pop a little bit,” Chatman said.
“The goal is always the sense of accomplishment. You completed something you didn't think you'd be able to do, and I hope it's something you love.”