Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Hawks.
Amy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have two kiddos – ages 6 and 13 – and I learned early on as a mother that it’s way too easy to give and give and give until you’re ready to fall apart. I went on a couple of overnight craft retreats with girlfriends and afterward I felt really refreshed, re-centered, and ready to take on life again. I thought, “Man, I’d love a place that operates like this during the day so I can just drop in, take a few hours for myself — away from the responsibilities that come with running the household — and leave feeling empowered and energized.” I started with a group that took turns at each other’s houses, and that quickly fell apart because everyone felt burdened by the need to clean their house before and after, and everyone felt guilty sending their spouse and kids out all night. I love hosting people. I love bringing people together. I love creative messes. I prayed about it for more than a year and felt God calling me to open the studio.
A year after opening, the studio has loyal customers ranging in age from 18 months to 87 years old. An average week finds us offering ten classes or more, ranging from knitting, to card-making, to Zentangle. We add new classes constantly! People rent the studio for birthdays, girls night out, church gatherings, and we host a monthly All Day Craft where people ‘camp out’ and sew, scrapbook, quilt, stamp, embroider, cross-stitch, etc. for twelve hours. It can get pretty crazy for us, but for people who need a place to escape from their hectic lives and get creative, our Open Studio is the perfect place!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I knew it would be hard, but It. Has. Been. Hard. I’d been thinking about this business off and on for two years, worked to start it for a year, and then opened the doors expecting everyone else to already understand what’s been living in my head all that time. Getting the word out has been the most exhausting, full-time job ever. Running social media is a job all in itself.
The hardest part though, is the fact that it’s kind of a unique concept. I have to explain that Open Studio means you can drop in anytime we’re open, but that you bring your own projects… I have to explain that you can work on ANYTHING you want – even if it isn’t crafty! You can bring a laptop and plan your vacation, grade papers, read your Bible, journal… It’s Starbucks with actual space to spread out! It’s a place to go when you need to get out of the house and do what YOU want to do.
Then we have the more deep-seated issue (which I get 100%) of women who are excited to come use Open Studio but refuse to allow themselves that time. I hear about many well-intentioned people who still haven’t come in because they feel like they can’t get away or leave their kids or just make the time. I think it’s so crucial, though, to living a balanced life.
Wonderfully Made Craft Studio – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We offer people a chance to get away and do something creative among other creative people. You can learn a new skill, sharpen old skills, learn new techniques, or just get away and make something cute! I’m most proud of how many loyal customers we have, and our five star rating on Facebook. People have said they love how welcoming the studio is, and I think that’s because we pay attention to the details. It’s like a second home and we want people to feel comfortable the moment they walk in.
Someone also told me that she appreciated how I put the same amount of love into the classes I teach that have only a few kids, as I do the classes that are packed. That meant the world to me. We truly do care about the customers that come in and we try to offer everything we can to make that person’s day brighter.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I teach kids 6 and under three times a week. We call the classes Make ‘n’ Takes, and for $5, kids come for an hour to do two structured crafts, hear a story, do two dances, some creative play, and get a sticker. Each week centers around a different theme, and I just love it. One day I was interacting with a child, and grandma jokingly said, “You don’t enjoy this at all, do you?” That just made my day. The fact that she could see I was genuinely enjoying my job told me I’m in the right place at the right time.
Pricing:
- Open Studio is $5/hour, but most people get a swipe card for a deal of $20/5 hours
- Make n Takes for kids 6 and under is $5
- Most adult classes range from $10-30, although some are series and cost more
- (Monthly) All Day Craft is $25 for 12 hours
- Open Studio is a deal every Friday from 5-10pm. It’s called Finish Fridays and it’s $10 for all five hours.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5411 Basswood Blvd., Suite 217
Fort Worth 76137 - Website: wonderfullymadecraftstudio.com
- Phone: 817-849-9363
- Email: wonderfullymadecraftstudio@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/wonderfullymadecraftstudio/
- Facebook: facebook.com/wonderfullymadecraftstudio
- Twitter: twitter.com/WMCraftStudio
- Yelp: yelp.com/biz/wonderfully-made-craft-studio-fort-worth
Image Credit:
Heritage Studios Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
