I'm pretty familiar with the idea of paying to use facilities that we may not have room for or access to in our own homes. Laundromats serve those without a washer and dryer. You can rent a computer by the hour and use quality printers at many copy shops. Heck, you can go to an internet cafe (or really any coffee shop, at this point) to use the web — typically for free! Why not apply that same concept to crafting? This shop in Spain did just that.
Finding a spacious apartment in Barcelona is akin to searching for spacious digs in New York or San Francisco---it's just not that easy, or affordable! Living in a small home often means that the space necessary to spread out to do a project is sacrificed. It's difficult to even own many of the tools necessary! Sewing machines, for example, take up quite a bit of room even when stowed away, let alone when they're out and in use.
Enter the tienda Costura. While perusing NotCot recently, I was led to an article written by Vera at Sticky Fingers BCN all about this unique shop. Born out of the desire to open a shop that supplied all manner of sewing supplies, two friends Asami and Sonia also decided to rent machines by the hour. Customers can pay to use a room where they can spread out and create, without being held back by space limitations. Also offering workshops to aid those wanting to hone their craft, Costura became a place to go where you can sew away as if you had the luxury of your own creative studio.
Aside from the practicality of this whole idea, Costura is also a beautiful space dotted with vintage machines and accessories, as well as tons of adorable crafty geekery. I would love to go in just to gather some inspiration!
I love this idea, and am sure there are many other places around the world like this. Now, to find creative studios for rent here in Austin! Any hints?
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Comments (14)
Actually, this isn't a new concept at all in San Francisco, but it isn't a successful one either: Stitch Lounge was a place to drop in and sew in the Hayes Valley neighborhood, and the gals that ran it published a book on re-working thrift finds, but closed the shop after not so long. The SF Craft Gym was also a place to drop in for space and tools you might not own either, but that too is gone. On the other hand, TechShop has grown from its Silicon Valley roots and taken root in the old SF Chronicle building... it remains to be seen if the high-tech "makers" will keep it alive here.
There's a new place in Seattle like that as well:
Made Sewing Studio
I think it's a great idea; I hope it survives!
We have an amazing new stitch lounge in Cambridge, MA: Gather Here: http://www.gatherhereonline.com/
There's a new one in Madison WI: http://www.thesewciallounge.com/pages/sewcializing.htm
Lets frequent these sewing/craft studios, and keep this neat idea alive!
Too bad about the ones in SF that didn't make it - but if we want places like this in our cities we have to support them!
For all you Angelenos: http://www.theurbancraftcenter.com/
I would love to open one of these in the Mpls area, but I don't even have the space for it! It's definitely a really interesting concept.
There is a wonderful studio somewhat like this in Point Richmond, California. Just the other side of the bay from S.F. It is run by the most talented woman - Lori Nova. You must check it out in reference to this blog. I have taken several of her classes and she has quite successful with this concept! http://www.thenovastudio.com/about.htm
Oh My Goodness, I recently was just thinking about this same idea/concept. I live out in the Temecula CA Area and I was thinking of this very idea, I would love to open up a shop like this, since I've just picked up sewing I would have sewing machine rentals, craft space w/ the ability of people also being able to sell their creations like an in store Etsy. I think it's a wonderful idea especially if you don't have the space at home and just to be able to network with other crafters and receive some help and ideas. Maybe someday, but I wouldn't know how to start it.
You're kidding, right? Austin has had at least three such studios in the not-too-distant past. Leslie offers studio time at the Stitch Lab (http://www.stitchlab.biz/), the Austin Sewing Meetup group had a fab place off SoCo, and there was a lovely little fabric store further south on SoCo, across from St. Ed's, that just recently closed that sounds very much like Costura. There are a ton of stitchers and crafters in the ATX--they're not hard to find!
Check out your local hacker space. In Austin it would be http://atxhackerspace.org
Hacker spaces are generally very craft friendly assuming yours isn't already actively engaged in crafting. For those not in Austin use http://hackerspaces.org to find one near you.
We have a great shop like this in Portland called Modern Domestic. It was actually featured on Re-Nest a couple weeks ago (http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/service/lupine-michelle-and-gina-of-modern-domestic-creative-people-living-green-159158). There's also PDX Seamsters/Overlock Lounge in SE, and I think there's open sew at Fabric Depot, but I don't know anything about it.
uhm, I know there was a place like this in New York. anyone?
There is a really nice one on Queen West in Toronto call "the Workroom", although it is mostly sewing there is crafting by the hour as well, and free meetup group every week for people to drop in and knit or talk whatever. Cool idea, right!
Hey! I live in Barcelona. I've been a couple of times to this little cozy shop. I love it! The girls are really nice and you don't feel like you need to know a lot about sewing to go in and ask for something. Great idea!