Spark Craft Studios

Spark is closing (or switching management through an essay contest I’m guessing you can write them to inquire about) on or around November 30^th. So between now and then they are going to have pretty limited and weird hours. In addition they are liquidating the heck out of their inventory with big sales:
30% Off Inventory
All store inventory is now 30% off through Sunday, November 23^rd.
Loose Beads — Fill a Bag for $ 20
Get 30−50% off loose beads with our «Fill a Bag for $ 20» offer now through store closing. Shop early for the best selection.
I will be sad to see them go due to what a huge step they were in getting me into crafting, however I do hope that if they are taken over by new management, said management will make sure their prices are more competitive, something I learned was not the case over the past year. But go there now and help send them off in style.

I am reeeeally reeeeally sad to hear that Spark is closing. I have many great crafty memories at Spark, and I know that lots of other people do too. Sigh.

I’ve been a Spark devotee since their tiny, secret (at least, it felt that way, which I loved — like a cozy little clubhouse) Davis location — and when they relocated to Porter, I was so psyched! Half as far away from me == double the craftiness.
Or so I thought. I got some Lamb’s Pride bulky yarn to knit a scarf for the bf shortly after they arrived, and as it is striped, and as I am a n00b who doesn’t plan things out very well, I’m about 3 inches from being finished with no black bulky left. No problem though, right? Black yarn isn’t exactly a rarity; I’ll just get another skein.
So I go in, and I notice they have nearly every color in Lamb’s Pride bulky BUT black, and still unalarmed, I explain the situation to an employee. «Oh, no problem!» she chirps, very friendly-​like. «We should be getting more in soon. But if you like, I can take down your phone number, and we’ll give you a call as soon as it’s here.»
Sounds lovely! Yes! Let’s do that. So I write down my name and contact info and what I was looking for, and I leave.
… And that was nearly two months ago.
No word from them. I went in a couple of weeks ago, to see if it was actually physically possible for a craft store to *still* be out of black bulky yarn, and apparently, it is. They’re still very friendly in there. I still get their adorable e-​newsletters with tempting offers of cabling classes and wine + bead events. If I were a wealthy woman, I’d sign up for every last one, and bury myself in piles of magenta, teal and gold angora like Uncle Scrooge in his crazy coin vault.
But the bf is cold, and now I’m considering online options. Le sad.
EDIT: back up to four stars, since I learned their stocking troubles were due to their projected CLOSING on November 30^th, 2008. Extra sad!

I walk in this store and start lusting over the goodies. I think presentation aesthetics are really important in a craft store, and they have this nailed. For the occasional crafter like me, I think it’s a great place to go and get the creative juices flowing. The prices are not discount, but not so high to break the bank for the occasional crafting indulgence.
I took their necklace crocheting class with a friend and we had a blast.
Everyone was nice and helpful and they even let us swap out part of the pre-​packaged kit of beads that came with the class, since I had a slightly different idea for how I wanted to make mine.

Stepping into Spark the other day was like stepping into my apartment. 10 degrees hotter than the outside. Whew. hot flashes. Is it like that all the time? The space however is nice and bright so you can see the colors well and whatnot. It’s much better than their old Davis space in my opinion. I remember feeling kind of cramped there.
I’m not particularly crafty, but I do buy ribbons for dresses/​skirts and for my hair, etc. They’ve got a decent selection but it’s not big. Pretty cheap though. 50 cents for a foot and $ 1 for a yard depending on the type. It’s always so funny because I coordinate pretty well and the cashier will ask what I’m making. when I say nothing. they think I’m hiding some sort of big crafty master plan. Nope. I’m 5 and I put ribbons in my hair sometimes. I also like the plain card section and stamps. I have a few pen pals (so romantical), so I pick some stuff up here instead of next door. I loved some of the stamps I saw last time I was in. but with others. I was like huh? What are you going to do with a «It’s a Girl!» stamp after you’ve had the baby. Well. nevermind. I could think of a few things.
For the serious crafter they have tons of stuff. Pretty much everything you need to knit something (IE. knitting a bag? They’ve got bag handles, yarn, knitting needles, etc). As I was leaving, I saw they had free patterns on one of the front tables near the couches. Cool. And in addition to supplies, they also have some ready made necklaces. Really pretty stuff.
They hold classes so there is a back room and tables you can’t see from the street. I would love to get into making necklaces because a lot of their beading is fabulous. but I just picture a clumsy Trish slipping on marbles (except beads) or something.
PS — 5 cents off when you don’t ask for a bag.

I’ve been to Spark a few times! I really love there card making class! I’ve only taken one, but I just loved it and learned a lot. I can’t wait to try a new class. I thought it was a blast and so much fun. I also went to a jewelry «wine and craft,» which I didn’t think was as great, but I really believe it is all about the teacher of the class.
If you are into making cards! The beginner class is great. It’s really fun to do with a friend to learn something new and get out of the every day routine that can take over your life!

Spark makes me want to move to Porter. Seriously.
So they don’t have a huge selection of yarn. I’m OK with that. They do have a pretty big selection of books and supplies, especially needles. They seem to have a gigantic selection of beading supplies. I wasn’t in the market for beading supplies, so I can’t comment on the prices.
I like the open spaces and the cozy chairs in the front of the studio. The outside is so adorable, and the inside is no exception. They have a huge space for classes.
The employees are some of the nicest people ever. They were continually asking if we needed any help and when I found some cotton yarn that I absolutely needed, one of the girls tried helping me figure out what I should make with it. I settled on some fingerless gloves, and she gave me a free pattern and even showed me how to use double-​pointed needles (I’m a relatively new knitter). She also wound my yarn for me!
Although I would love for them to expand their yarn selection, this is definitely a lovely place. I’ve hard they have Stitch ‘N Bitch sessions, and again, if I lived near Porter, I would so be there in a heartbeat.
I haven’t tried any of their classes, but I plan on going to one soon!

I am a serious jeweler and crafter, but I really only come here when I have an immediate, desperate need.
I find the prices to be too high– beads, chain, wire, and all beading supplies are significantly more here than I pay anywhere else. Even Beadworks, which is also pricey, is slightly cheaper. The knitting and yarn selection also isn’t impressive– for knitting I’d suggest Mind’s Eye Yarns down the street.
I’ve had poor service here in the past. When I walk through the door, usually no one offers to help me, and instead the employees tend to chat with each other behind the counter. I’m surprised, because I would think in a craft store they would be excited to speak with their customers. Creative minds are in and out of there all day, and the opportunity for idea-​sharing and networking is too high to pass up!
All of that being said, Spark usually carries what I am looking for, and since they are located near my house, I come here for any last minute crafting needs. When I need a couple final beads, a bit of wire, or a certain size knitting needle, I’ll pay a little more here for the convenience.
Happy crafting!

Not very cozy for a craft store… seems kind of stark and semi-​barren. I came in looking for a last minute add-​on for by best friend’s b-​day present. She’s an amazing knitter, and I thought I’d get her some interesting yarn. I ended up finding something pretty cool, but the selection definitely isn’t big or all that interesting. It’s great quality though, I’ll give it that.
It seems like the bead craft section of the store is much bigger, with better selections for crafters with that slant. There are also craft rooms and classes, so like Brenda T mentioned it’s a good resource for novice crafters. The ladies behind the counter were also very pleasant and chatty. So overall this place is alright, but I definitely wouldn’t consider it a crafting supply destination (like Woolcott in Harvard Sq)

Not for the hardcore.
Seriously, if going to Michaels and using your die cutters to make a «sassy new scrapbooking layout» — But this place was designed by MBAs and it shows. Creativity, I fear is pre-​packaged here… and sold at a high price.
I may use it as a day pass if i have a specific project that requires more space than I have… but other than that…

11.18.2008: Their last day open is going to be Nov. 30, 2008. It’s so sad to see a good craft store close!
Their new space is very different from the old shop, and yet it has the same feeling with more room and better natural lighting. Fantastic! The knitting stuff is more airy, the beading area is so nicely displayed, and the papery things have their section too. I didn’t see the craft rooms – I sneaked in at 5:45 on a Sunday, and didn’t want to stay too long. Although seriously, I could hang out here for ages.

This review is totally based on my Friday Night Wine & Cheese experience. This idea is fantastic. The price is great ($ 40), and unlike some classes, all costs were covered. You could spend more if you wanted additional beads, but I felt the selection they offered was really great.
I like that the instruction during these nights is really laid back and go at your own pace. You could take an hour, or you could take two. You can show up right at six, or some a little later. None of the instructor stands at the front and waits for you to finish each step, which I totally appreciated.
Now, one note for those who come later: the later you come, the less of a bead selection you have to choose from! That said, those who arrived late made some of the best necklaces as they got creative with what was left.
I highly suggest this as a relaxing way to start the weekend!

My friend Kim introduced me to spark when it still was tucked discreetly into the bike path in Davis Square. I fell in love with it. Loved the atmosphere, the people, the gorgeous yarns and beads they sell. I never took a class, but I went back many times. I even found that an old friend from art school was working there, which made me feel even more that I was destined to partake in the wonderful crafty world that is spark.
My friends and I went to the wine and cheese craft night this weekend and it was fabulous. We had such a great time sipping wine and making beautiful necklaces! Such a fun, different way to spend a Friday night with good friends, and such a great way to meet other likeminded people in the area.
The new location in Porter is more visible and much larger, which I’m sure is good for business, but I loved the other space. I thought it had so much character, and I loved that it felt like a wonderful secret that was hidden from the masses. But now that it’s out on Mass Ave for the world to see, I want every crafty person out there to know how amazing it is, to patronize this wonderful studio by shopping there and taking classes, to make sure it sticks around for a long long time. I feel very lucky to live so close to such a great creative collaborative.

I really loved this place walking in. I live in Davis but actually never went to their original store in Davis — instead I went to their new Porter location, which is where Anokhi used to be. So, I can’t compare it to its old location, but I do love where they are now. It’s very inviting and airy, and the staff doesn’t jump all over you when you walk in. They let you look around and take your time just checking out the wares.
Oh, and the wares they have are pretty awesome, I have to say. If you’re used to mega-​chains like Jo-​Ann, Spark may seem sparse, but it’s not. The key here in my eyes is the quality and specificity of what they carry. If you knit or crochet, they have pretty much every tool and size needle you’d ever need. The entire side wall is just stocked with different skeins of yarn, from acrylics to über-​organic hand-​dyed naturals. Anyone with a creative stripe will just lose themselves looking at it all.
The entire back half of the store (it’s BIG!) is dedicated to jewelry– and bead-​making, which I’ve never done so I can’t comment too much on it, but there seems to be a lot. The beads and jewelry basics they had there weren’t just generic craft store plastic bric-​à-​brac, it looked a lot higher quality. From looking around at the selection in general, Spark seems to carry the kind of quality craft materials that you generally have to go online to find and buy.
There’s also a section in the front with couches for their weekly Stitch and Bitch sessions, right by big windows with a lot of light. When I walked in Spark yesterday night, I saw a few women sitting there doing some knitting, just for the hell of it. That’s awesome.
Spark also has a pretty extensive set of classes, which is pretty exciting as I want to learn to crochet beyond basic doilies. The prices seem pretty reasonable for this kind of thing, so if you’ve been wanting to learn knitting or sewing or crochet (or any other craft they specialize in), they probably have lessons for you. Highly recommended!

Spark was the only bead place I had yet to take a class. I went on Sunday for one of their «Tea and Crafts» events, where you learn how to make a piece of jewelry and enjoy tea and socialize with other crafters. The class included all materials and tools.
It was a very fun, chill atmosphere. The instructors are great and work with you if you are having trouble with a technique. There is a decent selection of beads and findings, and what sets Spark apart is that they also have classes on sewing and knitting, among other fabrics.
Prices for both supplies and classes are very reasonable and the location is right off the T. I am looking forward to taking more classes there to make some unique summer jewelry!

So… I had an old review for this place but am now reposting. If I average the 4 star and the 1 star, it’s 2 stars so that’s what they end up with.
The selection is diverse and you’ll be able to find both beads and yarn in the same store, along with lots of craft books and some knick knacks and jewelry, for the not so crafty inclined, so if you live in the Davis Sq/​Somerville area, it’s probably the most convenient place to go to in the area. It is not the cheapest nor is it the best selection since they try to do a little of everything. I have more luck finding beads at Beadworks and I honestly don’t knit quite nearly enough to need too much yarn, but the yarn store in Porter Sq. has a larger and more refined selection.
A huge reason that I used to recommend this place is because it tries to cultivate a sense of community, but recently I felt as if I was not given the same level of customer service as other customers, not sure why but oh well.
One day I’ll have a woman help me above and beyond by trying to show me how to make earrings even though I’m only buying $ 15 worth of merchandise whereas another day I will be told (RUDELY) that I can not purchase an item unless I give them my full name to look up in their database, which usually takes a few minutes, when I’m buying a very small item and am in a rush (also, a very kind woman let me go ahead of her and I didn’t want to make her wait a long time). It’s rather inconsistent and in some ways not worth the hassle, although on this particular day I was trying to pick up something for my mother so I stuck with it although the cashier was very rude to me.
So, unless there is a nice cashier taking care of the store that day, don’t be surprised if your small, run of the mill purchases at your «friendly» local store are dismissed. I was also rudely told, «that’s not how we do things here» when I requested to be able to just pay by cash and leave the store. Not how we do things here? Am I living under some kind of dictatorship. I can think of soooooooo many ways to rephrase that kindly or even SAY it kindly.
Did you notice that I used «rude» three times? Uh-​huh.

Why the heck have I never been here before? Spark is a relatively big craft store with the entire downstairs devoted to yarn. Prices seem about average. They have a small but thoughtful yarn section with tons of malabrigo (my favorite). I didn’t have time to check out the upstairs but definitely will next time I stop in.
I was looking for a particular knitting book that they didn’t have but the woman working upstairs took down the information and my phone number. The knitting book section was kind of baffling with tons of copies of certain books but very few choices.
Overall, a cute store where things are clean and organized. Unlike other smaller boutique stores, I didn’t feel uncomfortable just looking around and the woman working was extremely friendly, keeping to herself until I needed help.
EDIT (3÷7÷07): The woman I spoke to at Spark last week actually called me to let me know they will not be carrying the book I want (something about publishers, etc). That’s some awesome customer service, if you ask me. Way to go Spark! I’ll definitely be back very soon to make some yarn purchases.

At first I thought this place was going to extremely overpriced with little to no product, but I was very surprised!
The entire top floor is scrapbooking/​stamp supplies and a pluthera of beads. The entire downstairs is their yarn section — which isn’t great, but its hard to find a store with THE perfect yarn section (oh wait, see Windsor Button in Downtown Crossing), but the best part of this place is the classes that they offer.
They have wine and craft nights for you and your friends if you feel like having a party and making a necklace. They have knitting workshops on how to make specific and more difficult things like mittens and socks! The classes are also some of the cheapest that I have come across in Boston. They also have free knitting circles which is great for novices like me who can’t figure out what they’re doing wrong with their purl stitch.
Definately check this place out. You’ll become a better person.

Spark is awesome. If I ever owned a shop I’d want it to be like this. My bridesmaids, knowing that I’m the crafty girl that I am, had part of my bachelorette party here. It was a great time– they brought in food and wine, one of the spark girls taught us how to make necklaces. Mine turned out horrible, but everyone else’s looked cool. (I just don’t have an eye for beads, it appears).
The one bummer is that the yarn selection isn’t so great. For crafting I’m a paper girl and a knitting girl. And both of those selections are lacking. But, if you are into beads, this is your place.

I did one of the Wine and Craft nite «Stunning Stone Necklaces». AWESOME.
For $ 40, you get
— Wine
— Cheese
— Material for one necklace
— Teaching Instruction
Pros:
— Are you kidding? Free wine and cheese… let’s go!!!
— Great way to catch up with your girlfriends!
— You get an end product after your drinking session =D
— Learn something new, meet new people, etc
— One block from Davis Square T… EASY
Cons:
— Could be challenging to do crafts work when you are drinking alot of wine! Let just say my necklace came out just a little too short.