Stephanie Spear A visit to Chantilly’s Craftspace VA is a lot like visiting an art museum, except here, visitors are encouraged to touch and try out the art. Craftspace, located at 3675 Concorde Parkway, Suite 1500, is part workshop, part makerspace, and it’s all hands-on. This art studio is stocked with all kinds of materials and equipment for crafters of all skill levels to spend time creating, learning, and connecting. What started as a conversation between two like-minded crafters is now a destination for makers of all kinds here in Chantilly. Read on for more about Craftspace VA and its co-founders, Sarah Christensen and Amy Robinson.
About Craftspace
Sarah Christensen and Amy Robinson met through a networking group and instantly connected over their shared vision. Through conversation, they each realized they had the same idea for a business: a place where crafters of all skill levels could use equipment, get instruction, and explore new craft modes. “We realized we could create a community of people interested in crafting,” Sarah said. “People who are interested in trying something shouldn’t have to go out and buy a whole machine when we have them sitting unused.”
Amy also runs a business called Campus Survival Kits and had a variety of equipment and supplies stemming from custom orders. She moved the CSK business into the Chantilly space in 2021 and thought that the big room in the front of the space would make a good workshop for crafting. She met Sarah around that time and while they were developing the business, Amy got the space ready, putting up walls and lighting to create the studio space.
The duo opened Craftspace VA in January 2022. Patrons can take classes and workshops, enjoy open crafting, and host private events. Over time, Craftspace has hosted office parties, birthday parties, team-building events, summer camps, winter camps, fundraisers for school groups, and a variety of workshops for various artisans. “Everything is customizable,” Amy said. “We can do pretty much anything for any level of crafter. We work with the host and their budget, the colors, etc, to make it really tailored.”
See more: Personal Styling and Curated Fashion Find a Home at ERA in Alexandria
Locals come to Craftspace on their own to learn a new skill, practice a skill, and to make new things. Many patrons are small business owners who need a handful of a custom item, but it’s too small or costly to order from a traditional vendor, so they make it themselves. Others are craft-curious but don’t have the space to store supplies or want to make the financial commitment to purchase equipment.
For the artists who use the space for workshops or to teach classes, it’s a good way to expand their businesses. “Many people who teach here are doing art on the side and working from their homes, so they’re just building up with their teaching,” Sarah said. “We can help with advertising, registration, and the other administrative details of running a class,”
More than anything, Amy and Sarah want Craftspace to be a place for community. “Our business is a good place for meeting with like-minded individuals, while at the same time, maybe learning something new, or increasing your knowledge of a particular type of crafting,” Amy said. “We definitely want to provide a forum for that, and the ability for people to connect with those things that they want to do.”
In 2023, Craftspace won Best Visual Arts Classes in the DC area by Washington Parent Picks, and was nominated in 2024 for its summer camp.
What to Expect
The space has high ceilings and tons of natural light. There are long worktables and seemingly endless types of craft supplies. The supplies are organized and easy to find – Martha Stewart would approve of the setup.
The basic supplies on hand include: paint, thread, fabric, glue, glue gun, washi tape, laminator, paper cutter, vinyl, ironing board, and more. Premium supplies include Glowforge Pro and our X-Carve machines. Guests pay by the hour to use the materials and the space, and guests can also bring in their own materials.
Past workshops have included paper quilling, cookie decorating, hand-lettering ornaments, and makeup techniques. Creatives in any medium are welcome to work with the Craftspace team to teach a workshop or even reserve the space for a private event.
Read more: Millions of Bees are No Problem for this Centreville-Based Beekeeper
For those who are interested in crafting but don’t know where to start, the Craftspace team is excited to share its knowledge. The team also accepts donations of unused crafting materials to stock the shelves. Craftspace is available for private events, including birthday parties, classes, and corporate outings.
Follow @thefairfaxgirl on Instagram + TikTok for the latest Northern Virginia updates, and check out our events calendar, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.
