DO IT YOURSELF -- Chester shop lets patrons create crafts
July 2008 
BY VANESSA VERA
MCW THIS WEEK
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Jill Delle Cava of Long Valley often brings her children to Studio U, the do-it-yourself arts and crafts center in Chester.
Delle Cava, who visits the store about once a month, said Studio U is "great for a rainy day."
She likes bringing her children -- Jack, 9, and Sophie, 7 -- to Studio U, because "(it) gets them away from the TV, and they (Studio U) change a lot, so the projects are always new -- and I don't have the mess at home."
The Delle Cava children, who were painting wooden wall decorations, enjoy their Studio U time.
Sophie said her favorite part of the trips are "(getting) to do all the crafts."
Jack likes Studio U's variety.
"I like that you have a very big multiple choice of the crafts you can make. I really like all of them, pretty much," Jack said.
Exploring creativity
Studio U, "The U Make it Place," opened in December 2007, and the single-location store is located in the Streets of Chester shopping center.
Patrons of Studio U, who can be either adults or children, can come in at any time and create any one of the dozens of craft projects available to them -- everything from metal embossing to mosaics to memory canvasses to jewelry to projects involving photographs, decoupage or stamping.
Studio U employs a full-time product developer and creative director who develops the craft projects and teaches them to the employees.
Employees, or "artisans," help patrons with every step of the project they choose to create.
Studio U's owner Ash Reifler, 51, said the store concept came from wanting to create an "alternative destination" for people to make something on their own, as well as to have a place for people to "explore their creative side."
"We really wanted to design a unique destination for people of all ages to come and to really have this creative Zen experience. Because I really think that when you are engaged in making something, it's very powerful on a number of levels," Reifler said. "Our goal is for our customers to leave happier than when they arrived, and that's very achievable."
Reifler, who lives in Millbrook, N.Y., said one of the reasons she chose Chester for the location of her business is because "it's so artistically motivated and because it's such a creative community."
Studio U accommodates patrons of varying ages, with diverse creative abilities and time constraints.
In addition to day-to-day walk-in customers, the studio also hosts several programs and special events, including a children's summer program running through Aug. 23, "mom and me" sessions, "senior discount days" and "ladies' nights."
Customer's pay for their project, as well as a no-time-limit studio fee, though this charge has been waived for the summer.
Reifler said most of the projects in Studio U can be completed and taken with the customer the same day; however, a customer can choose to start a project and have the staff finish it for them, or even come in and choose a project for the staff to do entirely.
Customers make projects with the help of the trained artisans, who Reifler said can "hold your hand" or "give you space" depending on whether the customer is a more advanced artist or "you glue your fingers together."
The Studio U mantra, Reifler said, is: "You pick a project. You make it your own. We've made it easy, so you can have fun."
'Thousand activities'
Customer Cathy McGrath of Mendham brought her children to Studio U to make a birthday present for their dad. The children made a decoupage vase.
McGrath found the Studio U staff helpful and said they helped select a project that was "appropriate, challenging, but within the children's grasp."
McGrath said her experience with her children at Studio U was "really fun."
"I think it was a great opportunity for my kids to make a personalized gift for their dad, and it was also a fun way to spend a day off from school or camp," McGrath said.
One of McGrath's daughters, Allison, 8, said: "It's really cool, because you can personalize so many things here. There's like a thousand activities you could do."
Tammy James of Mendham and her daughters, Marissa, 10, and Vanessa, 20, were visiting Studio U for the first time for a "girls' day out."
The trio was driving around when they saw the store.
"We decided to just come in and make something," Tammy James said. "I think it's a wonderful opportunity to be able to come in and create something, especially with friends or with family."
Both sisters liked the place.
"They have a lot of ideas, and it seems very organized," said Vanessa James, who was thinking of doing a mosaic project.
"I like all the choices that you're able to do," Marissa said.
Twins Cole and Ryan Bartzak, 7, of Mendham were decorating a frame for their mother's birthday gift.
Cole said he liked coming to Studio U "because you can do art stuff."
Ryan said he liked coming "because there's like lots of stuff that you can do ..."
Studio U artisan Pat Barbone said her favorite part of working at the store is "just the creativity that comes through the door, even with the kids."
Barbone said customers can come into Studio U and not be afraid to create things and leave with "truly a unique creation of their own."
"I think adults are so hesitant to put themselves out there ... adults don't allow themselves that luxury. Something like this gives them the opportunity to come in and create."
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