New Patchogue craft studio gives kids and families a place to get creative

A new arts and crafts studio has opened in the heart of Patchogue, giving children and families a new place to make, create and spend time together.

The Creative Patch, owned by Patchogue natives Rachel and Kyle Kelly, is primarily geared toward children, with hands-on projects including ceramics, slime, squishy-making, build-a-stuffy activities and canvas art. The studio also plans to host select events for preteens and adults.

For Rachel, a special education teacher who minored in fine arts in college, the idea for the business was something she and her husband had discussed for years.

“We always said it’s a shame there’s not a lot of stuff for kids here,” Kelly said.

The couple often visited Main Street with their family and began thinking about what the area was missing. The idea became more tangible when they came across a space Rachel already knew well as the former home of The Curiosity Shoppe.

“We were so sad to see it go because we loved going in there,” she said.

Located at 33 E Main St, the shop’s open layout, Main Street setting and rear parking lot made it an ideal fit for the couple’s vision.

The Creative Patch features an open craft studio where visitors can choose from a variety of projects based on their ages and interests. Kelly said that flexibility was important to her as a parent.

“I have an 11-year-old and a 7-year-old who are very different,” she said.

The studio is primarily geared toward preschoolers through preteens, though Kelly said groups of teenagers spending time in Patchogue Village have also stopped in to work on projects such as ceramics.

During open craft sessions, families receive some guidance to get started, including short tutorials, while Kelly is available throughout the session to help. The studio will also offer more structured events featuring additional one-on-one and small-group instruction.

Birthday parties, camps and other special events are also planned.

Affordability was another priority for Kelly. She wanted to offer projects that families could return for without spending a significant amount of money or committing to a lengthy activity. Many projects can be completed relatively quickly, with the most expensive options generally costing about $25 to $30.

Transforming the space into The Creative Patch became a family project of its own.

The Kellys began work shortly after deciding to move forward with the business, with Kyle handling much of the construction and the couple’s children helping add some of the creative touches.

Together, the family created splatter-painted tabletops for the studio, while other playful features include ball pit chairs and a homemade vending machine.

The Creative Patch is currently open for weekend craft sessions, generally from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., along with scheduled special events and early evening activities.

Beginning in September, Kelly said the studio plans to expand to five days a week and add more programming, including mommy-and-me classes, after-school activities and birthday parties. Updated hours and upcoming events will be posted on the business’s Instagram page.

For Kelly, the goal is to create a space for kids — and anyone else who enjoys making something — to explore their creativity.

The Creative Patch is designed for “the young and young at heart who love to be creative,” she said.

Scroll for more photos courtesy of Rachel Kelly/The Creative Patch