Have you ever used a drill before? That's one of the first questions we were asked as we began to assemble our projects at AR Workshop in Red Bank. Two out of the three of us had done so previously, but regardless of the answer you'd give, taking on the projects was a delight for us all. We were invited to come in and tackle a project of our choice at the new AR Workshop Red Bank in the heart of town on Broad Street. A welcome addition to the area that just opened their doors late this past summer, they are a DIY boutique with a unique concept and a wide array of projects available on various mediums that are both stylish and classic while also being on-trend.
My girls and I ventured out for some mother/daughter time together at AR Workshop. The girls selected projects from the Youth Wood Plank Sign options and I opted for the Round Wood Lazy Susan. We selected them in advance when we reserved our spot at the workshop. Kristen and Lisa of the AR Workshop Red Bank staff were so welcoming upon our arrival and made us feel instantly at ease. It's remarkable to me but we started out with just an unfinished block of wood. Our initial step was using a drill screwdriver to set up the turning mechanism on the Lazy Susan and the hanging hooks on the back of the youth projects. Even the kids did their own drilling and the staff was right there to help if needed. It was a quick, easy, and fun start to the project.
With very different personalities, my girls were thrilled that they could not only choose their own project that suited their style but could also customize every part of it with their own choice of stains, colors & techniques. There were so many options to make it your own and Kristen and Lisa were wonderful about explaining it all. They even showed us how each different technique style would look finished with the example of other completed projects around the shop.
I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that although the general design was selected by each of us in advance, all of their projects are completely customizable as you prepare to complete them. I was able to choose stains and paint colors that would match my kitchen and my kids were able to incorporate favorite colors into their designs. We were asked to select the stains, colors, and techniques we would use on the project first before we got down to working on it. It was exciting to discuss all of the options together and help each other choose what might work best for what we were trying to achieve with project style.
After we had our custom choices ready to go, we started by sanding down our wood with sandpaper blocks to make sure they were smooth. I loved that the kids got a little lesson in proper woodworking technique - to stay with the grain of the wood as you sand and make sure it's smooth so any imperfections don't show through. After sanding the wood, we were able to begin the process of staining it. AR Workshop Red Bank uses all plant based materials in the shop so there was no odor to the stains! Plus, they had gloves at the center of the table ready for you to use during the staining process to keep your hands nice and clean. One of my girls chose to do a Barnwood technique with two paint layers instead of a stain layer underneath. While the other two of us were staining, she was doing her first paint coat on the wood.
Once the stain was finished, the projects dry for a bit near small fans to the side while we prepare our stencils for the project. The stencils are on a sticky material so that when they are ready to go, you stick them down onto the wood and they won't move all over the place as you are trying to paint over them. Once the stain or first paint coat are dry, the technique portion of the project will happen and you'll add the other color choice with the special design you've selected to complete your background. Then, the stencils are added on the project and you paint the design onto your creation.
I was so pleasantly surprised at how easy every step of the project proved to be for all of us to complete. We were all thrilled with the final results and got to take them home with us the same day! The girls both said they would definitely go back again for another project. I highly recommend these projects as a great way of bonding with your kids and creating something unique and special that you will all enjoy for years to come! Check out our finished AR Workshop Red Bank masterpieces:
AR Workshop Red Bank is located at 43A Broad Street right in the heart of town. View their calendar of upcoming workshops at this link.
Save $10 off any workshop with our exclusive discount code for our Macaroni Kid readers. The code is MKTF10 and it expires on 11/1/18.
Note that they need at least 24 hours to prepare your project design, so you definitely want to reserve your event date, time, and project in advance. Children's projects start at $37.50 and most adult projects range from $45-$70. While a lot of the projects are completed on wood, they also offer canvas options as well. The website is very easy to navigate and has photos available for all of the different project types and styles from which you can choose your own. Call them at 732-530-7755, mention that you saw it on Macaroni Kid, and use our special discount code above to save on a fun family experience.
