Make Art Supplies

We had such a good time at the Downtown Trick or Treat yesterday!
Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth!
Explore Williamsport

We will be open again beginning Nov. 1.
Stop in and visit to see what supplies we have left in the store and check out our close of business sales on all in-store materials.
New Hours:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11am to 5pm
Saturdays from 10am to 2pm

In Gratitude

It is with mixed emotions that I have come to the decision to close the doors at Make Art Supplies at the end of December.
Much thought and debate has gone into making this decision. I don’t take it lightly. This art supply store was part of a bigger dream that I have held for many many years to build a cooperative community of creative people.

The decision to close was the result of many factors, not just one event. The issues that have arisen of late that affect the Pajama Factory and brought the safety of the building into question were not the reason to close but they were the catalyst that brought all of the other factors to the forefront. Let me say that the factory is very safe and will continue being an asset to the community for years to come.

The saying that no publicity is bad publicity may be true but we saw immediate effects of the publicity that surrounded the information, both factual and speculative, that was flying around at the time. This event gave me a moment to pause. I paused the grand expansion we were deep into, I paused our open hours because we weren’t seeing any volume of activity and I took time. Time to think and consider some of the information that I have gathered since that decision I made at the beginning of ‘22 to bring this store to our community.

Factors; brick and mortar art supply stores are struggling, big box stores and online sales are shutting down small businesses in this industry just like every other. This knowledge came to me shortly after opening and though I was dealing with the loss of my spouse just 2 months after opening the doors to the store, and all of the ramifications of that loss, I was already thinking of what could be done to supplement the art supplies that would remain the backbone of the store. For such a young business it has gone through many metamorphosis in its short life. The plan to expand the square footage, to offer workshop and classroom space for local crafters and artists to teach and to include creative maker spaces was the result of the information regarding the future of art supply stores that I was gathering from my distributors and representatives in the art and craft world. The creation of our new teacher portal was also a part of what I believed, and still believe could be another answer for the store’s survival and an enormous asset to the community.

So why walk away now? My decision is both personal and professional. The state of the industry from my vantage point; my sales rep from my main distributor, the biggest art supply distributor in the US informed me that they had one of the worst back to school seasons (art supplies biggest season) in ‘24 than they’ve had in years, their August/September sales numbers were close to their slowest months from ‘23. One of my other distributors informed me that they had stopped attending the art supply trade shows, not worth it he said, they attend ComicCons instead.

My spouse, who ran two very successful businesses of their own, used to say “ Oh if I were just 20 years younger…the things I could do with these companies etc.” My response was always, “You’re never too old” and I still believe that but I have found that there does come a time, at least for me, when I don’t want to push a rock up hill, when I don’t need to grow something new but can enjoy and appreciate what has already grown. That is the stage I am in now and I’m looking forward to what that will look like. I inherited a very nice Winnebego camper van. I think it’s time to put it to use and go see more of what’s out there.

It is with the deepest gratitude to everyone who ever walked through the doors of Make Art Supplies and to all of my family and friends that have supported this dream that I will close this chapter of my life.

Love, Concetta Owens

It's never too late to start your art journey.
"Have no fear of perfection; you'll never reach it." - Salvador Dali

Looking for some spooky crafts for the Halloween season? We highly recommend this art craft that glows! From paints to markers and even a Galaxy Jar Kit - the whole family will love it!

Come say high to the Make Art crew at the Explore Williamsport's Downtown Halloween Trick or Treat from 5 to 8pm on Oct. 30! We will have yummy treats and artistic goodies for the kiddos.

A MAKE ART UPDATE: Our Pajama Factory location will be closed until Nov. 1 and after that we will be back with great holiday deals to close out 2024! To contact the Make Art team, email [email protected]

Open today October 12th 11am - 2-pm.

"Anyone can fly. All you need is somewhere to go that you can't get to any other way. The next thing you know, you’re flying among the stars."
– Faith Ringgold

Faith Ringgold was born in October and died this year at the age of 93. Born Faith Willi Jones on October 8, 1930, in Harlem, she was an influential artist, author, and activist who addressed themes of race, gender, and social justice through her work. Faith’s pioneering use of quilting and storytelling techniques revolutionized the art world by blending fine art with craft traditions. Throughout her career, she explored various mediums, including political paintings, soft sculptures, and tankas, while drawing inspiration from African art.

We have some exciting air dry clay flowers in the store from Okto Sensory Art. This is a great activity for the whole family and offers a beautiful display at the end! Stop in to pick up a box, or buy one online: https://www.makeartsupplies.com/brands/okto/

🎃👻🎃

📢CONTEST ALERT!!!
Who thinks they will have the "BEST" Halloween Costume this year?! You will have the opportunity to put your costume to the test by registering for our costume contest! This will be a part of our Downtown Halloween Trick or Treat and Fall Festival event on Wednesday, October 30th!! Participation is free, however, you will need to secure a spot ahead of time since space is limited. Use the link below to register!

CONTEST DETAILS
🥳 It's free to register! Space is limited.
👉Contest categories are best overall for ages 1-5, ages 6-12, ages 13-18 and best overall group ensemble (all ages).
🏆One winner will be chosen from each category and will receive a trophy, as well as gift cards from each participating sponsor.
👻Contestants must be present to win.
🦹Contestants will be reviewed based on creativity, originality, effort, authenticity and presentation.

Thank you to Otto Bookstore, The Mulberry Moose and Make Art Supplies for making this possible! 🥰

Register Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DA4AC2AA0FFCF8-51747871-downtown

Downtown Halloween Trick or Treat Details: https://www.facebook.com/share/WGFGsH9ABVSPrG8C/

We're back!
After a month of limited hours to accommodate the construction on our space expansion, we are now open five days a week. Stop in Tuesday - Friday from 11am to 5pm and on Saturday from 10am to 3pm for all your art supply needs. (And pardon our mess. There is still some construction in the background!)

I have no words.
I'm disappointed that I'm just hearing about this but I'm mostly just gutted.

My family and I have worked so hard, I've put everything into growing this business based on what our creative community needs.
We are the only locally owned art supply store in Williamsport. I'm a member of the WBA, the Williamsport Chamber of Commerce and NAMTA.
I have full and part-time employees. I employ independent contractors and other local businesses as my partners to run my social platforms, help build my online store and do my bookkeeping. I use local printers and framers etc. I'm a small business owner.
My story is similar to many of the artists and business owners who reside at Pajama Factory, who have put everything into growing, creating and building a community of diverse and like-minded entrepreneurs.
The city is going to kick me out? Evict me?
My business provides a service to the community.
Check out what we're doing and what our plans are for the future. Then be sure to write to the mayor and show up on Tuesday to let the City know that they can't just shut all these businesses down and evict all of the 150 tenants from the factory.

I hate to have to ask but it looks like we need your help!

Pajama Factory owner receives order to vacate Williamsport, Pa. — A recently issued “order to vacate” is threatening the owner and tenants of the Pajama Factory, a historic structure at 1307 Park Avenue, to vacate the building

A big thanks to Jay from Lycoming College for choosing Make Art Supplies for his theatre class's art supply needs! Do you have a bulk order for art supplies? Reach out to the Make Art team and ask how you can get 30% off your order.

Our friend and colleague Nicole Desaulniers from The Mulberry Moose was featured in an article in NorthcentralPa . She used that opportunity to mention us and other local businesses in the article. That is the definition of community!! Thank you friend, this is how we do it. 💕

The Mulberry Moose toy store, where the theme is 'fun' Williamsport, Pa. — You might have driven or walked by a white brick building on Mulberry Street in Williamsport and noticed a fanciful moose on the sign out front. And

We are closed until October 1 so the Make Art team can spend some much-needed time on inventory details. Email us at [email protected] with questions.