The best stories begin with a leap of faith. 

For Samantha Anderson, that leap wasn’t mapped out on a vision board or neatly outlined in a business plan. It happened in the middle of everyday life—between an appointment, a stop at The Read Queen, and a simple glance at a “for lease” sign in the window of a space next door.

Samantha had spent more than a decade in the structured world of project management for creative agencies, but her heart was nudging her toward something less polished, less planned, and more alive. “I just really wanted to get back into the creative side,” she recalls. “And I wasn’t sure what that was.”

So when she stumbled across that storefront in Lafayette, she called her husband on a whim. “Remember that idea I had? This would be the perfect place,” she told him. He didn’t hesitate: “Yeah, let’s go ahead and get it.” And just like that, The Craft Place was born—not from spreadsheets or five-year strategies, but from trust, timing, and a gut feeling too strong to ignore. From that moment, it became a true team effort. Ben (Samantha’s husband) has been by her side every step of the way, from those early daydream discussions and mapping out how to make it all work, to late nights troubleshooting and even learning the Xtool so he could help build pieces for the studio. It may have started as her dream, but it quickly became their shared adventure.

And fittingly, the symbol of that leap is a frog. The Craft Place’s cheerful mascot (sometimes painted with a smudge of fingerpaint on one paw) comes straight from Samantha’s childhood sketchbooks. “I’ve loved drawing frogs since I was a kid,” she says. “They were always easy to doodle, and when people used to joke that I went to school for ‘finger painting,’ I decided to own that. The frog became a reminder that creativity can be fun and a little silly—and still be something real.”

What to Expect Inside

The Craft Place officially opened its doors on October 18 and Guests can expect more of a cozy neighborhood hangout than a formal studio. The 980-square-foot space runs like a restaurant—only instead of a menu of entrées, there’s a menu of creative projects.

Want to try watercolors while your friend digs into acrylics? Go for it. Curious about pastels, squeegee art, or even seasonal projects like spackle-art ghosts or hand-stamped Thanksgiving tea towels? It’s all there, ready for you whenever you are ready. Everything is self-guided: shelves of art books, a booklet of how-to’s, and lots of room for interpretation. No synchronized step-by-step class. No need to match your neighbor’s painting. Just the freedom to follow your curiosity.

Beer and wine are part of the experience but served simply, without pretense. It’s not about cocktails or craft mixology; it’s about comfort. Sometimes a sip of wine or a cold beer can help quiet the inner critic and loosen up your creative flow.

Creativity Without the Homework

One of Samantha’s biggest inspirations came from seeing how much energy it takes just to start a new creative project. “Between the supplies, figuring out what you’re going to do, and the planning behind it, sometimes it gets overwhelming,” she says. “I wanted to close that gap. Just come in and everything will be here for you.”

The Craft Place flips the script. There’s no prep work, no planning weeks in advance, no intimidating instructors. You can drop in whenever the mood strikes—Thursday night, Saturday afternoon, or after grabbing lunch nearby—and everything you need is waiting.

“The goal isn’t to leave with a perfect piece of art to hang over your mantle. It’s to walk out with your hands a little messy, your spirit a little lighter, and maybe even the spark to keep creating once you get home.”

A Place That Belongs to Lafayette

Part of what makes this story so right is where it’s unfolding. Lafayette already buzzes with art and creativity. You might grab dinner at William Oliver’s before heading over, pair cheesecake from Cherry’s Cheesecake next door with your project, or wander over after a coffee at East Simpson. The Craft Place is designed to slot right into the rhythm of your Old Town life, woven into the fabric of the neighborhood. For Samantha, it even echoes her years in New York: that same sense of walkable energy, variety and possibility, only here it’s distilled into something smaller, warmer, and more personal.

And while partnerships with neighbors are still just ideas, Samantha imagines pairing craft nights with local treats, collaborations with other makers, and the kind of spontaneous crossovers that make small-town life so special.

Samantha is quick to admit she doesn’t have every craft technique mastered and that’s exactly the point. “I don’t watercolor every day. I don’t use pastels all the time. I’m always learning, too,” she says. “And I think that’s a good thing. There’s no judgment here.”

In this little studio, vibrancy shows up in bold colors, laughter between friends, and the quiet pride of trying something new. Nothing is over-produced or “packaged.” It’s pure, simple, and alive.

The Beginning of Something

Guests don’t walk away with a grade or a gallery-ready masterpiece. They leave with something better: the feeling that creativity is accessible, fun, and deeply human. “I’d love for people to leave and think, ‘That was fun. Next time I want to try something else,’” Samantha says. “Not because they have to come back, but because they feel inspired to keep creating in their own lives.”

The Craft Place is a reminder that the universe often gives back what you put into it. Samantha put in passion, trust, and a willingness to begin without having all the answers. What she’s created is a space that does the same for others: offering freedom, fun, and connection to anyone willing to show up, sit down, and make something.

Many times the best things in life aren’t the ones you plan. They’re the ones you create as you go.

Now Open!

📍 Location: 123 N Harrison Ave, Lafayette, CO 80026

Whether you come with friends, a partner, or just yourself, you’ll find everything you need waiting—supplies, inspiration, and maybe even a glass of wine to get you started.

At The Craft Place, creativity isn’t something you should have to schedule. It’s something you can just leap into—like our little frog on the logo.