Reasons Rhode Island’s Hidden Gem Shop Is A Crafters Paradise

As a mother of two kids who never met a pom-pom they didn't like, I have spent more than my fair share of hours sweeping up glitter and untangling yarn.

Between my budding jewelry maker and the obsessed crocheter, finding affordable supplies for all craft interests can be tricky. With beloved supply stores like JoAnn Fabrics going out of business I thought things would get even harder.

Then we found our collective crafting dream store in the Creative Reuse Center (CRC) in East Providence.

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This non-profit store has become a haven for those with a spark of imagination.

Why the Creative Reuse Center is Special

Inside the 991 Waterman Ave store, crafters of all kinds will find a treasure trove of surplus materials that have been saved from town landfills. Everything from buttons to beads, paints to paper and even candy molds and photo albums.

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If there is a craft you are dying to try, you'll find everything you need at the CRC.

Best part of all, many of these materials are at deeply discounted prices because of their secondhand status.

What You Can Find at CRC

You can find thread for $2, paints for 50¢ and storage for as little as $1. A great place for teachers to stock up before a new school year begins and an ideal spot to start supply shopping for kids of all ages too.

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There are a few things to keep in mind before you hop in the car to craft shop however.

Know Before You Go: Hours, Tools & Events

• The CRC is only open Saturdays and Sundays 12-4pm as well as Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9am-1pm.
• The store offers on-site tools like button makers, sewing machines and shape cutting machines for public use during shopping hours.
• Crafting workshops and special events are hosted throughout the year, to help artists of all abilities develop their skills.
• You can also donate your used craft supplies to the CRC store. Old buttons, fabrics scraps, skeins of yarn, paint supplies and more can be reused by the shop instead of ending up in a landfill.

📍991 Waterman Ave, East Providence, RI 02914