Amid the coffee crowds, bustling streets and constant rhythms of coastal life, a new space in Manly is inviting locals to slow down – not by doing less, but by making more.
Craft & Soul, a creative studio tucked into Wentworth Street in Manly, is redefining what a casual catch-ups, lunch breaks, or after-work outings can look like.
Light pours into the spacious studio, where communal tables sit alongside quieter nooks, leafy greenery softens every corner, and shelves are lined with carefully cared-for tools and materials. Potted plants trail from windowsills and shelves, and fresh flower arrangements add bursts of colour and fragrance, enhancing the calm, lived-in feel.
Craft & Soul is the kind of place where it feels natural to pick up a paintbrush or a ball of yarn, even if it’s been years since the last creative attempt.
Since opening, Craft & Soul has been met with genuine local love.
“People keep telling us how much this space feels like something the area has been missing,” says Imogen Rowe, the creative force behind the studio. From kids creating with parents to retirees returning regularly, it has already become part of many locals’ routines.
The Idea Behind Craft & Soul
Craft & Soul opened in December 2025, with a simple but considered vision: to make creativity feel like a natural part of everyday life, rather than something reserved for special occasions or structured classes.
For founder Imogen, the idea grew out of time spent painting in cafés with her mother, moments that highlighted how rare it is to have a dedicated space where making feels entirely normal and welcomed.
“For me, creativity has always been about connection, slowing down, getting messy, and sharing something made by hand,” Imogen explains. “You don’t need to be good at art for it to be good for you.”
The philosophy is woven through the studio’s name itself. Craft is what you do; soul is how you do it. The focus isn’t on perfection or performance, but on reconnecting with joy and inner confidence through the act of making.
Pick Any Craft, Any Time
What sets Craft & Soul apart is its flexibility. Walk-ins are welcome from early morning to evening, and there’s no fixed schedule dictating what can be made and when.
Visitors can choose from a craft menu that includes painting pots, air-dry clay, woodcraft, watercolours and acrylics, embroidery, crochet, knitting, charcoal, and friendship bracelets. There’s also the option to bring your own project along.
Alongside everyday crafting, special sessions are run regularly, featuring activities such as freestyle paint and sip nights, vision board workshops, lampshade making, resin coasters, and live drawing for adults. Requests and ideas are encouraged, reinforcing the sense that this is a space shaped by its community.
A Space for Everyday Life
Open from 9am to 9pm, Craft & Soul fits easily into daily routines, whether you care to craft before catching the ferry, during a lunch break, as a low-key date night, or a relaxed group hang. The hope is simple: that people leave feeling reconnected, creatively capable, and carrying something handmade that tells a personal story.
In a world that often pulls attention online, Craft & Soul offers something refreshingly tangible, a place to step offline, connect with others, and remember the quiet satisfaction of making something by hand.
