Tomāto Tomäto Creative Space celebrates its first anniversary

A business in downtown Renton recently hosted a craft swap.

“Keeping art alive and accessible”: 1 year anniversary of Tomāto Tomäto Creative Space

Tomāto Tomäto Creative Space is an art studio in downtown Renton that has been open for over a year hosting craft classes and parties. The business celebrated this Sunday, July 21st with a craft swap.

Founded and run by Kelly Affleck, the company sells original craft kits, hosts art classes for children, and pizza and painting nights for adults. It also partners with after-school programs and other businesses in the area.

Affleck enjoys being able to customize the store to her liking, meeting “all these cool kids” and engaging the community through accessibility and fun with art.

“My favorite thing is to see kids get excited about a craft,” Affleck said. “To give a home to kids who aren’t so interested in sports is a big moment for me because I was that kid.”

Stella, a student at Sartori Elementary in Renton, is a regular customer at Tomāto Tomäto. She has taken most of the classes offered and has learned the most sewing skills of all. She recently sewed a bag that she always carries with her, Affleck said.

Residents of the complex above Tomāto Tomäto, art class participants and passersby came along to the free craft swap on July 21, where anyone could donate or take something. The tables inside and outside the shop were filled with fabrics, cross-stitch kits, paints, old puzzles, yarn and much more.

Tomāto Tomäto is located at 334 Wells Avenue South, Suite B2. For more information about workshops, events and original craft kits, visit tomatotomatocreative.com.

Tomäto-Tomäto creative space. Photo courtesy of Annika Hauer