They did some matting and framing for us and everything came out perfect!…read moreFriendly and very helpful service and very fairly priced! Thanx so much.

Best frame store ever I love how sweet there are will be returning soon best people everread more

All craft roads lead to Playtime--an unassuming yet remarkable arts and crafts supply store in…read moreArlington Center. As a gifter, I don't fully understand how I didn't know about this place before, but I'm so glad I do now. I went for a family project recently when closer craft shops didn't have what we needed. There's an abundance of arts and crafts supplies here, housed in two interconnected basement rooms, along with an impressive paper and picture frame selection (among other items) on the first floor. The atmosphere is one of a kind--more like an arts-and-crafts boutique curated by the owner, with items you won't easily find together elsewhere. Because of the sheer breadth, some categories (like fabrics, for example) have a smaller variety, which is just an observation, not a critique. Ribbons are unrivaled. If you don't have time to wander, ask--the best part of our experience was the owner, Carol, and the staff (thank you, Lilly). They are wonderfully kind, patient, and creative, offering thoughtful, gentle advice for your projects and genuinely care about their customers. Tip: There's a parking lot in the back or bus 87 drops you off right in front, literally. Highly recommended local business.

How in the WORLD have I lived in Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge for decades and not known about…read morethis place. A friend recommended coming here w/ my mom to look for yarn for her knitting projects and my friend prefaced that this place was the BEST for any type of arts, crafts, decor, etc. Well, WOW!! And funny enough, my mom used to go to this store when she was a little girl in the late 50s-60s to get Nancy Drew books. She said it was EXACTLY how she remembered as a kid. I was awe struck by everything this store had. I will definitely be making this place a regular stop for gifts for people and for fun. Forget going to places like Michaels. Come to this local, family-owned business which I guarantee will have whatever you are looking for. It's an incredible place.

This is a great and friendly place to frame your art. The frames are the best quality I have found:…read morehand gilt or more contemporary. You also can chose affordable yet beautiful framings. Whatever your preferences, Andrew will take the time and help you to chose the best style and colors for your art. Thank you!

This is such a terrific place, and I almost don't want other folks to find out about it. We used…read moreHagop's for years, and when he retired we looked far and wide for a framer who'd measure up to Hagop. And goodness did we find the right place. Over a dozen jobs later, and we'll never go anywhere else. Such care and professionalism, with an artist's eye. Sure, you could go elsewhere for a cheaper slash-and-dash, but if you're at all serious about quality and professionalism... it's right there in Cushing Square.

A small dog friendly art gallery in the heart of JP. It has great character and friendly staff…read more(who are also artists featured in the gallery). It's a great place to stop in and just take a look around. There is a range of art, but my favorite is definitely the jewelry featuring bird and tree designs. Beautiful stuff. Support your local artists.

I've been to all of the art galleries on Centre/South Streets in JP and I like this new one the…read morebest. It's hard to describe, but I just have an enjoyable time walking slowly around this gallery and checking out the art. The place feels like it has a heart. They're featuring local artists right now and have a handout they give you listing their day jobs. I thought it was a cool idea. You know, "That girl who served me those stiff drinks at the Behan painted this? Wow!" That sort of thing. It added something to my experience. They are also hosting musical and other events. Should be fun.

The various art shows are wonderful and the classes are great. There's even a Gallery Gift shop…read morethat's open during the shows with handmade items like stained glass, ceramics, jewelry, wood and more. Plus there's free parking!

Right now, you can go to the Arts & Crafts Society to get your fix of handmade woodwork, pottery,…read morescarves, shirts, table runners, bottle stoppers, purses, jewelry boxes, vases, decorative plates, spoon rests, earrings, necklaces, watercolor paintings, and... I think that's about it. This month, the members have exhibited their wares - and everything's available for a very fair price. Perfect for getting that little "New England gift" for a family member. The staff is really friendly and talkative, asking lots of questions and giving you advice on how to make your own homemade things. Also, classes are available in everything from jewelry making to ceramics (hand building AND wheel throwing!), woodworking to knitting. Very nice, and perfect for those with too much energy.

I met with Andrew to get 6 pieces of artwork framed. Andrews is thoughtful--He has deep expertise,…read morepatience and guides without over-reaching. He really knows how to get you through the process. The office feels like they understand and love the craft and the artwork. I am looking forward to the end result. The prices seem reasonable for the amount of care taken when we explore options. Seems like you can't go wrong with the son of an artist--who is an artisan himself.

Dropped a framed print off for a new dust cover. Friendly people, quick turn around and fair price.read more

We have had a few things framed here. The items are high end and we are very happy with the work…read moreand the choices that were recommended to us by the owner, John. We went in with an idea of what we wanted and John guided us with suggestions. That said, he is very difficult. This last time we were tossed between 2 different frames. We chose one, gave a 50% deposit. When we arrived home and considered the space it was to be hung, we decided to go with the other choice. We immediately called John (we left his store only 30 minutes prior) to tell him we are changing to the other frame. He was nasty, said we were "grinding him" (not sure what that means since we were asking only for his opinions) and said he's too busy to deal with this and to come get our piece. We attempted to calm him down and in spite of his unprofessional demeanor told him we'd be in to look at the other frame. Upon further consideration I decided I did not want to work with someone so unprofessional. When I arrived I asked him what went wrong and he lost it again. Crazy! He the gave me our piece wrapped in paper, not in the tube he was given and when I asked him to put it in the tube for protection, he said "I already rolled it." In spite of his great work....."CAUTION!: STAY AWAY"

My wife and myself had a couple of water color prints we needed framing, we decided to use John at…read moreAtelier 564 based on the Yelp reviews we read. We couldn't be happier that we found him, he helped chose the perfect framing materials for the prints and had them done when he promised. The pieces look incredible and John is a very interesting story teller, so the whole experience was a pleasure and we highly recommend JOHN.

I'm pleased to give Liz and Middlesex Framing my highest review. They handled five posters,…read morecollege degrees, and original hand-painted art. Liz managed a perfect match with some earlier frames and the work was very high quality. She is very service oriented. She also has a great aesthetic sense that is helpful in identifying frames to complement your art.

My husband and I had no experience whatsoever in having things professionally framed before…read moreentering this store. Our experience was fantastic! The woman who was working and who I assume owns the shop was SO helpful! We were framing our wedding photo, the one I was looking forward to hanging on our wall for the rest of our marriage; the one I wanted to treasure and wanted framed exactly perfect. She wanted what I wanted! She wasn't pushy; instead she was cheery, polite, and extremely helpful. The prices were very reasonable too. I HIGHLY recommend this store for your framing needs.