Featured Owner: Katie Parker, AR Workshop Ferndale

Posted Saturday, November 14, 2020

In Anders Ruff Workshop News, DIY Projects, Home Decor

Katie Parker is this week’s featured AR Workshop owner! Katie is the owner of AR Workshop Ferndale in Michigan. You can find her workshop located at 207 E. 9 Mile Road in Ferndale! Pop in to see class attendees hard at work creating a variety of DIY home décor projects. Favorites include front porch signs, wood plank and framed signs, centerpieces, trays, canvas totes and pillow cases, and a variety of wood and canvas wall hangings. Plus, there are many specialty classes to choose from too. You don’t want to miss the retail area of the shop which has ready made projects and gorgeous gift options!

AR Workshop Ferndale recently changed hands and is now owned and run by Katie Parker, who worked closely with previous owner Diana Vermeulen. Katie was one of the original staff hired when the workshop opened in 2017. The two shared the running of the workshop over the last 18 months until the current pandemic caused a big restructuring within the workshop.

When Katie found AR Workshop, she immediately fell in love with the concept and was thrilled when the opportunity arose for Diana to pass the torch to Katie.

Katie grew up in London, England, and has always been making, painting or creating, earning her degree in Fine Art and Painting. Katie moved to Ferndale in 2007 and has spent the last 13 years immersed in the Ferndale community and craft world. Katie spent a period of time working for Anthropologie, where her love of art and design was channeled through working on the window displays and merchandising.

AR Workshop encompasses so many things Katie loves – DIY, crafting, retail, entertaining and community… not to mention the best space for her to share her love of DIY with her two sons! When not at the workshop you can find Katie minutes away at her Ferndale home with her boys and partner, Alex who is working side by side with the running of the workshop–an endeavor they are eager to immerse themselves in and take to its fullest potential. Katie cannot wait to host you at a workshop soon, or provide a brilliant make and take for you to enjoy at home!