About Us

Every artist has tools of their trade — knitters have needles and yarn, painters have brushes and easels, stitchers have needles, thread, and fabric — and every artist will tell you the tools of their trade can be expensive, especially when you're just starting out. When you’re looking for a set of supplies to explore a new medium, figuring out what you actually need can be overwhelming and cost-prohibitive.

Make & Mend was born out of a desire to change that narrative.

Established in 2017 by Somerville artist Emily Tirella, Make & Mend is working to remove the financial barriers to creation by offering gently used art supplies at an accessible rate for seasoned artists and first-timers alike. Initially branded as an "Art Supply Rescue," we began collecting supplies and attending pop-ups in early 2018.

As the demand for affordable art supplies has increased, so has the desire to be creative with sustainable materials. With you in mind, we're opening a retail shop AGAIN. We understand just how special it can be to shop for these supplies in person and Although we could stay online forever (and will continue to be there!), we're so excited to see YOU, our community, in person again!

Emily Tirella
Owner + Founder

Our Mission

To collect and redistribute unwanted art supplies.
To take the intimidation out of trying new things.
To grow community through vulnerable creativity.
The reduce the amount of waste that goes into the art making process.
To repair, mend, or fix something before getting rid of it.

Membership

As our business grows, we rely on consistent and regular income to be able to plan for the future. Rather than crowdsource a large amount of money at once, we're crossing our fingers that you believe in us enough to support us regularly!

For as low as $4 a month, you can support Make & Mend and also get really cool stuff in your mailbox! We're commissioning local and far away artists to design exclusive merch for our Patreon peeps so sign up now to take advantage of the benefits and support your favorite small business!

Click here to check out our Patreon!

Wanna contact us?
Send us an email at [email protected] or fill out the form below and someone will get back to you within 3 business days.
Please be sure to check out our shipping and order policies at the bottom of our website.