Artist and entrepreneur Cheryl Neway triples her creative footprint with an expanded boutique, art gallery, atelier, and community gathering space, celebrating with a grand reopening on November 14.
FAIRFAX, VA — Some mistakes are simply too wonderful not to make.
Thirty years after setting out to spread a little more joy in the world, artist and entrepreneur Cheryl Neway is taking Perfect Mistakes® to new heights. Quite literally.
On Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m., Perfect Mistakes will celebrate its grand reopening at 10412 Main Street, on the second floor of a historic building in Old Town Fairfax. With three times the space of its previous downtown location, the reimagined studio offers something increasingly difficult to find: room to create, connect, experiment, and belong.
For Neway, the move represents more than a business expansion. It's the next chapter of a lifelong pursuit.
Growing up as one of seven children, Neway understood the delicate balance between individuality and belonging. Her early exploration of spirituality inspired a belief that joy, creativity, and human connection have the power to ripple outward, touching lives far beyond their original source.
That philosophy became the foundation of Perfect Mistakes.
Over the past three decades, Neway has built a creative practice that defies easy categorization. Her work spans batik, ice dyeing, upcycled fashion, mixed-media art, and highly personalized commissions. Each piece reflects her willingness to embrace the unexpected, challenge conventional ideas of beauty, and find meaning in materials and stories others might overlook.
But the most enduring thing she's created may not be something you can hang on a wall or wear out the door. It's the community that has formed around her.
“I've always believed that joy creates a ripple effect. When you create something with love and intention, that energy doesn't stop with you. It travels,” said Cheryl Neway, founder of Perfect Mistakes. “This new space gives me the freedom to live in creative mode, to experiment with movement, color, and expression in ways that reflect who I've become as an artist. I'm incredibly grateful for that opportunity and excited to share it through my artwork, commissions, and collaborations with the remarkable network of creatives who have become part of this journey. Perfect Mistakes has never been a static thing. It's alive, growing and evolving, just as we all are. After 30 years, I feel like we're only beginning to discover what's possible.”
More Than a Storefront
The expanded Perfect Mistakes features dedicated spaces for its boutique, working atelier, and art gallery, alongside flexible gathering space for workshops, creative experiences, private events, and collaborations.
The boutique showcases Neway's distinctive wearable art, including hand-dyed garments, reimagined clothing, and one-of-a-kind accessories. The atelier offers a home for hands-on making, experimentation, and creative instruction, while the gallery provides a setting to experience original artwork and discover the artists and collaborators who contribute to the Perfect Mistakes community.
The expansion also introduces a distinctive opportunity for Old Town Fairfax: a flexible, arts-centered event space outside the traditional restaurant or brewery setting.
Whether hosting a workshop, celebrating a milestone, or bringing creative minds together, the new location is designed to invite people to participate rather than simply observe.
It's an evolution that reflects a larger vision for independent retail, one in which the experience, relationships, and sense of discovery are as important as the products themselves.
“Art is essential to a thriving community. With George Mason University right in our backyard, Fairfax City has an incredible community of artists, students, and creative thinkers, and our downtown should reflect that energy,” said City of Fairfax Mayor Catherine Read. “Cheryl chose Old Town Fairfax because she wanted to bring more color and creativity to Main Street, and that's exactly what she's done. As a member of our Commission on the Arts and its recently appointed Public Art Chair, she's helping shape the creative identity of our city in more ways than one. Having a woman-owned art gallery, boutique, and gathering space right on Main Street is something worth celebrating. These are the independent businesses that give our downtown its character, create lasting memories, and make Fairfax a place people want to experience, not just pass through.”
A Grand Reopening Worth Celebrating
The November 14 celebration will bring together longtime supporters, neighboring businesses, artists, and new friends for an evening of music, refreshments, pop-up vendors, raffles, and giveaways.
A silent auction is also planned to benefit a local charitable organization, extending Neway's philosophy of generosity and connection beyond the studio walls.
Guests will have the opportunity to explore the expanded space, discover original artwork and wearable creations, meet participating artists and vendors, and experience the welcoming creative atmosphere that has defined Perfect Mistakes for three decades.
For Neway, the next chapter is about creating more room for possibility, and inviting more people into the circle.
Grand Reopening Event Details
Perfect Mistakes®: Moving on Up!
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Time: 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Location: 10412 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Fairfax, VA 22030
Admission: Free
Activities: Music, refreshments, pop-up vendors, silent auction, raffles, giveaways, art, and community celebration.
Event Registration: Grand Reopening on Eventbrite
About Perfect Mistakes®
Founded by artist and entrepreneur Cheryl Neway, Perfect Mistakes® is a creative studio, boutique, gallery, and gathering space located in historic Old Town Fairfax, Virginia. Celebrating 30 years of artistic expression, the brand specializes in original mixed-media art, expressive textiles, wearable art, upcycled fashion, and custom commissions. Through workshops, collaborations, and community experiences, Perfect Mistakes celebrates individuality, creative exploration, and the joy of making something unexpected.
Website: https://www.perfectmistakes.com
Media Contact
Sage + Spoke | A Storytelling Studio
tara@sageandspoke.co
https://sageandspoke.co
###