First time visiting this event, which consists of individual vendor stands set up throughout the…read moreDimond Center. For sale are ulus, carvings, jewelry, furs, and other examples of Native crafts. Each vendor identifies where he or she is from, which is a nice touch. The fair takes place during the week of the Iditarod start, so plan accordingly if you're interested in visiting. Most (if not all) vendors are cash only, but fortunately there are ATMs aplenty in the mall if you need one.

The Charlotte Jensen Native Arts Market is one of the best places in Alaska to buy authentic Native…read moreAlaskan made arts & crafts. Its essentially an annual craft fair that is part of the Fur Rondy in late February/March. If you're planning to visit Alaska for the first time and you are looking for something uniquely Alaskan, plan your trip to coincide with the Fur Rondy so you don't miss out on this once a year event. And bring lots and lots of cash! (Some vendors do accept credit cards, but not many.) Every year I could kick myself for not squirreling away more money so I could buy something really amazing. This year I missed out on a one-of-a-kind spotted seal and polar bear purse that made me want to weep. For $550 it makes Coach look like a wet paper bag. I also spied a one of a kind pair of spotted seal boots, also in the 500 dollar range, with a pile so deep and soft that I'm sure I would have had a footgasm every time I put them on if I could have afforded them. My sweetie was drooling over Aleut fisherman carvings of unparalleled craftsmanship. We also saw paintings and bronze statues that also made us regret not having put money aside this year. We did spring for some handmade beaded jewlery that incorporated Alaskan abalone, and porcupine quills and claws. I'm proud to wear jewlery that helps support our native crafts people and ensures that all parts of animals that are hunted are both consumed and perserved as art. Native peoples waste nothing of the animal and make some really amazing practical items as well as wearable art. I really enjoy the craft fair because you meet peoples from all over Alaska. The craft fair is also something of a social gathering. Many of the elders love to tell you their stories while you shop, so plan to stay a while and enjoy hearing stories you aren't likely to forget. Items you're likely to find at the craft fair and price ranges: beaded jewlery- $10-$500 fur items and pelts- $100 to the thousands... walrus ivory carvings and jewlery- $50 to the thousands... paintings and prints- $25- $1000 crocheted items- $10-$100 silver, gold, bronze, copper jewlery- $50-$600 winter & summer parky's- $500-$1000 hair adornments (beaded, shells, fur, etc)- $10-$300 handmade soaps/lotions- $3-$30 and much more....! Also, some of the days of the Craft Fair they also have Native Dancing demonstrations with various Native Alaskan nations represented. Check the annual Fur Rondy schedule for more details.

Fabulous quilt store in Anchorage! We stopped in Whittier and took a cruise excursion to…read moreAnchorage. I specifically chose this shop as a destination during our free time. The ladies in the store were so helpful and friendly! Terry checked me out and talked to my husband while I shopped. They have a fantastic amount of kits and fun fabrics for good prices. As well as some fun souvenirs to choose from. They have yarn too! I will definitely stop back in when I come back to town.

service: asked if i needed help when i came in. then let me browse until i was ready to check out…read more quick to answer my questions. selection: has gifts and fabric as well as yarn. lots of local dyers here, and they have a good selection of quiviut. yarns were well-priced and i had a difficult time narrowing down my choices. value: good value on everything. i picked up a few locally dyed skeins and some needle stoppers.

The Alaska Art Alliance is your must-go destination for authentic, handcrafted pieces made by…read moreNative Alaskans. Their mission is simple - to support and promote Native Alaskan artists by providing them a place to work and sell their art while also promoting their culture and each other. They nurture art and they lift each other up. In a world of AI slop and mass produced junk the Alaska Art Alliance provides a much needed infusion of craftsmanship practiced for generations. A fine layer of dust seems to cling to everything in the store, but it is not the dust of neglect; it is the dust of constant hard work. They have a wide variety of items - art, pins, jewelry, carvings, and scrimshaws and much more! I will admit I wasn't certain when I first passed the shop as the retractable gate and the locked door made it look uninviting. My friend tried the door, found it locked, and walked away leaving me barely time to read the sign that said "if locked call or text number listed" as they would be in the back working. The next day we returned, and after informing my friend what the sign said, prepared to call but found the door unlocked. There were multiple cases full of different items. The workshop in the back looked busy. After being in so manny tourist shops it just felt nice being somewhere that felt real. The gentleman who assisted us was warm and informative. He told us about the artisans, the mission, and all they were doing. My eyes fell upon a jade bead necklace and I was captivated. I had been looking at jade all trip fairly unimpressed because they largely were flat green and didn't interest me. This necklace had character with inclusions and variations in the color. Each bead was unique. There were two necklaces and I opted for the smaller since being short the larger was a bit long to wear practically. The larger, tho, was epically beautiful as well! We ended up buying that necklace and a handcrafted pin. I am very pleased with our purchases and would recommend anyone who seeks authentic pieces to come to this Art Alliance.

My wife and I were staying in the neighborhood and found the Store. We met Fred Mayac who carved us…read morethe most beautiful bone puffin we have ever seen. Fred mailed it to us when it was finished with the help of Leon Kinneeveauk, the Director. This is a wonderful place and Project. I would like to find a way to support it but it doesn't seem to be a registered Charity? Just Leon helping people who are gifted native artists.

Very knowledgeable staff helping to answer any questions. Lots of great and unique locally hand…read morecrafted gifts for fair prices.

I wanted a cross fox fur stole for my glacier elopement and Alaska Fur Exchange was the place…read morerecommended to me for this. I placed my order in February and was able to pick up my beautiful hand crafted stole just in time for my elopement in July. It was so perfect!

As a novice crocheter, I was so intrigued by this cute local yarn shop located in downtown…read moreAnchorage! The store front was so beautiful with the super chunky blanket with large needles. When we walked into the store, we were kindly greeted by Jo who taught us so much about qiviut and how the yarn were hand dyed in small batches in Anchorage, colors inspired by the beauty of Alaska. She opened the case with the qiviut and allowed me to handle a sample on my hands. The qiviut was very lightweight, and surprisingly very warm! Walking around the store, I had never seen the yarn color variations that Wooly Mammoth had. Also, I loved how catchy the name was! I eventually settled on the Northern Bee studio 80% superwash merino 20% nylon poison water yarn and purchased a 5mm crochet hook. I really appreciated Jo's kindness and expertise in crocheting and knitting. Definitely a must stop if you're in downtown!

We visited this charming shop and immediately noticed the interesting yarns and materials. It was a…read morevisual treat however the quilts that are being sold in there are works of art!! I'm so excited about my purchase!!! Please take a look at this store if you are in Anchorage you will be charmed like me!!

Fantastic place to buy Alaska native art and support local artisans. They only accept cash, but…read morethere's an ATM on the hospital grounds. Keep in mind the craft shop has odd hours, but it's worth the effort!

Great place prices and gives back to the Native Community. The artwork and the craftsmanship is…read moreamazing. Great place to find additions to your art collection.

Blaines is the only independent art store in Anchorage . It's a valuable gem . They carry so many…read moreitems that you can't find anywhere else . Blaines Art has a coffee bar and a customs frame shop . They offer art classes throughout the year for artists of all levels and ages . The staff is friendly and knowledgeable . They are all artists themselves . Blaines is open 7 days a week . They also have a nice collection of cards and gifts for everyone . Of course you can always find art by local artists on display and quite often it will be the work of the employee helping you . Blaine's is a wonderful place to be inspired !

Blaine's Art scams their customers left and right with overpriced art supplies that can often be…read morefound for much lower prices at better art stores like Blick's, Jackson's, and even Ebay. What is Amanda thinking by charging her customers an outrageous $400 for a set of color pencils that can be bought for $200 or less on Ebay and Amazon? Customer service is also pretty crappy here, since I was always treated like an "outsider artist" instead of the professional that I've been for years. Amanda is also a classist bigot who snubs customers that she feels are not bourgeoisie enough for her snobbish standards, which makes her no better than a common racist. Anyway, if you want the best art supplies for decent prices? Then I highly recommend Blick's, Jackson's, Ebay, or even Amazon over Amanda's overpriced inferior establishment. If you want your art displayed on the wall? I also recommend you display anywhere but at Blaine's, because no serious art buyer will ever see it at Blaine's and it will be displayed next to mediocre garbage art that not even a mother would display on a refrigerator door. Do you really want your $500 oil paintings to be seen next to refrigerator marker art that no one would even pay $10 for? I don't think so~

Visited Winter Solstice Sewing & Crafts for the first time yesterday and I left pleasantly…read moresurprised! I found them on Facebook and saw they were doing various classes, since I last tried and failed at knitting when I was 18, I decided perhaps 36 is the age I will figured out how to crochet! All of the women at the shop were very helpful. They have lots of beautiful fabric options and they were all incredibly encouraging I look forward to what other skills they can teach me in the future!

From the owner: Garment fabrics, yarn, pysanky supplies, patterns, notions, classes and MOREread more