What you provide to the community and kids. It's far more important and valuable. Great selection…read moreof toys and inspiration.

My wife and I really fell in love with SpielWerk toys, which we found randomly upon walking back to…read moreour car after brunch nearby. Without toddler in tow, we ended into this wonderland workshop, where my wife found herself immersed in browsing all of the handcrafted quality toys, games and oddities scattered throughout, while I entertained our little one in the play area up front. Being parents who would prefer to eschew the blinking lights and annoying audio recordings of today's modern toys, as well as avoiding screen time as much as possible, the variety of puzzling, intriguing, sensory-engaging items on sale here is exactly the sort of analog entertainment we are looking for! I sense a significant section of our upcoming Christmas lists will be sated here at SpielWerk, likely for many years to come!

What an adorable craft boutique! Stumbled upon this gem as I was checking out downtown Milwaukee…read moreafter an appointment. The shop is a blend of vintage and Parisian inspired decor with glass armoires and baker's racks filled with treasures. Upscale craft, party, and card making supplies are in abundance. This is not Michaels crafts; these items have been thoughtfully selected and curated to create the charming ambiance of the store and the items that can be created. I wandered in a few weeks before Valentine's Day so hearts, Cupids and vintage Valentine's Day card supplies were plentiful. The owner, Kelli, offers classes which are held in the back of the shop where there is a huge rectangular table that can comfortably sit 15 or so eager crafters. I found the shop and environment to be very inspiring. I've been an active crafter since I was a pre-teen so this shop really spoke to me! I'll definitely be signing up for classes; a great way to make something unique without having to buy packets of the individual components. Plus the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. You can even organize a class for a group of your friends around a theme - bridal shower, special birthday, reunion, whatever! Kelli and I chatted for awhile; she gave me a history of her shop and her sister Kim's Chocolate Shop, Enchante, next door (see my review.) It's obvious that attention to detail, designing beautiful spaces and experiences, and a love for all things Parisian is a family trait!

For those who have not stopped by Kelli's new location you should. Also check out her website…read more Www.kmarielovesglitter.org. You will be impressed with the classes/trainings as well as enjoy the atmosphere at Milwaukee floral. Don't hesitate and sign up as soon as you can.

I came in to buy one item. What I accidentally purchased was an immersive performance art piece…read moreexploring the concept of waiting. When I arrived, there was one person ahead of me and two employees behind the counter. Foolishly, I assumed this meant I would be helped sometime before the death of the universe. Instead, I was treated to a masterclass in non-transactional retail. Over the next 15+ minutes, I watched employees engage in several fascinating activities, including: * Petting dogs * Discussing classes * Conversing with customers about topics unrelated to purchasing items * Walking away * Standing around * Almost helping customers At one point I made the mistake of expressing that I was in a hurry and would like to purchase my single item. This was apparently a shocking and unreasonable request in a store that sells things. My favorite moment was when a customer who had occupied a register for roughly the length of a feature film turned around and made "deep breath" gestures at me as if I hadn't already done the daily Calm three times in my head. Thank you, sir. I had incorrectly assumed the purpose of a checkout line was pay for something. I now understand it was a mindfulness retreat. By the end of my visit, one customer had been processed, several dogs had received excellent service, and I had achieved a higher state of unconsciousness. If you're looking for clay, I can help you! Go to Blick's since their clay is a quarter of the price and it won't make you wait in line while it dries. If you're looking for an opportunity to contemplate the passage of time while observing casual conversations unfold at glacial speed, this establishment is second to none.

Everything is super organized and tidy, the staff are amazing and they even have a precious cat…read morethat wonders the warehouse.

A must stop shop for any visit to downtown Portland and lovers of the chicest, scrumptious candles…read more My top picks are "Botanica," "Synconia," "Oak Moss," and "Scarlett Rose." The owner Diana is one of the sweetest and funniest humans ever. Her husband Bryan is also very kind and friendly. It's always a pleasant visit to their storefront. Have loved supporting this business since the early days in the night markets! This is my go-to for purchasing the best smelling gifts or small trinkets/art for my friends and family. Need to also mention that ABW does a fabulous job at championing/collaborating with local artisans who reflect the diversity within the fabric of Portland's art culture--not only offering high quality products, but operating with great integrity and heart.

This is SUCH a great store! We were visiting from out of state, and happened upon this store…read morewalking around the area. It has AMAZING candles (we bought the Eucalyptus and Pine), and a very well curated selection of locally made goods. We walked out with the candle, earrings, a wooden hair fork, and couple of other items. All reasonably priced as well. The owner's husband was manning the register and gave alll the credit to his wife for everything in the store which was adorable (green flag!!). If you have a chance to stop by, HIGHLY recommend!

I absolutely love this place! I recently moved to the area and drove by the sign for their…read morelocation. I pulled up the driveway to be greeted by a peacock! Such a wonderful family run business. Everybody involved is really great. I couldn't be happier. I took the long way home! Tony is extremely helpful and very knowledgeable. I highly recommend stopping in. They have the most amazing selection of both greenware and bisque! Also, sooo many amazing glazes. Basically anything you need! I had to fire with them in a pinch and everything came out perfect with fast turnaround. The prices are REALLY GOOD. Absolutely stop by! There are sooo many wonderful farm animals to see!

I love this place, I purchase all my clay and glazes here and Fred fires my pottery for me. Fred is…read moreso nice and helpful. I really want to buy everything, EVERYTHING.

Took a terrarium class with some friends and this experience was perfect! The class fee includes a…read more6'' round vessel, a plant and other supplies needed for the terrarium plus a store credit for special items to add. It's definitely enough to make a beautiful bowl garden. You can also upgrade to a larger vessel, purchase more or larger crystals, etc. My friends and I all did different types of terrariums with different plants, but they all came out so beautifully. It was a lovely event to do with friends and then we all came home with a souvenir. Many thanks to Jude for helping us with our class - you were lovely and we appreciate your attention and guidance.

I just took a beginner scent class and am so happy that I did! I went alone but felt like I was…read morewith friends. It's definitely something I would love to do on a date night or go again for the next level class. It was fun, interesting, and I walked away with a bottle of perfume that I'm pretty proud of! Loooooved the lady that taught us!

The space was cute but pretty small compared to the other ones I've checked out. It felt crowded,…read moreand the options were nice but not much variety. It also didn't feel like they had many color choices, but it was quiet, they got it finished within 5 days, and they were kind, the prices were reasonable too. It's a nice place to go to when you have free time.

They do accept walk ins but appointments are definitely preferred which you can easily book online…read moreor over the phone. When booking, you can choose the length of your reservation, ranging from one to two hours but to be honest, I always feel like I need more time lol. Once you're there, you'll be able to browse a huge selection of items to paint, from bowls and plates to cups and animal figurines, I'm sure something will catch your eye. They offer a great variety of paints and tools, and if you have any questions, the staff is more than happy to help. Overall, I really enjoy the experience!! It's one of my favorite activity to do and relaxing way to spend time, whether you're alone or with friends and family. Definitely a good spot to hang out!!

I wish I could buy the entire store! I've never seen such humorous and unique letterpress cards…read more Pet lovers--save your money to buy some pet-themed cards and home decor here. Make sure you have ample time to view the entire store; we nearly missed our lunch reservation since we lost track of time here.

Put a Bird on It!…read more This is the place to come for your Portlandia fix, if you are into birds, or if you are a fan of the quirky and fantastic art of letterpress. I love it that you can hear the clickity clack of the presses from the minute you walk in, because they actually are conducting printing while you are in the store. The cards, stationary and wall prints (either suitable for framing, or in some cases, sold in frames) are artful, odd, and whimsical. I suspect that many people who don't know Lark Press stumble in during their two hour weekend wait for brunch mecca, Tasty n Sons. On the other hand, those epic waits provide great exposure to a reemerging art form that's taking off in Portlandia, and all over the Pacific NW.