Today is Local Yarn Store day across the country, a day that encourages knitters to support…read moreindependent yarn stores, so I made it a point to visit Fillory Yarn, which is in my neighborhood. I used to knit a lot, but lost interest a couple years ago, and recently decided to try and get back in to it. When I arrived at Fillory I was immediately greeted and asked if I needed help with anything. I asked for a simple pattern to help ease me back into knitting. The staff member (maybe the owner?) guided me to a table covered in free patterns they were giving away for LYS day and said I should pick one and then they would help me find the right yarn for the pattern. I picked what I hope is an easy shawl pattern and then another staff member led me to the appropriate yarn section. There were so many choices of beautiful yarn I had a hard time deciding. I finally settled on a skein of Malabrigo in variegated shades of blue. I didn't see the needles I needed for the project, but it turned out they had them behind the counter. It was so convenient to be able to buy everything I needed at once. To top it off, they offered to wind my skein right then and there. Usually yarn shops don't offer this service on special days like today when the shop is crowded with customers. Fillory has been around for many years through several owners. They have a large selection of yarn and helpful employees who work hard. There is also a dedicated space for social knitting if you want to drop by to knit with others. They offer a variety of classes, too.

I don't always walk 40 minutes from my hotel when I'm in-town for a conference, but when I do, it's…read morein 85 degree heat and to visit a San Jose knitting store during the Bay Area Yarn Crawl! After my trek, Fillory Yarn was like an oasis. I immediately felt welcomed by the coziness of the store (it's very welcoming and inclusive), as well as the very friendly and helpful employees. Multiple said hi and welcomed me in, asking if they could do anything for me or if I needed any assistance. I've only recently begun to get into knitting and I loved their social knitting table! More stores should have that. I live in SF and I suppose SJ stores have more space for that. There were multiple people sitting and knitting and chatting. I also appreciated their sale section! I didn't buy anything from that section, but considered it. I also got a 5% off discount off my first purchase for joining their loyalty program. Everyone was so very helpful and friendly, quite a few employees and they all asked if I needed help. I loved their examples of items that were made with yarns they sold. They have an extensive collection and variety across types of yarn, materials, yarns for different items, books, accessories, and items across different price points--there is something for everyone and anyone, which makes sense. Fiber arts are political and I've been very impressed at how stores and fiber arts communities are welcoming everyone of all backgrounds into the fold. I'm disappointed but not surprised that some Yelp reviews reflect people who don't appreciate that inclusivity.

The Wooden Horse is located in a shopping center in Los Gatos (near Peet's coffee)…read more If you have children then you just might want to stop buying and check this place out. They have separate rooms with horses, doll houses, and puzzles. I like this place because most everything they sell is interactive in a sense that you have to use your mind and imagination. Again, a great place to find something for children of all ages from chemistry kits to toy cars, and airplanes.

I have core memories of walking down the aisles of Toys R Us toys stores. Picking out my first…read morecabbage patch kid to just exploring the shelves, every trip was just a fun and exciting moment. I find myself scouring the Bay Area for toy stores so that my littles can have a similar feeling and experience. Finding The Wooden Horse has been such a treat. They have every toy you can think of and they provide a great balance between educational, trending, and the classics! Stop by next time you need to pick up a gift or have some time to explore! The staff is friendly and there is always a spot open in the parking lot!

Such a cute store and the owner was lovely! I was looking…read morefor a gift for my husband and the gentleman was very helpful. For a small shop they have a great selection and I was able to find many items. I also got some really nice wrapping paper. The quality of all the items were great and my husband loved all of his gifts. The prices were very reasonable in my opinion and the owner was so great to explain the difference on similar items with different price points. I wish I had more time that day to keep browsing but I will definitely come back again!

Thank you for making my gift wrapping dreams come true! Always come here to get wrapping paper,…read morethey have such a fun selection.

Came in for some fabric for DIY ornaments. I was blown away by the selection of patterns and…read morecolors. Loved that they had small ends of fabric since I wanted different colors and not too much of any. The lady working was super helpful, I wasn't exactly sure what I needed but had pictures of what I wanted to do and she told me what I'd need. They didn't have everything there, but she told me where I could find it and showed me what they had in stock.

Lovely lovely store. I went in for notions today, and had to get home for the World Cup game, but I…read morecould have spent hours in here planning my next sewing project ... I have done this in the past :) Very nice folks work there. If you know what you want color-wise, stick to your guns, but if you're open to suggestions they are more than happy to advise on color combos.

This place is a dream come true. I am a huge collector of Barbies, especially from the 80s and 90s…read more There are certain Barbies I have been looking for years and have been keeping an eye on them on eBay. I stumbled upon this place when I did a search for certain Barbies, and was so excited to see this store carried a lot of them, and it was not too far from me! What was even more exciting is not only do they carry Barbies, they carry so many other dolls and toys from my childhood! Gasp! At first I contacted them via email to have them hold the Barbies I wanted to buy because a couple of them are in high demand and I knew by the time I got there they would be gone. The owner was super gracious to hold them for me and even double checked with me when some other folks had inquired about them to make sure I still wanted them. Walking into the store, I could hardly contain myself and I'm not even joking. I bought the Barbies that I wanted and even found another one, and I cannot wait to go back and peruse. Check out the website as they have a lot of their items on the site but be advised if you are local, you should go into the shop because there's more on the shelves that are not on the website. I could spend hours there. I am so thankful this shop exists!!

This store is such a gem, and the owner is a gem too! The selection is great, the prices are…read moreincredibly reasonable, and the customer service is exceptional. We frequently visit the store and each time we visit the store has a plethora of incredible Barbie dolls, Barbie clothes, American Girl Doll accessories, and more to choose from. When we visited the store for the first time, my daughter said it was even better than Disneyland! Each subsequent visit, my 8-year-old daughter finds more treasures and joy. In a world inundated with technology, this store is exactly what little girls, and their parents, need. A big thank you to the owner, Bonnie, for creating this magical store and curating such an incredible selection of dolls!

Very friendly and welcoming staff, high quality items, wide selection of store items and crafting…read morematerials! Love this place (^w^)

I have gone to a grand total of 3 events that have been held at this studio. I cannot say enough…read moregood things about this welcoming and beautiful studio! Not only is everything very well-priced and affordable, but the staff are more than willing to work with you if you have questions! Their pricing is also super transparent, with notes posted around the shop so it's easy to buy even when on a budget. Not only have they begun to recognize me, but when I came in for the Valko event, they were kind enough to notify me that they had new items to decorate on top of their already huge selection, which made choosing just one project so hard! If you have the time in your session, I'd recommend more than one. The staff here are SUPER kind and welcoming, and truly try their best to make this place a hub for the community (especially for Love and DeepSpace players) and I couldn't recommend them more! Even outside of events, this is a perfect place to learn new crafting skills and just take a moment to be in the moment. TL;DR: This place is amazing! 20/10 recommend for a good crafting space!

Me an a buddie of mine walked in to this place I never new was there and to say the least I was…read morevery impressed it's a little grey house about just before you hit the main drag walking at the beginning of downtown willo glen the place has sum really nice stuff in there you will problem find sumthing in ther for every body it's amazing and the staff is also very knowledgeable, professional, polite, and nice all around I highly recommend you on your way downtown. It's just before the movie theater there you won't be disappointed.

Hidden Jewel is a new antique shop in downtown Willow Glen. They have a nice selection of items…read moreneatly displayed in various rooms throughout the small house-turned-shop. Their offerings include jewelry, toys, knick knacks, vinyl records, kitchen items, and much more. I ended up buying a large wicker basket for a good price that was just the size I was looking for. I removed one star because the woman working there who I think is the owner was not friendly or welcoming. She may want to rethink her customer service skills. This location has held many different businesses over the years. I hope Hidden Jewel Antiques is able to stay for a long while.

This is the real deal for pottery. I bought two soup bowls. I love everything about them - the…read moreearthy color is calming, not overpowering but also a satisfyingly rich color. The interior is smooth, but the exterior has a mixed texture, partly rough, which comes in handy when hand-washing the bowls. The thickness of the bowls, shape of the heel, are just right and the shape and depth is perfect for soup. Also, just going there is a great, scenic drive, and the shop itself is peaceful and fun. Mr. Arakawa gave us a mini-tour of the shop with the two kilns in the back. Bought a wasabi fish shaped grater as well. I would probably opt for a larger grater next time since it's a bit hard to hold onto.

I have several Arakawa dishes and flower arrangement containers--beautiful and unique.read more