I love this place! It has to be my favorite gift shop all over Milwaukee because they have…read moreeverything I didn't think I was looking for! It made it easy for me To find gifts for my friends & coworkers. They have gifts like unique and eclectic stickers, candles, clothing, wallets, books, games, jewelry, ceramics, chocolate, coffee, tea, kitchen stuff, Kids stuff, and more! I'm a huge fan of their wide range of earring selection! Affordable and reasonable pricing. Staff was helpful and available if you had any questions. Ample street parking outside

Swoon is a great mix of nick backs, baby clothes, kids toys, jewelry, candles and more. It's a…read moregreat place to stop for a gift for friends or families. They have the cutest onesies for kids and the largest selection of fern and needle I've ever seen. They also have a few other candle brands as well. They also have some small local artists work sold here. Overall a really cool artsy nick nack store that has a huge range of inventory.

Funky, hip and fresh vibe and products! Shop owners were refreshingly friendly and welcoming. Range…read moreof hand-crafted goods including jewelry (be sure to scope out the earrings!), t-shirts/hoodies, soaps, etc. Some items are identified as "limited edition" which means products and goods are being refreshed on the reg. If you are into unique stickers for your laptop or Nalgene, like I am, this place has you covered! I paid $1 per sticker and found 4 I just couldn't leave without. Be sure to swing by this place if you find yourself in the area. It is located in the basement/lower level at the Sherman-Phoenix complex.

My friend and I stumbled upon this place waiting for a table at Engine Co. #3. Holy antiques, this…read moreplace is awesome! Antiques can sometimes be ridiculously overpriced, but Atelier has fair pricing, offering 20% off on certain items and giving future discounts of 10% and 20% based on how much you spend. In addition to a variety of nifty antiques, they also have a wide selection of wood crafts. I just wish we had more time to explore! I'll most definitely be back!

We Love it!!! Very cute store with personalized items made by hand, antiques and beautiful…read morerefinished furniture.

This shop has been open for about a year now and is full of cute, unique, homemade, and locally…read moresourced items. For everyone! I stopped in here to find some Easter gifts for my adult children and was not disappointed. I found the perfect items for them, and easily could have spent a lot more time (and money) here! The shop looks, smells, and feels amazing. Stopping in here totally made my day, and I definitely plan to go back! The woman who helped me (I believe she was the owner) was so nice and helpful. She answered all my questions and was rightfully proud of the amazing shop she decided to add to our community. Check out the Mixed Bag's website to explore all the items this place has to offer. You can even place an order online! If you're looking for someplace new to find a thoughtful, creative, and one-of-a-kind gift while also supporting Wisconsin and Midwest artisans, pay this place some attention!

Amazing shop and owner! Such a fun assortment of product, great for gifts of all ages. My go to…read morespot in our super sweet and welcoming neighborhood!

Found this place from a tik tok video and am so glad I checked it out! I will note that the…read morelocation is still listed incorrectly here and on Google, as it has now moved to Moorland Road. This had everything you could possibly need for any type of paper craft. There was much more variety than what you could find at Michael's or Hobby Lobby. If you don't have a specific vision of what you're looking for going in, the selection can be overwhelming but I still found it fun to browse. They do have a $15 minimum if you want to use card, so be sure to bring cash if you're just planning to buy single sheets.

Local scrapbook/paper crafting stores are few and far between. I'm so happy that Creative Pals has…read moreweathered the storms! Very, very friendly and helpful staff. They have pretty much anything you could want, and are happy to demonstrate or answer questions on products. It's a beautiful store (even has a husband-waiting chair!!). And not just for paper crafting - they have an excellent selection of glue and adhesive, alone with a rainbow of ink options.

Our first time painting pottery was so much fun! It was quite therapeutic and creatively…read morestimulating. The staff was great at guiding us through the process and checking on us. We were there for 5 hrs painting/celebrating our wedding anniversary and they let us step outside to grab coffee from Fiddleheads. A great way also to support small businesses in the area. Tip: Check out their monthly calendar because they have all kinds of special events. We went on the weekend in which they were open for business for 30+ hrs straight!

If you are looking to stretch your artistic wings , Just Kiln Time is a good place to do so…read more The staff is incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable. They will make sure you have all the instructions and supplies before you begin working on your piece. I usually select the paint your pottery option, over the mosaic tiling or glass work, also offered here. I do struggle tho with selection and pricing of the pieces they have available. The day we went, there was a lot of empty space on the shelves. The pieces that were left also seemed over priced for what they were. I wish they had more creative options, especially around the holidays.

Best thing to happen in Northern Illinois And they went out…read moreof business. Sad day. Community oriented counted cross stitch. Everything anyone wanted was there. Thanks Erika for everything. Enjoy retirement

I was quite enamored when I walked in the door. It is incredibly difficult to find cross stitch…read moreshops anywhere in this area. Imagine my surprise when I walked in and everything was cross stitch and to top that cupcake off the have genuinely knowledgeable staff and very very kind. The owner of the store is very hands on and friendly and makes you feel like she is welcoming you into her own home. I am going back there today and I am very excited.

Really cool store that sells every single bead you could ever imagine, as well as does watch…read morerepair. Just a really cool, chill little shop with all kinds of stuff for your craft or your apartment. The guy who runs it (Keith, I believe his name was) is pretty chill and has great customer service.

Based on the recommendation of someone we met while listening to jazz one night, we decided to…read moreventure to Planet Bead. It really is an amazing to see such a variety of beads! Wow! The store is super full though and has excess junk in the back that is visible. Great customer service. Keith really knows his beads and can make whatever you request. We ultimately purchased four bracelets and some earrings that ended up costing $150. I'd say that was pretty pricey honestly. I mean the beads were nice, but not like some expensive/rare stones. I understand part of the charge is labor, but not sure I'd say it's worth that price. Not to mention, one of the bracelets broke after only wearing it once so we need to return to have it repaired-which is inconvenient since we live in Chicago. So...good place to visit...proceed with caution in terms of your purchase.

This place was a safe space for someone close to me for over a year. When she initially arrived at…read morethis studio, she was eager to take classes and learn the art of pottery but was quickly told that classes weren't necessary for her, so she carried on, asking questions along the way to those around her willing to help. Just recently, a woman by the name of Sue approached her out of the blue and told her that she needed to pick up all of her things and leave and take classes if she wanted to come back. She was then left scavaging for all of her pieces and tools in front of all of the other artists in the studio at the time, leaving my friend mortified. She was later informed that she asked too many questions and so prompted Sue to kick her out. Because that clearly makes sense. In no situation is that kind of embarrassment ever acceptable and if this is the kind of practice that you guys are running, I want zero part of it. I hope you take a moment to reprioritize the humans who give you the money to keep your business running because if you carry on in this manner, that energy will come right back at you. Have a nice day :)

Returned for another session to paint, then a few weeks later to pick up the finished pieces (after…read morethey were fired). The final product is really solid and something I'm very happy with. The colors turned out quite a bit different than I'd hoped, but now I'm motivated to return to try again so I can better perfect my vision! It was extremely therapeutic doing this and Suzanne is a fantastic teacher. She's very patient and knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone!

Local First Milwaukee is a great local business alliance comprised of both for profit and nonprofit…read morebusinesses in the Milwaukee area. There is a lot to love about the awesome things they do for the community, but the Buy Local Gift Fair has to be one of my favorites. The Fair has become so popular that they have outgrown their original home at the Lakefront Brewery Palm Garden. This was the first year is was held at the Mitchell Park Domes and it was laid out wonderfully. The issue with most Art/Craft/Other product fairs like this is that 6 foot tables are packed into a small room side by side in rows that allows for little movement of humans in between (sadly I just incurred one of these fairs yesterday). It's very hard to shop with people slamming into you, strollers rolling on your feet and the environment being too hot and too loud. So kudos to Buy Local for eliminating all those distractions and providing a serene and beautiful environment to enjoy this event in. I had never been to the Domes during the holidays so it was nice to taken in all the cheer between moments of shopping for local wares. So of my very favorite vendors where here (the list is in one of the photos below). And product highlights include: Becky's Blissful Caramels - The Dark Chocolate Sea Salt and Sangria caramels are stellar, but the Lakefront Brewery Beer and Pretzel Caramel is a game changer for sure. Indulgence Chocolates - So many great chocolates, but the seasonal Peppermint Chocolate Bar will rock your world. Jean's Clay Studio - Absolutely beautiful locally handcraft pottery from Potter Jean Wells! If you've seen the Collectivo Mug Collection each fall that's her work! Love Dust - Ethnic Spice Blends that create the fab flavors behind the Fast Foodie Food Truck Globaco line are now available for retail sale, and they are spectacular! Melthouse Bistro - Grilled Cheese is always appropriate and Melthouse makes some of the best. Milwaukee Empty Bowls - Furthering their mission and selling bowls and cookbooks from the annual fall event. #GiveMke Milwaukee Home - Embracing the spirit of the city in one awesome brand, gotta love it. Milwaukee Mustard Company - Small batch, locally prepared mustards that will have you rethinking your condiment game! Tomah Tang Cranberry, Bronzeville Buzz Honey Mustard (made with Walnut Way honey), Spicy Stout Beer Mustard (made with Milwaukee Brewing Company Polish Moon beer) and Whiskonsin Whiskey Mustard (made with Great Lakes Distillery KK Whiskey) are some of the most unique and delicious mustards you will encounter. Simmer Cafe - Scrumptious soups and sandwiches for the proprietors of the Simmer Truck and newly opened Simmer Cafe should not be missed when you have the opportunity. Tall Guy & a Grill Catering - Those meatballs. Hand rolled per the specifications in Grandma Betty's recipe. You will never look at meatballs the same after having these. And the housemade bloodies and mac and cheese bites will round out any great meal. Watch for their first retail product, Bourbon BBQ Sauce coming very, very soon! Treat Spiced Nuts - One of the most appropriately named companies EVER! Because these spiced and candied almonds and pecans are a huge treat to eat. And Milwaukee gets to claim them as their own! Top Note Tonics - A newer locally formulated concentrated syrup that will flavor or enhance any beverage it's mixed into. Add to seltzer water to create a tonic base, or do as many local bartenders and use drops for subtle, layered flavors. With over 50 fabulous local vendors and an enthusiastic crowd is was impossible to stop at each table and write about their amazingness. But to truly appreciate the love and dedication that goes into each and every small businesses product you should really check out these vendors for yourself. PSA - Links to all vendors and most awesome information can be found at the Local First website: http://localfirstmilwaukee.com/local-first-milwaukee/

Love coming to this event every year because I'm always able to find some great things to pick up…read morewhile also checking out the holiday display in the main Dome (gingerbread house theme this year!). Bought some sauces from Afro Fusion and got some delicious ranch pretzels. The vendors here overlap very little to some of the other holiday markets, which is why i look forward to going. Buy local!