This place is an absolute gem. Great location, easy parking, and the kind of shop you can happily…read morespend way more time in than you planned. The inventory is incredible--eclectic, unique, and full of beautiful beads, materials, and everything you could possibly need for jewelry-making. Whether you're starting from scratch or looking for something specific, they have it all--beads, string, findings, and so many inspiring options you won't see just anywhere. What really sets this shop apart, though, is Christina. She is truly the heart of the place. She's warm, funny, incredibly knowledgeable, and just an all-around joy to be around. She can help you design something custom, guide you through making it yourself, or even create it for you. And if you need repairs, she's amazing at that too. They also offer classes, which is such a great touch--I took one on making bracelets and it was such a fun experience. What a cool thing to be able to do locally. Honestly, I never thought I'd say this, but I actually look forward to needing repairs--because it means I get to come back and see Christina. She makes every visit feel personal and fun, and you always leave in a better mood than when you walked in. Such a wonderful shop with a truly special owner. Highly recommend checking it out.

Took a class here over the weekend and I'm so glad I did! I have nothing but great things to say…read moreabout Anna and her colleagues. She's an incredible teacher with really great intrapersonal skills. I wasn't too sure what to expect, but she was so kind, knowledgeable and made the entire class feel super comfortable. Additionally, the shop has an incredible variety of beads, pendants, findings, books and just about anything you need to make jewelry. Whether you're a novice or super experienced, you're sure to feel welcomed here. P. S. Gold plated and gold filled items are available for purchase (yay!)

AHHH SUCH A FUN ACTIVITY TO DO WITH UR GIRLS I recommend!! The staff were also very friendly & did…read morefrequent check ins :)

It was such a cute experience, came with my granddaughter and niece, we loved it, David was awesome…read moreguiding us through this fun time

Nobody on the floor staff at this Michael's location wants to do their job. Marcel, a young guy…read morewith a bunch of piercings on his face; Carol, an older lady who is supposed to be behind the register; Steph, the on-site store manager. The customer service in this store is truly lacking and it's sad.

This review is specifically for Kristine T. in framing! Kristine is absolutely phenomenal. She took…read moreso much time to help me today with a really big order and I'm so grateful for her patience, expertise and kindness. On top of it, she made sure I got the deal going on currently on all my frames. The pricing was extremely fair and reasonable and her knowledge of framing and matting was excellent. Thank you so much!

When I shop for gifts outside of my neighborhood (East Hollywood), Retreat is my go-to…read more Diane, the owner, has curated a wonderful collection of jewelry, art prints, cards and fun gifts for virtually any occasion. Despite this shop's relatively small size, it is packed with goodies. My go-to is always the card section, where I invariably find a card for an upcoming birthday or, even better, the perfect card for a friend who could use a pick-me-up or a good laugh. My stationary drawer is packed with Retreat cards that I've got on the ready and I am very grateful. There is a great range of options in terms of price. You can find very fun patches and charms for around ten dollars. If you are looking a bit higher-end, there is a lovely collection of jewelry: but you are definitely paying for quality work that will be appreciated. Diane and the various employees are invariably friendly and eager to help you find something perfect for your friend or family.

I am incredibly disappointed by my first and absolute last visit to The Retreat in South Pasadena…read more I came in hoping to shop for a gift for a friend, but instead, my 3-year-old daughter and I were met with constant hovering and blatant hostility from the employee working, an older woman with short blonde hair. From the moment we walked in, this staff member repeatedly told my daughter not to touch anything. I tried my best to remain very polite and exercised an immense amount of patience, pushing it to the absolute limit just to shop in peace. The breaking point was right as we were about to leave, when my daughter picked up an animal finger puppet. The employee condescendingly lectured my toddler, telling her she shouldn't touch anything, and publicly shamed her by saying she had "very sticky fingers and nails and hands" and demanding, "Look at your hands." At that point, my patience ran out. I told her directly that she was being incredibly rude and that this would be the absolute last time I would ever visit that store. To speak to a 3-year-old child that way is unprofessional and unacceptable. A business that treats families with such open disrespect does not deserve our community's support. It was my first time entering this shop, and it will safely be my last. Save your money and shop somewhere that understands basic customer service and human decency.

Our team had the pleasure of working with Love on Paper for the production of our "Springtime…read moreElegance" stylized shoot. We collaborated on the design of an invitation suite and were absolutely amazed at the reveal. Although our team had a distinct vision, we were confident in relinquishing full creative control to Love on Paper. Not only was Love on Paper able to create an invitation suite which directly reflected our vision, but it also represented their style and pristine attention to detail. Our team has admired the works of Love on Paper for quite some time and were beyond elated when they agreed to be a creative partner. Our excitement was a direct result of knowing their team would contribute exceptional service and a timeless custom creation. All of which we wanted for this particular shoot. While collaborating with Andaleeb and the Love on Paper team, we were able to get a true feel for their creative genius and sense of commitment to our vision. We were constantly met with a friendly and personable level of service which speaks volumes to the attention and quality of service their clientele surely receives. Andaleeb and the Love on Paper team were extremely professional and communicated all thoughts and ideas throughly and in a timely manner. Our team was never left with an impression of uncertainty and were genuinely excited about the direction of the design. We highly recommend Andaleeb and the Love on Paper team for your stationery needs!

When the decision came to finding an invitation, my wife and I wanted something that was elegant,…read moresimplistic, and could incorporate traditional Indian values. I know what you are thinking, "That's a lot in one card." We looked at companies in India and local to Southern California. We knew what we wanted but felt it shouldn't cost an arm and a leg. Then we found Love On Paper. A brilliant company with a simple, but excellent model: Gorgeous, upscale cards that are templates enabling you to customize color and packaging while keeping the price low and turnaround time fast. We worked with Bippan who was earnest, very responsive and an amazing designer. She walked us through all the styles and helped us with our color choices. We did most of designing over Christmas and New Years holiday week and she always responded in timely manner. Our cards delivered on time, roughly 4 weeks after our design was finalized. The cards were high-end, beautiful shine on the paper, and exactly what we envisioned. They were so good that my parents wanted extra to share with other people. Bippan provided fast turnaround on extra cards without hesitation. Please check their website and please contact Bippan. You will not regret it!

There's such a big selection of art supplies here. Went in to just browse and ended up buying a…read morecouple of things that I have been looking for. They have pretty much anything you can be looking for to get a project done. They have a free membership to join to help get promotions as well.

Blick Art Materials is a nice art shop. The store has…read morevarious assortment of art craft, coloring supplies, sketching pens, markers, school supplies,art paints, and more. They also have cute merchandise and snacks. I bought Harry Potter, Hermione, and Ron HARIBO from there. Currently, they have Spring sale on some items. They offer discounts for members too. The employees were very nice, friendly and knowledgeable. It was very convenient to park our car in the parking garage across the street and walk around in the area. My goal is to support small businesses in every city I go to. I am glad I visited Blick Art Materials. It is a great art shop to stop by. Definitely, you will enjoy shopping there and purchase nice items with good quality and affordable price.

First time ever doing anything of this sorts and let me just say the staff was so kind, sweet, and…read morehelpful. I wanted to clear my head and just get out of my normal routine and thought... "Since I'm craving Jin tea (next door to this spot), let's go browse color me mine to see if there's anything I'd like to paint?" They charge a studio fee of $12 and then you pay for whatever the price amount of the ceramic you'd like to paint. My mug was about $24. I had my service pup Frida w/ me and they were super chill about it. The hack to this spot is to come on a weekday when it's dead for those who have that choice! I wasn't rushed and they came to check in on me regarding colors. I can't wait to see how it turned out as I was inpatient with myself towards the end xD

This place is so cute. I made the cutest little bowl ever and had such a fun time…read more The pricing is pretty reasonable. You pay a fixed amount for the paint, then for whichever item you choose to paint. They bring you the paint, paintbrushes, and will give you extra if you need it, which makes everything super easy. You can call ahead to make an appointment, but they also take walk-ins if they're not too busy. Overall, such a cute date idea or just a fun place to go if you want to do something different.

I'm already planning my next visit! There are so many possibilities for crafts in this space it's…read moremaking my mind go crazy! Initial Impression: I have heard of Lumee before due to its previous locations, but I never had the chance to visit. I just so happened to have extra time in Pasadena so couldn't resist stopping in. This shop in Arcade Lane opened recently and it is situated in a cozy area near Urth Cafe. It is bright, colorful, and hard to miss. The perfect place to draw in lovers of all things Kawaii. Service: the shops man is the absolute sweetest and not only took time to explain the concept of the shop, but he also showed all the artwork and some of his own work! The Mahjong bag is so impressive! Lumee offers tufting for carpets and supplies the tools. They also offer decoden cases, trinkets, hair clips, bags, and more! Locations have a variety of different experiences so check ahead! Overall: I was able to make a trinket for around $8! It can also be upgraded to a magnet and you can walk-in if you want to! They offer group experiences as well, and I think it would be cute for a date too. I really can't want to go again!

We had a group outing to lumee for the tufting experience and had so much fun! We booked our…read moreappointment online and found the location very easily. We each found images of what we wanted to create online and were able to trace it onto the canvas. Since it was our first time, we all opted for the small canvas but in retrospect, maybe the medium size would've been easier as the tufting gun is harder to maneuver in smaller sections. The staff was very helpful in providing instructions and staying close by as we worked on our projects. Once we were done, we left our mini rugs to be picked up another day since the staff would put the backing on for us and clean up any loose ends and such. Definitely looking forward to coming back and making an even bigger piece!

WOW are the classes here amazing!…read more You have two options when it comes to classes. You can take one of the classes they offer as part of their regular catalog, or for a little more, you can create your own class with a group of friends. I opted for the latter, and we had an *incredible* time. I put together two separate groups of a dozen of us, and we made stunning kiln-carved glass plates that I continue to use today. The process was made simple courtesy of the studio's talented staff. They broke the instructions down into bite-sized pieces for us. All we did was follow their step-by-step instruction on what to do to create our unique works of art. They were also available to all of us to help when we got stuck, had questions, or needed some extra talent. The staff also made the kiln-carving process easier for us by taking care of all the kiln work. All we did was select our materials and create our designs. They sent it through the kiln for the two-part fusion so we didn't need to come back after the first fire. Don't know where to start? Subscribe to their newsletter and you'll get photos of some incredible glass works of art in your inbox. When you find one you love, call them and tell them you want to make that.

Suggestion - sell variety packs if frit that include 1/2 oz packets of diff colors or similar. I…read morethink you'd sell a lot of it. As a newbie to kiln glass art, and starting to experiment, it's cost prohibitive to buy the sizes you offer. Aside from that - the glass sold here is stunning!

The owner Debbie makes the space beautiful and Meraki is a great place to send your kids to learn…read morehow to sew. My daughter learned how to sew there and she has been going ever since. They have everything you need, including cute fabric, a vinyl heat press, irons, good working machines, and more.

I am thrilled Meraki is in a walkable Eagle Rock location, with easy parking and lots of cute…read moresurrounding shops and restaurants. There is an adorable shop up front of perfectly curated fabrics, sewing accessories, projects, and small treasures while the mid area of the space opens into a creative shared table area. If you venture past the rainbow quilts all the way to the back you will find a treasure trove of Juki sewing machines, set to host a group of new to advanced sewers along with a large table area in the back for a variety of craft projects. My children are in 1st and 4th grade and enjoyed the 2 part Crochet class. When it was a bit difficult for my younger one, Debbie scaffolded the entire thing and made it possible for her to learn, feel successful, and feel like part of the group. We have also tried the finger knitting blanket class and now my 4th grader can make gorgeous blankets for friends and family. The sewing classes for 8+ are incredible. My eldest has loved going in to learn how to make tote bags, pillow cases, and a variety of other sewing projects. They also have camps, which we are eager to try someday. Most recently we hosted a very special birthday party here and I can share that it was incredible, lovely, and probably the most present I've ever been able to be at one of my kid's birthday parties, considering Debbie took on most of the labor! 11 children made pillows together, along with adorable rainbow keychains and they really had a blast. I was so impressed to see my little one sewing away on the machine with her dad next to her and the older kids jump right in. Many of them made 2-3 little pillows, even though they had never sewn before! Debbie's instruction is clear, easy to follow, and she has a great deal of patience while sharing how to create these masterpieces. It was really nice having mochi ice cream in the middle table area too- Debbie had everything needed for a party in case things were forgotten. The little fridge helped too! It was very reasonably priced and an unforgettable experience for the kids. We hope Meraki will be on this cute corner for many years to come!