We wandered into Swoon Books as part of the Ballard Book Crawl (incredible event, 10/10, highly recommend) and oh, what a lovely find. The store is so aesthetic and thoughtfully curated, it's like the kind of bookshop that makes you want to read every book on the shelves. The LGBTQ+ selection was excellent and very visible, not tucked in a corner, which immediately made the space feel welcoming and intentional. The vibe overall is just really pleasant and warm, you can tell it's a place that actually loves books and the people who love books. Left very happy with my finds and already thinking about going back. read more

Swoon City - Gift Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This place is so cute! I love that they have a nice mix of books and merch. The staff was helpful and they offered to provide recommendations or order when I inquired about a book they didn't end up having in store. The value is pretty typical for books (no notable mark ups) but I love the vibes of shopping here. They also appear to be dog friendly which is a huge plus to me. Highly recommend! I joined their rewards program so I'll def be back! read more

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One of my favorite places to visit in Ballard. BOOKS. A charming bookstore focused on romance and with tons of great titles. There's even some cozy seating to hang out by. EVENTS. I attended a romance improv that was surprisingly funny and met a lot of cool people. CLASSES. A variety of craft classes where you can meet new people and learn something new. There are also lots of craft supplies you could buy in the store. The owner is also lovely to talk with and since they just opened has been so willing to hear from customers and make fine-tunes. Wishing her and SC all the best! Pro Tip: if you're an adventurous romance reader, check out the mysterious bookcase on the back wall. read more

As others mention, Monster has some amazing gifts, art, and cool crafting items available for sale. They have a great selection of cards for every occasion too. We took one of their crafting classes which ended up being Block Printing. It was a surprise Saturday class, so you couldn't beat the price. We had such a fun time! The instructor was so nice and helpful. Although my inner artist may need some practice, it was still a blast. Highly recommend taking their classes! It looks like they have a wide variety and some really cool things you can do. read more

Swoon City - Block Printing class - Gift Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I ended up here because I heard it was funky and I happened to be in the area. If you're looking for a quirky gift, this is the store for you! There's a wide variety of cute little trinkets, shirts, stationary, etc. and it's a great place to stop by. A lot, if not all, of what they sell appears to be local, so you can feel warm and fuzzy knowing that you're supporting your neighbors. The shopkeeper was absolutely lovely! They also offer a selection of classes that'll teach you how to unleash your inner crafter! read more

A cool, eclectic shop in the heart of Ballard showcasing the artistic works of local - many from the PNW - artists. I first learned about Monster when Henry (our own local graffiti artist) had a small showing of his works and newly released book of artwork back in April of 2018. Subsequent visits leant themselves to gift buying for visiting friends/family and small trips we have taken to see others, giving them small delights from our neck of the woods. read more

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Love this store. It's full of stuff you can't find anywhere else, great for gift giving and supporting local makers. Really well curated and creative. The classes are great too! read more

Monster is a special store to find an incredible gift OR take the coolest classes that allow you to scratch that itch from great instructors/educators. The merchandise in the store is curated to include a diverse range of goods that are handcrafted by local artisans, including the craft kits. Great vibe too! read more

I took a sewing class here with my 11 year old. We both loved it. I really like the store and the space. Everyone was so friendly and patient while we learned. Such an awesome store. read more

Swoon City - Gift Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Highly recommend the beginner tufting class with Rosalie! I've always been interested in this art form but didn't know where to start. Rosalie is a wonderful teacher, especially for beginners. I am so happy with how my piece turned out! This class can be a great gift too, I took my partner as a surprise and she loved it. read more

You absolutely must visit Monster, in the heart of Ballard! I don't live anywhere near Ballard but I still trek over frequently to take crafting class after class. I'm also unable to resist all the cute and quirky merch. Who doesn't need another T-shirt or stickers featuring space cats with laser eyes? I think I've bought just about all their embroidery kits and other craft supplies. I like supporting local and PNW artists in the process. Every class I've attended including embroidery, painting, ice dyeing, slab pottery mugs, indigo Shibori dyeing and crocheting has been great, taught by top-notch, patient and well organized instructors. Plus, the owners, Rosalee and her husband, and other staff, are just plain nice folks! Please support a great local business! read more

I love this place so much! In part, b/c it's a lovely hybrid of boutique, gallery, and craft store. I've purchased socks, a hoodie, dozens of organic, vegan lip balms, birthday cards, a mug, and some gorgeous earrings. All of it designed by extremely talented indie designers. The staff is always friendly and helpful and they absolutely love dogs and, as my little dude greatly appreciates, they always hand out treats. Ballard is lucky to have Monster! read more

This shop is the perfect place to find a fun gift for a friend or family member. During the pandemic, I took an online embroidery class from them that was super fun. Definitely a spot to hit up whenever you are in Ballard. read more

I love this shop for when I want to act like I'm buying gifts for other people but then actually end up spending more on myself. They have a great selection of bright, funny, artsy merch that's a great pick-me-up for yourself or anyone else at any time. I know they do crafty class stuff too I need to check out but haven't done yet. Love that we have this in Ballard. read more

I brought my team to do an indigo dye workshop, and everyone had the BEST time! Rosalie and her husband were so gracious and accommodating from the start. The tables were all set with everything we needed, and our teacher Melissa did a great job of accommodating all skill levels having something fun for everyone to do. It was a much needed light-hearted, creative and relaxing activity for my team to spend some quality time together. I have thrown a good amount of team events, and this was definitely one of the most successful thanks to everyone at Monster! They took care of all set up and take down making the process SO easy. Highly recommend for your next team outing! read more

Swoon City - Gift Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The best place to find unique and affordable art and gifts in Seattle. Monster also offers classes so I can make my own art. This place is perfect. And hilarious. read more

Monster is the best! Seriously go there right now. It cheers me up every time I go because I love their funny merch. Stickers, socks, t-shirts, crafty kits. Sarcastic and sweet, they got it all. And such great support of local artists. Best place in town to pick up a gift for yourself or someone else. I'm looking forward to taking a craft class soon, perfect for a fun and inexpensive night out with a friend. read more

Perfect place for unique gifts, a cool T-shirt, locally made art and jewelry AND classes like embroidery and crochet. All staff are super friendly and helpful. Rosalie brings great energy. I took a crochet class Julia and it was fun and informative. read more

This place is the MOST fun, and their location on NW Market Street has allowed them to open up their selection even more -- pins, embroidery materials, unique artwork, socks, totes, stickers... you name it. I love embroidery, and this place is a wonderland of unique sample kits, transfers and materials. They also have plenty of completed hoops and unique pieces for purchase, if you're not into creating them yourself. Embroidery thread, stickers, etc. are extremely reasonably priced, especially compared to some local shops in the area. Plus, nurses and Murderinos get a discount! #StaySexyAndShopAtMonster read more

Fun, small, unique shop with quirky one of a kind gifts located in a vibrant corner of Old Ballard neighborhood. They have fun oddball T-shirts', humorously inappropriate magnets for the shower, candles with quippy belly laughing funnies emblazoned on them, stationary, crafts kits, and socks galore! They showcase local artisans so you can feel good about who you're supporting with your purchase. Fun to browse but you won't walk out empty handed! read more

Swoon City - Unique Socks for dayzzzz... - Gift Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Super cute and kitschy selection of gifts for loved ones and yourself! Staff was friendly and welcoming. The store had any type of gift you could want, and I feel that everything was fairly priced as well! read more

I just crossed the street to go to this store lured by the boho look of the facade. Historic building in the heart of Ballard. I like those buildings here with that much brick and stories of lived lives. The story inside the store is a monster one, not monstrosity, but the fluffy type. All kind of toys with the quirkiest monster look for those in your family or friends' circle that enjoy the contemplation of one-eyed characters. Small in the inside that what it looks from the outside, this little box is full of surprised. I was more interested in all those funky colorful socks hanging in one of the walls. But for cartooned monster gifts, this is your place! read more

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Yes!! Another amazing place to pick up local indie designers in Seattle. Don't come here with the expectation of finding things similar to H&M. Its more urbanesque than anything. Monster delivers plenty of cool local underground designers. The beautifully revamped Jenna Rose jackets immediately caught my eyes. Along with a large wall of hipster striped socks, fuzzy knitted hats n' hoodies, and hand printed tees which make for perfect gifting to non-Seattlites. Fun place to check out what Indie-Seattlites are wearing or gifting! read more

Swoon City - by hh - Gift Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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While nothing here is my style, this is a quirky fun shop. They carry a lot of screen printed-everything (skirts/hoodies/t-shirts/tank tops, underwear, etc.), art, and misc. sundries. Also has a good selection of fun knee-high socks. read more

I haven't actually purchased anything from Monster YET, but I will be giving them a lot of my business. The stores owner, Rosalie and 2 of her employees (Tamber and Rachel) went above and beyond and helped me out BIG TIME. I can't wait to go back and buy all the things!! read more

Walked in because I caught a glimpse of Danielle's sweet smiling face in the window and stayed because her personality was just as awesome! :-) She was really friendly and was truly knowledgeable about everything in the store...gave you a little history on the items and the artists and it really made you feel like you were buying something more than just a "souvenir"...left with some REALLY cute trinkets that you really can't find anywhere else....super cute store...worth checking out ;-) read more

Groovy socks, man! While Colin loves being constrained to wearing only scrubs on the daily at work, he spices it up with funny socks. My favorites he acquired here are the corgi and dinosaur ones. These socks aren't only funky but also high quality. Be sure to check-in right when you get here! There's a bad-a Yelp deal! read more

This place is awesome! They have a large selection of locally made clothing, jewelry, art, and home decor. There is a ton of fun stuff to look at and they feature one particular artist a month and showcase their work. It is obvious that they care about preserving Ballard's artistic history and the current artists of the area. The staff is always friendly and helpful too. I always love going there to check out what's new! read more

Are you a fan of all things relating to monsters? Would you want a monster mug? A monster necklace? What about a monster baby onesie? If you answered yes, then this is the place for you! This cute little spot in Ballard has tons of cute and quirky gifts that are mostly locally made. I've been a big fan of Justin Hillgrove's artwork for years and they've got a number of his paintings on the wall. If they're not in your budget they even have postcards and prints available! read more

They sell socks that are black and have "business" written on the sides of them. Which really only reminds me of one thing these days - Flight of the Conchords (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGOohBytKTU). And that alone makes this feel like a 5 star place in my mind. read more

This place was so cool! I love love love supporting local artists and buying handmade goods, so this was right up my alley. There was a really good selection here of all kinds of things, including shirts, art prints, mugs, hoodies, and socks. The socks are the best part. They have an entire WALL devoted to socks. That's right, an entire freaking wall. Full of socks. I was in sock heaven and I just stared at that wall, admiring each pair. There were definitely some sock purchases made that day, believe me. I am now the proud owner of a totally awesome pair of purple sloth socks and they are both the coolest and cutest things ever. I also saw an absolutely precious handmade cat sweater and I wanted it so, so badly, but it was a little out of my budget. I'm still kind of sad that I didn't get to bring it home with me, but I'm sure it found a loving home. The girl working was extremely helpful and told us a little about the artists who crafted each item we looked at. I thought that was really cool and I appreciated all the information. If I lived in Seattle, I would be here all the dang time, browsing and buying cool stuff. Mostly probably just a lot of socks because I really love socks and the selection here can't be beat. read more

I've seen many a boutique store in my day, but this one is a rare treasure. Yes, things here cost more than non-boutique places.. but the prices here arent as bad as most others. It's always a big plus when I walk into a store and can afford more than one thing! Some things are pricey- some fancy necklaces, fancy underwear, select scarves and hoodies... But other things are totes reasonable! Like the buy 2 get one half off super cool socks! That's $22.50 for three pairs of RAD socks!! Seem steep? No way, I received such a pair of socks for my birthday and it made me crazy happy!! Lovely no frills gift that most people would swoon over. They also have affordable other things like art! and some of the clothes, hats, etc. I like it :) read more

Monster has been an awesome shop in Ballard for years -- and it's only gotten better with it's new owner! They've expanded their art, jewelry, clothing, and home goods to bring in even more cool, independent, art-focused brands. I've visited twice in the last two months, it's THAT good. Bought a super cute and comfy dress my first visit and picked up stickers, an X-Files candle, pug undies, and took advantage of their sweet deal on funky socks for visit #2. (I mean, who doesn't need taco stegosaurus socks in their life?!) Highly, highly recommend this rad store! PRO-TIP: the owner has a STRICT no whistling policy. For real. Don't whistle while you shop. read more

I've been twice and walked out both times giddy with pleasure at my purchases and walking a bit taller, full of pride to support local designers. -Wrap-pants that I can't walk 50 paces in without someone telling me how awesome they are. -Black tee w/ screen printed skeleton and pink stitching -White long-john top with black butterflies -Cute little multi-fabric boy shorts, girlie-sexy-ass grabbing-fun -My fave: my "Fuck." tag. It's tiny and I can safety pin it in inconspicuous places and always have a little edge to my accessories. AND the owner was sure to inform me that with a period at the end of the sentence, it is in fact a complete thought. They have tons of cool stuff, and a rotating ceiling activity of either a trapeze, aerial ropes, etc to play on (or get stuck in). Support this store! Ballard is all the better for it and Seattle is lucky to have a talent pool of fashion-makers sticking to the west coast. read more

This might be the coolest store in Seattle. Maybe the coolest store anywhere. There isn't a single item that isn't lovingly hand selected (and you can tell because the staff will describe it to you in detail). Recycled artsy clothing to vivid, whimsical fine art, this place has it all. Plus... it has a trapeze! YES! On Ballard artwalk nights you can see a live performance by an aerialist... for free! (And there's a dj and food) If there is ever a time when I don't know what gift to get a special someone... I just head over to Monster, because I know there will be something PERFECT! read more

Monster represents so many Seattle artists and really helps build up the art community. I love that they have a rotating solo art show for art walk every month (Second Saturdays, all over Ballard). Every inch of the store has unique stuff that you probably won't find outside of Seattle. Excellent and unique souvenirs or birthday presents abound! It's a little embarrassing how easy it is to shop for my husband since we discovered Monster. Basically every holiday or birthday is going to be a cool T shirt or a crazy art print from now on. Or socks! The sock wall is insane. I've also found best friend birthday stuff, baby shower presents, and greeting cards. Monster is the best creature from the deep to grace Ballard Ave! read more

Pure awesome. A unique store with plenty of quirky but wearable clothing items to browse through. As others have mentioned, lots of indie, local, handmade and screenprinted items. The wrap skirts are great (I bought two!) - fun and functional. Cute socks galore: robots, hearts, monkeys, funky cats, you name it. And, who doesn't need more silly socks to brighten their day? Also picked up a delicious sweet tea scented candle to remind me of my home digs in the South. The shop clerk was both charming and helpful and even held my bags while I continued my shopping walk in Ballard. How nice is that? Even if the clothing is not your cup of tea or too pricey, there are plenty of other wonderful treats in here: notecards, candles, socks, art etc. to put a smile on your face. Don't miss Monster! read more

Supports local artists. Fantastic customer service - including the artists themselves. A great collection of socks, shirts, jewelry, paintings, and trinkets as well as soaps and scents. Ended up leaving with 3 pairs of socks (buy 2, get one half off) while my sister picked up a 100% recycled shirt that is soft, warm, and awesome. Top notch - definitely a place to pick up something to take back home and remember Seattle fondly with. read more

This is the kind of place where you find things you didn't know you needed AND exactly the right gifts for the people in your life that are impossible to shop for. If you love art, craft, weirdness, beauty, or just have a hankering for some cool t-shirts, this is where you want to be. It's fairly impossible to leave empty handed. (I also love that they have hands-on crafty community events!) read more

This store is amazing. Hands down. I came in here for the first time with my best friend when this place was still in its opening mess/craze. The owner, and her friend (Holly and the other one I cannot remember her name....). They are extremely awesome and can pinpoint any item in the store from memory (granted, it is a small store, but even down to colour... impressive). I have some Antic T-Shirts from here which are made by a guy down in portland. Some of these items are one of a kind, but there are some that are reprinted favourites. Overall, a little spendy, but I can't think a better place to spend it! read more