The button bar is wall to wall glitz and glamour. Bespeckling every corner are sequin patches,…read moretrimmings, buttons, and findings most dazzling. You're not going to find these items on offer anywhere else in Adelaide. If you're into costuming and craft, this is the place to go. The last time I was here I bought a sequin palm tree patch which I used for a burlesque costume. On that occasion I also bought a rhinestone skull patch which I am not sure what I will use it for, but whatever the lucky garment that uses it, you can bet it will be the better for it. Items out of display cases are extremely affordable, so if an item of clothing is missing that something special, tweak it with a pretty patch or button. Within the display classes are thousands of rhinestoned and sparkly jewels to bling you up massive. The bling is a bit more expensive, but as I said, where else are you going to get it?

Hundreds of sparkling and colourful eyes welcome you into the shop. The store is filled with…read morebuttons of all sizes and designs, shapes and styles. I came in here on a mission to replace the 12 buttons on the front of a dress bodice. The shop owner helped me find something matching, leading me away from the large, cloth coloured pieces to the smaller, less conspicuous ones which I had to agree looked better on the dress. Yet next time I want to make a button necklace, I'm going back for the cloth ones! They also have many appliques, sequins, beads, badges, brooches, pins, belt buckles, lace, edging and sewing equipment. This is a one stop shop for all the finishing touches on a special outfit. And a great place to browse for ideas if you're wondering what you could make.

I have been a model for life drawing for quite some time now.....I mean, it is just me nuding up at…read morehome because the load of washing hasn't finished and I have run out of clean jocks, but the general idea is the same....sort of?! Duthy Street Art has most anything a budding artist would need from canvases and charcoal to various styles of paint and papers designed to meet your specific requirements. There are a couple of stores around that have a better and more diverse selection, but this is a pretty decent store if you are around the area.

Duthy Street Art supplies is a classic looking art shop that has such amazingly friendly service…read morethat it makes me want to make friends with the girl at the counter. They pride themselves on 'old fashioned service' and it really comes through with staff being artists themselves and passionate about what they do. I was lucky enough to get a full size easel for my birthday which was sourced from this shop and the person that got it for me (who has no idea about art or what to buy) came home with a giant grin on his face and relayed to me all the specs and possibilities of the easel he ended up buying me. It is a really good one. When I went in there earlier today searching for supplies for my upcoming Visual Art uni year, I had a big chat with the girl about art, supplies and study. It was extremely comforting and supportive and great being in an atmosphere with others so passionate about art. They have a great supply of good quality paints, pastels, mediums, pencils, easels, sketchbooks and canvasses. Great for advice and a good little quaint old fashioned shop.

This is my first port of call when I need to restock on art and craft supplies as they really are…read morethe cheapest, have the biggest range and have two stores to choose from..this one and one at Harbourtown at the airport. A friend of mine once purchased a whole carton of decorative picture stands from this store at a even further discounted price, she paid $2 a stand, whereas elsewhere they were going for about $7 each. A few months ago I purchased five cartons of ten slightly bigger than A4 size canvases for a project I was doing and it was the equivalent of paying $3 each...bargain! Now these products and prices are not always available but keep and eye out for specials and grab them...if you need it that is and support your inner Picasso!

I LOVE this shop so much! My imagination runs wild here and I create at least 20 masterpieces…read morebefore I've even left the store. They stock a massive range of art materials including my favourite paint. They don't have all the top end supplies, nor do they make canvases to order (I recommend Pimlott Framing for that), so there are times one might want to visit the likes of Premier Art supplies or Eckersleys for some specialised items. There are a range of craft and gift items to bring out those creative juices for everyone. There is also off street parking and the staff is helpful and will help cart big boxes of canvases to your car (so I've discovered! And also help squeeze them into said car). They also promote local art classes and happenings via a noticeboard in store. My tip is to visit and let your imagination soar!

Recently opening in Marion Shopping Centre (one of two in SA), this shop has pretty much everything…read moreyou need for arts and crafts. Riot sells supplies such as stickers, canvas', paint brushes, textas, cardboard, glue, glitter, beads, kids activities, wooden items, stencils, scrapbooks and even classroom and teacher resources. The list goes on. Located on the second floor near Kmart, I first came here when I needed some stickers for my 21st book. There were lots which made it hard for me to decide. I ended up choosing some pretty butterflies and gold happy birthday stickers. The service was good and the staff seemed helpful when customers had questions. I'd suggest this shop to anyone who enjoys hand-making cards, painting/drawing, scrap booking, etc.

After searching high and low for perler beads (beads that melt together by ironing them) I came…read moreacross one product at the Marion Store. Should have stocked up on more because it seems the store regularly sells out of them! In recent times when I have gone to the store to buy more beads, I have been told by the young female store attendant that the store is out of them. On one particular Saturday, I asked this store attendant if she could please order some more in, to which she replied that this was not possible. I insisted that she write a note to the store manager to ask that this be possible and she reluctantly did so and reportedly left it on her manager's desk. To this day, I have not received a phone call from the store to tell me whether or not they were able to order some more in. If these beads are so popular and selling-out all the time, why do you not order more? In addition, due to the unhelpful nature of the staff at Riot Marion, I am unlikely to return and would rather spend my money elsewhere.

Where oh where have all the Lincraft stores disappeared to?? The Marion store has closed, and this…read moreone has been cut in half in the last few months! Previously I would have given Lincraft at least 3-4 stars ... but my last couple of visits have left me cold. I would have thought that they would be doing OK, considering the current 'handmade' trend. But this store has been reduced to half its size, with only one service counter. Where the Lincraft staff used to be friendly and helpful, now they are more like skeleton staff ... even if you're at the front of the queue, you are guaranteed to have to wait there at least 5 minutes, with only one person at the counter. So what has happened to Lincraft? Their stock is still of a higher quality than Spotlight, but I must confess they will no longer be my first stop when I need crafting supplies.

One of my favourite things as a kid was scouring through Lincraft and Spotlight for materials to…read moresew cushion covers, finding puff paints to decorate my jumpers with and jewels for bedazzling and painting wooden photo frames. Yes we are talking the 80s people. Unfortunately it seems Lincraft has failed to catch up with the crafting movement and instead was shoved up in the forgotten Dazzleland of the Myer Centre. With one service counter you won't find service in the aisles and be prepared to wait, even on a quiet afternoon. Spotlight always won the battle over Lincraft prices but there is more of an organised and premium feel to the products and materials available here. I have been in here searching for special buttons, wool, boxes to paper mache before and always found something, but the range of material and slow/tumbleweed service is a huge downfall. BONUS STAR: Did you know Lincraft have awesome online YouTube tutorials for "how to" arm knit a scarf, scrapbook or mattress stitch? Some of the videos are pretty dated looking, but it does win a point in my book back for the store.