I dropped by the 'Lady Dragon Glassworks' website recently to browse her latest offerings - with a…read moresummer birthday trip coming up before too long, I had a little shopping in mind. Like the last time I was on the site and ordered, I was really taken by the variety, beauty, and 'fun' of her lovely, handcrafted, glass pendants. I found and liked so many -- but what to choose? I decided to pick items from two favourite natural environments -- forest and seashore -- and chose an 'owl' (a fun colour version!) and 'red fox' for my lady -- 'ocean tides' and 'flower' for daughter. Once again, I received great service from 'Lady Dragon', and four more of Vanessa's lovely, "nature-inspired", handcrafted, glass products -- which I'm sure my ladies will love, and much-enjoy wearing. If able to hold out, and not give in to the temptation of providing the gifts before, these pendants will be heading to Manning Park this summer, to become part of personal celebrations that'll take place when we're there. (Totally) not sure I'll be able to wait until then to share them though!!

I saw her booth at this year's Circle Craft fair. I fell in love with her glass earnings, however,…read moreit sucks that I don't have my ears pierced. Her prices are very reasonable and she is very friendly.

Incredible! This store only has locally made items and each section has an "about me" with local…read morecreators! I loved it all. The store was very clean. The staff was thoroughly cleaning while we were in there, also very kind. So many incredible items from cheese platters, jewelry, stickers, and much more

I love supporting businesses that support many local artists and entrepreneurs through the handmade…read morebusiness. They offer jewelry, gifts, candles, arts & prints, soaps, home decor, and stationary. However, something to note is that they do have a 13% tax, which can be a drastic amount, but I do appreciate that they are very honest and transparent about it with their sign above the cashiers. I did bought a few canvas to bring back home, and definitely regrets not buying more things like their stickers and home decor items!

Cool little Indian crafts tourist store. Prices were fair. Had great bookmarks for $.99…read more All sorts of art and crafts: wall art like copper plate suns and moons, statues, bronzes, masks, leather goods, ornaments, dolls, scarves, clothing, jewelry, kitchen stuff, packaged salmon, moccasins, pewter, small totems, rattles, drums, plaques, etc.

Great place for local Cowichan Indian arts and crafts, famous for their hats and sweaters.read more

Do you like your yarn products fully complete -- already knitting into adorable hats or felted onto…read moresweet-smelling soaps? Knotty has you covered, with the most delightful assortment of felted and knit gifts. Do you like your yarn ready-to-knit, hanging neatly in tempting arrays of color and texture? Knotty is your spot, offering both the basics (the best assortment I've seen of Sugar Bush yarn, among many other brands) and some lovely options for local, handy-dyed yarns in a range of weights. Do you like your yarn not-yet-spun, ready to spin yourself from high-quality roving? This is your happy place, because Knotty has the most astonishing range of roving I've seen anywhere, in a huge range of colors and available pre-cut or by weight (or yard), along with a range of fibers you can add to your spinning. Do you like your yarn not-yet-spun OR carded? Amazingly enough, Knotty has YOU covered too: It's the first place I've seen lovely, soft wool, fresh off the sheep, either dyed or un-dyed. So pretty. So soft. So hardcore, you amazing spinner people. Do you like your yarn still on the sheep? Well, sorry, you're out of luck. As far as I can tell, Knotty does not actually have a sheep available to shave or cuddle.

This is my favorite shop in Victoria. It is inspiring even to a non-fiber artist. It feels like a…read morecommunity when you walk in the door. A great place for gift shopping.

Cool little store based on a great concept - recycling cast off art materials. Some of that stuff…read moreis pricey - here you can buy partial drawing/painting paper at bargain rates, all manner of pencils, etc. plus all manner of crafts materials. Starving artists and parents looking for a way to keep kids occupied on a rainy day will have a field day here

From the owner: SUPPLY Victoria Creative Reuse Centre is a nonprofit dedicated to diverting materials from the…read morelandfill and putting them into the hands of artists, students, and teachers. SUPPLY serves their mission to create a more sustainable, creative, and inclusive Victoria by redistributing used art, office, and school supplies through their thrift store for materials, creative reuse workshops, and their Material Grant Program that offers free supplies to community-building art projects.

Fabulous selection of cards for any reason friendly staff…read morelocal artists and so much more Its been one of my go to places

Still love this place. It will turn a normal person into a stationary & pen person. Did some…read moregifting and bought a few things for myself.

Incredible, artisan aromatics, curated by charismatic and knowledgeable staff with world-class…read moreexperience, in an intimate, boutique setting. My wife was given an olfactory tour of the entire collection by a charming attendant with an adorable Irish accent, and eventually settled on a particularly alluring lotion and oil combo set to take home with her, labeling it the aroma that will forever remind her of our visit to Victoria. They say that scent is the most powerful sense tied to memory, so I am sure this will prove to be true, for the both of us, for years to come!

This quaint little store transports you to a different realm of luxury, beauty, and enticing scents…read morethat you cannot help but fall in love with. I went into the store with the intention of purchasing a scent for a loved one, and what I got completely surpassed my expectations. The owner was so patient with me and, more importantly, knowledgeable about every scent. She explored the history of each scent and helped me narrow it down to my favorite one, which I ultimately purchased. If you are even in Victoria, PLEASE check them out!

Very cute items and I used the currency that is legal tender in the country of purchase, thus…read moreavoiding any potential frustration about what my foreign currency might be worth. Turns out the US dollar isn't actually very desirable outside of the USA anymore...weird.

I found this little 'gem' - a small, colourful, and rather lovely gift store/artisans boutique…read morelocated at Fisherman's Wharf - during a recent stay in Victoria. During a couple of early-morning walks to the Wharf, and walkabouts there, daughter and I spotted items in the windows of the shop (when it was closed) that we thought definitely needed to be checked out, so we planned a third return on a subsequent morning for their opening time of 11am. So happy we did - got to see all the "treasures" close-up and personal. What really caught my eye, and the purchases made (once I sent daughter out of the store so that I could shop away from her viewing!!): -- ceramic (porcelain) pottery - designed and created by artist Laura Sharp, White Owl Pottery, Calgary, AB -- a large, (tea) cup for my lady, a tall, (coffee) 'mug' w/handle for daughter (the piece in the window that "called" her come back to the store), and a tall, (cold drink) tumber for me. I chose three very different, unique, and what I thought were 'personal' pieces, but with a common theme for use. Each piece was white, with very dark brown or black used to create the very different and distinctive decorative designs. In themselves, attractive as art pieces, but each practical for use as well. -- raku pottery - rock rattles - designed and created by artists Janet Grabner and John Dahm, Caracol Clay Studio, East Coulee (Drumheller), AB -- two different and beautiful designs, one for my lady, and one for me. I was delighted to see these items in the shop, but was happily surprised when I asked the owners where they had been made -- my lady was born in Drumheller, some many moons ago - there was no hesitation on my part, one definitely had to go home with her (and I love rock rattles, so one had to go home with me as well). We had looked through the windows of the closed shop and were curious about what we saw. I'm so glad daughter and I ventured back and got to go inside. It's a lovely little shop, with many 'treasures' - both keepsake and practical. And the owners are so likeable - personable, friendly, and helpful 'hosts. The result of my shopping: I think I did good - there was an opening of the boxes held back at our hotel that evening - the ladies were sure thrilled with what they received. My thanks to the owners, Natasha and Serge, for helping me make our last day in Victoria so enjoyable.