I have to say that I had a bit of a problem with a staff member in the store but after contacting…read morethe management they emailed me and assured me that they had dealt with the matter. I really appreciated that they responded so quickly to address the matter.

absolutely fantastic. knowledgeable, helpful, friendly…read more great eye for colour matching. highly impressed with the staff and the selection. thank you so much for your help today!

I had a wonderful time at the needlepoint store! It has an extensive range of supplies available,…read morethe knowledgeable and friendly staff who assisted you, and the exceptional selection of intricate patterns and kits.

Great staff, nice selection of yarns and supplies of high quality. Very helpful and knowledgeable…read morestaff provided good suggestions.

I am new to sewing and have been into the Makehouse twice to browse, purchase, ask questions, and…read morebe enthusiastic about my new hobby. The staff are just terrific. Very knowledgeable, encouraging, and excited to share their craft. It's a joy to shop there. Oh, and they let well behaved dogs in! It's a really welcoming place to be and shop. Lessons next!

If you venture a little bit beyond the tourist core along Fort Street, you will come across The…read moreMakehouse....if you're a crafter, especially if you're into sewing - or want to be - you will find a delightful playground. This is an adorable, somewhat small shop-classroom-studio. There are lots of indy label sewing patterns (like Christine Hayes, Colette, etc), sewing notions, a smattering of scrapbooking items and some lovely locally-handmade pieces. The Makehouse offers fun classes. They offer basic sewing, pattern making, upholstering and specific piece workshops. There's a Kids Club a couple nights a week. They also have drop in sewing times and "sewcials". It seems local fiber artists use the space as a studio...it's an inspiring environment. They were featuring some unique hand embroidered portraits of women by an artist named Annie Nazarian when I stopped by. Unique, interesting. There's a definite Somerset Studio, slightly vintage vibe coursing through The Makehouse that is charming...if staying downtown, it's worth the extra block's jaunt to visit or if local, a few hours to stop for a class. I try to spend a couple weeks at a time every few years in Victoria - and on my next extended stay I intend to take some classes...I can't wait for my next visit!

Beautiful. Gorgeous. Full of magic. It might seem odd to describe a stationery store with these…read morewords, but they're all true. The Regional Assembly of Text is an adorable shop with the perfect location for browsing and growing your collection for traditional correspondence. I stop into the shop every time I'm in Victoria, and I'm always surprised by what they have to offer. I love the unique cards and notepads they create. If you're into writing letters or journaling or if you know someone who is, this is your place.

This was my favorite shop during our day trip to Victoria. We used the typewriter to write a letter…read moreand used the well priced paper that was on hand. The typewriter was $2 for 20 minutes and made me fall in love with the typewriter again. Highly recommend this.

1. Tons of inventory, helpful staff if you know what you're looking for and are comfortable asking…read moreother human beings for directions. 2. The $25 yearly sewing club membership will save you *tons* if you actually do a lot of sewing/crafting/whatever and aren't just popping in for a zipper or some buttons. 3. The staff aren't jumping on you to try and sell something because its the kind of store you wander around in seeing if you find inspiration.. Hell, half of my sofa cushion covers were bought there, already made and perfect. ....by the way I can't sew to save my life, I just know a textile wizard and hang out looking at stuff when we're there and never feel uncomfortable. (in my opinion that counts as a +1)

I have no problem with the store, but I do have issues with staff members who take sewing work,…read morehelp me read the pattern back and decide I need 15 METRES of tulle (10 white and 5 with butterfly appliqué). We discussed that it was necessary to have that amount of tulle to create an underskirt that isn't too puffy but has volume. She stated that she could have it done in 2 weeks (it was). When she got the pattern home she realized it was for pants (would she not have noticed when we were looking at fabric quantity?), made the decision to create a skirt pattern (no consultation) , then charged me EXTRA. This is what I received: a transparent tube of tulle, barely gathered, that is unwearable. I know that this is not the responsibility of Fabricland, but they should at least know what kind of services and abilities their employees are offering, especially when the jobs are being arranged at the store during business hours. $350 bucks down the drain

For a small gallery tucked in among lots of small shops and a stones throw from other, higher-end…read moregalleries, I was really bowled over by the selection and quality of the work carried by Eclectic! They carry a wide range of small paintings, mostly quite lovely landscapes in oil, acrylic or encaustic. Also an impressive selection of wood sculptures, ceramics, and glass. I was especially impressed with the many wooden bird carvings by Hermann Edler (one of which I bought!) and the ceramic "jug birds" by Gillian McMillan. Lots of jewelry too. Oh, don't skip by the card section without a good look--there are some dazzling hand crafted cards by several artists. This is a place where you can purchase lovely pieces without feeling like you're going to break the bank...plus you can walk into Eclectic and never feel like the staff are silently judging you on the likelihood that you can afford or even appreciate the works. The woman who owns Eclectic seems to genuinely care about the artists she carries and about the joy of looking at their achievements.

If you are loving for some lovely local art, including small paintings (original mixed media,…read moreacrylic, water color), classy jewelry, functional carved wood and ceramics, do drop by this place to check out the selection. Large price range of items that might fit in your budget. Great place to pick up a small unique gift for a loved once!