I had always thought it would be fun to try one of these ceramic shops. Finally I tried Amazin'…read moreGlazin". After driving around forever on super narrow streets, I found a parking spot. We went in just after they opened for the day. I and my 16 yr and 10 yr old daughters were the only ones in there. We chose a nice big table, the owner explained everything to us, made suggestions, helped us pick all of our supplies and we were Off! What fun. We each selected a peice to paint. I chose a big long salmon shaped platter, Mandy chose a lotus fairy and Jess picked a big cup and saucer. It really was "Amazin'" in the fact that for 3 hours the girls didn't bicker, say I'm bored, say I'm hungry, say this sucks, critisize, NOTHIN! They got along, were polite to me and eachother, and truly enjoyed them selves. The store really filled up while we were there but we hardly noticed, we were in our own little world. We turned in our peices to be fired and i came back a week later to pick them up. They looked real cool. The owner wrapped them real good in bubble wrap but when i got home I noticed the fairy had a chip on her wing. Had to have happened before they got wrapped. Oh well, we love our ceramic peices and it was worth every penny for some decent quality time with the kids.

Shortly after a colleague from my old job told me that another former employee opened a shop…read morefollowing the birth of her son, I found myself wandering aimlessly around Sellwood, as my Mother-in-law indulged her penchant for antique-shopping... and ran across Bowl of Thistles, entirely accidentally. As I was telling my husband "Hey! I know who owns this place!" Stephanie (the owner) was busy telling her coworker "Hey! I know that woman!" Happy reunion ensued, followed by amazed perusal... honestly, I was astonished by the array of beautifully-showcased, high-quality, candy-like local artists' works tempting me from every corner. And she put it together in only a few months...! There were art-glass bowls and vases and jewelry, watercolor paintings and print cards, fabric arts fashion accoutrements and wall-hangings, crazy and humorous and "why-didn't-I-think-of-that" useful home decor, and all in a cute little renovated Victorian... must go back when I have a tshatshke/goodie budget. Really reasonable prices, too, especially given the quality of the merchandise and the trendiness of the area...

They need to revamp the store. Prices too high and it looks dreary. Looks like it did 30 years ago…read morewith the same bolts of fabric.

My daughter decided to celebrate graduating college by sewing some stuffed creatures. A good way to…read moreunwind, I guess. I know zilch about sewing and she's new to it. But we went to Mill End with her shopping list. The place is enormous. Sort of overwhelming, in a good way. She found everything she needed. And there were lots of super friendly, helpful people, all of whom were enthusiastic about her project. I didn't need anything but I had fun too.

Bullseye Glass Is a familiar name in the Dallas, Texas área among glass artists, so coming to the…read moreBullseye Factory and Resource Center Is a huge bucketlist item. My trip did not disappoint! I was able to see glass sheets being made and take a tour of the factory and Resource Center. The staff was friendly and helpful and I had a whole new appreciation for the amount of work and quality controls that go into each sheet of glass. I really appreciate that the company works hard to retain their employees and create an atmosphere of collaboration. Seeing the thought that goes into creating the glass not to mention the choreography of the adding and mixing (and yes, I DO mean choreography!) to make the combination of colors. I can't wait to visit again and see and do more. Thank you for a wonderful and unforgettable first visit!

We stopped in here last weekend for I wanted to get some mosaic glass. This place does mainly fused…read moreglass but it's worth the stop! We made snowflakes this visit. So cool!! My boyfriend after that wanted to take a class so we are doing that in March. This place is pretty cool. The people there are very friendly and the glass is well organized

There is more than one bookstore to choose from…read more There are even many bookstores in Portland beside the big one. Anne Bloom's bookstore is a small well-curated classic. Their sections are well organized and the staff know where things are on the shelves. They have a large selection of fiction, nonfiction, then specialty sections. They have a nice children's area with a young reader engrossed in a book. They have the little table and chairs. They are up to date with a graphic novel section. I stopped in for a new book in high demand. As in sold out online, at Barnes and Noble, at Powells, and with a 6 month wait for the audio book at the library! In its first day, the book sold 150,000 copies, and by day three, it is, for now, a rare book. Annie Bloom's had it! Annie Bloom's is in a pedestrian-oriented neighborhood. So you can bring your book to nice bars and restaurants, dives, cafes, pizza shops, sandwiches and beer/wine at John's, the Multnomah Art Center, and gift shops, or book shop after those. Annie Bloom's is an approachable bookshop which has what others do not.

10/5. My husband was nearby and spotted this book store. We had to go to a wedding so we came back…read morethe next day to browse. It's clean, well organized, quiet, and there's chairs to sit and read. Pricing was competitive and felt like a good value. We purchased a couple books for the plane ride home. Would recommend.

What an adorable craft boutique! Stumbled upon this gem as I was checking out downtown Milwaukee…read moreafter an appointment. The shop is a blend of vintage and Parisian inspired decor with glass armoires and baker's racks filled with treasures. Upscale craft, party, and card making supplies are in abundance. This is not Michaels crafts; these items have been thoughtfully selected and curated to create the charming ambiance of the store and the items that can be created. I wandered in a few weeks before Valentine's Day so hearts, Cupids and vintage Valentine's Day card supplies were plentiful. The owner, Kelli, offers classes which are held in the back of the shop where there is a huge rectangular table that can comfortably sit 15 or so eager crafters. I found the shop and environment to be very inspiring. I've been an active crafter since I was a pre-teen so this shop really spoke to me! I'll definitely be signing up for classes; a great way to make something unique without having to buy packets of the individual components. Plus the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. You can even organize a class for a group of your friends around a theme - bridal shower, special birthday, reunion, whatever! Kelli and I chatted for awhile; she gave me a history of her shop and her sister Kim's Chocolate Shop, Enchante, next door (see my review.) It's obvious that attention to detail, designing beautiful spaces and experiences, and a love for all things Parisian is a family trait!

For those who have not stopped by Kelli's new location you should. Also check out her website…read more Www.kmarielovesglitter.org. You will be impressed with the classes/trainings as well as enjoy the atmosphere at Milwaukee floral. Don't hesitate and sign up as soon as you can.