I was looking for something to do, and I found this potter painting shop! It was a relaxing way to…read moreget out my creative energy! When I walked in, they showed me where to get the pottery, how to use the glaze paint, and an instruction card with how to paint it! I chose a mug, and painted potted plants all along the bottom. I may not be a great or even good artist, but it was nice to try something new! You pay for the time and the piece, so prices will vary and they are labeled under the pottery pieces. I painted a regular mug, and for spending an hour and half, I only paid less than $30. Highly recommend!

I had a rough idea of a project to make for my granddaughter and the staff was thoughtful in…read morelistening to my questions and very helpful in creating my design. Big kudos to Matthew for taking an interest in bringing my vision to life.

Spent an afternoon with artists Picasso, Hopper, Warhol, Matisse, Miro, Chagall, Klee, Monet, and…read moreothers...at the fabulous Des Moines Art Center! I did not expect to see some of the world's greatest artists in Des Moines. Instead, it was an elite venue at an incredible price point. Located in Ingersoll Park, 20 minutes from Ankeny and 10 minutes from the State Capitol, the Art Center is a must-see, beautiful venue with spectacular works, considerable spaces, and gorgeous grounds. Amazingly, it is free. Loved the Samantha Box "Caribbean Dreams" exhibit, a fantastic collection of photography and art. I also loved works by Stella ("Interlagos"), Kiefer ("untitled"), Francis ("Summer #2"), and Schnabel. We also liked the postcard exhibit. The building has an awesome vibe and incredible visuals throughout its spectacular architecture. There is a great gift shop and discounted items near the entrance. Sensational guidance and kindness from the museum's docents, notably Loretta, Issac, and Gabby.

A really nice cultural experience in the heart of Des Moines. The series of buildings includes the…read moreonly I M Pei design (same architect of the glass pyramid in the heart of the Paris Louvre). Iowa the Des Moines Art Center is a nice way to spend a few hours. Complementary admission and free parking is an added bonus and a fantastic value. And impressive selection of old world and modern art, including some more well-known artists such as Picasso, Goya, Cezanne, Miro, Lichtenstein, and an impressive selection of newer artists that definitely leave a lasting impression. I recommend that you stop, and even if only to see a few of the artists and a little bit of the architecture. Great gift shop too!

I am not a person that has a green thumb, but since I first walked into Art Terrarium, I have been…read moreslightly obsessed with plants. I came here to get a gift for my husband for our 12th anniversary, and with the help of an incredible employee, ended up picking a few plants and vases that I thought would work well. As I was leaving, I saw another plant that caught my eye, but brushed it off since I had already gotten what I needed. My husband LOVED those two plants... Flash forward two days later, and I find that I am still thinking about the "plant that got away". So, I ended up going back to buy that for my husbands new office... Then I came in a week later with a plant I somehow managed to keep alive at work for a few months, and bought a new pot and had it replanted... Then went in for Valentine's Day to get two similar ZZ plants for our apartment... I can't stop... and I likely won't stop. Aside from the incredible selection of beautiful plants, the staff here (I've worked with three different people at this point), are knowledgeable, helpful, will help you pot the plants you pick, and also give instructions on how to care for them. Also worth noting that if you have a plant that needs repotting, there is a Repotting Bar there, where you can use the soil, charcoal, rocks, etc. to make sure your plant is leaving in prime condition. Depending on how large the plant is, this service is $2 - $4. That deal is outrageous. I'm obsessed and have no doubt you will likely become obsessed as well once you step in.

Ever since the pandemic, I have become a plant mama. I started with about four and am up to almost…read morea dozen (every time one needs to be repotted, I have to get another one for the smaller pot!). I've been to Art Terrarium twice now and love my new additions. They have a great selection of pet friendly plants (with the black ceramic kitty peeking out of the middle - he never ceases to make me jump!). There is also a nice selection of succulents (I have finally managed to keep most of the alive!). The women working there are very helpful, especially with repotting and care advice. Convenient location in the Highland Park neighborhood but parking can be a little challenging; I try and go during the week and usually manage to get street parking out front.

Had the best experience! Wanted to have some fun with clear instructions on how to throw some…read morepottery on a wheel. The entire family at Kunzler and their awesome shop/studio was just above and beyond my expectations. Well worth every penny of class. 12/10 stars

A friend and I decided to take a pottery class here without any experience whatsoever. We had a…read moreblast. There are only four people in the class because the instructor stays in the middle of four pottery wheels so she can assist. She did not take the project over she just verbally instructed with one or two instances of having hands on to shape or repair the clay. I was shocked at how wonderful our projects came out. It was one of the most therapeutic things I have ever experienced . My friend and I are both in the nursing field so this was greatly needed. We want to take another class so we can get even better but we are waiting till cooler weather since we are both outdoor girls. I would highly recommend taking this class at least once.

A unique store with an exceptional owner (Rob Beers) in the heart of Valley Junction's 5th Street…read more It was such a fun first visit! I'm a techy person, but I love great writing utensils, and I enjoyed exploring Beers' shop because he is the owner and one of the Midwest's last pen makers. He told me of the store's history and showed me some available (and very cool) items. If I hadn't just been getting over pneumonia, I would have bought some items, but I was running out of energy when I arrived at Quill and Nib. Cool calligraphy, fountain pens, notebooks, and writing paper are in the store, but it is the service that cannot be matched locally. I'm coming back.

the guy is really kind and amazing to purchase from and he has top quality pens. So good that I'm…read moregoing to give it to my girlfriend for Christmas.

I'm so glad we stopped by to visit this fantastic business in the East Village!…read more There is an excellent selection of greeting cards, writing tools, notebooks, potential gifts, and stationery with good pricing in a terrific setting. The store feels good. We met Karen, a warm staffer with excellent customer service who knew the store well. I'm looking forward to my next visit!

Favorite Stationary Studio!! For so many reasons it's not…read morefunny!! I get so many compliments on the nature of the cards I buy there, that my family and friends say they love!!

We came to town and on a whim decided to bring a box of stuff we were going to put on our garage…read moresale. I was pleasantly surprised I made more on the stuff they took then I would have at a garage sale. They had nice stuff and I like that you can buy seasons of clothing at any given time

Have shopped and sold here a handful of times now. Overall I recommend it if you don't have crazy…read moreexpectations. As far as shopping there, they never seem to have much selection in the size/s I'm shopping for, so I dont buy a lot at once, but I typically pick up a few things each trip. I find the selling side to be kind of hit and miss. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised with the payout, other times (more recently) kind of underwhelmed. Also I really wish their turn around time was a little quicker, it typically seems to take around 6 hours +\- for them to get thru your stuff; so I always have to return the next day, which isn't the most convenient.

I went to Petals + Moss on a whim the other day as I was passing by. My mom has been whining she…read morewanted to go but she isn't really going into stores right now so we thought I could shop for her when she was in the car. The majority of their selection is outside. When I went they had a special going on. (see photos for details). We got quite a few plants and the lady who helped was more then happy to answer all the questions I had. She also was willing to help my mom even though she was sitting in the car the whole time. Overall it was a great experience. They seemed to have a diverse selection of plants - all of which looked pretty healthy. The inside was definitely cool although they are currently limiting it to two customers at a time due to social distancing. The lady who helped us was wearing a bandanna as a mask and the other person had a cloth mask on. The whole store, while going for that cluttered chic look was very clean. Masks are required per the mandate. I would definitely go back.

Went to east village Saturday the 13th just to do some browsing around with a few of my friends. We…read morestopped into petals and moss not expecting to buy anything because 1. We had parked so far away & 2. We had planned to do more browsing just enjoying what was around us. I needed a Mother's Day gift still and knew I wanted some plants/succulents but was going to stop by somewhere else, happy I did not! I was able to buy so many little to medium of a variety of plants/succulents to me seemed like a little price! I love supporting small business as I work for a small business! Stop by here if you are wanting to start a plant family or looking for a gift ! I promise you won't be disappointed!