I was exploring downtown today and stumbled upon the cutest little artist shop. This place is…read morefilled with candles, clothing, nicknecks, jewelry and so much more. I was in awe checking out everything! Although they have a lot of unique things customer service was lacking. I wasn't greeted or spoken to the entire time I was there.

This is a little open-air arts market on Foster Street in Durham. I don't know what their regular…read morehours are but we know they are definitely open during the Durham Farmers Market nearby on Saturday mornings. They feature several artists and craftspersons, a woodworker, some CBD products, and a haberdasher who sells original bowties. This time of year, they have various Christmas-related items. On our last trip, we did peruse some of the holiday items and purchased a very nice handmade card. I will definitely support local artists and crafstspeople ahead of the mall or places that sell mass-produced items made cheaply overseas.

What a great find! This is not a large store but a well organized little shop with an amazing…read moreselection of top quality fabrics. See the pictures above to get an idea of the vibrant colors and patterns available here. I'm working on a quilt with a dozen totally different nutcracker appliques so the large selection of fat quarters was perfect since I didn't need yardage. Leslie is a jewel. My downfall has always been selecting coordinating colors and patterns but she is a master and because of the fabric I purchased here, my little nutcrackers are unique and this quilt will absolutely be my masterpiece.

A very unique Durham space for thrifters and crafters. The Scrap exchange is one of the few Durham…read morestaples that I really haven't seen anything like it in other cities. It's a very good, very cool store. Its current location which is located in old renovated movie theater offers a wide variety of things from craft supplies of all sorts to thrifting finds. It's a space that feels like a school art room where anything is possible with just a little creativity applied. You never know what you'll find from old magazines to old family photos to empty 35mm film canisters to old laboratory supplies. Their official thrift store is located in eye sight close by to if you want browse those offerings. This place is a true Durham staple since I was a kid and it was located in Northgate Mall and remains a Durham staple now (sigh... - because I'm older now too) many years later.

This is a very, very, very cool store. I can understand why I've heard so many awesome things about…read moreit. It's actually rather large inside and not exactly what I was expecting. There's so many different sections and they're all arranged very neatly. Creativity just oozes out of this building pores. I didn't buy anything at this time because I was slightly overwhelmed. But now I know where to go when the creative bug bites! There are sections for fabric, for art supplies, for any craft imaginable. I would definitely check this place out if you are sick of Michaels.

This was my second visit here and it's so fun. They have a nice variety of pieces to choose from…read moreand many colors of paint to choose. It's a relaxing, chill vibe and you've got two hours to work on your piece. They set up and clean up after your done. The turnaround time to get your finished ceramics is 3 days which is quick. Really enjoy this project with my granddaughter.

Not the best place for painting pottery. There's time limits to painting, whereas in other pottery…read moreplaces (like some in Cary) allow you to take as much time as you need. You have to make appointments and sign up for a time slot to paint. I guess it's typically not walk in, which is disappointing. There is an okay selection of pottery items to choose from. But the prices here are so much more pricier than other locations I've been at. Usually they provide a little "beginners guide" on how to begin, but there was none here. Won't come back but still got a cute plate out of it.

Lovely store, but I have truly never met a more rude individual than Sally. Severely disappointed…read moreand will not be going back.

I fell in love today with a little but fine store: Sally Mack in Chapel Hill right on Martin Luther…read moreKing Jr. Blvd. next to other gems like Flyleaf Bookstore! I was sitting at the Root Cellar with a friend of mine when Sally walked up to us greeting my friend warmly and after a very nice chat, we said we would stop by her store. I had not yet heard of her store and I couldn't have been happier to have walked in. The story features beautiful home decor items and gifts. Truly lovely and carefully chosen things and Sally is wonderfully warm and funny. So I couldn't have asked for a more amazing shopping experience. I walked out with a gorgeous gift for my best friend (so I can't reveal what it is right now but I promise an update) and a cute notepad with a demanding zebra telling me to get it done. I will surely be back very soon and I will put this store on my list of places to go to and explore and buy gifts alongside Vespertine and This and That in Carrboro. Thank you, Sally!

Beautiful space with awesome and unique art from local and perhaps some guest artists. The gallery…read moremanager Natalie is a lovely and knowledgeable person. Well worth a visit!

We were in Carrboro and had kind of forgotten that FRANK Gallery had moved into a space near the…read moreHampton Inn where the cool Cameron's gift store used to be. The staff said they rotate the art frequently, though most of the offerings appear to be more modern. We saw some cool little items but the large paintings on display didn't really do it for us on this visit. Still a cool place to look around in, though.

Do you love pop-up shops, locally made products, once-a-month special events, WOMEN,…read moreboutique-thrift items, recyclable goods, sustainable cleaning supplies, jewelry, BEER, letter-press cards and oh so much more?! Then let me know you, the Durham Patchwork mini-market is about to be your new best friend! I "secretly" took my boyfriend to Fullsteam on the first Saturday of the month so we could "grab a beer." Little did he know that there was a full-blow POP-UP shop within! My eyes got wide and he realized he'd been tricked, but man oh man was it worth it [and he got a beer out of it!]. This little market is any girls dream! While you sip on a brew you can wonder between vendors [the majority female entrepreneurs and artisans] and have conversations while they tell you about their products, which they are all very passionate about. The vendors change from month to month, but the covered [non air conditioned] space in Fullsteam is filled to the tippy top. This is a perfect spot to pick up presents for friends, yourself or stock up on Christmas supplies! You can support many local business in one stop AND in a chill but popping environment. Check out their facebook page [www.facebook.com/TheDurhamPatchworkMiniMarket] for the latest vendor news and updates. And now you know where to find me every FIRST Saturday from 12:00-4:00pm.

I found out about this pop up market just the day before, lucky me! Unlike other pop up shops,…read morethis one was free admission. The event went from 12-5. There were a variety of craft vendors that were local artists. I would rather buy a local artist print, mug, ring, etc than go to a mall. I wish there was more 'walking' room though, it was very packed (which is a good thing).

These types of antique stores are always hit or miss. We popped in on a whim even though we weren't…read morelooking for anything in particular. They had a selection of large and small pieces of furniture, plus a little adjacent art gallery. You can tell this place has been here a long time and will probably still be here for a long time.

Lots of great items at very reasonable prices. It's a fun store to stroll through to find a hidden…read moregem. The owner Blake was friendly and helpful.