Found this place from a tik tok video and am so glad I checked it out! I will note that the…read morelocation is still listed incorrectly here and on Google, as it has now moved to Moorland Road. This had everything you could possibly need for any type of paper craft. There was much more variety than what you could find at Michael's or Hobby Lobby. If you don't have a specific vision of what you're looking for going in, the selection can be overwhelming but I still found it fun to browse. They do have a $15 minimum if you want to use card, so be sure to bring cash if you're just planning to buy single sheets.

Local scrapbook/paper crafting stores are few and far between. I'm so happy that Creative Pals has…read moreweathered the storms! Very, very friendly and helpful staff. They have pretty much anything you could want, and are happy to demonstrate or answer questions on products. It's a beautiful store (even has a husband-waiting chair!!). And not just for paper crafting - they have an excellent selection of glue and adhesive, alone with a rainbow of ink options.

I love this place! It has to be my favorite gift shop all over Milwaukee because they have…read moreeverything I didn't think I was looking for! It made it easy for me To find gifts for my friends & coworkers. They have gifts like unique and eclectic stickers, candles, clothing, wallets, books, games, jewelry, ceramics, chocolate, coffee, tea, kitchen stuff, Kids stuff, and more! I'm a huge fan of their wide range of earring selection! Affordable and reasonable pricing. Staff was helpful and available if you had any questions. Ample street parking outside

Swoon is a great mix of nick backs, baby clothes, kids toys, jewelry, candles and more. It's a…read moregreat place to stop for a gift for friends or families. They have the cutest onesies for kids and the largest selection of fern and needle I've ever seen. They also have a few other candle brands as well. They also have some small local artists work sold here. Overall a really cool artsy nick nack store that has a huge range of inventory.

Wait all year for THIS holiday event with primo shopping experiences. Upscale quality small…read morebusiness products

Contrary to rumors that are totally unfounced, Marascos is NOT closing, they haven't been closed,…read moreand they don't plan on being closed. I don't know where the rumors came from but the clerks in the store think it may be a smear campaign against them. This craft store has craft supplies a fraction of the price of Michaels, half the cost of the items at JoAnn's, and is the best deal around for most of the items they carry. You can also get bulk supplies at a discount here. I can fid the selection I need, I can by most of what I'm looking for, and it's my one stop shopping for my crafting business for base materials. Feathers, beads, cording, plastic eyes, rhinestone glue....the prices cant' be beat. Oh, and whoever put this up online---it's Marascos Kraft King, not the way it's listed. They close on Sunday at 5pm, not 5:30.

I went into Craft King and needed help making a baby blanket. Elaine showed me the yarn I should…read moreuse and then she went out of her way to show me how to get started. I would recommend this store for anyone that does crafts of any kind. They have everything in their store that one would need and are just so pleasant and very helpful. THANK YOU for all your help!!!

I am an advisor at e^2 Retirement Consulting, and we recently reserved the space for an event. We…read morehad a great time, the staff was very helpful.

Our first time painting pottery was so much fun! It was quite therapeutic and creatively…read morestimulating. The staff was great at guiding us through the process and checking on us. We were there for 5 hrs painting/celebrating our wedding anniversary and they let us step outside to grab coffee from Fiddleheads. A great way also to support small businesses in the area. Tip: Check out their monthly calendar because they have all kinds of special events. We went on the weekend in which they were open for business for 30+ hrs straight!

Returned for another session to paint, then a few weeks later to pick up the finished pieces (after…read morethey were fired). The final product is really solid and something I'm very happy with. The colors turned out quite a bit different than I'd hoped, but now I'm motivated to return to try again so I can better perfect my vision! It was extremely therapeutic doing this and Suzanne is a fantastic teacher. She's very patient and knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone!

This place was a safe space for someone close to me for over a year. When she initially arrived at…read morethis studio, she was eager to take classes and learn the art of pottery but was quickly told that classes weren't necessary for her, so she carried on, asking questions along the way to those around her willing to help. Just recently, a woman by the name of Sue approached her out of the blue and told her that she needed to pick up all of her things and leave and take classes if she wanted to come back. She was then left scavaging for all of her pieces and tools in front of all of the other artists in the studio at the time, leaving my friend mortified. She was later informed that she asked too many questions and so prompted Sue to kick her out. Because that clearly makes sense. In no situation is that kind of embarrassment ever acceptable and if this is the kind of practice that you guys are running, I want zero part of it. I hope you take a moment to reprioritize the humans who give you the money to keep your business running because if you carry on in this manner, that energy will come right back at you. Have a nice day :)

Local First Milwaukee is a great local business alliance comprised of both for profit and nonprofit…read morebusinesses in the Milwaukee area. There is a lot to love about the awesome things they do for the community, but the Buy Local Gift Fair has to be one of my favorites. The Fair has become so popular that they have outgrown their original home at the Lakefront Brewery Palm Garden. This was the first year is was held at the Mitchell Park Domes and it was laid out wonderfully. The issue with most Art/Craft/Other product fairs like this is that 6 foot tables are packed into a small room side by side in rows that allows for little movement of humans in between (sadly I just incurred one of these fairs yesterday). It's very hard to shop with people slamming into you, strollers rolling on your feet and the environment being too hot and too loud. So kudos to Buy Local for eliminating all those distractions and providing a serene and beautiful environment to enjoy this event in. I had never been to the Domes during the holidays so it was nice to taken in all the cheer between moments of shopping for local wares. So of my very favorite vendors where here (the list is in one of the photos below). And product highlights include: Becky's Blissful Caramels - The Dark Chocolate Sea Salt and Sangria caramels are stellar, but the Lakefront Brewery Beer and Pretzel Caramel is a game changer for sure. Indulgence Chocolates - So many great chocolates, but the seasonal Peppermint Chocolate Bar will rock your world. Jean's Clay Studio - Absolutely beautiful locally handcraft pottery from Potter Jean Wells! If you've seen the Collectivo Mug Collection each fall that's her work! Love Dust - Ethnic Spice Blends that create the fab flavors behind the Fast Foodie Food Truck Globaco line are now available for retail sale, and they are spectacular! Melthouse Bistro - Grilled Cheese is always appropriate and Melthouse makes some of the best. Milwaukee Empty Bowls - Furthering their mission and selling bowls and cookbooks from the annual fall event. #GiveMke Milwaukee Home - Embracing the spirit of the city in one awesome brand, gotta love it. Milwaukee Mustard Company - Small batch, locally prepared mustards that will have you rethinking your condiment game! Tomah Tang Cranberry, Bronzeville Buzz Honey Mustard (made with Walnut Way honey), Spicy Stout Beer Mustard (made with Milwaukee Brewing Company Polish Moon beer) and Whiskonsin Whiskey Mustard (made with Great Lakes Distillery KK Whiskey) are some of the most unique and delicious mustards you will encounter. Simmer Cafe - Scrumptious soups and sandwiches for the proprietors of the Simmer Truck and newly opened Simmer Cafe should not be missed when you have the opportunity. Tall Guy & a Grill Catering - Those meatballs. Hand rolled per the specifications in Grandma Betty's recipe. You will never look at meatballs the same after having these. And the housemade bloodies and mac and cheese bites will round out any great meal. Watch for their first retail product, Bourbon BBQ Sauce coming very, very soon! Treat Spiced Nuts - One of the most appropriately named companies EVER! Because these spiced and candied almonds and pecans are a huge treat to eat. And Milwaukee gets to claim them as their own! Top Note Tonics - A newer locally formulated concentrated syrup that will flavor or enhance any beverage it's mixed into. Add to seltzer water to create a tonic base, or do as many local bartenders and use drops for subtle, layered flavors. With over 50 fabulous local vendors and an enthusiastic crowd is was impossible to stop at each table and write about their amazingness. But to truly appreciate the love and dedication that goes into each and every small businesses product you should really check out these vendors for yourself. PSA - Links to all vendors and most awesome information can be found at the Local First website: http://localfirstmilwaukee.com/local-first-milwaukee/

Love coming to this event every year because I'm always able to find some great things to pick up…read morewhile also checking out the holiday display in the main Dome (gingerbread house theme this year!). Bought some sauces from Afro Fusion and got some delicious ranch pretzels. The vendors here overlap very little to some of the other holiday markets, which is why i look forward to going. Buy local!

Pewaukee hidden gem! Roost Lynndale Farm is a vintage gift store! With more than 20 vendors:…read moreantique, handmade, handmade, vintage, art, repurposed furniture, etc. Seems like there is new inventory every month! Be sure to check out the Hen House next door and the furniture warehouse! I found a beautiful, vintage white dresser there- gone the next day! If you see something you like, grab it or someone else will! Follow them on Facebook for special event days! 25 miles west of Milwaukee! Hoping they expand a location to Milwaukee! Advice: Go on their website or FB, to see their inventory. It's not for everyone. I'm sure you will find something for your mom their though!!

Talk about a disappointing experience. I wanted to love this place so badly--it's beautiful both…read moreinside and out, and the owner seemed extremely nice when I met her in person, but their customer service left something to be desired after the fact, which I'll explain in a second. The concept for this business is awesome--Roost is in what appears to be an old renovated barn, with two floors of many artisanal goods. Each vendor has a little spot throughout the barn, with some of them in walled sections on the second floor, where they display their various items, and there is everything and anything among the selection--art prints, candles, coasters, clothing, games, dog toys, you name it. The place is a mecca for anything you might need gift-wise, and that part is great. The prices seemed to be a little steep, even for the area where Roost is located, but the homemade/small business aspect of them is enough to convince most people to take that leap. What isn't great about it is the level of service, or lack thereof, that I received. I first found out about this place because I drive past it every day on my way to work. I'd always see the parking lot at least half full, and I finally decided to stop in one day. I was very pleasantly surprised to find the big variety of items inside, and I made a decision to stop by in another few weeks when I had some birthdays coming up that I needed to buy presents for. Fast forward a few weeks, and I ended up grabbing over $150 worth of items off of the various shelves and racks--candles, bath bombs, small pieces of jewelry, and an art print. As the cashier, who identified herself as the owner to me, rang up my purchases, she asked if I wanted the more breakable items wrapped up in plastic wrap before they were placed in the bag. I thought that was awesome, and I said yes. Many of the pieces were made of either glass or ceramics, so I figured that would be the best course of action to get everything home okay. The piece I was most excited for was a small metallic cat-shaped jewelry dish, as I was going to use it as a birthday present along with earrings, and it was a little pricier than some of the other items. When I got home, I took everything out of the bags and unwrapped them, making sure I had all of the items, and my heart sank when I realized I was missing the jewelry dish. With my receipt in hand, I called Roost hoping to hear it was still there, waiting for me to pick it up, but got no response. No worry, I figured, I'll call back another time and leave a message. I waited another few hours and, after the phone wasn't answered again (something that I didn't find that unreasonable seeing as the owner looked to be alone that day), I left a message with my name, number, and what was missing. Fast forward three days, and I never got a phone call back. After calling one more time and still not getting anyone to answer the phone (at which point I started to wonder if the number was even correct despite it being listed on both Google and their Facebook page), I reached out to the owner via their Facebook page, which is very active--the owner posts on it almost every day from what I've seen, so I know it's looked at. In the message, I explained what happened, listing what I didn't have and the cost and said I could provide a receipt for it. I wait a few hours again and don't hear anything back, which I find strange. I go to see if the message was seen by the owner, and it has a read receipt on it, but she never responded. To this day, which is now 4 months later, she has still not responded, and I doubt I'll ever get that dish back. She charged me for an item I never got, and she chose to not follow back up with me when I reached out asking for the item or a refund. Even with a receipt, I couldn't get a response out of her. I never bothered going into the store to try to get an answer that way, as I didn't feel it was worth my time. When an owner sees and hears messages like that from a customer and doesn't take the time of day to even respond to them, it says a lot about what they think of the people they're selling items to. I, unfortunately, will never go to Roost again unless it's sold to new management one day, and I'd highly recommend that anyone who does go double checks their bag or bags before they leave the parking lot.

Similarly to other reviews, my friends and I had a negative experience with an employee who stated…read moretheir name was Joanne. Joanne spoke to us in a condescending tone and was passive aggressive with her instructions, particularly after seeing we were using the wrong sponges. If that sounds stupid, it is. We were talked to like toddlers, and even though one of the members of our group frequents this studio, she will not be returning due to this ridiculous attitude. The employee Joanne also assumed we didn't know how to use or clean the paint brushes that were set in front of us, had a tone the entire time, hardly checked in on us even though the front room was practically empty. And lastly, another member of our party waited over ten minutes for Joanne to spray her piece, to the point that we asked not to spray our last piece in fear of it taking even more time. I also got an attitude for attempting to help by putting the paint away, a seemingly kind gesture in spite of our negative experience, we were not informed we weren't supposed to do that. I'm sure she's a joy to have around as she had nothing positive or kind to contribute, everyone else was very nice and helpful. This is a clay painting studio, not CIA. Joanne you do not work at the met, this isn't a D1 establishment. Your bathroom is moldy with wet towels and it's gross, I watched a kid sneeze all over his project, it's not that deep. Joanne needs to unclench.

Love this place and it's so much fun! We went on a Sunday afternoon and it was pretty crowded and I…read morethink there was a party in the back. We walked in and we waited around for maybe 10 minutes before we were helped. Staff was friendly and it's a great activity for when it's raining out or if you're feeling crafty. They have tons of options to choose from and you pick up your piece a few days later.

First, to other LGBT folks of Brookfield, this is a great and safe place. Craft places tending…read moretoward older crowds can be pretty hit or miss, and this is definitely a hit. This place is awesome. If you've only ever used yarn from places like Michaels or hobby lobby, learning how to use good quality yarn might intimidate you. Take the plunge. Get a little more familiar with yarn sizes and materials (cotton, alpaca, wool). That's really all you need to start buying beautiful, long lasting, and soft yarns. You'll thank yourself when your yarn isn't made out of plastic anymore! The yarn is more expensive than the plastic products at craft shops; however, there is a good range of less-to-more pricey products. You can get 100 grams of superb wool yarn for $13, or you can get 100 grams of a silk and linen mix for $37. (PS, they sell berroco berroco, and I used their half wool/half alpaca yarn for my sweaters. It's $14 per 100 grams!) They also do sell some plastics (a nylon mix is very useful in socks), it's just not my style personally. The worst thing about this place is that it is very knitting oriented, kind of leaving crochet in the dust, especially in their book selection (there's like 14 knitting books and only ONE crochet book). Still, even as someone who only crochets, I love it. It is worth your time. Also, no shame to people who buy craft store yarns for money purposes! Pursue your passions in a way that works for you!

I used to be a customer of Cream City Yarn, but unfortunately, my experiences left me feeling…read moreanything but welcome. On multiple visits, I walked into the store without even being acknowledged by the owner. On one occasion, I asked about ordering a pom-pom in a color that wasn't in stock. The request seemed to be an inconvenience, so I said, "Oh, don't bother if it's too much trouble." Her response was simply "OK," and she walked away. No attempt to help, no alternative offered, and certainly no sense that my business mattered. At a yarn crawl event held at a brewery, the experience wasn't much different. The owner sat off to the side with little apparent engagement. Several knitters I spoke with didn't even realize she was there, despite her involvement in the event. For a business built around a community-oriented hobby, that lack of engagement was disappointing. More recently, I had an unpleasant interaction on TikTok with a Cream City Yarn employee who was publicly discouraging participation in the Greater Milwaukee Knitting Guild, disparaging its leadership, and encouraging others to "spread the word." Rather than respecting that people can share a love of knitting without sharing every personal belief, the comments struck me as divisive rather than welcoming. I subsequently learned that the owner had been made aware of these comments and defended the employee's right to express those opinions. While everyone is entitled to their beliefs, I found that response disappointing given the business's stated commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive community. What troubles me most is the disconnect between the values Cream City Yarn promotes and what I've personally experienced. Inclusivity shouldn't be selective, and kindness shouldn't depend on whether someone shares your opinions. Between my experiences as a customer and these more recent interactions, I've decided this isn't a business I want to support.