This store is mental. What is it? Where did it come from? Why?…read more I have actually never heard of this chain before, but apparently it is all the buzz overseas. There are a crazy amount of stores all over asia and now they are branching overseas. It has Chinese origin and is jam packed full of stuff. Yes, stuff. Lot's of stuff. I don't know where to begin? Stationary, mugs, slippers, bags, pillows, toys, scented sticks, jars, things... things.. and some stuff. There is also a whole section devoted to gigantic toys. You know the ones that you see at the Royal Show for prizes when you win alley games. Those ones. I think if you are looking for cool little jars and storage containers you might like a few things here. But, otherwise just be prepared to be overwhelmed with things. Actually, I know who will love this store. High school students. This is a store for kids that want cute little toys to hang off their school bags, cool stationary and shiny objects to decorate their rooms. Don't get me wrong, there are some cute things here. Like a whole lot of cute stationary items. Loved the note pads and pens. But then I saw a flower bouquet of rabbits and teddy bears. I mean, who wants that? But, in all honesty, you should probably go have a look. It's not like any other store in Adelaide.

Where oh where have all the Lincraft stores disappeared to?? The Marion store has closed, and this…read moreone has been cut in half in the last few months! Previously I would have given Lincraft at least 3-4 stars ... but my last couple of visits have left me cold. I would have thought that they would be doing OK, considering the current 'handmade' trend. But this store has been reduced to half its size, with only one service counter. Where the Lincraft staff used to be friendly and helpful, now they are more like skeleton staff ... even if you're at the front of the queue, you are guaranteed to have to wait there at least 5 minutes, with only one person at the counter. So what has happened to Lincraft? Their stock is still of a higher quality than Spotlight, but I must confess they will no longer be my first stop when I need crafting supplies.

One of my favourite things as a kid was scouring through Lincraft and Spotlight for materials to…read moresew cushion covers, finding puff paints to decorate my jumpers with and jewels for bedazzling and painting wooden photo frames. Yes we are talking the 80s people. Unfortunately it seems Lincraft has failed to catch up with the crafting movement and instead was shoved up in the forgotten Dazzleland of the Myer Centre. With one service counter you won't find service in the aisles and be prepared to wait, even on a quiet afternoon. Spotlight always won the battle over Lincraft prices but there is more of an organised and premium feel to the products and materials available here. I have been in here searching for special buttons, wool, boxes to paper mache before and always found something, but the range of material and slow/tumbleweed service is a huge downfall. BONUS STAR: Did you know Lincraft have awesome online YouTube tutorials for "how to" arm knit a scarf, scrapbook or mattress stitch? Some of the videos are pretty dated looking, but it does win a point in my book back for the store.

I had a disappointing experience at the Eckersleys St Leonards branch. I felt I was treated…read moredifferently to another customer who wasn't a person of colour, when my request to have my sheets wrapped in a recycled plastic sleeve was refused, yet another customer received packaging for her items without issue and with extra charges. Instead, my sheets were folded and wrapped only in paper, which got wet from a sprinkler on my way home and damaged part of it. If my request had been followed, this would not have happened.

Eckersleys is on the whole a very good art and craft store…read more I find that Premier Art is cheaper and Central Art Supplies more informative and of higher quality than Eckersleys and would usually use one of those in preferance to Eckerslys. However, they do have a very broad range, stock a number of items which are not available at the other art stores and from time to time have specials on offer which are cheaper beyond comparison when compared to other art supply stores. They have a very broad range of craft papers, as well as a good selection of easels and canvasses. (I recently got a very large italian made studio easel ultra cheap from eckersleys on special.) They stock as a standard item an acryllic paper pad (which I find very useful for water colour painting) which has a great deal more than the standard 12-20 sheets at a very affordable rate. I have not found anything comparable anywhere else. I also picked up a very high quality Kolinsky-Sable brush (a real not synthetic one) from Ecersleys which although expensive is fantastic and has lasted me years of use.

Helpful staff, always happy to discuss what options they have in store for the outcomes you are…read moretrying to achieve as an artist. Something I find helpful is their written receipts, because it is always good to have a clear understanding of where the money has gone, especially with the tax man; it is also helpful when you are trying to cost something out to price it for sale. No problems with the service or the stock and the hours are pretty good as well. I am a regular customer because I'm at AC Arts just up the road.

Art Stretchers is quite a good Art Store on Morphett St in the City…read more It is the South Australian distributor of Art Spectrum, Australia's own oil paint, and has a very large range of the Art Spectrum Pigments. However, consequently it does not stock any other brand of oil paint. In addition, Art Stretchers stocks a number of other Art Spectrum products, such as watercolours, guashe, soft pastels and inks, as well as non oil products by other brands, such as acrylics, brushes etc. In addition to more generic art supplies, Art stretchers specialises in painting grounds and has a broad varietry of unstretched canvass and linen etc as well as stretcher bars of varying dimensions. The Staff at art stretchers are very helpful and friendly and will always provide assistance where required.

When ever I needed a funky Birthday, Engagement or Wedding card I would head to Kenny's Cardiology…read morein Sefton Park Shopping Centre......WHAT? It's Gone?! Some place called Antons is there in it's place? Oh, great. Although Antons is a gift spot with some cards and fragile nick-nacks, it is a far cry from the level that Kenny's used to soar. I am probably being a bit harsh but I really liked the old store. The lady who served me was a right champ though.

Michael is awesome and there is a huge range of any art supply you can imagine. Special papers are…read morecatered for. Prefer supporting individuals rather than larger operations.

Port Art Supplies is a quite large and very friendly art supplies store in Port Adelaide…read more Whilst not a budget art supplies store, they are reasonably priced, and also stock a good selection of higher end merchandise such as fine quality painting a drawing grounds (i.e. papers, canvass and linen) and brushes (sable, squirrel etc). There are private art studios above the art supplies store, which I believe become available to rent from time to time. I know a chap who works in one of there studios and they are very spacious, with wooden floors, high ceilings and natural light through large windows and skylights. My understanding is that at present, however, all spots are taken. A unique feature of this shop results from the owners' involvement with the ecological and natural foods movement on Kangaroo Island. Consequently a small corner of the shop is dedicated to gourmet foods, especially honey, and other products from the island.

The button bar is wall to wall glitz and glamour. Bespeckling every corner are sequin patches,…read moretrimmings, buttons, and findings most dazzling. You're not going to find these items on offer anywhere else in Adelaide. If you're into costuming and craft, this is the place to go. The last time I was here I bought a sequin palm tree patch which I used for a burlesque costume. On that occasion I also bought a rhinestone skull patch which I am not sure what I will use it for, but whatever the lucky garment that uses it, you can bet it will be the better for it. Items out of display cases are extremely affordable, so if an item of clothing is missing that something special, tweak it with a pretty patch or button. Within the display classes are thousands of rhinestoned and sparkly jewels to bling you up massive. The bling is a bit more expensive, but as I said, where else are you going to get it?

Hundreds of sparkling and colourful eyes welcome you into the shop. The store is filled with…read morebuttons of all sizes and designs, shapes and styles. I came in here on a mission to replace the 12 buttons on the front of a dress bodice. The shop owner helped me find something matching, leading me away from the large, cloth coloured pieces to the smaller, less conspicuous ones which I had to agree looked better on the dress. Yet next time I want to make a button necklace, I'm going back for the cloth ones! They also have many appliques, sequins, beads, badges, brooches, pins, belt buckles, lace, edging and sewing equipment. This is a one stop shop for all the finishing touches on a special outfit. And a great place to browse for ideas if you're wondering what you could make.