I'm really sad that the Prettiest Present is closing. Over the past 4 years I've shopped for a…read morequite a few special occasion or cheer up gifts here for family and loved ones. The store doesn't have an exact closing date but it won't be very long. Currently seasonal items are 60-70% off (some seriously cute Xmas décor and ornaments) and the remainder of the store is 20-30% off. They have really cute jewellery and unique items for special gifts. I really like their line of moon necklaces/bracelets where you pick the phase of the moon on a special date (birth, death, wedding, etc.) and can wear it as jewellery. I also like their sparkly Swarovski crystal bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. Some stuff here for sure can be found elsewhere or online for less but that's not the point of a boutique store. It's getting to go somewhere and browse through various collections to find the perfect gift for someone special. If you're a fan of s'well bottles, they still have a fairly good collection of unique ones and at 20% off you're paying a fair price for the designer s'wells. (Note you can get plain jane ones at Costco for $30) but the ones here are GORGEOUS and make me smile. They're collection of wrapping papers and tissues is extensive and are sure to be able to wrap your gift to fit any occasion or theme. Seriously gonna miss the Prettiest Present!

Well I just adore this store!…read more Often you walk into gift shops, and yes, everything is lovely but you just don't really see anything practical; or everything is really expensive, or really niche. But at the Prettiest Present they really have a great variety of really useful gifts! From presents for those pooch peeps, to culinary and kitchen gadgets - as well as neat necessities. Then there are the baby gifts, the seasonal decor for your own abode, a wall of tempting teas and some really unique jewelry. And then the pies de resistance... they have the most fabulous collection of gift bags, gift boxes and paper so that when you find that perfect present you can also wrap it up without having to go to another store! Love it!! Although, I do not remember seeing ribbon or cards, I could be wrong, or maybe that's just asking for the moon. Pro Tip: Make sure to go into the basement! Often you go into a store like this and assume that down the steps is just a small smattering of a few other things. But in this case the basement is the majority of the shop. It is at least 3x larger then the upstairs portion. Happy shopping!

A market place right in the middle of the mall. It's quirky and perfect. I love it. This is a pop…read moreup version of the main location in the Brewery District. The cute boutique sells items made by local crafters and artists so it's a great spot to find unusual gifts. There are so many lovely items for babies including fun baby grows, booties and the best socks that say 'CUTE AF' on them! I wish they were in my size. There is a lot of beautiful jewellery to choose from but the home decor is my favourite section. From cross stitch of star signs to wooden garlands to the biggest selection of air plant terrariums that I have ever seen! I'm kinda obsessed. These ones are only $30 and I actually thought that price was pretty ok. I've seen them some places and they are just totally not worth it. But everything in here was really reasonable. It's the kind of place you could look in five times and see things you never notices the last time you were in. There are so many awesome finds! I will go back and treat myself to a air plant one of these days! But I did find some ace gifts for friends birthdays! A beautiful store that gives you that local market vibe and I can't wait to revisit.

What a fun shop! And a lovely addition to the new area of Kingsway! In the sea of chain stores and…read moretucked in next to a home goods department store, (HomeSense,) sits The Maker's Keep, a boutique filled with a variety of handmade goods. Stepping into this store just feels instantly relaxing, and unlike any other place in the mall. Somehow stuffed to the ceiling without feeling cramped or confusing at all, shoppers will be awed by the sheer number of amazing items they will come across here. Everything from stationary (I am in love with the journals they sell) to decorative pillows, air plants to jewelry... This has become the go-to stop for all my gifting needs. Staff here are definitely passionate about the locally made movement, and are often makers themselves. I've found they are always willing to help you out, without being pushy about making sales goals; they want you to leave happy and excited about your purchase and possibly even with the story behind how it was made. Not only is this a must-stop shop if you're at Kingsway Mall, it's worth making a special trip for!

Lyndale Accents is a very quaint shop in the Crestwood neighbourhood that can be easily missed. It…read morerecently moved spots to a larger location in the strip mall, fortunately. Lyndale Accents carries a wide variety of fun, practical, and beautiful gift ideas for the home and for children and adults. There are seasonal items, jewelry, greeting cards, and items for bath and kitchen. Most of the trinkets are small, but with large pricetags. There is a return policy with receipt (although I can't recall how many days you have), which was fortunate for me when I bought a decorative bookmark for a family member who did not care for it.

Lyndale Accents is a store for those who like to spruce up their homes with little decorative…read moreobjects that have glamorous feel to them. I am a minimalist when it comes to my home decor, so this store turned out completely useless for me. It was fun to browse though. There are picture frames and vases, figurines, clocks and jewellery, candles, plates and coin purses as well as hand bags and cute kid items such as books and little shoes. The selection at Lyndale Accents is indeed eclectic. It is geared to women, so ladies, make sure to shop here without a boyfriend or a husband who, chances are, will be bored and end up whining and ruining your shopping trip:) P.S. Customer service was nonexistent.

I had my Tracy Kobus print framed and matted by Sandy @ TP&TP…read more The print has odd measurements, I was unable to find a frame that fit !! Sandy was meticulous about colour options for both the frame and the matting, once built it all came together wonderfully !!! I cannot wait to get this piece up on the wall!!!

To connect with my beloveds, I've been writing letters. With stamps and everything. So, of course I…read moreneeded proper stationary: paper and envelopes. This shop delivers. Plus, we picked up cards, a notebook for our daughter, and a house porn book. This place is deliciously addictive. Sigh.

I have been coming here for years, to look around at all the beautiful items or to purchase one of…read morethese hand crafted goods. I love that all of the items come from around the world and that I can able to support that and get something that you won't find anywhere else. They have toys, coffee, house wares, clothes, seasonal items for Christmas, picture frames, and of course my favourite the jewelry. Several of my favourite pieces have come from here. I bought a beautiful yoga pillow here once as well and it it is so unique, I always get comments when people come to my place. The staff are all volunteers so full profit goes to the artists and they are so friendly.

Ten Thousand Villages specializes in handmade gifts and crafts by artisans from around the globe…read more They are a non-profit fair-trade organization, and also a member of the International Fair Trade Organization. Artisans are paid a fair amount for their work, to sustain a healthy and respectable lifestyle. The store carries a vast range of home decor and gift items, including tea sets, bowls, jewelry, scarves, toys, CD's, and fair trade coffee and chocolate. Represented nations include Kenya, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, and Peru. Everything is exquisite, in a way that only handmade talent can create. All the items are labelled with where they were made, so you know what bit of culture you're taking home with you. They currently have some amazing items out for the holiday season now, from ornaments to hand-carved nativity scenes. It'd be cool to have a tree covered in ornaments that represented different cultures from around the world. While some pieces are a bit more than elsewhere, keep in mind that these are handmade and fair trade. I think it's well worth the price, to have something so exquisite, and know that the hands with which that piece was made were given a fair value.

If you're looking for some completely random giftware or souvenirs from a trip to Edmonton's Whyte…read moreAve, visiting this institution of a store filled with kitschy items of all types is a must. While other similar stores haven't survived until today this one was a great visit when we wandered Whyte Avenue with some visitors from out of the country and they picked up some unique souvenirs. The store is so filled with items that there's always something new to spot when visiting. It is perhaps hard to find what you're looking for if you only want to find something very specific but if you're open to finding new things this is a great option! The floor creaks when you walk in some spots and the decor and store itself is old but this adds to the charm. It can be overwhelming to visit (but sometimes this saves me some money).

Friendly Staff. Superb selection. With ample of options to choose from, the lady is always greeting…read morewith the smile on her face. The value for money is also good.

This store is like Disneyland for people who love beading! The selection is beyond amazing here…read more You definitely need time to explore the store. Do not come here if you are in a rush and have a limited amount of time. I came here specifically to check out the beads made of semi precious stones. I had some ideas of what I wanted to buy before coming to the store. However, I left with more items than I initially planned. I found the products were clearly labelled with the type of beads, size of beads and prices. The store was well organized. I didn't have any difficulty finding what I was looking for. However, I did go around the store a few times to make sure I saw most things at least once. This store is jam packed! They have all the supplies you need to make beaded jewellery. For example, they sell different kinds of string, glue, jewellery findings and tools for jewellery making. They also have a random selection of costume jewellery, socks, purses, wallets, embroidery, sage, essential oils, books and so much more! This store had larger selection of beads than what you would find at a big box craft store. I found the prices pretty reasonable. I will definitely be back here when I need more supplies!

Making bead necklaces was a huge hobby for me years ago. Lately, I have been wanting to get back…read moreinto it. However, it can be difficult - and expensive - to find beads, charms, pendants, and all of the findings (the parts needed to put everything together, like clasps). Then I discovered Bead World. Beadmaking is not just for hippies anymore. This store is huge on the inside and features several rooms of charms, strings of beads made from different materials like glass or stone, ribbons and strings with clasps already attached (just add charms), and even a small selection of wallets, purses, and pre-made jewelry. The charms and pendants are incredible. There is a huge selection of religious ones for Christians and Buddhists, ones for sports, ones made from fimo clay, and even ones from Swarovski crystal. Many are from the Shag Wear designer line. I bemoaned the lack of Stars of David, but otherwise had to exert a great deal of self control. I got one horizontal fimo charm, a string of beads that look different than anything I own, and a bag of jump loops (used to connect pendants to a necklace). The prices are much lower than any other bead store I have visited and the selection is better. I am inspired and will be back.

What a gorgeous store. I drive past often and today stopped at the dentists on the same street…read more Even though I had a numb mouth after the dentist and was talking with a lisp, I just had to take a peek. The lady who owned the store was chatting away showing off new items in the clothing boutique at the back of the room. She was lovely and very approachable. I needed up buying a top and necklace for my mother in law. The fashion is really nice and aimed at ladies in their 40s+ I would say. I was into plenty of it, as they have a really nice on trend rack. The home wares are fun interior decor items inc paintings, ornaments, furniture, vases and mirrors. I have my eye on a cactus cookie jar. They were in the middle of taking down all their Christmas stuff so can't wait to see what stock they put in it's place.

Visited this store today and I am glad I did! The store…read morecaters mostly to A Rustic/Farm House look. Many items are very appealing and would look great in a variety of different rooms within a home. Not only are there Decor items, the store also carries Clothing, Jewelry, and a variety of Handbags as well. I had no idea this store existed until I looked on Yelp and realized that I drive by this store on the way to work every day. So glad I stopped in. Worth a look!