I am IN LOVE with the Mustard Seed. It first caught my attention because it is a fair trade shop…read more Turns out that it is run by volunteers so the money earned goes directly to the artists. The people who make the goods here are from all over -- from Chili to Ghana. When I purchase gifts, they often include brief information about the artist as well as the shop. Friends and family -- including my super cool teenage nieces and my mom -- who have received gifts from this store before are always excited when they see the familiar box. In fact, this Christmas I did the majority of my shopping here. They carry an amazing array of jewelry. From beautiful beaded necklaces to metal cuffs to swingy earrings. They also carry clothing (sweaters were a huge item this winter), colored scarves (I can't get enough!), wooden bowls, purses, blankets, rugs, wall decor, children's items and frames. During the holidays they even carry ornaments. I've posted a pic of a couple of them. The people who volunteer here are extremely nice and dedicated to helping the artists they show -- often women trying to support their families. But when buying here be prepared for a slow process. Because they are volunteers it's not like walking into a well oiled retail shop. But who really cares? It feels great to help out people who are trying to help themselves (hint -- it's the artist) and give gifts that have meaning to me and the recipient. It's been an amazing teaching tool for my nieces while giving them things they love. Hmmm. I think it's time for a new fashion scarf. Can't stay away too long!

This is a great little shop with so many items to choose from, I may go in for a pair of earrings…read moreto give as a gift but then find a pair for myself, a necklace, and 10 other things I want! The items are all fair trade and the employees are volunteers so you know you are shopping for a good cause! Great for gifts and each product has a story!

"For here Am I sitting in a tin can…read moreFar above the world Planet Earth is blue And there's nothing I can do" Au contraire, Major Tom! There is so very much to do at Playoddity! Activity sets, classes, sets for the family. It is a bit confusing as this is a large open space. Lots of fun items.

Amazing, one of a kind concept. Very unique interior and products for special gift or if you are…read morelooking for something to do with your kids. Everyone at the store is super friendly and helpful. I also heard the birthday parties are awesome, we plan to schedule one for April.

Sunshine Arts & Crafts is one of my daughter's favorite spots for a bday party. When I pick her up…read moreI can expect to see a big smile and a beautiful painted creation...usually something with a rainbow on it. I've been meaning to do a drop in visit, but the few times I've called in the past they've been closed. But today was my lucky day because when looking for a rainy day activity I called and their VM said they would be open from 11am-4pm. When we arrived there was (of course) a birthday party...actually 2 of them! My daughter and her friend looked longingly at the bday treats, but I insisted they quickly pick out their pieces and then we made our way to the other side of the shop. Then they saw a friend from school come out of the glow and the dark room (who knew there was one)...there was some sort of cosmic painting party going on in there. We checked it out and my daughter declared she was going to have a future bday party right in that room. Then they got to work on their pottery pieces...a popsicle for my daughter and a unicorn rainbow for her friend. At $17/piece this is more expensive than some of the other pottery places we've been to, but they do give you unlimited paint colors. It took a little while for the staff to get us our paint thanks to the bday parties, but the girls could learn some patience anyway. Once we got going the staff was on it...constantly changing out the yucky water. And the girls were absolutely thrilled when the bday party mom gave them lollipop favors. 30 minutes later their creations were done...the taff glazed them and even added some glitter. They were ready to display at home! Highly recommend for bday parties, but also a fun way to kill an hour...especially on a rainy/cold/hot day!

This review was removed by Yelp saying... And I quote:…read more "We're writing to let you know that we've removed your review of Sunshine Arts & Crafts because it falls outside our Content Guidelines. Ultimately, while we understand you were at an event where Sunshine Arts & Crafts provided service, at this time we think that the people who are in the best position to review businesses like these are the customers themselves (who may deal with the business not only on the day-of the event, but other aspects as well such as pre-event planning). Thanks for understanding and we'll see you on Yelp!" To this I respond, MY review was written by me while at MY son's birthday party. I paid for the event in question. So to wit... I am in the best position to have experienced this business for TWO events I PAID FOR. Thank you for not removing the review without having at least asked me. And now for the review. ------- First, my review is NOT based upon one visit but several, it is only this last visit I thought I should take the time to write a review. Normally, I don't write reviews that are negative and definitely not if the review has to do with a personal pet peeve. I personally hate those types of reviews because all that means is someone got a isolated bad experience. All the prophylactics made now let me give my feedback.... The owners are a husband and wife, they fit one another perfectly - they are a hyper-sensitive overly-anxious couple that appears to be incredibly nervous every time a child moves around their shop during birthday parties which is something they supposedly specialize in. Anyone who is in the business of hosting children's birthdays needs to be less than neurotic when children show up. Mind you no one was running around or yelling or misbehaving on any of the times I went to see birthday events but these two acted like nervous grandparents watching children in a hand blown glass store. The woman hovers over and micro manages the kids and the husband stands back and scowls at the kids. It's amazing to see two of the least laid back least friendly people one could imagine are in the business of hosting children's events. There is nothing wrong with having their up-tight personality in and of itself, it's just I have never seen two more misplaced people for this job in my life. Neither of them have ever smiled that I could see at any of the birthday parties I have come to, this last one was no exception. The man guards the one half of the shop from infiltration by children as if he is a border guard on the Berlin Wall. The woman is so anal retentive (uptight) she spends most of her time tasking the kids to move along - she could be mistaken for a railway guard rather than an art teacher for children. At the end, I actually felt sorry for the owners. For reasons I can not fathom they have assigned themselves to their own personal hell since it appears from every fiber of their being that they are completely stressed out and unhappy at what they do. Mind you, the product at issue is fine, the art is fine, the venue is fine, it is just I have never seen two people who appear more viscerally unhappy than these two and in the context of a kids event it just isn't worth it to subject yourself to that type of negative energy.

We recently hosted my daughter's 7th birthday party here and had a fantastic experience. There…read morewere a number of options (ceramic painting, canvas painting, slime, and more!) - we chose canvas painting. The owner, Robin, and one of the other employees were fantastic at leading a group of 21 first grade girls through painting a mermaid tail (there were so many choices for the canvas painting - my daughter happened to choose this one). They can do them more or less complex based on the age group of the party. Robin was truly fantastic to work with. She took care of everything, including ordering pizzas from elsewhere in the mall. I brought the paper goods and cupcakes and everything else was handled. We were in a party room in the back that is utilitarian but also decorated. I definitely appreciated that there were separate tables for the art and the eating! I was perfectly happy to not be out in the front of the store with the general public. And the price was totally reasonable given everything that they did for us. Would definitely host another party here! We've also come on a random day just to do a walk in ceramic painting, which was also great. Lots of selections at all sorts of different price points. You can also do walk in canvas painting.

Haven't been in the store yet to experience, but was planning on holding my daughter's birthday…read moreparty here. We eventually ended up forgoing this year because she's still so young she wouldn't fully appreciate the experience, but plan on going for some Mommy and me time. The staff that I was in touch with while planning the event were all so helpful, responsive, and friendly. Even when we decided to pass on holding the party there, after we had filled out the form and not yet put in the deposit, they were so understanding. They get high ratings, they're located conveniently in a mall where if you have youngers you can go to the playgrounds in the mall, and if you have olders, they can walk around and do a little independent shopping. Looking forward to visiting soon!

Great selection of die cuts and paper. It was my first time there and will definitely be back…read more Customer service very helpful. Same prices as online retailers. Some may be a little higher but instant gratification and no shipping charges. Well worth the little bit extra on a few items.

Love this place. It's a great local craft place to shop. The team there always has lots of great…read moreinfo and will answer all your crafty questions. They have great make and takes on a regular basis. Love stopping in for the garage sale events they put on a few times a year

Whether you are shopping for yourself or someone else, this store has a wonderful selection -…read moreunique seasonings, beautiful pinch bowls, everyday kitchen utensils, high-end brands like Smeg. The store is bright and welcoming and they often offer complimentary coffee or tea yo keep you hydrated while shopping. They also have a lovely selection one bar if you are looking for a different experience. The wine selection is small but well curated with white, red, and bubbles. There's also a few beer and NA offerings. What's special are the cooking classes and experiences. I've made take and bake pies and tarts. I highly recommend getting in on the fun with your friends or partner!

I did return (as I promised in my previous review below) and picked out some assorted Mason Cash…read morebowls (one green, one lavender, one gray), and several of the salespeople commented on the color combination. Also, some wood cutting boards. This is a wonderful shop to pick out a gift or treat yo self. Maybe one day I will sign up for a cooking class.

We had the most amazing birthday party for our five-year-old at the Painted Penguin Hawthorn Mall…read more Robin made the experience most importantly a blast (both parents and kids had such fun), was organized to keeping moving the event forward (i.e., the painting, then the drawing, then the food, then the cake, then the giving out of goody bags and goodbyes), and everyone at The Painted Penguin were so kind, helpful, and didn't hesitate to involve themselves when they saw a need, like organizing our table for the food, leading the kids to the table with the painting, giving the kids all the instructions (and paint!) they needed, etc. It was just such a seamless, wonderful experience, all thanks to The Painted Penguin and, most importantly, Robin and her staff. On a personal note, Robin also found out I was an author, bought my most recent book, and put the book front and center, for her staff and our guests to see. It meant so much to me. Thank you so much for such a memorable time, and for such a unforgettable birthday party for my oldest daughter, Nina!

We had a blast yesterday with the kids. I took my two year old and my eight year old here for…read moreSunday funday. It's been awhile since I've been there. But it definitely did not disappointed. The starting range to paint a blank ceramic is about 6 bucks, the cost does go up depending on the size, and or character. I saw some larger items for 22 bucks. This was a fun way to get out of the house, do something fun, creative, and expressive. Once your blank ceramic is purchased, they have multiple paint stations available. They provide the paint, the paint brushes, cups of water, and a plastic apron to cover your clothes. My eight year old loved the idea of the different colors. My two year old decided to mix all of her paint colors together. (We are working on her artistic skills) They also have really good deals on party packages and an exclusive party room. Apparently they make slim, paper art, canvases, and spray paint/graffiti art. The host was super nice, friendly, and informative. The kids enjoyed themselves and we will definitely be back.

Had another great visit to Hobby Lobby today. So much cute stuff for the home and crafting…read moregoodness. I got a ton of beads today, 50% off. I always leave happy and today was no exception.

Honestly probably one of the best Hobby Lobby I've been too. Located in the Gurnee Mills plaza next…read moreto the Round arcade, the parking lot is a bit wild, but when you walk in you're in for a spacious well organized store. The staff is super friendly. We came in to look for a mirror just minutes before closing and were able to get some assistance and pointed us in a few directions to be able to find different styles before we found exactly what we were looking for. We never felt rushed but also were shown different options. Their shelves and displays are always neatly organized and they also have a great clearance section. Usually you'll find them pretty picked over, but even at the end of each day it gets sorted and organized for your shopping pleasure. L

My best friend had to move up her wedding 6 months which lead us (as the bridesmaids) to have very…read morelittle time (6 weeks) to piece together some special surprises for her. I had a very last minute, very difficult embroidery project that needed done- low top shoes. Two other stores told me they could not do it. Initial Choice invited me in and told me they would find a way to make my project happen. I went in an immediately felt like these people knew what they were doing and really cared about making sure my friend got what she deserved on her wedding day. They made several suggestions and I basically told them I would leave the project in their clearly capable hands. I went back to pick up the shoes a few short business days later and everything was perfect. I could not have asked for better work and better customer service. On top of everything I found their prices to be extremely reasonable. I cannot wait to go back when I'm not under pressure to have more projects done!

What would we do without The Initial Choice? Lake Forest offers an abundance of choices for gift…read moreshopping, but this is my go to place. The small store packs a lot in without being cluttered. They have an excellent selection of tasteful accessories for ladies, kids, men and home - at reasonable price points. Monogramming is a focus and they do it well! There is practically nothing that can't be monogrammed and the expert staff does a great job advising on style/size/color. The Lake Forest/preppy motif is clearly represented in the merchandise selection. Need a 60045 needlepoint key fob? Look no further!

We worked with Catherine for our wedding stationery, day of details and more.. we met with a few…read moreother shops but after meeting with Catherine , no one else could compare. She's beyond talented, organized, patient and kind.. she's made the whole process easy and fun! I had high hopes for these details, and Catherine has exceeded them. Not only is she talented but her organization and etiquette details have been so helpful for a somewhat scatterbrained bride to be.. can't recommend Catherine and Charm Studio enough.. your expectations will be far exceeded!

We absolutely love Charm Studio and Catherine! She is the most wonderful person to work with…read more Catherine was so patient with us! She designed beautiful Save the Dates for us along with invitations, escort cards, paper for hotel welcome boxes, signature cocktails signs, maps, rehearsal dinner invites, kooozies, matches, and more! Catherine is so talented and creative and is more than willing to work with whatever budget you have. She is also super fast meeting whatever deadline you need :-) could go on and on. Love her and her work!