I cannot say enough about The Forest Needle. The variety and depth of fibers is amazing. I travel a…read morelot and visit needlepoint stores along the way and am often disappointed with the limited choices. It reinforces how fortunate we are to have this gem in our backyard!! It is worth the trek and visit. Town is lovely - so make it a day if you do not live in the area. You will not be disappointed. The classes, and the amazing amount of canvases is wonderful. The owner and ladies that work there are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. They spend time with each customer and offer ideas and solutions to questions. I know finishing has been a negative in the past, but that was quite awhile ago and they are using a new finisher that does wonderful work.

Disregard the review I gave in 2016. The Forest Needle is slowly going down the drain. Only open 4…read moredays, who closes a shop on Saturdays? Customer service is lackluster at best. No one really knows needlepoint. All of the talented staff has left, due to terrible management. We all know Covid was hard, but other Needlepoint stores remained busy and thriving because of their customer service because so many were stitching while at home. There are other options on the Northshore, check them out!

"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.

Our 6 year old grand-darling had a birthday celebration here, and everything I saw told me this…read moreplace is really a great kids' event venue. I'm reviewing from the POV of an adult guest celebrant, as my daughter was the event organizer and coordinator, so she can probably separately provide another POV. I met Robin, the franchise's engaging and energetic founder and owner, who runs this store and 2 others in Chicagoland (Water Tower Place and Hawthorn Center in Vernon Hills). Her friendly assistant Zach was also floating about helping out in various ways. The grand-darling and 13 of her closest relatives, classmates, and friends spent an action packed 90 minutes here on a Sunday. In that time, they did the following and Robin was hands-on actively leading each activity: - got dressed in a protective gown for painting - individually picked out a pre-shaped clay object to paint, and there were many to pick from - painted the object and subsequently blow-dried it and set aside - ran around the spacious project room for a bit, like 6-9 year olds like to do (Robin didn't really need to supervise this self taught activity duh) - had a delicious pizza and fruit lunch, with both kids and adults served - had birthday cake and song, with both kids and adults served - played a fun game of Simon Says Each child went home happy with their self-painted object and party souvenir. Robin opened her store at 10am, an hour earlier than the normal 11am to accommodate this party and another later one. She also coordinated with Northbrook Court's pizza vendor, Tony & Bruno's, to open early so that our pizza lunch could be delivered right on time. We had 5 thin pizzas, and they all were very good, hot, and delicious, so kudos here to Tony & Bruno's as well, a business that Robin apparently routinely coordinates with. The daughter brought in the birthday cake and Robin served it for the group. The adults were able to comfortably sit off to the side in the spacious project room and enjoy and photograph and video to our heart's content. Great outing, Robin and Zach, and our entire extended family thanks you for a very fun and enjoyable birthday party!

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!

Chef Laura was incredible! We attended a chef demonstration class and Chef Laura was so fun and…read morealso engaging. We asked a lot of questions and learned a lot. The menu was perfect and the helpers were wonderful. We love the Joyful Gourmet!

we had my daughter's 4th birthday here, and it went absolutely perfect. Robin and staff went above…read moreand beyond to make sure everything was organized, ran smoothly, and ever kid had a fun time. each child got to paint a personal pottery to take home. My daughter felt very special and loved all the personal touches to make her day perfect.

One of our favorite birthday traditions!…read more The Painted Penguin is such a fun place to bring the kids and let them get creative! I bring my kids here every year for their birthdays, and they absolutely love picking out something to paint and spending time creating their own little masterpieces. It's also a great way to keep them busy and kill some time! Robin, the owner, is always so friendly and sweet, and the staff are just as helpful and welcoming. Everyone here makes the experience feel easy and fun. If you're looking for something fun to do with the kids, definitely check this place out! We'll be back again next year for our birthday tradition!

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

This is just the best place to find a gift for anyone you need. They are helpful, nice and have a…read moregreat variety of high-quality gifts. Plus they monogram anything you want and do a beautiful job. Love the staff and love the merchandise. Every gift I have given from the initial choice has been a hit! Plus, I have bought some awesome things for myself and my family.

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!

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!