Deovir is an artist's heaven…read more This could actually be my only statement and it would pretty much sum up Deovir. They have so many items available for use of artists which cannot be found in bookstores. Being the premiere art supply store, they have a wide range of products, from brushes, paints, paper, pencils, etcetera. This goes for even supporting materials such as thinners, binding mediums, and other art-related needs. Being not so familiar with and not comfortable in exploring painting mediums, I recently called them to ask for advice as to what I can use for an upcoming project. I needed to use a paint that would adhere well to textile, will be permanent despite washing, but needs to likewise have the correct consistency for brush calligraphy. With a short discussion of my options, I knew what I needed and even had my orders prepared already for payment and pick-up. Indeed, it pays to go to a specialized shop for, well, special art needs.

For me, a trip to Deovir is always entertaining. I've been known to stay for more than an hour…read moreinside the small space, just browsing through different art and craft materials without a specific agenda in mind and thinking about the creative possibilities. There are canvasses of all sizes ready to be spread with acrylics, oils, watercolors, pastels, etc. There are reasonably-priced, artist grade brushes. There are craft foams, polymer clays, charcoals, and a lot more. If there is something that I need for a craft or a project, I immediately look for it in Deovir. And I get a sinking feeling if I cannot find it in their shelves, because that means that I am unlikely to find it anywhere else locally. The staff are very helpful, and they know what they are talking about. There was this time when I was assembling a painting kit as a gift, and a friendly salesperson gladly discussed the comparative pros and cons of acrylic and oil, and why the former might be better suited for a novice than the latter. Seriously, I look for excuses to visit this store even though I know that it's not good for my wallet. They also have an online shop but sadly, the online inventory is very limited.

For artsy people who like to make things with their hands and like to support artsy people who make…read morethings with their hands, The Common Room is a very welcome addition to Katipunan. On the heels of the growing craft scene in the Philippines, The Common Room describes itself as "a place where makers gather." I love it because it's true! You'll find everything here from wallets made from old comic books, hand-sewn patches, pins, perfume, plushies and succulents! When you step inside, you'll wish you had money to buy everything in the store (or maybe I'm speaking only for myself). My favorite brand they carry is called Tweed and Twine, which makes pouches out of really beautiful fabric. It's also located right next to Go! Salads, so when I'm there for my daily green smoothie, I can't resist the call of all things handmade, pretty and shiny, and have to exercise great restraint not to come out with pretty new stationery, magnetic pins, and other lovingly handmade things I didn't think I needed. I love it!

Cool looking coffee place that also sells all kinds of interesting crafts. See, feel, touch, or…read morejust fine surrounded by fanciful objects from the imagination of local artists! Great event space too

Such a charming place! From the beautiful trees and spacious parking lot, the lovely simple…read morebungalow architecture, the welcoming interiors. There's lots of eye candy to be had and by that I mean the cool knick knacks you can find in the store. I'm not sure if the wire faux taxidermy is for sale, but do wish I had space for that in my place. What else... saw some nifty clocks and animal figures, fun stationery and funky dolls. There's just so much cuteness inside. The cafe area is pretty sweet. They have the Herman miller eames / modernica style baby blue chairs which are somewhat cushy. There's lots of spaces for a big party. So don't sweat it if you're worried about finding a chair to park on. The coffee was ok. They use a nespresso pod, if you're into that. The tea was also good. It's something you might have at home, like strawberry kiwi which I just had at my sister's place. But nice to know they have it! We tried the ff: Spaghetti meatballs- ok Beef brisket sandwich- lotsa melty cheese on a buttery slice which was sinfully good Niçoise salad- ok Beef w rice and onion rings- ok Chocolate cake- whoa! Red velvet cheesecake- ooh! I'd go back for those brisket sandwiches if I want to eat guiltily and treat myself. I'd probably hang out here again for a chitchat w friends and order a cake and coffee/tea. I would also come out here to look for cute gifts. Overall, nice quiet spot at addition hills.

I can't begin to describe how cute The Paper Stone is. And no, I don't mean it's in any way ugly…read moreyet appealing. Appealing yes, but by no means is it ugly! I loved browsing the shop and asking about every single product they had. They offer a wide range of stationery, from magazine holders, to pens, to gift wrappers, to journals! They may be a bit pricey though, which breaks my heart because they all have such adorable designs! The stickers are my favorite. I remember spending around 15 minutes (or more) just looking at every sticker design they had, trying to choose which to purchase. (I settled with cute bunnies). For those, like me, who can't resist cute things, you'll probably spend the same amount of time I did browsing their collection. The Paper Stone is a good place to buy gift items for your girlfriends, or your nieces. Trust me, boys.

Cute items and this is the store I never fail to visit whenever I'm at UP Town Center but the sales…read moreassistants are too clingy! I wish they'd give shoppers more personal space.

I know how frustrating it is to go to an NBS branch only to find out that the art material you're…read morelooking for can only be found in a different branch.The giant chain is, of course, traditionally reliable, but it doesn't mean it can give us art enthusiasts everything we need. Once you get past the beginner stage, you will start looking for more high-quality materials. And that's where Deovir comes in. There aren't that many art stores here in our country, so you might as well bookmark the ones you might visit in the near future. Ones that are well-stocked and reasonably priced, and this is one of them. They have nearly everything an artist might need. Deovir is my go-to place when I find myself needing a new tube of artist-grade watercolors. They offer various brands for every type of paint you can think of. The only downside is that they don't carry Winsor & Newton, and as it happens, it's one of the cheapest artist-grade materials that one can find. That, and Holbein, which they thankfully have in their shelves. A small tube (which can last a long time, still depends on how you use it though) of Holbein watercolor starts from Php 100. Mine's usually Php 105 but I noticed that some of them are more expensive. It depends on the pigment type I guess. It's better to ask, too.

Being a craftsy and artsy girl, it was but natural for me to fall into doing a little styling after…read moredoing events for almost ten years. One of the first online suppliers I ever bought anything from was Mansy Abesamis of Hey Kessy. At that time, she already has a website set-up, and it was one of the hardest purchases I had to make in a while. Nope, it wasn't her, nor her website. It was the pretty and adorable designs of her washi tapes that made it difficult for me to choose what I needed (or was it wanted?) to buy. Upon placing my order, I promptly got an email confirming my order and informing me of how to proceed with my purchase. In less than five days, the whole process was over and I got a little nifty package, sealed with a washi tape (of course) and it even came with a cute note. Will I buy again? Yes. Will I really NEED what I will buy? Maybe. Hahaha!

Arts and crafts, DIY, calligraphy... all these and more are getting more and more popular nowadays…read moreespecially to young teenage girls. Craft stores have started popping up, and one of which is Hey Kessy. Hey Kessy is an uber cute store that sells various products ranging from watercolor palettes and washi tape to brush pens and temporary tattoos. It's small, but noticeable from the outside because of all the window decors and the word "MAKE" that stands by the doorway. They had so many washi tape designs that I wanted to have for myself, but I had to fight the urge because I currently have a lot at home. Not as pretty as Hey Kessy's though! They also had ZIG brush pens which are, to me, the best brush pens you could buy. Okay, I confess, I'm not really great at handmade things. I dreaded Art and Home Ec class in Grade School! I'm more of a digital artist, but this handmade movement has got me hooked. They only have limited supplies of certain things though despite the variety. I hope they restock with more colors for the brush pens soon!

I'm the type of artist who uses watercolor as her medium, but there was a time (a few weeks back)…read morewhen even I wanted to try if I could turn a plain block of polymer clay into something yummy like a macaron or a cookie. Well, if you're curious: I couldn't. I mean I thought I had what it takes but I uh didn't. Well. Anyway, that's how I found this pretty girly dainty store. I mean it. The inside is girly princess galore. You can find all sorts of crafting stuff here like carving tools, cabochons, beads, and whatever it is you might need for your next craft project. They have many clay brands that are hard to find here in Metro Manila on their shelves. Unless you wanna go online. And if you're not much of a crafter yet, you can attend one of their workshops, which I admit should've done before splurging on all those supplies and stuff. They're in good hands now though.