The San Francisco Bay Area is one of my favorite places. I find it a hub for all things creative and I just like the fresh, cool, air when I’m by the water. In my latest vodcast, I spoke with Lisa Solomon, an artist from Oakland, California, about her must-visit Bay Area craft stores.
Artist, Author & Educator
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Who is Lisa Solomon?
If you’ve ever taken a class on Creative Bug before, you may already be familiar with Lisa Solomon and the awesome classes she leads online.
Lisa is an artist, author and educator who regularly teaches art theory and art skills at Bay Area colleges, libraries, and institutions, in addition to online.
Her art is exhibited in museums because armed with an MFA, her art is more than just interesting to look at. It’s backed with research, intent and critical thinking.
Juu-roko bun no ichi – 2019, watercolor and embroidery on paper, 10 x 10 inches
What I really love about Lisa’s art exhibitions is that she isn’t afraid to play with different materials – including everyday craft materials – like felt or embroidery thread.
In fact, in her new book, Art Craft Color, she includes two thoughtful essays, one that delves into this very topic. Lisa brings the reader up to date on the art vs craft debate and argues that one isn’t necessarily better than the other, particularly looking at historic contexts. There was once a time when craftspeople were part of artisan guilds.
I like that she freely uses all kinds of materials in her art because she’s not tied to the idea of only certain materials being considered art or fine art.
She includes an unspoken hierarchy of art materials in her essay where craft supplies are often regarded as bottom of the chart. But not for Lisa!
That’s why she’s the perfect person to build this little itinerary guide for Bay Area craft stores. For her, the supplies found at these stores aren’t inferior. They’re part of her professional art practice.
This guide is for you if: you’re looking to bring a little more creativity in your life with a new crafty hobby;
you’re a seasoned professional in a creative industry; or you’re somewhere in between.
I hope these top 4 must-visit Bay Area craft stores inspire you.
Save this post for your next trip to the Bay Area and if you’re a local and haven’t visited these shops yet, please do!
1. A Verb for Keeping Warm
Why You Should Visit This Bay Area Craft Store:
Local & Naturally Dyed Yarn
Lisa recommends visiting A Verb for Keeping Warm because it’s run by two awesome women who naturally dye their own yarn. They have amazing yarn colors and a wide assortment of thick and thin yarns without it be overwhelming.
“They have done an amazing job, kind of like, paring it down but still giving you a lot of options. It’s not as overwhelming as I go to some yarn stores, I’m kind of like, ‘I don’t know, there’s too many choices.'” – Lisa Solomon
If you’re interested in dying your own yarn, A Verb for Keeping Warm can teach you how. They’ve published books on the topic and provide their customers with everything they need to begin their own natural dying journey.
They also have an assortment of fabric supplies and Sashiko supplies. Sashiko is a type of Japanese embroidery and though I wasn’t familiar with it until chatting with Lisa, I’m super intrigued to give it a try. I mean just look at that pretty indigo blue!
The good news is that A Verb for Keeping Warm ships their products, including their Sashiko supplies so even if you’re not in the Bay Area, you can order online through their website.
Be sure to check their hours online before visiting. Currently they support in store shopping Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 3pm. Their shop is located at 6328 San Pablo Ave., Oakland, CA.
2. Lacis Museum of Lace & Textile
Why You Should Visit This Bay Area Craft Store:
Victorian Era Craft Supplies
Are you drawn to period pieces and everything Victorian era? Lacis is the perfect craft store for you if you’ve ever wanted to make own hat or fascinator – you know in case you’re invited to tea by Royals.
Personally, I’ve never been to a haberdashery shop because they’re just not around anymore but I love the concept! I think the idea of an old-world hat shop has the same charm as a book shop (IYKYK.) So I think it’s so cool to find a modern store that carries haberdashery supplies.
But that’s not all that you can find at Lacis. If you want to make a purse, they have Victorian era hardware that can help you make a purse appropriate to the period.
If you’re crafty, you might prefer to mix and match modern design with historic hardware to create something new and entirely your own (sell it on Etsy or host a costume party to flaunt your creation!)
Apart from selling craft supplies, Lacis – as it’s storefront clearly indicates – is also a museum of lace and textile. No matter what creative project you’re working on, you’ll likely walk away really inspired by their display windows and exhibits.
“They have a lot of really vintage, gorgeous wedding dresses and other like veils and just amazing ribbons.” – Lisa Solomon
If you’re in the market for lace, crochet supplies and every type of needle and thread you could ever imagine, definitely visit Lacis Museum of Lace & Textile located at 2982 Adeline St, Berkeley, CA.
Flax SF
Why You Should Visit This Bay Area Craft Store:
Paper Selection
Flax SF is conveniently located in the Fort Mason Centre for the Arts, which is an incredible place to go, if you’ve never been. There are always so many different events happening at the Fort Mason Centre. If you’re into local, handmade, artisanal pieces or fine art, you will love all that the centre has to offer – and the people you get to meet!
Lisa loves Flax because you can get anything you need in terms of art supplies. But what really stands out to her?
“They have an amazing paper collection.” – Lisa Solomon
There are so many paper-based projects in Lisa’s book, Art Craft Color, and I really appreciate that the book includes recommendations for which paper to use for best results.
I find this part of the book very useful because honestly art papers can get expensive. If you use the paper and it turns out it wasn’t what you needed for your project, you can’t return it either. I’ve lost hundreds of dollars in this process. The unused papers then sit in my studio with hope. Maybe one day the paper might get chosen for a project I’m working on.
One of the artists in Lisa’s book, Libby Black from Berkeley CA, highly praises Strathmore 400 Series Bristol Board as the “best paper”. I’ve never tried this paper before but now that she recommends it, I want to try it out as soon as possible! (Thank you for doing the preliminary experimentation work for me, Libby!)
Visit Flax SF in store to touch and feel their papers at 2 Marina Blvd Center, Bldg D, San Francisco, CA. They also ship from their online shop so if you have a specific paper (brand, size, weight) you’re looking for, just order online.
Case for Making
Why You Should Visit This Bay Area Craft Store:
Build A Custom Watercolor Palette
Case for Making is a Bay area craft store, based in San Francisco, known for making their own watercolors. Lisa doesn’t mince her words when she says they are expensive.
“It’s an investment. They are gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous watercolors…So anytime I go in there, it’s just like, I feel like, my heart just like you know, open up, and I’m very excited.”
– Lisa Solomon
At $19 USD for a half pan of watercolor paint (approximately 2 ml), it may be time to cancel a subscription or two that keeps you stuck to your phone and live a more analog life and work towards that creative goal of yours.
Each paint is locally made in their shop by hand using the highest quality pigments. They also have their own recipe for a natural watercolor binding medium which they used in their paints.
The binding medium is made from sap from acacia trees, honey, glycerin, distilled water and, as their website mentions, “a dash of clove oil for freshness!”
Lisa explains that Case For Making has pre-made watercolor sets that you can purchase. For example, they sell premade sets of of 8 or 12 half-pans which are popular choices for beginners and seasoned artists alike.
A set of 8 sells for $218 so it’s definitely an investment towards your art journey. (Maybe something to add to your birthday wish list – if you have 8 friends or family members, they can all chip in and each get you a half-pan.)
“You could just buy one,” encourages Lisa. When using watercolors in your art practice, “you can mix and match, they don’t all have to be from the same company to work together.”
There’s a lot of freedom to play with the handmade watercolors from Case for Making. Judging by the stellar reviews of their watercolors, they really do stand apart. A yellow isn’t just a yellow when it’s handmade by Case for Making and a blue just isn’t a blue.
They are located at 4037 Judah Street, San Francisco, CA. They also have a list of US stockists who sell Case for Making’s handmade watercolors, so you can see if there’s a store local to you as well.
There are many more Bay area craft stores that Lisa could add to this list, so if you’d like to see more recommendations, message me on Instagram @helloholydays.
Art Craft Color: Brighten Your Life with Projects in Every Color of the Rainbow is Lisa Solomon’s latest book and available where books are sold. It’s a must-have craft book featuring 20 diverse artists, makers, crafters and artisans from the US. Each contributor shares a project in an assigned color of the rainbow and a different medium for you to try out.