craft in the city

Vintage buttons, limited quantities at Bluebird.

Some favorite unique craft stores in the San Francisco area that I like to frequent:

1. Juniper Tree (San Pablo Ave, Berkeley) - If you want to make lotions, soaps, lib balms, or stock up on essential & fragrance oils, Juniper Tree is the place. With all the ingredients, bottles, containers, scents and do-dads to concoct your own beauty products, they also have a super friendly and knowledgeable staff. Browse the adjacent shop to get inspired by the perfectly merchandised vignettes and pick out lovely gifts of soap, lotions and little knick-knacks. Dropping in feels like a real treat for the senses.

2. Flax (Market @ Valencia in Lower Market) - Mmmm giant paper room. So beautiful. Also fantastic for stationary (blank or letterpressed cuteness), sealing "wax" that works in your gule gun, fabric paints for silkscreening, and tiny stickum letters.

3. Pearl (Market btwn 5th & 6th in Downtown) - Excellent for two hard to locate items: Gocco screens & lightbulbs and generic acrylic yarn (for those starter scarves and quick gifts).

4. General Bead (Minna @ 7th in Soma) - Pick up a little clipboard at the front & jot down all the goodies you'd like from the large selection of crystals, beads, findings, clasps and cord decorating the walls. A kindly General Beader will bring your treasures to the counter for you while you enjoy the bead-encrusted hippie-colorful decor. Don't miss the hidden treasures upstairs!

5. Beyond Beads (Howard btwn 8th & 9th in Soma) - Pick up a tray and plop chunky strands of beads or bags of findings on it, then carry your stash to the counter to be counted out. Beyond Beads also has a selection of tools and freshwater pearls as well.

6. The Bead Store (Castro @ 17th in the Castro) - Tiny and intimate, The Bead Store is wonderfully filled with exotic, worldly beads.

7. Forbeadin' (Church @ 24th in Noe Valley) - Semi-precious gemstones, jewelry-making tools, gold findings, lampworked glass beads, czech glass and vintage glass beads, all make Forbeadin' a unique shop. Bonus points for the exceptionally whitty/corny name.