Artisanal Crafts

There’s a certain nostalgia for the process that resonates in the Seattle arts scene, and it has makers and doers—and souvenir shoppers—flocking to the city for its focus on local and handmade. Be sure to check out these stops on your hunt for a one-of-a-kind treasure.

Courtesy Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market (*First Ave and Pike St; pikeplacemarket.org) plays host to a crafts market showcasing 225 local and regional makers: hand-constructed leather-bound journals from No Boundaries, handbags by Ann V. Brown, painted clothing designs from Basilic, and more. Better still, the extensive market is open almost every day of the year.

When his original Ballard gift shop-of-sorts Souvenir was uprooted, Curtis Steiner opened his namesake showroom with similar time-honored wares. The shop Curtis Steiner (5349 Ballard Ave NW; curtissteiner.com) carries small-scale curiosities: carefully curated Japanese doll heads and vintage photos alongside hand-painted calligraphy and an in-house jewelry line.

Lauren Stelling

While you’re in the downtown area, visit a number of other shops that stock artisan crafts. Host of the annual plush toy art show named Plush You, Schmancy (1932 Second Ave; schmancytoys.com) is a toy shop with a twist, featuring the likes of everything from Pee Wee Herman finger puppets to knit monsters to contemporary Kewpies. Those interested in paper goods should head to Paper Hammer (1400 Second Ave; paper-hammer.com), which offers a selection of specialty stationery, handmade cards, prints, and bound journals made in its Tieton factory, east of the Cascade Mountains. On top of its unique array of giftables, Paper Hammer also hosts various workshops on bookbinding and handwriting.

Here’s another must for the crafty: Urban Craft Uprising (urbancraftuprising.com), a biannual event which touches down for a winter edition in 2015 on December 5–6. The indie trade show brings together thousands upon thousands of fans, with more than 150 carefully selected vendors who excel in their respective trades. Jewelry, fan art, furniture, housewares—you name it.

Courtesy Steel Toe Studios

*Visit Seattle partner