{"id":877,"date":"2015-01-26T00:52:29","date_gmt":"2015-01-25T16:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bauzon.ph\/cynthia\/?p=877"},"modified":"2018-01-06T21:04:04","modified_gmt":"2018-01-06T13:04:04","slug":"art-and-craft-stores-in-manila","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bauzon.ph\/cynthia\/art-and-craft-stores-in-manila\/","title":{"rendered":"Where I buy art & craft materials in Manila"},"content":{"rendered":"

Years ago National Book Store was the only easily accessible place where you can buy\u00a0arts and crafts equipment here in Manila. Well there was Joli along Espana and Artek in Delta but they were quite far, and online shopping — let alone the internet — was unheard of at the time. So by default NBS was The Mothership and to be fair, selection wasn’t bad. It’s just that compared to today, we had a\u00a0very limited range\u00a0of art materials to choose from.<\/p>\n

And now\u00a0— okay I don’t know when exactly the local arts and crafts movement boomed but it sure happened when I wasn’t looking. Very pleased\u00a0though that I don’t have to turn to DickBlick or Amazon’s Arts, Crafts & Sewing section<\/a> for supplies anymore since I can now easily get them locally and from within the comforts of home, no less.<\/p>\n

If you check my Instagram feed<\/a>, you’ll see that I’ve been into honing my analog art skills\u00a0since late last year\u00a0and I’ve explored everything\u00a0from rubber stamp carving\u00a0and\u00a0shrink\u00a0plastic\u00a0crafting to watercolor painting and even lettering. Here are the stores I’ve been getting all my crafty goodies from.\u00a0There may be more out there but I find the following\u00a0shops’ inventories sufficient for my needs.<\/p>\n

(Updated on Jan. 6, 2018)<\/p>\n

ARTWHALE <\/a>– <\/strong>an online store that\u00a0carries beautiful not-so-commonly-available paints\u00a0like Korea-based\u00a0Nicker fine art gouache<\/a>\u00a0(a.k.a. the brand that\u00a0Ghibli Animation Studio uses), Japan-based Turner Colour Works Acryl Gouache<\/a>, Peerless Watercolors<\/a> (a vintage American brand known for highly pigmented watercolors\u00a0in sheet form), and Shin Han Art Korean Watercolours<\/a>. The proprietor Kuki is very friendly and knowledgeable about their products and customer service is top notch<\/strong>. (Please refer to this newer post<\/a>\u00a0for the full story. :D)<\/p>\n

\"art-whale-philippines\"<\/a><\/p>\n

They have pop-up stores every once in a while so I recommend following\u00a0their Instagram account<\/a> to see if they’ll be in a bazaar soon.<\/p>\n

CRAFT CARROT<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0– an online store\u00a0based\u00a0in\u00a0Loyola Heights, Quezon City. They\u00a0stock\u00a0artist paints & paper, calligraphy tools and inks, sketch markers, and rubber stamp carving supplies. I got my two-tone carving blocks\u00a0—\u00a04″x 6″ and 2″x 2″ round and square\u00a0blocks — from them (see below). I also purchased a few of the inexpensive “Craft” brand ink pads. I don’t think\u00a0they’re archival though\u00a0so I just use them for testing my stamps.<\/p>\n

\"craft<\/p>\n

I’m not sure if they have a physical shop since their website says you’ll have to set up an appointment before visiting their office\u00a0but ordering online\u00a0is\u00a0quick and painless. I’ve already purchased from them twice and both times I received fast and friendly service – “friendly” meaning there is actual communication from\u00a0the shopkeepers, not just automated replies. \ud83d\ude42 Also, they use Xend.com for shipping so you’ll be sure to get your items within 24-48 hours upon receiving confirmation for your order.<\/p>\n

HEY KESSY<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0– another online store\u00a0with an\u00a0HQ in Loyola Heights which I believe is a physical shop. They sell washi tape, chalk markers, air dry clay and a\u00a0good variety\u00a0of fun\u00a0crafting supplies.\u00a0They’re the only place I’ve found that carries\u00a0Tsukineko VersaCraft Fabric Inkpads<\/a>\"\" (pigment-based, archival, and acid-free) and\u00a0Speedball Speedy-Carve Carving Blocks<\/a>\"\", currently\u00a0the biggest (and priciest) ones that are available locally. These blocks carve like butter — no, wait.\u00a0Like konnyaku jelly! Soft and jiggly!\u00a0—\u00a0so I use them for special, intricate designs.<\/p>\n

\"hey<\/p>\n

I can also say that they know how to make their customers feel special. Aside from the friendly correspondence, they sent me that\u00a0adorable postcard on the left. Look at how the\u00a0items were\u00a0packaged too. It\u00a0was\u00a0like opening a gift. (It’s all in the details. \ud83d\ude42 ) I’ll definitely buy from them again — but first, I need to use up my blocks. As\u00a0with Craft Carrot, you can receive your items within 24-48 hours.<\/p>\n

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