Check Out These Makers and Crafters in San Francisco This Holiday Season
San Francisco is full of talented creators, which makes for an utterly unique shopping experience for you.
The City by the Bay has been a nexus for creative souls since the rowdy days of the Gold Rush. San Francisco's diversity and edgy vibe have always allowed creative efforts to flourish, and today's makers and crafters reflect that continuing heritage.
If you're looking for a hand-crafted original purchased directly from the person whose imagination and skill gave it life, San Francisco has some amazing shopping experiences waiting for you. Visit the establishments listed here to dive into the world of the city's maker culture.
Public Glass
Dedicated to introducing the public to the magical art of glass making, this nonprofit arts center offers you shopping, instruction and professional demonstrations. Public Glass has deep roots in the historic Bayview neighborhood, which is easy to reach via the Muni T-Third metro line. Buy extraordinary one-of-a-kind glass pieces from their on-site gallery, as well as online through their website. Take time to visit one of the serious soul-food restaurants along nearby Third Street and talk to locals about the activist history of that part of town. If someone on your holiday list loves learning new crafts, then you can also gift them an introductory class or workshop at Public Glass.
Dandelion Chocolate
Catch the outstanding views at Dolores Park, then walk a few short blocks to Dandelion Chocolate. Sitting at their maker bar, you can watch the whole beautiful artisan chocolate process, from green cocoa beans to the silky, gourmet-finished product. You can tour the factory for free to get tasty samples, and you can even sign up for chocolate-related classes. If you're shopping for a chocolate connoisseur, Dandelion offers an extraordinary tasting experience. Their selections include chocolate sourced from single locations, allowing customers to taste the differences between Madagascar, Dominican Republic, Tanzania and Venezuela.
San Francisco Open Studios
Many artists who work in textiles, printmaking, apparel, jewelry, ceramics, photography, sculpture and fine art are busy working and can't keep their studios open all the time. The annual San Francisco Open Studios is an opportunity each year for you to visit more than 800 working artists in their studio spaces. This program is the largest and oldest of its kind in the country, another demonstration that San Francisco has always been a magnet for artists. Open Studios includes special events, artist workshops, exhibition openings and educational programs. Meet the local arts community as you search for that perfectly distinctive creation.
Paper Tree
If you're inspired by the paper craft of origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, Paper Tree in Japantown offers personalized classes led by award-winning origami expert Linda Mihara and her staff. You can also attend their free-fold Saturday classes, which you can sign up for via eventbrite. Stop into the store on Japantown's Buchanan Mall to pick up your favorite origami paper designs and create animals, flowers, and other artistic creations. Classes are ideal for everyone from beginners to adults and even kids.
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Carol is a digital marketer creating media-rich content for global audiences covering travel, San Francisco and the Bay Area, food & drink, outdoor experiences, and cross-cultural storytelling. Her work is found in the San Mateo Daily Journal and The Skyline View (Skyline College). Before travel writing, her professional background included working internationally in business, nonprofits, and government. She lives in San Francisco with her family and regularly explores the parks in her city, especially untamed McLaren Park.
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