Handmade
Categories: Cards & Stationery, Home Decor, Kitchen & Bath, Used, Vintage & Consignment [Edit]
Neighborhood: Sherman Oaks14556 Ventura Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 (818) 382-3444
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 11:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Sun 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Garage
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
35 Reviews for Handmade
One of Handmade's Favorite Reviews
My Fiancee can be clueless when it comes to gifts. However, whatever saint pointed him in the direction of this store totally deserves our first born.
Handmade soap, quirky Batman petticoats, vintage Qipao's Handmade has it all, and for great prices!
Even when I'm broke I go in just to see what's new. Looking for a place to buy that friend who scoffs everything...everything? Handmade is for you. I can't even describe what's inside, but it's like walking through an endless quirky craft fair of sparkly awesome.
Oh, and when you're done stop by the Jamba Juice that's not too far. Delicious!
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Like a brick and mortar Etsy.com, Handmade is like catnip for us crafty types. It's perfect for gifts and unique jewelry and decor.
Now, I need to preface this review with an undeniable bias that I am a creative person myself. Therefore, whenever I enter the store I find myself being slightly less impressed by things that otherwise bring other's to their knees with wonder.
For example, I am an avid scrapbooker and a while back took classes at Creative Paradise Scrapbooking in the Sherman Oaks Fashion Square Mall. I was browsing at Handmade and saw one of the projects offered in the $45 class I took for $80! And to make matters worse, the adhesive the "artist" used to make these books wasn't good quality and multiple embellishments were falling off the book and the paper accents were curling up off the page on all sides. Is this what counts these days as original "work"?
Now all skepticism aside, I find that handmade is a great place not only for inspiration for my own projects but also a great place to get those perfect offbeat presents for any event. I appreciate the store's diversity and the fact that they have cornered the market in the consignment field as far as I am concerned.
Handmade is a decent store. Let me explain, it's pretty good in terms of carrying a wide variety of giftable items, but the selection is bizarre at times and seems to have no rhyme or reason. For example, they carry beautiful soy candles by Voluspa, a favorite of mine, and then ten feet away they are selling a fake Louis Vuitton bag that's tearing at the point where the strap connects to the bag.
What's up with that? fake Louis bags are not made by hand. They are cheap crap- and it's the cheap crap that lowers my opinion of the store from four to three stars. why sell something like that?
Handmade is a pretty good place to send a man to pick out a gift, as they have an extremely wide variety of various types of inexpensive jewelry. that being said, he might return with a stuffed rag doll of an angel with quilted wings instead of a turqouise pendant. Be afraid!
what this boutique is suffering from is a case of too much square footage and no idea what to sell it in. Overall, their merchandise mix is about 60% on the money, with the remaining 40% destined to go in the garbage.
My advise as a retail veteran and avid shopper- less is more! get rid of the tall, wall-like fixtures and open the space up. Clear out the clutter and showcase the artistic, upscale and beautiful items in your store.
I absolutely love handmade. i walk there all of the time because i never get bored of looking around in that place. It's a great place to find a gift for someone, there's so much stuff and it's all so unique. I seriously think i've been coming here for at least 10 years, and i'm still not bored of it.
Good atmosphere, good selection, even if you're not planning on actually buying anything, it's a cute place to check out.
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Handmade is one of the best gift stores in Los Angeles.
They have a great selection of everything from clothes to keychains to picture frames to magnets. Although a bit pricey, Handmade is still very well worth it.
The employees are friendly and the location is great--right in the heart of Sherman Oaks.
So if you need a great gift, either for someone else or yourself, don't skip Handmade.
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My friend wanted to buy souvenirs for his family in Australia. We went everywhere trying to find a good "LA" trinket. On his last day my mom mentioned we should try Handmade. I like going there to browse around but I never thought of taking him there. We went to one other place and then on the way to the airport we stopped at Handmade. I took him to at least ten stores before Handmade with no luck. As soon as we walked into the store he turned to me and said, "Why didn't you take me here first?!" He bought things for everyone within thirty minutes. I heard from him a week after he got back. Everyone loved what he got for them.
What a brilliant idea?!!! I wish I would have thought of it first! I was introduced to this gem of a store by my good friend, Mz. Stephy S of Yelp fame. We did some last minute Xmas shopping in the good ol' Val (Yes, I consider Sherman Oaks the Valley). Handmade is an excellent place to find a unique gift for someone that is sure to impress. The store is comprised of gifts made by artists from the LA area and beyond who sell their "handmade" one-of-a-kind pieces here. Everything from jewelry, paintings, clothing, to baby goods and housewares can be found here, and these are not your ordinary gifts. The prices are extremely reasonable, especially considering that these gifts are handmade. The staff is friendly, artistic and very helpful too!
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If you happen to be looking for a sock monkey and a vintage inspired pendant necklace, you just hit the jackpot! Welcome to Handmade, where most everything is handmade by over 100 artists and crafty people in LA!
The variety at Handmade is so random that there's no use in attempting to describe it. There's something for just about everyone in this large showcase of independent talent. There are a few commercial goods in some booths, but overall it's a knick knack paradise. There's a ton of handmade jewelry at this shop in glass cases yet somehow there always seems to be an employee around to help open them.
Handmade is definitely a cool place to visit when you're stumped on a gift for a friend or family member and you don't want to go with the usual suspects.
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The outside of the store/their window displays remind me of Urban Outfitters. My friend and I browsed in here for a bit and they offer a lot of unique gift items by indie designers. Not exactly my taste or style, but like I said to my friend (who deemed the place a tad tacky) I'm sure we would've found stuff if we'd done a little digging. I will go back when I'm not distracted and give it a more thorough once over!
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Great strolling. Not too much buying. Very novelty. Not so much practical. Kinda high priced. Lotsa eye candy. Great location.
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I've been coming here for years, mainly to treat the place like a little art gallery, occasionally to buy. Maybe it's people like me that created the problem, but the Handmade Gallery has changed in the last four or five years.
Each artist or two would get their own little exhibition space, which was always creatively designed - my favorite was the grand canyon-like carved stacked cardboard shelving, which seems to have disappeared - and on average the stuff was of good artistic quality. The idea, as was explained once by the store owner(?), was that they took a commission from each sale and rented spaces to craftsmen, but otherwise, your money went directly to the creator.
The goods ranged from quality woodwork, to hot-glued hair barrettes, to dolls made out of bottle caps, to really just about anything under the sun. I once saw a selection of modified suitcases, lamps, etc, which had been paper macheed with a collage of pin up figures, wonder woman comics, and old ads.
My favorite section was the wide variety of calaveras, which seem to have been pared down in recent years. Why didn't I buy all the stuff I loved?
Well, the price tag was intimidating for a teenager without a job. And generally, the things they sell are a bit pricey. So i could see how they probably lost money with the situation they had set up.
Recently, there's been a trend away from original artists and towards professionally manufactured goods of two distinct stripes:
* "artistic/classy" stuff: soaps, expensive vases, candlesticks, picture frames, etc
* "whimsical/irreverent" Dirty Girl cosmetics, those little kitchenware pieces that look like animals, lots of bags, those sarcastic fake '50s magnets, gem gels, etc.
I'll rate four stars, because there is still a lot of good creative work to be found here - I'm saving up to hopefully buy a beautiful colored glass-on-clear glass tree portrait (if they're still there by the time you read this, look for them in the first aisle on the right side, they're awesome!)
But it's not quite the same.
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I love the concept of this store. In practice, the goods are hit and miss, but there's enough variety to keep nearly anyone who walks through the doors entertained (if not pulling out their wallet to scoop something off the shelves), and the store is large enough that they can carry a large amount of random goodies to keep customers coming back to see what's new.
I love that independent, small designers get the traffic and exposure of being on Ventura, when in all reality most of them couldn't fill up an entire store with their products, let alone pay the rent. I may not love every kitschy, granola-y item, but I think it's great when smaller designers can get their foot in the door. Just cuz I'm not tacky, doesn't mean there isn't a large, if disturbing, tacky fan base out there asking for creative new stuff too.
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This place is soooo cute. I like little things like glass animals, coin purses, purse holders, fancy kitchen sink strainers, dog treat canisters, huge rings, etc. etc.
By the way, all the stuff I listed there is what I bought the last 2 times I visted.
Great Location and cute finds!
Albeit pricy, Handmade is the place to go when you're looking for a unique gift for that artsy friend who seems to have everything.
The store is divided into sections for each artisan vendor; they've got a pretty eclectic collection. You can find anything ranging from jewelery, clothes to those skull figurines used for Dia de los Muertos...It's located right in the heart of Ventura Blvd, so next time you're down there, give it a peek. It's lots of fun to windowshop.
Really interesting stuff in this store. I was expecting it to be more a stationary store, but really it's like a kitchy gift shop. The staff was very friendly and nice as well.
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here's the thing about handmade...
most likely you can find a gift for anyone here.
now that i say that, i am probably jinxing myself, but i believe it to be true. anytime i'm in a bind for finding a good meaningful gift, i head on over to handmade and usually walk out a happy girl.
i think this place is a co-op where a bunch of different artists have their own areas and sell their goods.
over the years, areas of the store have gone a little corporate with some of the goods they sell... but on the whole, it's a solid place to find someone a gift that stands out from the crowd.
Like etsy.com sprang to life on Ventura Blvd.
If you're into the handmade art and artisan ethic, you owe it to yourself to stop in to this constantly evolving and pleasantly surprising shop. There's always something I didn't see last time that somebody I know will love (including me!).
Even when I don't find anything to buy, it's a great place to browse and ooh and ahh.
This place is really refreshing and fun. Like others have said, it is great that no one hounds you to buy, and that all of the items have a clear price tag. Of course I have to pick everything up because that's just how I shop, but nobody was following me around asking if I needed any help. All of the employees seem pretty chill.
Not every piece is a winner (some items were a little too tacky for my taste), but I love how everything is displayed in little sections broken down like a shrine to each artist. Though I am a big supporter of handmade crafts, not every item in here is truly handmade. As you walk in, there are some candles and papergoods that are definitely mass produced. However, the place is jam packed, so you have to allow some room for error I suppose.
Nevertheless, there were many items which caught my eye as being truly unique and great for gift-giving, including a wall clock made by punching number-shaped holes into a record album, or a really cool cross made out of what looked like steel joists. I especially love all of the little wooden boxes, some painted, a few covered in paper or fabric.
Visit this store with an open-mind and you will be able to see past some of the schlock to the really unique items. It is a great way to spend an hour on a Sunday afternoon, and you are sure to walk out with at least a few affordable gifts.
One of those one-stop gift-and-card shops. There is a dazzling array of tack in here- each little "artisan" corner is as though someone's eBay store in Wichita exploded all over you. Frankly, pour moi, I don't need another dreamcatcher, nor a crocheted potholder, nor the reindeer "jumper" Colin Firth wore in "Bridget Jones". That said, amongst the hilarious junk there are cute things to be found, and Handmade features a great array of hilarious cards and tchotchkes.
They are also uniformly sweet and friendly, which is just so freakin' refreshing.
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I love this store! The exterior is beautiful, covered with tiles and Day of the Dead skulls. Inside you'll find a plethora of handmade (GO FIGURE!) items, as well as some quirky fare such as books on how to look great naked and snarky post-it notes to grace your boss' desk.
I bought my favorite horseshoe necklace here, which has certainly been good luck for me. It's also great when you're in desperate need for a present for your mom or your best friend or someone at work you barely know. They've got it all!
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I live around the corner and I can't walk in there without buying something...so now I walk down the opposite end of the street! Sorry Handmade, you're making me bankrupt.
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I scoped out this place today on my day off...and this place was not that exciting...the store had music but I felt like I was in a library...the staff would'nt even talk to you...maybe they were just tired...but if you want your business to boom you definitely need excellent customer service...It's a cross between a wacko and uncle jer's combined..so many little cute things to look at..only bought a vietnamese handcrafted minnie coin purse for $7.50...not worth the drive
Best birthday stuff, ever! I managed to find some of the most adorable things. I bought a hilarious birthday card, a ring, hair pins, and a couple other things while I managed to stay away from pricey items. Wonderful place to look at prints, if you'd like something "different".
This is definitely a happy place of my own.
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Handmade Galleries is the ultimate place to buy original, authentic, cool works of art. From a $1.99 Anime inspired gizmo to a $400 artisan work, it is all here.
My biggest problem shopping at Handmade Galleries is that at some point the store must close, the great friendly staff needs to leave, yet I want to stay there and keep shopping! I am not the only one who has completely lost track of time in this wonderful store, envisioning great gifts for friends or room transformations for me. A skull t-shirt for kids, a whimsical handpainted sun for my livingroom wall, a magnet showing a cat in a nun's habit... do you blame me for never wanting to leave.
Like casinos, Handmade Galleries doesn't hang clocks on the walls. Hmmm, perhaps this is part of their master plan to keep me shopping in there w/ no track of time.
For trendspotting, this is the place to go. To discover the next big thing, Handmade has it.
Plus the people that work there are amazingly friendly without ever being pushy. It's like you just walked into a friend's house and you feel comfortable and at home the minute you get there.
I wish I could give 6 stars.
Kudos to everyone there for filling my life, my home, and my friends' lives with the coolest gifts imaginable.
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This place is awesome! I love that there are no salespeople to bug you here and that there are price tags on everything! The only thing is, most of the stuff I wanted to look at were in locked cases. Oh well...
They have a lot of rockin' accessories (I'm an accessory FREAK) that you won't find just ANYWHERE. It's a great place to find gifts of any kind too. Check it out! It's fun! Lots to look at!
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Really cute, creative store with an ecletic mix of things. Good place to find a unique gift for someone.
The exterior and interior design of the store is really cool too.
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This place rocks if you like funky one of a kind handmade stuff.
The room is divided into 5x5 "booths" showcasing the handicrafts of individual artists. Some of the merch is of the way over the top nic-nack variety, useless to me but something your mom would like. They have lots of cool handmade soaps, lotions, potions and candles.
I LOVE the cool ass tee-shirt booth! Limited run silk screens that make my Gama-Go stuff look tame. I already forgot the name of the artist but next week I'm going back and buying the Prozac Happy Pill Tee!!!!!
I'm still waiting for my NOT Normal, YES Normal tee....maybe I can wear it while I shop @ Handmade!
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This is my without fail, I will for certain find something for everyone on my list, holiday, bday, I love you day or just about anything that rhymes with AY destinations!
Talk about variety!
From Day of the Dead collectibles to rockin' baby t-shirts to handmade jewelry to paper Mache picture frames; this is NOT your YMCA craft fair. Everything is unique, cool and fairly priced and I can't believe I'm giving away my secret store, but hey, if you get one smile out of a gift you bought for someone here, it'll be well worth it to me!
Have fun and happy shoppin!
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People, here is the absolute best shopping Los Angeles has to offer. I couldn't pick a catorgory because this store has a little bit of everything, something for everyone. So cool. I could go shopping here with any member of my family and we'd all be happy. The latest fashion accesories, collectible art, vintage clothing, and some of the hottest jewelry I've ever seen. The list keeps going. My best friend got married last month and I couldn't have gotten a better or unique gift anywhere else. Handmade Galleries is by far my FAVORITE PLACE TO SHOP!
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i can't remember walking into this store and NOT buying anything.
during my ucla grad school glory days, i'd take the 761 down to campus from ventura/van nuys and i'd have to force myself to stay away from the store.
two of my favorite purchases from there:
a cheap ass ring that has animal from the muppets on it
a mini spiral notebook with post it notes of different sizes, covered in a retro photo of a sultry chinese woman in a chi pau (sp?)
oh, and you get a cute little hard candy with your purchase
metered parking is abundant in the multi level public lot directly behind the store (enter off the street one block west of van nuys).
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Need a gift - come here. And if you don't need a gift but want to take pleasure in artistic treasures - come here. Crafty people's creations are sold at this store and its sectioned off by artist. Art for your walls - t-shirts - stationary - purses - jewelry - flasks - clothing - decorations - occasion cards - this place rocks.
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stupid DUH moment of the day: I burst out to my friend, "look, everything is HAND MADE here!"
the store is neatly organized into themed booths like mini-shrines to each artist, something I appreciate because stores like Loehmann's and TJ Maxx where everything is jumbled up into one incoherent mess makes me scream and break out in hives.
it's unlikely that you'll find two items that look exactly alike, since everything is (wait...) hand made. the ceramic mermaid soapdish for example - all the boobies were different sizes! :D
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Ugh I love this store. It's the best place to go when you feel like buying a bunch of random crap. They have realllllly pretty jewelry. The candy they put in your shopping bag is really good too lmfao.
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