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Tom Thumb Hobby & Crafts
Categories: Shopping Arts & Crafts Shopping Hobby Shops Arts & Crafts, Hobby Shops [Edit]
1026 Davis St(between Maple Ave & Oak Ave)
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 869-9575
- Nearest Transit:
-
Davis (Purple Line)
Dempster (Purple Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 6 pm
Sat 10 am - 5 pm
Sun 1 pm - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
24 reviews for Tom Thumb Hobby & Crafts
Review Highlights
"Everyone is really friendly and willing to help."
(in 3 reviews)
"Things are kind of hard to find, but the staff are eager to..."
(in 2 reviews)
"This store has a great selection of crafts and art supplies."
(in 8 reviews)
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24 reviews in English
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Review from Anne S.
11/4/2010
Everyone in the store was so friendly and helpful! They seem to really enjoy their jobs, and they are genuinely happy people. This makes it easier to spend more time and money in the store :)
There is so much stuff for dollhouses. We bought my MIL a sheet of hardwood flooring for her dollhouse. They had anything and everything you could want to improve your mini house.
They had tons of train parts, which was the reason for our trip to the store. They had track, controllers, and trains.
They also had a good selection of scrapbooking stickers (and I assume other things, but I only looked at the stickers).
Things are kind of hard to find, but the staff are eager to help you find what you're looking for! -
Review from Mark P.
Evanston, IL
11/14/2011
Independent place, not chain. It is not very fancy place but they have whole sections with beads, toy trains, other craft models and even items needed for rocketry projects. Quite a lot of selection to launch your own rockets.
It is actually pretty big so you could spend here a few hours, just wondering around. -
Review from Sara P.
7/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
This store has a great selection of crafts and art supplies. Plus, it has a lot of cool stuff to just look at if you are a creative person. I agree with other reviews, it does have a family-run feel to it--in a good way!
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Review from Rachel S.
Champaign, IL
4/23/2011
I love this store. It's got a lot of character and has a real "family" feel. It's kind of got a retro feeling. The employees are really friendly. I love the selections of papers and other craft materials. The place is rather disorganized and you have to hunt for treasures at times. But that adds to the character of the place.
The only thing I don't like is that the beads, paper punches and some of the other things are chained off to customers and you have to ask an employee to help you get anything. It's frustrating and time consuming.
The prices, for the most part, are very reasonable. Some of the things don't have prices and you have to ask. But overall I really like this place. -
Review from Nancy H.
Chicago, IL
4/19/2011
Wow, this was almost like stepping into a craft/hobby time machine... reminded me a little of the "dime store" in the little town near where I grew up, only bigger and more expensive. I like poking around in places like this but I just can't justify 5 stars, for a couple reasons: old/expensive stock and just chaotically full of "stuff." I don't mind digging for treasures, if it saves me money, but the place seriously looks like it needs to close for a month and get organized, esp. the area by the front door. In fact, it looks like stuff is getting damaged there, it's so badly stored. Yikes!
I went in for embroidery floss, after trying the Clark St. Michaels and finding all but two of the colors on my list, and found exactly what I needed, although at a higher price ($.45 per skein compared to Michaels at $.35). However, it's kind of ridiculous, the amount of stock that looks like it's been there for the last decade.
My son and I are were also checking out the dollhouse/miniatures stuff - he's six and can be a wild one, but he was behaving - staff person had to come scold him for nothing. ???
So, yeah... might be back, as there's a lot of good stuff in there, but not sure how often... -
Review from Drennen M.
Chicago, IL
5/22/2007
This is the locally-owned (and much closer, for Evanston residents) alternative to Michael's, and then some. Scrapbook bits, models, rockets, arts&crafts, painting, electronic parts, dollhouse supplies, a very long case of beads, and a whole lot of other random stuff line the shelves and the walls and the floor and probably the ceiling. Colleen is right; the place is jam packed.
The better to browse with, my dear.Listed in: Shopping in the Suburbs.
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Review from Kelsey M.
Evanston, IL
9/10/2010
What a great store! If you enjoy crafts, at all, you need to come here. They have EVERYTHING! Whenever I suddenly have the urge to try a new craft, be it clay, shrinky dinks, wood crafts, friendly plastic, beading, or embroidery, I go to Tom Thumb.
The one downside is it can be a bit hard to navigate because there is so much stock. But just ask one of the staff and they'll show you where to go. They are very friendly and helpful. -
Review from E. W.
Evanston, IL
8/6/2008
In general I agree with the other reviewers. My two cents:
Pros:
*The folks that work here are really nice! If I'm in the area, I'll stop in just to chat. The staff is also knowledgeable and helpful.
*This is a great place to go if you want to start a new project or try a new craft. The staff not only helped me pick out the tools/materials I needed, but patiently talked me through the steps. Thanks to their help, my first attempts to make a pair of earrings and repair an antique chair were surprisingly painless.
*Basically, Tom Thumb offers excellent customer service in a variety of different meanings of the term.
Cons:
*Even the staff has trouble finding stuff in this store. While it can be fun to browse -- almost like being at a garage sale or antiques shop where you never know what you're going to find -- it's nearly impossible to just run in and pick up an item.
*Also, if you're a serious hobbyist, Tom Thumb is unlikely to have much to offer you. I collect dollhouse miniatures, and the variety and quality of the selection may be fine for a kid's plaything, but there are no artisan items to interest an adult collector. I find the prices a little high, too, but not unreasonably so.
In conclusion, if you're an arts and crafts dabbler, need some guidance on a new project, or value service, Tom Thumb is the place to go.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Anderly D.
Evanston, IL
10/29/2010
I recently went to Tom Thumb to purchase items for a Halloween costume, and I was pleasantly surprised by how awesome this place is. It really does have everything. The staff was very helpful and informative, and dug stuff out of the attic for me when I needed extra supplies. Prices were decent, nothing special, but not overpriced either. I wish I'd had a place like this around during my childhood.
The only downside is that since there is SO much stuff it feels a little cluttered, but it won't stop me from going back for all of my crafting needs! -
Review from Belinda S.
Irvine, CA
8/14/2009
I went in looking for cake supplies and they did not have a lot of items in stock! Most of the items are Wilton so they don't have many specialty items. I ended up buying silver dragees in a small tube which was less than a buck.
They have tons of other craft stuff like miniature furniture for dollhouses, etc. -
Review from Jenna C.
Chicago, IL
7/18/2007
Like the other posters, I really do want to like this place. Everyone who works here is super-friendly and great. They do have a TON of stuff, it's easy to get lost or pick up a new hobby, so make sure you feed the meter.
PROS:
Cake decorating supplies.
Paints and brushes (Blick is better for canvas)
Modelmaking.
Rockets.
Stamps.
School projects
CONS
Supplies/patterns are minimal for a needlework enthusiast (knitting/crochet/embroidery/etc.)
V. Disappointing yarn selection.
For anything sewing-related (tools, ribbon, needles, etc.), you're better off going to a real fabric store.
Also they close rather early. -
Review from Lois A.
Chicago, IL
2/5/2011
They have some really cool models here that make great gifts for nephews. Really friendly staff. Lots of frames and fun to browse. Parking is easy.
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Review from Kathy K.
Chicago, IL
7/23/2010
I think for what this store tries to do they do a great job. The staff is wonderful, friendly, helpful. If you have trouble finding something they'll help you with it.
The prices are good. I often get beads or jewelry supplies there and any other odd craft items I need.
No, they do not have a huge selection of yarn. They have a good balance of a little of everything at a decent price with knowledgeable staff.
They're everything you'd want in a local store. -
Review from Ngoc H.
Skokie, IL
1/25/2011
This place is a lot of fun. I had to build a car model back in high school and had to go here for a propeller, needless to say, I spent hours in here. Everyone is really friendly and willing to help. You'll find everything you need here in one stop. Meter parking is plentiful right in front.
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Review from Colleen J.
Chicago, IL
5/18/2007
I want to give more stars, but this place needs a little work before that can happen.
It is a large area with many crafty things to peruse and check out. However, everything seems to have been placed at random. For all the stuff they offer, they need more space. Everything is just crammed together with no real order or sense. Good luck tracking down what you want. I had a hell of a time trying to find stencils.
I remember buying some fabric paints and brushes and the prices seemed fair. So, it's worth checking out, but be prepared to roll up your sleeves. -
Review from Allen M.
Chicago, IL
7/24/2007
Yes, this place is a bit of a mess, but it does have just about everything you would need for your crafts and hobby fantasies. For the boys, they have a particularly interesting selection of model cars, airplanes, etc. For the ladies, they have a huge variety of stuff which I don't really get, but I'm sure they're great too. We got some excellent frames for cheap here.
I wanted to give Tom Thumb credit because it really is a throwback in that it feels like a small shop that's been around a long time, and has beautiful quirks that make the experience and environment so much better than the soulless caverns of say a michael's. Seriously, you don't need 1000 different squiggly colored ribbons for your scrapbook. Get like two good ones and be creative - that's the point, right?
Support your local small businesses wherever you can!
ps - save the whales and recycle too... -
Review from angela a.
Evanston, IL
10/29/2011
This is the kind of store that won't exist in a few decades. You need a little something like watercolor paper, or your kids are bored and need something without batteries to amuse themselves, and you go in here and get it. Yes, you can get it cheaper at a chain, yes you can get the perfect thing you want online, but when your kids science fair project needs specialty glue TODAY because its due tomorrow, or you pick up a few thrift store clothes that need a date with some dye, this place is your corner store for crafts and hobbies. You come here to browse for ideas. Staff is knowledgeable and can find anything in this creative hive. And they usually know where to get it if they don't carry it. They have models, dollhouses, cake and candymaking supplies, stuff to make candles, beading, knitting. tie dye, fimo--the list goes on and on. For rainy days, for power outtages or just unplugging your kid from the box, this is a gem. Enjoy this throwback to another time, another age while you can.
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Review from Alicia V.
San Francisco, CA
11/21/2006
I'm generally one to be found perusing art stores in search of inspiration for my next project, whether it be for school or personal enjoyment. A wide selection of supplies are located at this store, if you can find them (it is terribly cluttered). There is a large selection of modeling woods, but if you are an architecture student like I am, you will not find any actual tools (i.e. straightedge, scale). You can however find dollhouse pieces, yarn, metal tubes, sheets, strips, PVC modeling supplies... the list goes on.
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Review from Kate S.
Chicago, IL
3/4/2008
From the outside it looks dingy, and it's in a weird area of town that's kinda out of the centrally-located business area, but once you go inside they have everything you could possibly need. I came here for yarn and thread when I decided I wanted to learn how to knit and take up cross-stitching again. I bought all the necessities here, reasonably priced. Granted I never finished my scarf or my little winter penguin cross-stitch pattern, but when the mood strikes me again and I need more supplies, I'll head over to Tom Thumb.
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Review from Renato P.
Grayslake, IL
6/15/2008
Went to this place for years , but it's been a while since I was last there. Last time I was there there was more of a focus on skateboard stuff , which was different from the previous time. They have never had what I would call a huge selection of any one thing , but did always carry a little of everything. Models , scrapbooking , arts and crafts , rc stuff , knitting crap , they do have a little of everything most people might want for their hobby needs.
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Review from David F.
Glencoe, IL
8/10/2005 2 photos
This store has a fabulous selection for many different interests. My children frequented this store growing up and they always seemed to have just what they were looking for despite their ages and interests at the time. The staff are extremely helpful.
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Review from Dave Y.
11/1/2009
when i went to school here this was one of the places i escape to, and now when i'm in town for whatever reason i'd always end up here...and many times i end up buying a very non sequitur toy. the coolest thing about this place, in addition to their vast storage of everything, is their seeming ability to make vintage model kits appear out of nowhere. they have so many model kits from the early 80s that just materialize every time i go. do they have a big stash of them in the back that they periodically bring out, or do they find them somewhere else? i don't know, but they stuff they have, it's like going thru a time machine. if you tend to comb thru ebay looking for vintage tamiya, etc. model kits, you'll find lots of 'em here
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Review from Michael H.
Evanston, IL
9/14/2010
I love this store. The staff is friendly and helpful. I have always had a good experience while shopping here. They have an amazing stock of most everything you might need for art or hobby or school projects. It reminds me of a dime store (of which there are only a handful in the U.S.) Great place!
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Review from Catherine T.
Evanston, IL
11/1/2010 2 Check-ins Here
this place has everything. it is cluttered and hard to find things, but the staff is very helpful and will find whatever you ask for pronto. prices are very reasonable.
