A trip to my local Michael's craft store

UPDATE: You can now also shop for a smaller but very nice assortment of the Martha Stewart Craft Line at Walmart, as well as many independent craft stores. The tools are the same, but their handle colors are green at Walmart, as opposed to the white handles found at Michael's. I have added a few photos from the trip I went on to Walmart a few weeks ago to launch our new Celebrate line.

After my trip to the DMV last week, I decided to pop into the nearby Michael’s crafts store in Brewster, NY.  I wanted to see how the Martha Stewart Craft line was looking and to inquire how it was selling.  I certainly wasn’t disappointed.  The display was neat and tidy, as was the entire store and Jeanne, the Assistant Manager, informed me that sales were brisk.  My company launched this beautiful and functional line at Michael’s in May of 2007 and it is indeed, popular.  It includes all sorts of materials for use in paper crafting and scrap booking.  There are lovely paper designs, beautiful embellishments, and practically designed tools.  There are also binders and storage systems to help keep everything organized.  And I love the fun kits to help make your parties and other occasions memorable and festive.  I hope you can visit a Michael’s and check it out.

From Walmart

   

From Michael's

The entire aisle is very attractive. I love this display.

so many shades of shimmering glitter

beautiful labels in many shapes and sizes

This is Carmen, the lead sales associate in the general crafts department. She has a 10 year old daughter, who used this adorable Monkey Party in a Box for her last birthday. It was a hit!

all sorts of craft glues

many kinds of practical crafting tools

very cute alphabet flash cards

a vast palette of pens

party kits

archival boxes

ribbons galore

more useful 'occasions' kits

big and beautiful archival albums

rows and rows of useful tags, labels, and beautiful embellishments

Look at this gorgeous paper flower you can make from a kit, of course!

   

Russ & Daughters, one of my favorites!
Edible flowers in my garden
Sharkey had a little accident
A fun trip to the DMV
Haircut time for the donkeys!

Comments

[Jeffrey]

Martha! I DO love your crafts line!! its SUPURB!! I hope to see new products introduced because they always keep me creating! (Especially the food storage boxes!)
I do hope you have more storage solutions as well! How about some storage for your Living magazines? :-) I have EVERY issue from #1 to present and would like a "Martha" way for storage, to coordinate with the ribbon holders I have in my craft room from your line! Thanks! Hope your summer is going well!!

[josie]

Martha -
I have to say that must be the most well stocked Michael's I have ever seen. Every time I visit my Michael's store your section is always picked over. I guess that's because your stuff is so popular. I think I need to fly to NY to visit that store instead!!

Love your blog, I check daily.

I even used one of your links on my blog earlier in the week. It was about eggs and how I paid $6 for 18 of them recently at my local supermarket. I blogged about how I needed to raise my own like you do. Someday....

[Claudine]

michael's must have seen you coming and spruced up the row. My local store has never looked that organized or that full. But the glitter shelf looks like my house. I think I have every color, it is the best glitter out there! We want some new craft items too....

[Paul]

Love the crafts! We have purchased lots of them over the months and we are looking forward to the new items for the upcoming holidays.
Lianne & Paul

[MMC in San Diego]

Martha, your line of glitters are the BEST!
Lovely fine texture and wonderful subtle colors.

[Karen]

It has been forever since I have been in Michael's. I will have to go check it out. I really loved the line of cook ware you had at K-mart several years back when I was needing new pots and pans. They have been the better than others I have paid twice as much for.

[busymama]

*sigh* if only I had the $$...the wonderful things I could do! What a fabulous craft line!

blessings,
Mary

[Patia]

Now if only you could craft the time for me to play with all this yummy stuff!

[stephanie]

Martha - a year ago we bought one of your archival albums with extra acid-free inserts. Since then we've been looking for more inserts. Our local Michaels has been out of them since last August - and you can't buy them online. Any ideas how we can get them? Did you stop making them?

[Jennifer Fancher]

Hi Martha- Very Pretty! Thanks for showing your displays of stuff. Am glad to know about it.
You do sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
much, can't believe it.
(changing the subject, omit from this article please~ am praying for you to be a grandmother, Lord willing. : ) Saw Alexis on Oprah and wish the best for your family. Jen

[Senja]

Martha, I am a huge fan of yours from Sweden. :) How about you coming to Sweden to conquer the market here?

Your craft-line is absolutely amazing. I also love your online shop.

[tA Carbone]

Wow Martha none of our Michael's looks like this. We have 3 of them one in Wayne, the other in Clifton and one in Paramus and none have it displayed like this

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
What a line---as you say, beautiful and practical. Unfortunately, we do not have a Michael's in our area. Thanks for the tour.
Kathy

[suemare]

I always purchase products in your name. I inherited a home this yr. and I decorated it all in your line.
All decorated from the paint on the walls to my new "Martha" furniture.

[Maureen]

Your craft supplies are simply the best. We also have Michael's here in Canada and it's one of my favorite places to go to either to shop or simply just to browse.

[Annie]

As always, the products that bear your name share your simple, yet functional and beautiful aesthetic. What I particularly like about this line is that it offers individual items for the crafter with more solid ideas, and then the kits allow even those who are intimidated by the notion of crafting to have some guidance and feel what an amazing experience it is to make something unique with your own two hands. Kudos to you and your team for designing such a wonderful, functional, and accessible line. Too bad Brooklyn, NY doesn't have a Michael's in sight. I'd love to see the whole line in person and pick up some supplies.

Also, I must say that I love how you photograph vignettes of your day. What interests you and catches your eye demonstrates how creative people observe and are affected by the world around them. Thank you so much for sharing your observations with us.

You rock, Martha. Seriously.

[Ann]

Hi Martha - what a great display in Michael's. I wish our store here in South Jersey looked like that. Your products are great, good quality and priced right. When are you going to start a Holistic pet food brand?

[Paula E O'Brien]

Martha, I stopped by my local Michael's over the weekend. I was excited about seeing your craft line. I wanted to create my own Thank You cards and Sympathy cards. I found your section right in the front of the store, however the display is nothing like your photos in the blog. I hope all Michael's will expand on the Martha Stewart line. I thank you for the inspiration you have provided and all the wonderful teachings. I credit you for my renewed interest in sewing and various other creative endeavors. Best Wishes.

[Jeff]

Hello Martha!

I like these "field trips" of yours! With your busy schedule, I don't know how you do it, but I love the photos and comments! Fun! I was at my local Michael's the other day as well. Your display was, just like in Brewster, neat and tidy (in St. Petersburg, Florida, by the way). I wasn't as familiar with your craft supplies as I am your Macy's and Kmart lines, but now I certainly am! I'm glad you took a photo of the ABC cards. They are SO cute, and when I saw them, I grabbed them. I'm going to take a few of the letters (J and R for my initials, as a start), and have them framed for my bedrooom. As I am a teacher, I'm going to get another set, laminate them and put them in my classroom. Thanks once again for the great products!!!!

[T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types]

These are great products. It looks like the store is much better stocked than my store in Levittown. I'm envious.

[Tisha]

I *love* the Martha dept at my Michaels. I can spend HOURS looking and dreaming of all the crafts. I want to buy one of everything!

We used four of your Monkey Party in a Box items for my daughter's second birthday this past weekend. Everyone commented on the decor, especially the invites and adorable monkey-in-a-party-hat cupcake picks!

Thanks for making our world a bit sweeter, a bit more beautiful.

[Kate]

Always the best supplies! Love everything!

[Sally]

My Michael's, in New Jersey, has a great Martha isle. Sometimes it's a little messy, but I usually get there later in the day, after a lot of people have been sifting through it!! I love all these crafting supplies but, for me, only for special occasions. What about sewing crafts? Patterns and notions for clothing. You're a smart and practical dresser. I'll bet you could come up with a great line of patterns for everyday clothing with loads of wonderful little touches to make them special. People would be lining up just to get your buttons. When the economy starts to pinch, we all still need to get dressed everyday!!

[Angie D from Ohio]

Yikes... I wish my Michael's store was as stock as the one you visited. I love your glitter and your ribbon and your seasonal items. Every product I have used is far superior to other brands.

[lori]

The Brewster store is always clean and well stocked. I live in the area and frequent it often.