Swain's

This is my favorite art supply store in LA, well Glendale if you want to get specific. Very helpful friendly and knowledgeable staff. They have a large selection of supplies for arts and crafts including hard to find fabric dyes. They also have a great book selection as well as gift section with educational items for the kids and cool calenders and magnets for grown ups. Be sure to get on their mailing list as they have couple big sales a year when you can go and stock up on 2 for 1 portfolios and prismacolor marker and pencil sets. more

Swains is an okay art store. The main reason I don't shop there regularly is due to the price. However, if you can overlook that factor, it is a great store. It is located in a convenient space (in the Vons mall on Glendale Blvd.), plenty of free parking, and carries a decent amount of art supplies. I especially like their journals and photo albums, as well as their selection of pens, paint materials, paper, and sketch pads. Their rubber stamping selection is pitiful. Swains is more of an ""art"" store rather than a ""crafts"" store. For more reasonble prices, try Joann's or Michael's, both of which have locations in Glendale and Pasadena. Pros: free parking, quality journals, & photo albums Cons: too expensive, poor customer service more

Swain's is a good place to buy select items. They have a great selection of greeting cards/calendars and art books. Their art supplies can sometimes be a little sketchy (no pun intended), especially the art pens/markers. They've all been tested so much, it can be difficult to find a decent one to actually buy. They have a good selection of basic art supplies, but if you're looking for more advanced materials try the ArtStore in Pasadena. The staff here can be helpful and aloof at the same time...odd, yes but true. Price-wise, their craft supplies can be a tad expensive. Pros: the basics, parking Cons: pricey, difficult to get help more