THE SHOP
Bellingham’s newest art store, Art & Happiness, has everything you need to keep the creative juices flowing.
The store is located on James Street, behind Hardware Sales, with free parking available in front. Business hours are 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Since opening in November 2019, the store has supplied local artists with essential materials and tools.
“Immediately, I got the response from the community,” says owner Elli Anderson. “I realized how needed this stuff was…how important.”
THE ATMOSPHERE
Art & Happiness is spacious and bright, perfect for socially distanced shopping. When you walk in you’ll find ribbons, envelopes, paper, and a spinning rack of locally made stickers. Near the register is a selection of locally made cards and prints, plus DIY card-making kits for purchase.
An adjacent room offers painting and scrapbooking supplies, along with a back room where Anderson holds demos and classes, which will resume once COVID-19 restrictions lift.
KEY PEOPLE
Anderson spent eight years working at Stampadoodle, where she learned the ins and outs of the industry. When Stampadoodle closed, she decided to open her own store.
A self-described fairy, Anderson is biologically cheerful. She’s eager to share her knowledge about different tools and supplies — she literally jumped for joy when discussing a product with me.
“My favorite thing is when people come into the shop and say, ‘look at this thing I made,” she says.
Although Anderson is the store’s sole owner, her partner, Taylor, has been a constant support, along with her friends, who regularly volunteer in the store.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND
Art & Happiness stocks everyday crafts, plus practical supplies for your business or home office. You can find high-quality paper for resumes or flyers, for instance, along with envelopes, sealing wax, and pens. (My favorite pen, Le Pen, is available in numerous colors.)
A scrapbook section features rows of fun, colorful papers. You’ll also find calligraphy pens, markers, stamps, ink pads, die cuts, and stencils, along with locally made paper and canvases.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, Anderson releases a new craft kit ($10), which contains everything you need to make two greeting cards. For instructions, customers can watch an online demo video.
Additional classes are available online, like lessons on drawing, making a fairy lantern, and constructing an accordion book.
FAVORITES
Anderson’s favorite item is a jar of iridescent, star-shaped glitter. She also recommends a blending brush, a ubiquitous tool that applies a large amount of ink at once. 2004 James St., Bellingham, 509.860.2919, artandhappiness.net
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