Best of Arts and Craft Stores

Finding an Arts and Crafts store in Vienna is like trying to find a Billa cashier who can actually smile.   UNLIKELY!

After a year here and no Chenille stems or wood blocks I found Mastnak and got my glitter on!   Until recently I couldn't remember the name of the store, I just programmed in Neubaugasse 31 into my handy dandy GPS and off I would go.

You walk in downstairs and it looks like a cheesy gift store with the requisite "I'm not old, I'm experienced" trucker hat and edible underwear.   Like I said, cheeeesy.  

But walk up the winding staircase and click your heels in delight.   What shoes do for some women, glitter glue does for me.   Rocket ships go off, bells ring in my head, flowers float by and euphoria sets in.   I'm not going to lie, a gorgeous pair of Louboutins thrill me as much as the next girl, but rows and rows of acrylic paint, finger paints, textile paints bring me lasting happiness.    The possibilities are endless and the imagination can take flight.

Like my favorite bookstore, Shakespeare & Co in Paris, there is no order and you can find the most beautiful beads tucked in between a cardboard birdhouse and wood letters.   With crafts as it is with life, the unexpected turns are often the ones that delight us.   Creation is rarely the result of order.  

However, if you have one kid hanging off your leg and wiping the snot of the other one, then take it easy on yourself and just click on http://at.opitec.com/opitec-web/st/Home or http://winkler.turbo.at/shop_at/index.php.

Use babblefish to translate the page and off you go.   It's easy, there is tremendous choice and comes right to your door.

Go create!
Smiles,
Ruchika

Mastnak
Neubaugasse 31
1070 Vienna
Ph.  01-523 27 58
Mo - Fr 8:30 - 18:30
Sa 8:30 - 17:00

Winkler Schulbedarf
http://winkler.turbo.at/shop_at/index.php

Opitec Hobbyfix
http://at.opitec.com/opitec-web/st/Home