The Makery — Arianna Soloway had a hunch that Burlingtonians would like a secondhand arts and crafts supply store. Creativity runs rampant in this town, and commitment to sustainability runs deep.
But Soloway was wrong: People don’t like it; they love it. So much so that the Makery is expanding and has won a Daysie — all before its one-year anniversary. Tucked in the city’s artsy South End, the Makery is a colorful, carefully curated store offering felt, fabric, paints, patterns, craft kits, sewing notions, yarn, beads, baubles, buttons and books for a fraction of what they’d cost new.
This makers’ mecca offers classes, too: Mini Makers for the 2- to 5-year-old set and a whole slate of workshops for those who are old enough to color within the lines — but who may choose not to!
Artists and crafters who drop off their excess supplies get store credit and the satisfaction of cleaning out, knowing that their bits and bobs will be rehomed and put to good use. Everybody wins. With a little plaster of paris and glossy metallic paint, someone could whip up a pretty fabulous trophy for that.
Other Finalists
- Brainstorm Art Supply
- The Drawing Board
- Must Love Yarn
- Yankee Pride Quilts
This article appears in Seven Daysies 2025.
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