The Best Places to Shop for Craft and Journalling Supplies in Sydney
These are a journalling experts favourite spots in the city to stock up on craft supplies — from paper troves to sticker havens.
Somewhere between the sourdough era and the crochet renaissance, journalling staged its own comeback. Junk journals, washi tape, sticker trades, actual letters sent through actual post — the analogue crafts are back, and Sydney's independent shops are quietly doing the heavy lifting behind the revival. Few people know that scene better than Elle Judge.
The Sydney-based founder of stationery and journaling brand Shell Flower spent more than a decade in the music industry — working across touring, PR and artist management with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Mumford & Sons and Calvin Harris — before rediscovering her teenage junk journal in 2024 and turning that nostalgic spark into a brand of trinket-inspired stickers and washi tape with a distinct riot grrrl edge. So we asked her where she actually shops.
Elle Judge of Shell Flower
Here are Elle's picks of the best places in Sydney to stock up on craft and journalling supplies — from paper troves to sticker havens.
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Ariel Books
"One of my favourite places to waste time in Paddington, Ariel has one of the best curations of art and photography books around — you can spend hours just flipping through pages upon pages of inspiration here. They stock a huge amount of beautiful stationery too. From the go-to Leuchtturm journals to letter-writing sets and a playful curation of stickers and papers, it's hard to leave empty-handed."
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Pulp Creative Paper
"A little further afield in the Northern Beaches, this Balgowlah store is a treasure trove of papers. Perfect for those of us who still love slow mornings spent crafting or writing snail mail, there's always something among the colourful shelves of Pulp Creative Paper that will spark creativity. You may not know exactly what you want when you wander in, but you'll most certainly wander out with at least a few new hobbies you weren't expecting to begin."
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Made590
"Maybe I'm a little biased here, as they're one of my stockists for Shell Flower, but Made590 plays an integral part in the journalling community. There's more than meets the eye inside Newtown's 'big pink shop' known for its size-inclusive fashion. Filled to the brim with stickers, Made590 is now the go-to spot for its monthly Journal Time journalling workshops — you can catch me there hosting in September."
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Near & Far
"Like stepping into someone's home, Near & Far — while minimalist in its design — is full of unique treasures. It's easy to get lost looking through the Darlinghurst shop's postcard selection, each one a snapshot from the owners' travels, and to fill up your basket with a thoughtful curation of beautiful stationery and everyday office objects with a strong sense of design."
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Date Night Studio
"While a super-cool florist first and foremost, Date Night always has the most delightful curation of indie brands, perfect for a little treat. From its beautiful own-brand candles to bag charms, there's always more than just colour-combo inspiration to find at the Marrickville studio. I never leave empty-handed."
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Glass Etc
"You may be tempted to walk past this colourful shop in Surry Hills, worried about being accident-prone around its contents — but do not skip it. Filled with shelves of rainbow, colour-coordinated glass objects, Glass Etc feels part museum, part wonderland. There's always something unique and beautiful to discover among the vintage treasures here."
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Voluptuary
"As a casual potter myself, it would be wrong of me to neglect my love of slow-made ceramics and not urge you to visit the studio-shop of Emma Bartik, the owner of Voluptuary. Her pieces — ranging from mugs to vases and even wall-hung noses (you read that correctly) — blur the lines between sculptural and functional objects, and she doesn't shy away from the trickier-to-perfect iridescent glazes and lustres, making each piece a mini work of art. She also curates a yearly themed exhibition, showcasing amazing artists from all over Sydney."
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