This Curated Illinois Art Supply Shop Stocks Luxe Pens, Handmade Watercolors, And Notebooks Few Stores Carry

Somewhere in Illinois, you can buy watercolors made by hand in Assisi, Italy, with local honey and rosemary oil in the recipe. One palette was even designed around the colors of the Midwestern prairie.

That alone got my attention. Then I learned the shop is named after a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and I was fully hooked.

The shelves hold fountain pens, dip pens, French stationery, and notebooks that people order from states away. I like how every item feels chosen, not just stocked.

Nothing here looks like it fell off a warehouse pallet.

I believe small tools can make ordinary days feel special. A good pen turns a grocery list into a tiny ritual.

A beautiful sketchbook makes you want to fill it. So what happens when a whole shop is built around that idea?

A Small Shop With A Big Love For Beautiful Tools

Martha Mae: Art Supplies & Beautiful Things calls its Chicago home the Martha Mae Outpost. It’s an art supply shop with a very clear point of view.

The idea is simple but charming. Everyday objects should be useful and lovely at the same time.

You’ll find tools for writing, drawing, painting, and ceramics here. There are also handsome pieces for the home and office desk.

The shop describes its stock as thoughtfully crafted small luxuries. Those are the things that make life and work a little more pleasant.

That phrase fits well. Nobody needs a hand-forged pair of scissors, yet plenty of people want one badly.

Martha Mae has built a strong reputation for curation. The space is known for feeling calm, tidy, and carefully arranged.

It’s not a giant warehouse of paint tubes and poster board. Think of it more like a well-edited treasure box for makers.

Artists, writers, and gift hunters all have reasons to stop by. Even folks who just love pretty objects can spend happy time browsing.

And yes, it’s right here in Illinois. That makes it an easy creative outing for anyone near the city.

An Artist Founder And A Spaniel Named Martha

Every good shop has an origin story, and this one includes a dog. Founder Jean Cate named the business after her beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Martha.

Honestly, that might be the sweetest naming choice in Chicago retail. Martha has long been a quiet celebrity among shoppers.

She’s been spotted resting in her little basket over the years. Fans of the shop still mention her with real affection.

Jean Cate studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her own art practice shaped the store from the beginning.

She started Martha Mae to share tools and habits she discovered while making art. She also wanted to share her pursuit of a beautiful life.

That personal angle shows in the stock. Items feel picked by someone who actually uses them.

Cate believes small pleasures can lift your mood in real ways. Writing with a softly scented ink is one example she points to.

It sounds tiny, but that’s the whole charm. The shop treats little daily moments as worth the effort.

Few stores in Illinois begin with that kind of heart. Fewer still name it after a spaniel.

Honey, Rosemary, And Watercolors Made In Assisi

Paint with honey in it? That’s exactly what A.

Gallo watercolors offer, and Martha Mae proudly carries them.

These colors are made by hand in Assisi, Italy. The maker follows a traditional recipe built on raw pigments and gum arabic.

Local honey and rosemary essential oil round out the formula. It reads more like an old family recipe than an art product.

Here’s the part Illinois folks will love most. Martha Mae worked with A.

Gallo on a custom set called The Prairie Palette.

Its colors take inspiration from the Midwestern prairie. Think of grasses, wildflowers, and big open skies captured in little pans.

That collaboration gives the shop something truly its own. You won’t find this palette lining shelves at a chain store.

Beyond A. Gallo, the store chooses paints, stones, and other watercolor supplies for quality.

Gouache and drawing supplies have also earned praise here.

Brushes deserve a mention too. The shop has a reputation for fine options, including goat hair brushes for painters.

A watercolor fan could easily lose track of time in this corner. Your wallet might want a gentle warning first.

Fountain Pens Worth Slowing Down For

Some pens are just for signing receipts. The pens at Martha Mae are for people who actually enjoy the act of writing.

The selection covers fountain pens and dip pens. You’ll also see rollerballs plus mechanical and drafting pencils.

Brand names here carry real weight with pen lovers. Kaweco, Caran d’Ache, Ballograf, and Fisher Space Pen are all part of the lineup.

Blackwing pencils have shown up too. So have French and Japanese pens that feel special in the hand.

Paper matters just as much as ink. Martha Mae carries stationery from G.

Lalo, a French company with a history of supplying royal courts.

Writing a thank-you note on royal-court paper feels like a fun upgrade. Your aunt will definitely notice.

The pen area isn’t massive, so don’t expect endless rows. It’s a tight, edited collection rather than a huge catalog.

That focus makes shopping easier for many people. You see the good stuff without digging through clutter.

If someone in your family journals daily, this is a smart gift stop. A fine pen can last for years with care.

Notebooks People Order From Other States

A shopper all the way down in Atlanta orders from this Illinois store. Why?

It’s one of the few places carrying a favorite notebook.

That says plenty about the paper goods here. Martha Mae leans into notebooks and sketchpads with exquisite design.

One standout is a gorgeous Korean notebook made for travel and big ideas. It’s the kind of find most big-box stores skip.

Sketchbook fans have options as well. Arches, a name artists trust, is part of the paper story.

Every brand is picked for careful design and sourcing. Many products come in reusable, recycled, or refillable formats.

That’s a nice bonus for anyone trying to waste less. A refillable notebook cover just keeps going.

Online orders get special attention too. The shop has a reputation for lovely packaging and thoughtful wrapping touches.

Little extras like that make a purchase feel personal. It’s the opposite of a crushed box on the porch.

Notebooks also make easy, low-key gifts. A grandparent could pick one for a grandkid who loves to doodle.

Scissors, Brushes, And Other Tiny Luxuries

Hand-forged scissors from Japan might sound like overkill. Then you hold a pair, and suddenly regular scissors feel a bit sad.

Martha Mae has long carried handmade scissors and brushes. They’re the sort of tools that feel balanced and solid.

Desk accessories fill out the collection nicely. A Midori cutter, for example, has been spotted here at a pleasant price.

Sharpener fans get care too. The team once tracked down replacement blades for a Pollux sharpener.

That kind of help is part of the appeal. Staff here know their products and enjoy explaining them.

Ceramics belong in the mix as well. The shop sees them as part of a creative, beautiful daily life.

Not everything carries a splurge price. Smaller desk items and knickknacks offer more affordable ways to bring something home.

That’s handy for budget-minded browsers. You can pick one small treat and still leave happy.

Gift cards are another easy option. They let your artsy friend choose their own perfect tool.

Calm, Tidy, And Almost Like A Spa For Pencils

Clutter has no home here. The shop is known for a clean, minimalist style that almost feels Zen.

Items sit with breathing room around them. Many pieces rest on low desks, laid out just so.

That calm look makes browsing feel relaxing. Some folks even describe the place as a spa for the soul.

The space is small, so keep expectations right. You’ll find a focused selection rather than every possible art supply.

Kid crafts aren’t really the goal. Finger paints and basic acrylics are better found at bigger stores.

Martha Mae suits a different crowd. Adult artists, writers, and lovers of fine tools will feel right at home.

Curious families can still enjoy it. Older kids who sketch might love seeing professional tools up close.

Gift shoppers benefit most from the friendly staff. They help with vague ideas and show several options patiently.

Window shopping is welcome too. Admiring well-made objects costs nothing at all.

Coffee, Gifts, And A Shared Space On Grand Avenue

Today, the Outpost shares a roof with The Center of Order and Experimentation. It’s a welcoming spot for coffee, gifts, and connection.

You’ll find it at 1727 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60622. That puts it in the lively West Town neighborhood.

The shared setup changes the experience a bit. You can grab a drink and browse art tools in one stop.

Fans of the current space love the drinks there. Work by other artists also appears around the location.

The Martha Mae collection at the Outpost is smaller than the full lineup. The online shop holds the wider range.

A clever trick helps with that. Order online, then pick up in person on Grand Avenue.

Pickup has a reputation for being quick and easy. Some pickups even come with a little stationery bonus.

West Town makes a fun add-on to any city day. Pair your stop with a neighborhood stroll.

It’s a cozy Illinois outing for creative types. Coffee and fountain pens make a fine team.

Plan Your Visit, Then Treat Yourself A Little

Good news for early birds. The Outpost opens at 8 AM every single day of the week.

Doors close at 5 PM, Sunday through Saturday. That makes weekend trips into Chicago simple to plan.

Prices lean toward the high end, and that’s no secret. These tools are built to be treasured, not tossed.

Still, nothing here feels like a gimmick. Quality and design drive the price tags.

Small accessories keep things friendlier for tighter budgets. Browsing is free, and inspiration comes along at no charge.

Know what you want before a big splurge? Checking the online shop first can save time.

Online pickup works well for specific items. The full range of Martha Mae products lives there.

So is Martha Mae: Art Supplies & Beautiful Things worth the trip? For anyone who loves writing or painting, I think so.

It celebrates the small joys of making things by hand. And honestly, the Prairie Palette alone feels very Illinois.

Bring a friend who sketches. You might both leave with something lovely.