Shelves of watercolor paints, wool roving, leather journals, fountain pens, and weaving supplies line the walls of Estero Bay Art and Craft’s new Morro Bay home. Around every corner is an invitation to make something—whether that’s a watercolor painting, a hand-bound journal, a felted sculpture, or a woven basket.
For owner Hilary Soldati, that’s exactly the point.
“They relax, they feel joy, they feel connected,” Soldati said of customers who walk through the door. “For many people, being creative and artistic, it’s their spirituality, it’s their therapy, it’s their religion, it’s their meditation.
“It touches them so deeply, and you feel that almost instantaneously.”
Now, after less than a year in business, Estero Bay Art and Craft has expanded from its Harbor Street location into a larger space on Morro Bay Boulevard, with an official ribbon-cutting celebration planned for June 24.
The shop’s move marks a new chapter for a business that grew from Soldati’s lifelong relationship with making things by hand.
Raised in New Hampshire, Soldati grew up surrounded by artists and craftspeople. Her mother was a potter who worked from a studio in the family’s basement, and creativity was woven into everyday life.
“She sort of lived her life through her hands,” Soldati said of her mother. “She was always making and doing and building things, and I think that instilled in me that that’s how you interact with your environment.”
That upbringing, combined with years in Waldorf education and a deep appreciation for traditional craft, helped shape her vision for the store.
Soldati first opened Estero Bay Art and Craft in August 2025 in a much smaller location on Harbor Street near the post office. The space quickly developed a loyal following among artists, crafters, and curious beginners looking to try something new.
As the community grew, an opportunity emerged to move into a larger storefront on Morro Bay Boulevard.
The new space allows Soldati to expand both the retail side of the business and the workshop programming that has become central to the shop’s identity.
Unlike a traditional art supply store focused primarily on fine arts, Estero Bay Art and Craft embraces a wide range of creative practices. Customers can find supplies for watercolor painting and illustration alongside materials for weaving, knitting, embroidery, needle felting, basketry, wood carving, natural dyeing, and bookbinding.
The shop also carries specialty items that are difficult to find elsewhere on the Central Coast, including watercolors from San Francisco-based Case for Making, handmade leather journals by local artist Feben Teffera of Fabyco, Japanese sashiko, needle felting supplies, and an extensive selection of fountain pens, inks, and art papers.
“I try to be as inclusive as possible,” Soldati said.
That same philosophy extends to the classes offered through the shop at its Harbor Street location. Workshops range from watercolor and basketry to broom making, indigo dyeing, herbal medicine, and fiber arts. Upcoming classes include a whittling workshop for kids on June 24 and an introduction to block printing on June 25.
For Soldati, the goal isn’t simply teaching people a new skill. It’s creating opportunities for connection in a world that often feels increasingly disconnected.
“I’m wanting to provide space and materials and inspiration to help people remedy some of those challenges of modern living,” she said. “I really believe that working with your hands, creating, being creative, and being engaged with your hands and your body in that way is grounding.”
Soldati said the response from residents throughout Morro Bay, Los Osos, Cayucos, and Cambria has exceeded her expectations. Beyond classes, she hopes to expand the shop’s role as a gathering space through community craft nights, artist meetups, game nights, sing-alongs, and collaborative art projects.
The original Harbor Street location remains home to workshop space and a large patio that hosts children’s programs and outdoor events. Soldati envisions it becoming even more of a community hub in the future.
Estero Bay Art and Craft’s ribbon-cutting celebration is scheduled for June 24, though the shop is already open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 315 Morro Bay Boulevard. Explore more at esterobayartandcraft.com or by following on Instagram @esterobayartandcraft.
Fast fact
• San Luis Obispo Friends of the Library will host its Summer Book Sale from June 25 to 27 in the Community Room of the San Luis Obispo Public Library. More than 7,500 books, along with CDs and puzzles, will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting library programs, services, and collections. The sale is open to the public beginning at noon on June 25, while Friends of the Library members receive early access from 9 a.m. to noon. Books are priced at $1.50 per inch on June 25 and 26, with special bag and box pricing available on June 27. ∆
Reach Staff Writer Chloë Hodge at chodge@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Winning Images 2026.
