Located on Santa Cruz Avenue, the artistic oasis of Rabbit’s Foot offers dozens of unique opportunities to craft and create. Within only a year of its opening, the crafting store has become a place of gathering for the entire local community. This location is bursting with pure creativity and is, undoubtedly, thriving.
Founded last May, Rabbit’s Foot was created by married couple Li Li and Emma Yi. With a passion for art and a desire to share the importance of family time, the two wanted to open a store for the community. “This space is more than just a shop—it’s a place where you can explore art without fear or pressure,” Yi wrote on their website. “Whether you’re here to make a mess, discover new textures, or simply enjoy a peaceful moment for yourself, this space welcomes you.”
The craft store offers a range of projects, spanning from pottery painting to yarn tufting. These crafts vary in skill level, appealing to beginner and experienced artists alike. “[Rabbit’s Foot] is really for all ages, not just kids,” Li said. “We actually have three or four projects that are only for adults.”
Yi occasionally travels to different Asian countries to find new activities and arts and crafts to bring back to the shop. This allows for a constantly rotating project menu. “We update our projects quarterly,” Li said. “We want this community to do different things and have a different way to explore art. That’s our goal.”
However, Rabbit’s Foot does specialize exceptionally in one craft: charm decoration. Over half of the store is used to store the materials. Instructions for each craft are provided by the staff, despite the straightforward nature of the craft. Customers first pick out the item they want to embellish, with choices including mirrors, lamps, and purses. They continue with selecting the glue that is used as the frosting base, choosing from over 30 colors. Charms are picked from a library of options by the artist. Popular cartoon characters, miniature food, and animals are just a few of the charms available. Artists then design and decorate as they wish, taking their creations home the very same day.
Convenience is key for this craft store. Rabbit’s Foot is open six days a week, including weekends. The broad availability of store hours appeals to the community, allowing for flexibility with customers’ busy schedules. Artists are welcome to walk in without any reservation and start crafting within minutes. This business strategy gives the local community the opportunity for spontaneous art time.
Since the closure of the pottery painting shop Color Me Mine in 2020 due to the pandemic, downtown Menlo Park hasn’t had a comforting space to create art. While numerous art galleries have opened up on the street, downtown Menlo Park went without a sit-down creative outlet for five years.
For the founders, Rabbit’s Foot is more than just a craft store. “Rabbit’s Foot is meaningful. Right now, a lot of people stay at home and watch TV, especially kids,” Li said. “We wanted to provide a place for families to come and work on something together. [Where] kids and their friends can come to hang out.”
This store truly fulfills this purpose. According to the staff, almost every weekend is bookedfilled with children’s birthday parties. Without a doubt, the environment and atmosphere appeal greatly to young aspiring artists. But, adults too, frequent the store for reasons deeper than pleasure. “Art [is] a way to express emotions, strengthen bonds, and find peace amid uncertainty,” Yi said. “In quiet, colorful moments [of crafting], I rediscovered the joy, healing, and connection that creativity brings.”
Example projects of the charm decorations.
Each customer is greeted by Li or Yi with a welcoming smile. The culture that they create is infectious. Rabbit’s Foot is a craft store where beads and trinkets “charm” their way into dozens of artworks. A place where families gather to express themselves and let loose a little, Rabbit’s Foot has quickly become a hub for creative expression. “This is for the community,” Li said.
