Our Journey – Sunset Commons

@sunsetcommons

Follow our journey!

There's something really special about making some

There's something really special about making something with your own hands. You never totally know how it's going to turn out. And honestly, that's part of the magic. It's not just about the final piece. It's about showing up, trying new things, and watching your ideas take shape. Each time you create, you're taking a risk, trusting yourself a little more. Even the mistakes teach you something. Bit by bit, art helps you believe in your own voice and your ability to bring something into the world that didn't exist before.That's where the confidence starts to grow.

Come along as we bring this space to life—a DIY arts cafe where creativity flows and confidence grows through hands-on making!

Watching Erin, our giveaway winner from the LNY fe

Watching Erin, our giveaway winner from the LNY festival, build her Lilac flower kit made my day! From a pack of parts to something she made with her own hands- there’s magic in the making. If you’ve ever wanted to tap into that creative spark, this is your sign 🌟

Which flower would you build?

We ordered flooring 2 weeks ago and it arrived tod

We ordered flooring 2 weeks ago and it arrived today! We were a bit worried that the
pallet wouldn't fit through the door, and we would have to unload it one by one and carry 1700 lbs of flooring inside.

With the tariffs wreaking havoc and seeing the volatility in the stock market, this progress brought some light to the week and we're excited to show you the renovation process! Follow along as we show you BTS of opening a craft café.

What are you most excited to see?

We weren’t sure if this pop-up would be a right

We weren’t sure if this pop-up would be a right fit because it was focused more on business and networking. Would anyone be interested in our products? Our services? On top of that, this event was on a weekday night right around rush hour. However, I’m glad we went!

1️⃣ I got to meet so many inspiring women who were also working towards their dreams.

2️⃣ I shook the mayor’s hand 😲

3️⃣ So many people were excited and supportive to hear about our DIY arts café!!

We've been honed in on the next steps after gettin

We've been honed in on the next steps after getting the permit. We still have plumbing and electrical to do, but we're already planning what we'll do after- painting, floor, bookshelves, furniture! There's still so much left to do and we thank you for your patience as we continue to push to grand opening!

#diycafe #claymoo #onestepcloser #sfartsandcrafts #sfcrafts

After months of back and forth…we finally got th

After months of back and forth…we finally got the last approval we needed to get our permit! 🤯🤩

We had to navigate different department requirements, address each of their feedback, and go through a lot of waiting. This was our first time getting a permit, and wow… what a learning experience.

If you’re ever opening a brick-and-mortar space, here’s what we learned:

1️⃣ Allocate three times as much time as you think you’ll need. Trust me.

2️⃣ Be ready for a constant loop of feedback between yourself, your architect, engineer, and plan reviewers. It’s never just one and done.

3️⃣ Each department has its own set of requirements. Knowing them ahead of time can save you headaches.

Huge thanks to the Office of Small Business and the Permit Office for guiding us through this. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Now that we’ve got the permit…it’s time to bring this cafe to life! 🥳

We can’t wait to invite you to our space!! #onestepcloser

Cross-stitching is like pixel art with thread- eac

Cross-stitching is like pixel art with thread- each tiny X builds upon the last until a beautiful picture emerges, proving that small, consistent efforts create something amazing!

It's a relaxing and beginner friendly craft, and you can use it to make decorative pieces, home decor, and even personalized gifts.

Want to learn?

3️⃣ tips for improving your crochet skills: K

3️⃣ tips for improving your crochet skills:

Keep Tension Consistent: Consistent tension is key to making your stitches even. Practice holding your yarn and hook in a way that feels comfortable, but also be mindful of how tight or loose you’re making your stitches.

Use Stitch Markers: Stitch markers are a great way to keep track of your rows or rounds. Place them at the beginning of a row or in tricky spots to avoid losing your place, especially in patterns with increases or decreases.

Don’t Be Afraid to Unravel: Mistakes happen, and it’s okay to undo your work if it doesn’t look right. Take it as part of the learning process—“frogging” (ripping it out) is common, and sometimes it’s the best way to get things back on track.

Happy crocheting!

What should we make next?

Getting a permit for our store was a reminder of j

Getting a permit for our store was a reminder of just how much goes into getting a business up and running—and that the journey is far from straightforward. We often see the fun side of renovations and before-and-afters on social media, but behind the scenes, the permit process is a whole other story.

From coordinating with our architect, the landlord, and city departments, we’ve had to ensure our space meets everyone’s requirements—our needs, the landlord’s, and the city’s.

This whole experience also gave us a deeper appreciation for the work architects do and just how detail-oriented they must be.

We went to the Permit Office back in November to s

We went to the Permit Office back in November to see what we needed to get our permit to operate.

It was daunting because you hear how the permit process can take months on end, but when I got there, I was able to ask for help at the help desk. They put me in queue for Intake who identified the departments I needed approval from:

- Planning
- Fire
- Building
- Mechanical
- PUC
- Public Health

From there, I was able to make my rounds and get feedback back on our drawings. This process is definitely long, and we hit some roadblocks, but we keep pushing forward.

Getting a Food Manager Certification isn’t just

Getting a Food Manager Certification isn’t just a box to check—it’s essential for keeping customers safe. From learning about proper food handling to preventing contamination, this exam ensures that we’re serving our community safely.

But let me tell you… taking the test wasn’t easy! 😵‍💫 Tech issues, a strict room inspection, and a stressful start almost stopped me before I even began. Thankfully, I powered through, and now we’re one step closer to opening our arts & crafts café in SF!

Have you taken a food handler exam before? Did anything surprise you?

#FoodSafety #FoodManagerCertification #DIYCafe

Watch Sebastian the Lion come to life, one stitch

Watch Sebastian the Lion come to life, one stitch at a time! 🦁

Ever wanted to pick up a creative hobby but didn't know where to start? Maybe you don't have the space, the materials, or the time to figure it all out? We get it.

That's why we created Sunset Commons- a cozy arts & crafts cafe where you can learn, create, and vibe with like-minded crafters. We offer a variety of begineer friendly DIY kits that come with all the materials, tools, and instructions.

If you need more hands-on guidance, we are also thinking of hosting a beginner-friendly crochet workshop. Would you be interested?

Final reflections on our festival experience – h

Final reflections on our festival experience – here are the 3 things we absolutely nailed:

1️⃣ Premade signage & shelves: We prepped everything beforehand, so we were smooth sailing when it was time to set up!

2️⃣ Speakers for the vibe: Music really helped us create that perfect cafe atmosphere.

3️⃣ Paint-by-Numbers: We set up a fun art activity where everyone could join in and leave their mark on the masterpiece.

Had a blast meeting Erin, the lucky winner of our

Had a blast meeting Erin, the lucky winner of our LNY giveaway! 🎉 She got to pick a DIY flower kit, and we’re so excited for her to build the beautiful Lilac flower. 🌸 Thanks so much for your support, Erin — we hope you enjoy every moment of creating it!

Our guest-turned-storage room filled up before we

Our guest-turned-storage room filled up before we knew it, so we decided to build a shed for all our furniture and supplies. It took a few days to put together, but it was totally worth it! Huge thanks to my family for helping make this happen 💗

What are your best storage organization hacks? Share your tips below! 🛠✨️

Reflecting on our first booth experience, Steven a

Reflecting on our first booth experience, Steven and I have learned some key lessons that we’ll carry forward!

1️⃣ Longer table cloths – the ones we bought were too short and didn’t cover the boxes we were trying to hide!

2️⃣ Prep for long days – we didn’t have time to go get food and sit down to eat. Bringing easy-to-eat snacks is a must!

3️⃣ Inventory – we didn’t properly keep track of items sold, so we had to recount after the event. Next time, we’ll keep a tally.

We do After Action Reviews (AAR) after every major event to see what worked and where we can improve.

Would love to hear from you guys! Any feedback?

We hosted our first booth at the Lunar New Year Fe

We hosted our first booth at the Lunar New Year Festival over the weekend! We were nervous and wondered if people were interested in our craft cafe and whether people liked our products. However, we received a resounding yes on both from the community. It was amazing to meet and connect with everyone and we look forward to opening our cafe! Stay tuned 😉

Should we do this again? If so, where?

We’ve been busy preparing for this Sunday’s Lu

We’ve been busy preparing for this Sunday’s Lunar New Year Festival! The other day, I went to 💕Sunset Library 💕 to print some signage out and made the classic printing mistake 🤦🏻‍♀️. We live and learn. If you’re at the festival this Sunday, please drop by and say hi! We’d love to meet you 😊

After learning from my uncle, I gave reupholsterin

After learning from my uncle, I gave reupholstering a try myself. Not bad for my first attempt 🤭 Now, we can add 4 more chairs to our cafe.

Have you ever tried reupholstering or another DIY project for the first time? Share your experience below!

✨️ Furniture hunting, refurbishing, and a litt

✨️ Furniture hunting, refurbishing, and a little DIY magic! Watch as we transform these gems into a cozy masterpiece. Follow along as we open a DIY craft cafe!

Have you ever DIY'd a piece of furniture? Share your proudest project below.