Holiday Splendor at Tail of the Yak!

The magic is brimming at my favorite shop, Tail of the Yak, located in Berkeley, California. Of course I had to trek over to see all of the new holiday surprises.

If you've never heard me talk about this gem-of-a-shop before, then welcome to the land of wonderment!

It's Tail of the Yak's 40th anniversary! Can you imagine a shop that's still in existence for forty years? Really, I'm not surprised.

Owners Alice, Lauren and staff do the most amazing job of creating a space that makes you feel as if you've left the world behind. From paper-adorned antique Santos statues, vintage ephemera, and breathtaking estate jewelry, this is wonderland at its finest.

Antique Santos statues adorn the shop...

Whimsical props are everywhere!

The holidays do not disappoint. The shop is filled with my favorites, surprise balls!

pomegranate surprise balls

You may be asking, what are surprise balls? Artist Anandamayi Arnold has been making these works of art for many years.

snowball surprise balls

Surprise balls are wound tightly around their sometimes lumpy contents. Anandamayi starts with a streamer and adds little prizes as she builds the ball. The only problem is it's too pretty, who wants to open it?

Look at these swan surprise balls above. Aren't they lovely? The prizes are in the bodies. I could never open one!

floral surprise balls

lumps of coal surprise balls

Surprise balls run about $18 to around $95, depending on the amount of work involved.

Hand made paper displays grace the shop...

AND, during the holidays a special annual tradition at Tail of the Yak are custom-designed poster-size calendars by co-owner, Lauren McIntosh. If you make a purchase you get one of these works of art. I still have many of my old ones from years back.

If you happen to be in the Bay Area, you must visit this charming store. My photos just don't do it justice!

Tail of the Yak
2632 Ashby Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94705
510.841.9891