My stitch store is CLOSING!! Uh oh.. I've been shopping..

[MaggieM1750]

NNOOOOOO!!! No No NO

Per an email I received today:
After three years and many pros and cons, we have come to the decision that we will be closing as of September 28, 2013. This was a very hard decision, as we have enjoyed meeting so many great people and made many new friends.

We thank you all for shopping with us and supporting this business.

We will be starting the closing sale on Monday August 12th and it will continue until September 28th. We hope to see many of you, as you can all add to your stash. Again, thank you and God's blessings to you all.

Jill and Rachel
Just Relax 'n Stitch

This means I will either have to start shopping at the crabby shop again.. or start ordering online.
The kids book is right.. This is a terrible, horrible, no good, very sad day.

[LaraAmber]

Well I guess the big sale is your silver lining.

But yes, it sucks when you lose a good shop.

[Parksfarm]

How sad... Hate it when stitching shops close down...

[stitchingmae]

so sad for you!!

[rcperryls]

It is always so sad when an LNS closes. I worry about mine as I only really discovered it a few years ago. The others I had closed a very long time ago. Both had wonderful owners, but the first owner retired and I think the second was in a very poor location and struggled along for a few years.
I am so sorry for you, because I know how much you enjoyed that store.

Carole

[bookknurd]

That's a bummer! I can't imagine what a tough business that must be since it's such a specialty market. That's why I'm trying my darnedest to keep my local shop in business. Or at least that's what I'm telling my husband/bank account.

[gparr]

Sorry to hear about the closing. In a proper world the crabby shop would close and the good shop would reap the benefits. A sad day.
Gary

[Aerona]

That is a bummer! It is too bad I didn't know about it the four years (job was the only good thing there) I was living in Owatonna--not that my contribution would have helped any. It is unfortunate, but I feel like local stores almost have to also have a decent online presence, be an offshoot of an otherwise good cafe/coffee shop or simply be a backup income or they just aren't viable options anymore.

[LadyS]

Always sad when a stitchy shop closes. I like the industry of the hobby I love to keep prosperous!

[TracyG]

Nonononononono...NO!!! I had such a great experience there a few weeks ago that I was actually going to plan a trip sans kids in October so I could shop and stitch and meet you, Maggie! I was already picturing myself ensconced in one of those cushy chairs with my newly acquired stash!

[marniecat]

Such a bummer, so sad for the stitching community when a good shop closes!

[MaggieM1750]

Tracy.. I know!! Those chairs are soo nice to stitch in. I've spent many hours sitting in them.

Aerona.. I've always worried that their non-online status would hurt them. They also didn't advertise much.. unless they did in places I didn't see. A specialty shop needs to rely on more than just word of mouth. And y'all know how much I spread the word about them.

This was sad news. I'll go in sometime next week and see what their plan is. Figure out what options I have to avoid the crabby shop. In the mean time.. I'll try to think about what supplies to snatch up. ( silks at a discount sounds quite nice!) I'm project-full for the next year or so.

[Mabel Figworthy]

How sad -- especially when the good ones go and the crabby ones survive! But you can feel happy in knowing that you have always supported and recommended them, and so probably kept them going for longer than they might otherwise have done.

[Fizzbw]

That is so unfair!! The nice one closing and the crabby one survives! I do wish that more stitchy shops did online as well, I'm not sure you can survive at all in this day and age without a significant on line presence.

Niki xxx

[MaggieM1750]

Well.. I did a little shopping tonight. Was the first chance I had to get there since I got the news they were closing. (I wore black.. told them I would be going into mourning)
Didn't have much time.. they have shortened their hours now, so I only had maybe half an hour tonight. My goal was fabrics and Dovo scissors. No Dovo's.. so they will have to wait. Settled on a pair of Ginghers.
My next visit I'll look through books and patterns.
I also have to take a closer look at what projects I have coming up- make sure I have all the beads or whatever I may need for finishing. I am really trying to stock up on a good set of basics so I won't have to shop at the crabby shop.

This is the first time I have bought items with no specific project in mind. The fabrics are all fat quarters or more. Most 25-28 ct Lugana. I'll be leaving the tags on so that I know what they are.. y'all know how bad I am with that.

Floss to fill out some of my collection, and stitchbows to put them on, another magnet board, another spring hoop, kids apron for my neice, towel for the strawberry vine chart Rose sent me (its hard to see, but it has a checkerboard pattern to the weave.. thought it looked like a country gingham tablecloth) .. a little of this.. a little of that..

[stitchingmae]

So so sad.. love that you wore black though

[karen4bells]

So so sad.. love that you wore black though

I totally agree!! Great stash additions at least!

[moogypop]

Great additions to your stash! Such a shame that they are closing though

[rcperryls]

So so sad.. love that you wore black though

I totally agree!! Great stash additions at least!

I agree too! So sad.

Carole

[Rose]

It is a shame that they are not able to stay in business. But you did seem to get a nice bit of supplies.