Sew What! - Redding, California

Location: Redding, California
Shop:       Sew What!
Owner:     Lisa
Website:   www.sewwhatquilts.com/

Redding is in northern California along I-5, approximately 100 miles fromt he border of Oregon. 90,000 people live in Redding which is the county seat for Shasta County, and where 1/2 of the county's population live, the other 90,000 are spread out between the county's two other towns, Anderson and Shasta Lake City.

I sell primarily to knitting shops, and I have sold to a few quilt shops in the past year, but this is the first quilting & knitting shop I've sold to. Lisa opened Sew What! as a quilt shop 10 years ago, the yarn came in a year later. When asked if she was a quilter or a knitter, she quickly answered, "Both!"

The yarn is in it's own room inside the quilt shop, but don't let that fool you into thinking they have a limited supply, there was plenty to choose from, you just have to get by the fabric first, good luck. While I visited, there was a class going on in the yarn area. I asked all the gals what the class was, and they all just kinda shrugged their shoulders and said knitting. Each one of them had a completely different project going on and the instructor was there to help address any issues they might have. I really didn't see much instructing going on, I think these gals just come in to "class" to knit together, because they were still there while the instructor had gone on to her next appointment.

I think I found the socks I want to knit. The sample on the right in the picture above (on the left) has beads at the top. I think they're calling my name. Soon my pretties, soon.

Next stop: a bead shop in Redding, California

Common Thread - Encinitas, California

Location: Encinitas, California
Shop:       Common Thread
Owners:   Nancy & Carol & Coco
website:   http://www.fiberartshop.com/

Encinitas is not a big town, but because it's right on the beach, it is a destination location. There are 60,000 people in the town I bet 85% of the residents own a surf board. If your address says Encinitas, you can walk to the beach. Encinitas is located in northern San Diego county which has over 3 million residents. There's a train track that runs right through town with trains going back and forth all day. Some of these trains are barrelling through town at 40-50 mph, not something I'm used to.

Carol and Nancy are mother and daughter and have owned the shop for 20 years. Carol is the mom, that's a painting of her in the picture above on the left that Nancy painted, and that's Nancy's dad on the right. These two banners are hanging in the front room and looking down at every person that walks in the door. Not pictured is the same type of banner on the lightpost outside her store on the street which pictures her step-dad.

Coco is the shop mascot, but she goes home with the girls every night. Nancy says she'd be pretty mad if she was left behind. Carol has a dog she would love to make the shop dog, but apparently the dog has too much energy for the shop, so it's a no for now. :( Not that I don't like cats, but as you can see, they don't care as much. Coco, was definitely pettable though, and she wouldn't be in the center of the store if she didn't like the attention.

The shop is pretty extensive. It's almost a maze to get to throu everything, a pretty wonderful maze of shelves full of yarn and inspiring examples. There's a small table in the front of the storer where a couple of customers set some of there things while shopping or getting help. One gal came in to get help on an Afghan she was knitting and Nancy was able to see immediately some twisted stitches and was able to explain quite quearly in a matter of minutes what had been perplexing this lady all night.

There's also a great sitting area in the back as well as another table, a great spot for classes, still close to the yarn but not too close. And the books were in this are which made it a great refernce are, too.

I definitely have some competition in the button department, as you can see they have a gigantic selection. There's more corners in this shop than I even have room to picture in this blog. If you're in San Diego, Encinitas is not that far, and worth the drive.

Next stop: San Marcos, California

Location: Mendocino, California
Shop:       Mendocino Yarn Shop
Owner:    Annelle
Website:  www.mendocinoyarnshop.com

Mendocino and Ferndale are now tied for being dang cute towns. Mendocino lies right on the coast of northern California. The town itself has less than 1000 people, but Mendocino County has almost 90,000.

Water towers are everywhere in this old town. Mendocino is over 160 years old, and most of its  buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, including one of the oldest continuously-used Presbyterian Churches in California, originally dedicated in 1868, and one of the oldest Chinese houses of worship, the Temple of Kwan Tai, originally dedicated 1854.

The town definitely caters to the arts, and this yarn shop fits right in. Annelle's shop is the only yarn shop in Mendocino, and for a town with only 1000 residents, this is an impressive shop. She's got everything you need to knit (or crochet) to your heart's content, along with some great samples to inspire you. The shop, which looks like it used to be a house, has been a part of community for eleven years and  is right in the heart of Mendocino's tourist area. A short walk, and you're taking in the sights of Mendocino Bay.

I'm really looking forward to my trip here in September. As long as I have some extra spending money, we'll probably stay for a couple of nights. Although the gas was a bit cheaper than other places, everything else wasn't. The town is full of cute little trendy shops; clothing, jewelry, cafes, candy, and even a bead shop. I love beads, a lot.

Next stop: Ukiah, California