The CARON Collection is pleased to feature one of the outstanding
shops who so ably provide stitchers with not only supplies but guidance,
technical expertise, and inspiration. We hope you'll support your local
shops and browse through our extensive SHOP
LISTINGS. This month join us as we visit...
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Macomb, Michigan
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Craft Lady is a shop that specializes in hand painted needlepoint canvases,
imported and fashion knitting yarns, exotic fibers for stitching, counted
thread supplies and needle art classes, all among the most extensive found
anywhere. The shop occupies 2400 sq. ft. in the heart of the Hall &
Hayes shopping district in Macomb Township, a north-east suburb of Detroit.
Jan Stahl, the propietress finds this location ideally suited to her business.
Detroit is a city of many 1st and 2nd generation emigres, many of whom
have in their background, a mother or grandmother who was skilled in needlework.
These women are now themselves anxious to either expand upon or acquire
those skills for themselves.
The building houses not only the store, but also the campus of The Crafty
Lady University, which boasts a fully self-accredited teaching and sales
staff. Billed as the place where fashionable women come to enjoy learning
their favorite needle and fiber arts with old and new friends, the school
is the brainchild of owner, Jan Stahl. Claiming that she does her best
thinking when "standing under hot water", she came up with this
concept in the shower. A regular customer had made a casual comment that"
because she was taking so many classes at Crafty Lady, she should be entitled
to a degree!" Spurred on by this offhand remark, Jan set about making
the University idea a reality.
Classes run from September to June and students receive certificates of
completion in each class. Each certificate has a credit value which converts
to gift certificates or extra discounts on store purchases. Degrees are
offered in all levels from Associates to Doctorate of Needlearts and Shopper
Extraordinaire. Graduation is held every June, replete with a valedictorian,
the industrious individual who has amassed the most credits the previous
year.
The mainstay of classes are in knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, needlepoint
and hardanger. More specialized instruction is available in such esoteric
areas as flower construction (using milliner"s techniques), cochardes
(abstract ribbon, french fold work), victorian patchwork, Battenburg lace,
entrelac (a type of knitting that creates a trellis effect pattern), needle
tatting and felting. Classes run from 2 hours to all day workshops for
projects such as creating a victorian purse picture or an amulet bag. Throughout
the year a weekly Friday night "Midnight Madness" event highlights
stitching and knitting. Participants are urged to bring their projects,
appetites and enthusiasm.
Jan is adamant that each student work on what she likes and feels this
is especially relevant for beginners, who need the gratification of completing
a project, if they are to continue onto others. She continually stresses
the enormous boost in self esteem that these creative hobbies provide.
As if the above offerings were not enough, Crafty Lady hosts an annual
3 day retreat at a beautiful country inn, featuring a fashion show and
workshops with designers and needlework experts from around the world.
The Spring 1997 theme for this event was "Textures in Design",
and was held at the St. Clair Inn on the shores of the St. Clair river.
A truly ambitious excursion is planned for the Spring of 1998 - a visit
to The United Kingdom. Highlights of the trip will include a class in embroidery
at the Royal School of London, a tour of a yarn mill, and a visit to Colinette
of Unique Kolours in Wales.
Prior to opening the shop, Jan was a social worker by profession. After
eventually "burning out" in that field, she set her sights on
opening a retail store. Needlework was an obvious choice since, by her
own admission, it's the only real hobby she's ever had. Jan did hold a
very definite vision for her new enterprise. She wanted to carry only the
best, which is not to say, the most expensive. For all her inventory, quality
is the determining factor. This myriad of choices at Crafty Lady underscores
Jan's commitment to educating her customers and providing them with products
and services of the highest caliber. It gives new meaning to the term "one
stop shopping" for the needlearts enthusiast, regardless of level
of expertise or area of interest. And it might provide an altogether, not
unreasonable excuse, to move to Macomb, Michigan, if you can stand the
winters!
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Crafy Lady is located at 15401
Hall Road, Macomb, Michigan 48044 , telephone:
810) 566-8008
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