The shop owner said she can also make special order items with such things as school colors.
Frustrated with the lack of quality crafting supplies in Grays Harbor; local crafter Carol Shappee of Hoquiam, ventured out to offer quality crafting supplies and a showcase to display works of local crafters in downtown Hoquiam.
The shop, at the corner of Simpson Ave. and 7th street is appropriately called Forever Yours Crafters Mall, a labor of love in support of local crafters on the Harbor; says Shappee.
"I just got tired of having to go to Olympia or the Seattle area to find high quality craft supplies, especially yarn and floss," said Shappee, "Sure you can get yarn at Wal-Mart, but not the real nice stuff."
The shop's founder also tries to help local crafters and artists market their wares. She said, "Many crafters make intricate craft items whether they have someone to give them to or not. Some people have the talent and the time, but do not have a mechanism to retail their items," so she offers them a portion of her new store in Hoquiam to display their items for sale.
"Combining the craft supplies with a retail outlet for local artists just seems to make sense," Shappee elaborates, "and now people on the Harbor can buy very special hand-crafted items for that special gift-giving event, just in time for Christmas."
Any child who drops off a letter to Santa at his mailbox at Forever Yours Crafters Mall will receive a free gift from Santa and the mall. Children can drop off their letters to Santa from now until Christmas Eve.
The shop owner said she can also make special order items with such things as school colors.
She started her store by saving proceeds from her own craft business that she had in her garage for years. In that shop, she had a showroom of craft ideas and samples of her craft work as well as an instruction area where she taught others.
"I just love crafting," said Shappee, "It's really an art and no two items are ever exactly the same. That's what is so satisfying for me and the people I work with. It makes you feel good to make something that someone really likes."
When questioned about the economic soundness of opening a new establishment in a struggling economic area, Shappee replies, "I believe in crafting and I believe in Hoquiam. I live here. I see business come to Hoquiam and go but I really believe that my clients and visitors . . . are discerning and really want the highest quality supplies." She also said, "gift buyers (at her store) are looking for something unique that cannot be purchased from any large franchise-type retail outlet."
Shappee also consults with buyers and offers helpful hints for crafters from a catalog of more than 21,000 different supplies, which, if she doesn't have it in the shop, she can order.
Shappee says she is the local source for Sugar and Cream yarns and offers a full line of DMC Floss, custom hand-knitted matching hats and blankets (specializing in Harbor schol's color combinations), floral arrangements, beaded Christmas ornaments and novelties.
You can even get an espresso or rent a mailbox.
The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. You can visit Forever Yours Crafters Mall on its web site at: http://www.techline.com/~ccm or contact Shappee at 533-4497 or email at ccm@techline.com.