If the holidays have you caught up in a whirlwind of stress, take a mini mental vacation and ponder the fresh promise of the coming new year.

And with it, the chance to learn something brand new.

Check out our newly-designed “Workshops” page for all of the details.




Have a wonderful, creative holiday!

Anabelle Wasserman makes beautiful, sturdy and practical bowls out of scraps of fabric.





Each one has a treat attached.



Maybe you’d like to have one to store your holiday cards?

Look at what one of our employees, the VERY talented, Amanda made!



She took one of our plain cotton stockings and she painted it with our Jacquard fabric paints. Free hand.



The red background is paint also.

Make your own, and don’t be intimidated.

We mere mortals use stencils and stamps to help us along.

Today, I “had” to work out front.

If you come into the store with any regularity, you’ll know that the public-side of the shop is expertly run by the uber-organized and wonderfully helpful Juliet...most days. But today she was sick. For the first time EVER!

Usually, I’m in the back, browsing Etsy and eating bonbons, but today I was right out there, fumbling with the calculator and mingling with our customers.

All I can say is “Wow!”

You all are a highly creative, funny, interesting, super-nice bunch!

You are painters, seamstresses, card-makers, knitters, school-project assistants and dabblers. I sort of wanted to sit down and have coffee with every one of you and hear all about your creative endeavors.

And the compliments! I was blushing. One lovely customer even called me the “Martha Stewart of Miller Avenue.”
I’m definitely going to embroider that on a pillow.

So, thank you SO MUCH for making my morning extremely educational and inspiring.



Happy, creative, peaceful and joyful holidays to you all!

Announcing a new class!


Holiday Hat Design Workshop • December 18, 2010 • 1 - 4 pm




From their flyer...

“Virginia Linder and her daughter Tarra will inspire you in creating a Decorative Beautiful hat for your Holiday spirit festivities. Bring an open mind with imagination to create a one of kind hat, that will bring color to the world!”





The details...

1. Must have sewing machine skills.

2. Please bring your sewing machine, scissors, thread, fabric scraps, one-half yard of felt, tape measure and decorations such as buttons, metallic cord, beads, etc.

3. The class will not exceed 8 to 10 people.

4. Payment of $50.00 can be paid at time of class by cash or check. I will supply some materials for the class.


Please call Tarra Linder (415 . 388 . 8933) to reserve your spot.

Everything’s cuter mini, and these knitted stockings are no exception.

Decorate a tiny Christmas tree, add something really special to your gift tags, spice up your pet hamster’s cage (that’s what one of our favorite young customers does with *her* minis) or anything else you can think of...



photo by Once Around


Find the pattern here.

Knitting these is a little fussy, we admit, but so so rewarding.

If you have a little more time to invest, you might want to try one of these stockings from Little Cotton Rabbits:



photo by Little Cotton Rabbits