Ginger's Needlearts & Framing to close

It is with a very heavy heart that I bear such sad news. Ginger's Needlearts and Framing in Austin, Texas, has announced that after nearly 30 years of business in the same location, they must close their store. Sadly, this is not by choice: the landlord aggressively raised their rent above what they can afford, and will not negotiate. Ginger does not plan to re-locate her store. She and her staff are looking for work.

Ginger and her shop are near and dear to my heart. They are located just down the road from where I lived in Austin. Hers was the first needlework shop in Texas to carry my patterns, and we became good friends who visited often, shared advice and plenty of laughs. 

And sure- it's one of those country-cutesy-folksy shops from another era, but Ginger knows that. A few years ago, I interviewed Ginger for the Etsy Blog: Dare to Enter Your Local Needlework Shop! and we talked about just that.

I so admire Ginger's humorous perspective on changing trends and her willingness to stay in the mix. Her shop has long offered an invaluable resource to local needleworkers by carrying specialty items from independent designers and small companies across the country that you won't find anywhere but in a shop like Ginger's. Not only that, but they are happy to show you how to do that one stitch you can't quite figure out -right at the cash register. Go show them your smiling face before they close their doors for good. They will appreciate it.

They are selling off everything in the store, including fixtures. For full information on the closing:

Ginger's Needlearts - Closing Announcement (click to download)
last day: July 31st 2012
location: 5322 Cameron Road, Austin, Texas

(Ginger, I will see you in Austin soon! xo)