I had to go to Portland this week to meet with a lovely client of mine and her mom at the stationer, Ecru. Now, I avoid Portland like the plague, but I found the the most beautiful shop right next door to Ecru on NW 11th Avenue called Dublin Bay.
I have crocheted since I was 13 and this store was like walking into a dream. Its warm decor made me want to sit down in a chair and curl up with any one of their crocheting books–alright, its primary focus is knitting, but I cannot knit to save my life. Crocheting is my thing and the gal behind the counter graciously showed me the crocheting section. However, any of the yarns in the store can be used for both. Handmade and handspun yarns of every kind, texture and color were stocked in bins. At one point I had to just stand back and take in the colors–it was scrumptious. Just when I found what I thought was the most beautiful color I’d seen, I turned around to another bin and found five more colors that I loved. This store is for SERIOUS knitters and crocheters, however, since you can pay upwards of $33+ a skein, and the skeins are not the size of the Red Heart ones you will find at Michaels, but that’s the whole point of the store. It’s for people that take knitting very seriously and create breathtaking sweaters, hats, socks, and other goodies. I have crocheted somewhere in the neighborhood of about 130 afghans and have wanted to start learning how to create sweaters for my girls and I. If and when the time comes to make something I would be incredibly proud of wearing, this is the shop I will go to. They are also online, check them out at www.dublinbay.net. Anything in the store you can see online and order there if you don’t want to drive downtown, but I assure you, for this store, the drive is worth it.
Paper Source–my absolutely favorite paper store! I have done so many weddings using Paper Source stock, but I have had the chance to finally actually go through one of their stores last month, the Portland store located at 638 NW 23rd Avenue in Portland. The entire neighborhood area is just a treat, and coming from someone that avoids Portland, that’s saying a lot. I had the chance to stroll the streets a few weeks ago with a friend of mine (who incidentally works for Paper Source!) and had a blast discovering all these little shops that are behind beautiful, funky, and creative storefronts on a beautiful tree-lined street.
If you’re getting married and a DIY bride, I urge you to go check out Paper Source if you have one in your city. There are all sorts of goodies in the store, an area with books of invitations from such stationers as Cranes and William Arthur, and then my favorite spot, one area in the store that houses envelopes, card stock, and escort cards in every size and color you can imagine. The stores are fun, colorful, whimsical, and it’s REALLY hard getting out of one without buying something every time I go in, but thus far, I have managed, with great effort!
I’m putting together a blog on etiquette and will have it up soon. Things I’m sure that many people know, but it always helps to refresh and go over them again!
