When I first stared tole painting in the late 1990’s The two huge craft supply stores were Provo Craft and Zim’s Craft Supply. Loads of great patterns and wood products. Every time I came to Salt Lake City from Las Vegas I would come armed with money and a huge list of items that folks in Vegas wanted me to pick up for them.
One summer I came up specifically to go to the tent sale outside the Provo Craft store in Provo. They would have a huge clearance sale every year to clear out inventory. It was a place for me to go "mental".
A number of years ago Provo Craft went out of business and converted their inventory to Robert’s Craft. Still a great place to shop but not as much inventory.
Right after we moved to Utah I heard that Zim’s Craft Supply was going out of business. Needless to say I was there about every day for weeks just to make sure I had not left something behind that I would need. So now Zim’s is no longer there with all those fantastic Nutcrackers, sleds and fabulous different styles of wood, tin and other fun things to paint on.
So what brings me to all these memories? We were out doing errands and I remembered that Robert’s Craft was having a huge going out of business sale. So my husband stop and we walked into what I can only call "chaos". Millions of people with carts piled high with craft supplies. My husband thought it was hysterical “remember when you use to do that”? Little did he know I had already been there and picked up the last of the brushes and paint that was available. This brought back good memories but it also made me sad. It will never be like it was when I first started to paint.
I came home and started looking through all my boxes. I have so much stuff that I will never paint it all. Yes, we crafters are all the same so many ideas and never enough time. I decided to keep some of it and share some of it. I have set up an area in my Etsy shop for de-stashing.
Click here it see what I have listed so far. I am amazed at what I have been unearthing. My son asked if we were moving in or out? I am also amazed that I bought all this and have yet to paint any of it.
I blame teenagers.
Thank you for treading down memory lane with me today. I think instead of being sad I will start thinking of how best to paint some of this. That will cheer me up!!
Enjoy your day,
Barb
Oh Barb, I think we are all in the same boat. I have so much that I hope one day to get too. I only hope I live long enough. Good luck with the destashing!
ReplyDeleteChar
oooh, LOL I am going to have to go look at your Etsy shop now . . . .
ReplyDeleteyou have just become another one of my "enablers". LOL
Warm Wishes,
Kim
Aww its sad isnt it that so many stores are going out of business ! and better be safe then sorry when it comes to supply shopping you just never know when you will need another of an item and the stores just might not have it ! lol Have a great day hugs lilraggedyangie
ReplyDeleteIT IS REALLY DEPRESSING SEEING SO MANY CRAFT STORES GO OUT. I AM LUCKY BECAUSE I HAVE A HUGE PAT CATAN'S (TERRIFIC PRICES AND SUPPLIES) ABOUT ONE MILE FROM MY HOUSE. I LAUGHED WHEN YOU SAID YOU BLAMED STUFF ON TEENAGERS--MY TEENS ARE GONE NOW SO ALL THE BLAME SETTLES ON MY HUBBY---EVEN IF HE IS OUT OF THE HOUSE!!
ReplyDeleteJAN-LIFE ON BUTTERMILK HILL
I remember the 80's and 90's for the great designers, suppliers and styles of crafting. I too am sad that so many of the great places no longer exist. I wish I had some of the patterns and books that I used to own. I go on eBay occasionally to look for the ones I miss and sometimes I get lucky and find an old favorite.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Susan
LOL Barb, I just got through talking with a craft friend about this same thing - de-stashing. Hard to find a good craft store anymore. I know the thrill you speak of! ~*~Lisa
ReplyDeleteOh Barb, yes you brought back so many memories. I worked at Michael's in the very early 90's back when we could actually look at catalogs and order from them. I remember loving all the neat little wood pieces from Provo. It was so hard to restrain myself, lol. It's always so sad when another one of them stores close. Ben Franklin was always one of my personal favorites. There is still one by St. Louis that I have to stop at any time we go by there but it's not the same as it used to be. Sad how times have changed and taken our stores away.
ReplyDeleteHow sad! I use to LOVE shopping at Provo Crafts, Zim's and Roberts. I remembered how much I missed them when I moved away. There was also a wholesale shop near downtown SLC that I loved...think it was on Redwood, but don't remember the name. It's probably gone now, as well. Glad you were able to stock up before it closed for good! ~~Annie
ReplyDeleteI remember mail ordering stuff from Zim's and Provo Craft when I had the shop. So sad that all the painting places are going out of business, I used to always go to Robinson's Woods in Warren and do the same thing.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck on the destashing. I need to do that also.
Cathy
way fun bob the snowman
ReplyDeleteI never had the pleasure of shopping at the warehouse for Provo Craft but I did pleanty of damage at the St George and Cedar stores. I used to drop the kids off at school, run to St. George, shop like a mad woman and be home in time to pick them up from school. Those were the days. lol leaning the conex box this month, then the studio, then my craft room. EEK, that's a lot of stuff.
ReplyDelete