Giving Back

It is so easy to 'Give Back' 

when you have been given so much!!

Here at Crafty Threads we have so much fun giving to our community and customers that it has become second nature.  Our hearts are always open to the next BIG idea!

The great thing about the charities below is that they are so easy to help. 

Each site has a list of what you can do to help and if your time is limited, there is still a way!

Quilts of Valor: This group was started at Crafty Threads to give back in one of the biggest ways possible and you don't even have to make a quilt.  On the site there is a list of ways to help from donating fabric or batting to making a quilt.
Quilts are donated to: “cover ALL combat service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.”  This foundation is not about politics.  It’s about people.


Project Linus:  THE Tampa area drop off point for quilt, fabric and yarn donations.
This organization is all about the kids and again there are many ways to help: crochet, preemie quilts, etc. and patterns are listed as well to help you get started.
http://www.projectlinus.org/volunteer/volunteer.php?StateKey=FL#tgt

ConKerr Cancer Pillowcases:

Here is a small selection of the hundreds of pillowcases that come through the shop every September to support this worthy cause!  

So little yardage and so little time can really brighten the world for one sick child.  To entice you to help even more, you can get in on the raffle basket with ALL proceeds going to the local Con Kerr chapter.

All proceeds go to the local

ConKerr Cancer chapter

Metropolitan Ministries:
http://www.metromin.org/Donations-Drive
We all love to help out at the holidays and Crafty Threads makes that easy too.  Every year in the Fall, you will find the Big Blue Bins from Metropolitan Ministries waiting to accept your food and toy donations right here in the shop. 

You, our customers, are a huge part of our community!  Not only are you a part of our quilting community, but our ability to help comes from you in the way you bring ideas to us and the way you jump in to help us carry out those ideas.

How can we thank you? 
Do you have a small quilt club that needs a place to meet?
Come meet the Feather Princesses Traditional Quilt Group:
We help them and they help you.  Do you want to learn the glorious tradition of hand work?  This is the group to learn from.

Want to make some fun projects with like minded quilters?
Join the O.R.E.O.S. (Original Rowdy Enthusiastic Off-Beat Stitchers).
Every month when you show your finished project, receive a $5 chip.  Sometimes you get an extra $5 chip when Barb doesn't get the sample made...  Do you feel lucky?

From small gifts like key chains, fly swatters, nail files, and bag carriers to 10% off your ENTIRE next purchase whenever you spend $250....We say THANK YOU!

We can never say it too many times!  

Thank you! 

Crafty Threads: Why a Quilt shop?

CRAFTY THREADS, LLC

I get asked this all the time and the answer is easy, you.  My customers are the best and are so supportive.

When I pieced my first quilt in 1990 while pregnant with my daughter, there was no bigger plan.  My life has been a series of opportunities like many of you: Electronic Engineer in the US Air Force, Customer Service for several insurance companies, Postal letter carrier, Financial Advisor and Senior Staff accountant for Raymond James, and Honeywell test board creator.

Every opportunity teaches you things about yourself and I learned to, "do what you love and love what you do".

Having once owned/operated Libra Tax Service, a bookkeeping and tax business from my home, opening another small business seemed right.

My husband and I started Crafty Threads in 2005 as a Custom Embroidery service.  In 2008 I expanded to include longarm quilting services.  Again, you were so supportive that I started researching opening a brick and mortar quilt shop.

This research included a 3-day Shop Hop on the East Coast of Florida with my friend Cindi C.  We hopped along scoping out shops, looking at layouts and sizes, and talking to shop owners.  Quilters are so sharing, and the owners didn't disappoint as they offered ideas about what to do and what not to do.

It was quickly apparent this meant doing it my way and being different.  There is soooooo much fabric available, as well as, books and patterns.  There is no reason to 'copy' the ideas of another shop.

Crafty Threads Quilt Shop opened in August of 2010 offering what none of the other local shops were offering:  In-house Longarm Quilting, Cuddle, which is Minky on steroids, hand dyed wool, and a large variety of 108" wide backings.

Every job has its down side and I really don't like being in the back doing paperwork because it takes time away from talking to the customers, and I still REALLY enjoy longarm quilting.

It is all worth it though when I get to enjoy my 2 favorite things about owning a quilt shop:

2.  Shopping! Meeting with the fabric reps to buy new fabrics, or shopping at the distributors in search of new patterns, books, and notions to bring you.

1.  Share in the Camaraderie of Quilters!  You bring in some of the best ideas for new items and that allows me to go find it so I can share it with other quilters.

I tell my customers that they are always welcome to come in just to pet the fabric, fondle the wool, or gaze at the shop samples.  You can get your fabric fix without feeling obligated to buy something.

One of our customers wrote on Facebook that we were like the 'Cheers' of quilt shops:

"Everyone knows your name and we're always glad you came"

We ALWAYS are and can't wait to see you again.

Crafty Threads LLC. 12230 Race Track Rd. Tampa FL 33626.

Hours: Mon-Fri: 10-6 open til 9 on Tuesdays! Sat: 10-3 Sun: 11-4

(813) 855-3066