A stitch in time

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/06/2022 (359 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

People’s desire to try something new during our enforced isolation of the pandemic has benefited a St. Vital business.

Barbara Best, owner of Lizzy B’s Needle Art and Custom Picture Framing, said existing and new customers ordered cross stitch, embroidery and needlepoint kits and supplies online during the past two years when her physical shop was closed.

“People were inspired to take stitching up. We already had most of our inventory on our website.”

Best credits her husband with photographing the hundreds of colours of embroidery floss and tapestry yarn she keeps in stock. This allowed customers to easily order by number using the business’ website.

While the crafting side of her business remained viable, the picture framing side dropped off since it’s difficult to order a custom frame online due to the many options, said Best.

She’s happy to be able to welcome customers back in-person and to show off her new location at 39 St. Anne’s Rd. – just south of the St. Mary’s and St. Anne’s junction. Best moved her business from her former location on St. Mary’s Road about six months ago. She said she was looking for a smaller shop in a building that she could buy in St. Vital.

“I wanted to stay in this area because I live in this area. I grew up here too – in Elm Park.”

Best took over the needle art and custom framing business about four years ago and, with the new premises, she’s eager to welcome crafters of all skill levels. A group of stitchers is now meeting there on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9. Best plans to start offering classes soon, with the first one likely being an introduction to embroidery.

Asked if she’ll be the instructor, Best laughed and said she’s not adept enough as she hadn’t even tried needle art when she first bought the business.

“I didn’t do any of this stuff,” she said. But since that time she’s learned and now has one of her completed pictures displayed just inside her front door.

The new location is much smaller than the previous retail space, but Best loves it. “It’s got a homier feel to it.”

She’s managed to make good use of the space, with the shop in front and her office and the picture framing area in the back.

Best was pleased to see some colourful tulips bloom in her shop’s front yard in May as they are her favourite flower. She plans to use an area behind the building for a garden and possibly as a site for outdoor classes.