City Needlework

I was so l pleased with the Christmas ornaments this shop finished for me. I searched the Internet for some competitive pricing and the owner responded so quickly to me and even called me to discuss the finishing– she is very nice, had the work completed well before I asked for it. The ornaments are so professionally done. I can’t wait to give them as gifts. I will definitely send her any other work even though I live in the east coast and she is west coast — it is very easy to do business with her. Other shops are so hard to deal with and a lot more expensive. It seems that most needlepoint stores are owner operated and these owners don’t care about Internet business or don’t cater to it. Elena was great and I am very happy

This is actually the second review I’m leaving because mysteriously the first BAD review disappeared. So, just to review what happened: I ordered some specialty threads that I was told they’d be in the store in 2 weeks. I never got a phone call. Not a problem… I know, sometimes customers fall between the cracks, so 3 weeks later, I called the store and the person who picked up the phone sounded bored and less than miserable to try and help me. She said she had no idea where my threads were, and that it wasn’t her fault. I didn’t care whose fault it was, I just wanted my threads. She also kept trying to tell me that Elena was going to call me back. (I never did get a call back — so that’s how much the manager really wanted to help me). So, after I got off the phone with her, I called another local needlework store and not only did they have the threads in stock, by golly, they’d keep them by the register waiting for me! I called City Needlework back to let them know that I would not need the threads after all. The same bored and miserable worker who I spoke with before said that I couldn’t cancel my order then, that they were on their way and that I would have to wait until Elena got in. I told her it didn’t matter, that another needlework store with much BETTER customer service had taken care of me.

I’m on the east coast and in desperation contacted Elena to finish a stocking that, according to any local finisher, couldn’t be finished as it was too close to Christmas. Elena not only got the job done, but it is stunning! I am thrilled and my niece, the recipient of the stocking, cried with joy (I’m told) when she opened her beautiful stocking. It is hard to let go of a piece that so much love, work and hours have been poured into, and trust that expectations will be fulfilled. They were fulfilled and more. I wish I lived closer: I would frequent the shop personally. As it is, I will use only Elena and her team to finish any needle work I complete. Thank you, Elena. I am so very pleased!

The owner of this shop, Elena, is a delight. She is generous with her time, willing to teach new stitches and suggest color combinations for your canvas. City Needleworks is a community, a lovely to drop by and stitch with others who enjoy needle pointing.

A charming, friendly shop, with a little something for everyone. In fact I had a hard time walking out with just one canvas and some lovely silk floss to go with it (it is their own line of floss, and very well priced indeed). I will definitely be back!

A very competent, action packed little shop. What makes City stand out from the «crowd» is their combination of wide selection of canvases and an owner who really gets it and is willing to go the extra mile to help her customers.
Typically such shops have trunk shows come through on a sporadic basis and they are left with dregs to pick over. Everyone touts how they have special, exclusive relationships with certain artists. End of the day, folks just want a decent variety of canvases to chose from on an ongoing basis.
After making samplers for each of my children when they were born, my goal for this year was to make a Christmas ornament for each reflecting their personality. (I still have 10 months or so to go, but at my procrastination and potential to get side tracked, I figured I should start early.) From a wide selection, I could only find a canvas for a stocking-​shape with a soccer motif. Perfect for my 10-​year old, but I needed to foremost find something for my daughter. The owner, Elena really got what I was after and helped comb all the catalogs to finally find a design of Clara in ballet shoes carrying a nutcracker. Perfect. After finding a playful snowman stocking shape for my other son, Elena then helped me get them all aligned. She would expand the borders on the designs and write the names on each so they would be comparable. All at no additional cost.
A needlepoint habit is not for the faint of finances. One little ornament can easily end up costing over $ 100 for a canvas, thread and finishing. At least City appreciates how things can add up doesn’t pressure customers to buy everything they would ever need each time they walk into the shop — its more about building a long term relationship.
This is all in sharp contrast with another unnamed needlepoint shop in the area which was extremely unhelpful in meeting my project objectives. Selection was extremely limited (to a little box) and describing my aims was met with immediate skepticism and attitude that if they don’t have what I’m looking for, I can commission an artist to design from scratch. They became more adamant about their position the more I protested about having seen elements of what I was looking for at City. i stormed out when I was told that my kids should appreciate whatever I make for them. If they don’t like it, I must have not raised them properly about the virtues of gratitude.

Great store with a wide variety of canvases. The salespeople are very knowledgable and helpful.