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Post by kristenf on Mar 3, 2015 19:42:18 GMT
Hello, Friends! Thanks in advance for your help! I attend a retreat at The Paper Dollhouse in Sycamore every year (10th Anniversary this year!), and when we all arrive on Thursday, we used to hit Archivers in Downer's Grove when we left O'Hare on the way out to Sycamore/Dekalb.  Last year, we were recommended Memories & Beyond in Downer's Grove. What a nice store-really big! And the ladies there were just lovely  They had tons of product. However, I confess that the way it's broken down into themes across the whole store (though it makes my OCD sing with joy), means they don't seem to focus as much on newly released lines... they seem to carry very few Whole Collections in general (and barely a handful of collection packs). I recall that only a few of the manufacturers I expected to find in such a large store were represented. (I follow the CHA sneak peeks every convention, and make my May Retreat shopping list from the last Summer/Winter CHAs... last year I found nothing on my list ) As I have no LSS, and love to see paper before I buy, AND I buy pretty much exclusively buy collection packs (except that day!), I'm sort of desperately hoping someone might know of another store between O'Hare and Sycamore that is known to carry collections/stock the major well-known manufacturers. If anyone is able to chime in with suggestions, I would be so grateful! *And I would like to reiterate, Memories & Beyond is a GREAT store! My needs/desires are just slightly out of sync with their huge selection!* |
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Post by gizzy on Mar 4, 2015 15:46:30 GMT
The only other store I know of is www.craftfancy.com in Arlington Heights. Not sure if that's between Ohare & Sycamore, though. |
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CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,930 
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Post by CeeScraps on Mar 4, 2015 22:18:27 GMT
Craft Fancy is northwest of the airport. It's in a strip mall on Arlington Heights Road. It's not between O'hare and Sycamore.
A lot of stores have closed. It's so sad.....
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Post by gizzy on Mar 6, 2015 3:44:02 GMT
Thanks, CeeScraps! I'm glad you knew, I'd hate to have her going the opposite direction from where she's headed.
I miss the days of finding scrapbook stores in nearly every city.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Mar 8, 2015 17:35:41 GMT
The Goose Barn is still open in Rockford, IL. It's located in an old barn! I'd say it's more stamping and paper crafting than scrapbooking really, but she does have a LOT of cool stuff in there that I haven't seen anywhere else. It's worth a look if you're going to be in the area. The Goose Barn |
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Post by Prenticekid on Mar 8, 2015 22:05:59 GMT
I love the Goose Barn. The funny thing about stamping stores like the Goose Barn - they were around before the scrapbooking heyday, and often are still there. In Pittsburgh, we have StampFanci for instance...just a tiny little store like the Goose Barn, but still there for the faithful shoppers.
At any rate, based on the OP, who doesn't care for a large store because of the way it is stocked, she isn't going to want to walk up creaky stairs to a tiny paper crafting heaven full of treasures, some of which you have to dig for. LOL
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crazyrn
Full Member
Posts: 129
Jun 30, 2014 3:56:41 GMT
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Post by crazyrn on Mar 9, 2015 2:59:42 GMT
I loved the Goose Barn! I haven't been there in years. I'm glad to hear they are still open. I used to work in Rockford and would leave early for my shift to shop there. I live close to Memories and Beyond. I also am not a big fan of the way they stock. But it's nice that there is a Michael's, Joann's and Tuesday Morning all in the same area so I can hit them all in one trip.
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Post by kristenf on Mar 10, 2015 21:26:20 GMT
I love the Goose Barn. The funny thing about stamping stores like the Goose Barn - they were around before the scrapbooking heyday, and often are still there. In Pittsburgh, we have StampFanci for instance...just a tiny little store like the Goose Barn, but still there for the faithful shoppers. At any rate, based on the OP, who doesn't care for a large store because of the way it is stocked, she isn't going to want to walk up creaky stairs to a tiny paper crafting heaven full of treasures, some of which you have to dig for. LOL Oh, we are willing to dig until the cows come home! (/intentional farm reference!) We used to squeal with glee digging through the clearance bins at Archivers, and while a rich treasure trove indeed, wasn't nearly so charming  And I cannot believe that this place is in a barn, you guys have no idea... our first year we booked our weekend at the Old Geneva Dairy scrap retreat in IN, which was in a barn-the scraproom was in the barn loft! Admittedly, very cool. We booked there the second year, too, but to make a long story short, it sort of hit the fan for the owner, and he had to put us up in a hotel, which we've dubbed "The Bates," and we'll just leave it at that.  The Dairy never re-opened, but we're left with some very interesting stories! Suffice it to say, Barns have a special meaning for us!!! About Memories and Beyond, it's DEFINITELY not that it's not big enough... I think it's almost as big as the Archivers was! And super organized, loads of cute stuff. Literally every theme you can imagine. I can understand why collection packs don't fit in so well with their format. And heaven knows, if we do go back there, I will not leave empty handed! Craft Fancy might be perfect! It's 22min from O'Hare, and 58min from Sycamore! I think that's actually closer than Downer's Grove! I will definitely be sharing this with my group as the front-runner. Thank you! The Goose Barn looks adorable! But it's over an hour from O'Hare, then another 40min back to Sycamore... and it looks like they only carry 8.5x11 paper except the hand-made paper, according to their website. It's good to have it on the list though! They've been there for 20 years! And while I hope the other stores last forever, it's nice to know of a mainstay Thanks everyone, for the input! So appreciated!!! |
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Post by scrappingbuckeye on Mar 15, 2015 3:05:49 GMT
Don't feel bad, I was not a fan of how that store was organized either. I shop by brand not theme so I feel your pain. My LSS here in MI has sort of a combo of both ways. New stuff is put of by brand and certain brands stay out of the theming ie. Bo Bunny, Simple Stories etc. Other things move to theme based as it gets older I think.
It's a personal preference really, like Coke vs. Pepsi. |
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Post by kristenf on Mar 19, 2015 22:17:24 GMT
So, I just saw the thread posted on 3/12 that Memories and Beyond is closing Oy, the guilt! Seriously though, I'm so sorry they're closing. |
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They had tons of product. However, I confess that the way it's broken down into themes across the whole store (though it makes my OCD sing with joy), means they don't seem to focus as much on newly released lines... they seem to carry very few Whole Collections in general (and barely a handful of collection packs). I recall that only a few of the manufacturers I expected to find in such a large store were represented. (I follow the CHA sneak peeks every convention, and make my May Retreat shopping list from the last Summer/Winter CHAs... last year I found nothing on my list 
The Dairy never re-opened, but we're left with some very interesting stories! Suffice it to say, Barns have a special meaning for us!!!