Eclectica - Memphis, Tennessee

I really enjoyed my visit to Memphis, especially my time at Eclectica (a gigantic stamp and scrapbook store owned by Rhonda, left, and Ellen, on the right)! I taught two workshops on a very hot afternoon, while Monica and the kids explored the city a bit. Eclectica had a huge inventory of stamping and scrapbooking supplies, as well as a spacious classroom area for classes and crops.

What really struck me was how organized the store was - they had created several boards of Memory Box die cut samples, for example, over the die section, to show customers how all of the dies looked once cut out. Here's a few:

The two "bows" shown above are the dies from the 98197 Crisp Bows pack.

This swirling snowflake line is the 98171 Frosty Border

They combined two dies beautifully here, the 98191 Grapevine Wreath and the 98160 Perched Reedbird. Don't they look great together? The wreath can be decorated with all sorts of things!

 The Bianca Snowflake (98193) is super-intricate, and cuts out every little detail (hint, use a piece of wax paper between your die and cardstock when running everything through your die cut machine - it will make the paper release easier).

There were plenty of Memory Box samples around the store, including the Orchid stamp (G1718) above. Tons of beautiful ideas to get you going, so be sure and stop by!

We left that day thinking about ribs, coconut cream pie and duck parades (didn't see the duck parade, so I'll have to go back!) - and loving Memphis. We couldn't have had a nicer time! We did receive a "hot tip" on a cupcakery (that's a cupcake bakery you know) called Muddy's, but unfortunately had to leave too early and they hadn't opened up (even when the 4 of us stared through the shop window!) - will have to report on that one in another class tour!

Comments

[Katherine]

Dave,
I recently met with you at Impress in Tukwilla. I let you know I would be moving to Charleston SC and that there are no local store carrying your products :(
I'm tracking down any local store owners I can to petition for Memory Box products! I miss not being able to go down the road to Impress and see you and all of your wonderful new products. And, of course, being able to pick them up right there in the store. The online stores that carry your products are not as quick to provide them as the wonderful Impress!

Waiting, impatiently, in Charleston,
Katherine

[Lola G.]

I'm practically hyperventilating at the look of those bow dies!! What a fabulous idea -- I can't wait to bring some home -- thank you so much for the fabulous products you bring to this wonderful world of crafting!