The Localista loves the discoveries to be made every week in the ‘Burg and this week’s very pleasant surprise is Whim So Doodle, a local scrapbooking and lifestyle crafting shop. I’m going to own up right now to not being in the least way a “crafty” kind of gal. In fact, I haven’t even made a scrapbook for my toddler or a handmade card for a friend. Yet, when I walked into this absolutely amazing shop, it made me want to get my craft on! You’ll find albums, adhesives, rows and rows of paper and cardstock, pens, home die cutting systems, idea books, many styles of embellishments, tons of tools, ink pads, wood and acrylic stamps, organizational supplies, stickers, a wall of ribbon and much more!
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Notice I said earlier they’re a lifestyle crafting shop? That’s because it’s not just limited to scrapbooking supplies. Let your imagination run wild and you can create it. Everyone from students at the Aveda Institute to photographers and artists come in to find unique items for their portfolios. One of the best items is an $8 plain frame you can decorate yourself for a treasured one-of-a-kind family heirloom or present, not to mention the amount of love (and fun) that will have gone into making it!
The idea of Whim So Doodle was born in 1994, when two new friends, Jill Orobello and Shirley DeGroot, were chatting about their mutual love of smocking design for children’s clothes. Because of the lack of supplies available locally, these two women decided to open a small shop out of a back room in Beach Drive Papery. Since then, they’ve come a long way to seeing their own daughters help out at The Doodle. Shirley’s daughter, Kristen, continued to work there while studying for her studio art degree and is now one of the shop’s managers. Many of the staff members, known as “Doodle Divas,” have been working together for years. They’re not just incredibly creative and talented, they’re some of the friendliest, most helpful people I’ve ever come across!
Whim So Doodle also offers a wide array of classes in a spacious back room, where the fabric company Fiberologie also operates workshops. The space is also available for birthday parties, showers, team building, etc. For those of you wondering what to do with the kids over the summer, a Kids Camp for ages 8-13 will be offered.
After three years on a wait-list, the shop recently hosted the guru of the paper crafting world, Tim Holtz, whose products it carries and next month the well-known art journaler, Dina Wakley will hold a weekend workshop. The shop goes beyond bringing well-known crafters to St. Pete, though. Over the years its mission has evolved into the idea of crafting to help others. Whether that’s by giving back to the community via outreach projects, donating supplies to local churches, schools and Hospice or just giving those in the crafting community a fun place to gather. That’s what has made Whim So Doodle more than just your local scrapbook store. I’m so thankful to them for helping me realize anyone can be crafty – even the non-scrapbook-making-mommy types out there. Although, guess who’ll be booking their “Beginning Scrapbooking Class” soon? It’s never too late to start preserving your memories!
The Localista always asks business owners what was their favorite book as a child. Jill’s was The Secret Garden.
Whim So Doodle is located at 237 2nd Avenue South and is open Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, Tue from 9:30 am to 8:00 pm and Saturday from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Join them every Tuesday night from 5:00 to 6:00 pm for their Creative Cafe when you can create a simple project to take home.
727-827-4911
*** Photography provided by Featured Artist of the Burg (FAB) Sheri Kendrick of Enchanted Forest Photography (www.efpgallery.com).
“The Localista,” aka Olga Bof, will be opening her own local and independent business, Cheeky Monkeys Books & Toys, later this year in Downtown St. Pete (www.facebook.com/cheekymonkeysbooks for updates).
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