Needlework Vault

I visited NOLA for the first time this past week and I was delighted as my partner and I rode by on a local bus I spotted the Needlework Vault and we had to stop! I was so excited. There are so few brick and mortar small business needlework shops. I am always looking for Rainbow Gallery thread, Splendor and when I stepped into the store - there was a whole display! I was thrilled but my excitement was quickly dampened by the store clerk when I was promptly asked "What can I do for you?" in a horribly cold voice, from the back of the store. This woman made no attempt to get up as I came in and I explained I was very excited to be in a store that sold embroidery supplies and I make it a point to check them out when I come across one. She told me "We don't sell embroidery supplies." I looked at her and the thread and back at her and I said "You have embroidery floss right here." She said again "We don't sell embroidery supplies" and made no attempt at all to inquire if I needed something specific, if she could help me find something or order me something because clearly a store that might not sell embroidery specific supplies has access to catalogues that carry it. Not to mention there are always the ubiquitous accessories, needles and junk that ANY needleworker can use. See, I have worked customer service my whole life and I pretty much have never felt so unwelcome in any small business establishment as this space. I didn't want to leave because I needed to purchase this particular silk thread they had a giant display of. I took myself over to the floss and started to color match to my piece that I am working on, when I travel I always carry something with me. As my husband and I looked at the thread and he helped me pick out colors this clerk came over to us and stood about 4 feet behind and just watched as we selected threads. I finally turned and asked her if she needed something because she was making me so uncomfortable and irritated at her rudeness. She made some noises and then told me my piece was "cute" - a four letter insult in itself, I don't care if she thought it wasn't. Firstly, I don't see how she could have even properly seen it since it was in my lap and I was kneeling. Secondly, woman - you really need to work on your manners and passive aggressive tone. She finally walked off to the sales desk which was directly NEXT to the display. Meanwhile up until this point she had been perfectly content to sit on her butt at the back of the store and not ask us if we needed help. The only kindness either woman (there were two in shop) showed us was when we laid out the money for the thread I had selected and at $4.50 a card this thread is not cheap. Then they joked and chatted with us as if they hadn't been assuming we would make off with a whole bunch of specialty silk thread for some black market. I would have bought SO much more if I didn't feel so unwelcome by these two gatekeepers. Just to give any readers perspective : I am a young, 30-something, heavily tattooed, white woman. I might not look like a serious needlework enthusiast but I am currently in the running for a highly coveted needlework job for the government in my home city. I hate to deter anyone from supporting a local business so I would implore this business to instead WELCOME every single person who chooses your shop over Amazon and other internet shops ESPECIALLY when you have no idea who or what they do. If I'm ever back in NOLA I don't know if I would bother patronizing this store again, it's just too...cute.

Love this place. Quickly ran in on this visit and found lots of new items. Very friendly staff. Another great block to check out on your visit to New Orleans and Gris Gris is not too far excellent food.

I visited NO in Dec '12. Gussie, from this shop, is the sister of a friend, and she took me to 4-5 shops in NO. While with her, I mentioned a particular Melissa Shirley canvas I wanted. Gussie graciously volunteered to make up a stitching guide for me. When I told her I had to save up for the canvas, she said that would be no trouble, just contact her when I was ready.As she was willing to take this time for me, I decided to purchase the canvas and threads from this shop. Over 6 months later I had my "pin money" finally saved up.Once I contacted the shop and placed my order, it was less than 3 weeks until I had the stitching guide, threads, and canvas. They keep me appraised of the time line of my order, made sure that I would be working with fibers I like (no pearle cotton or wool), and even painted on the personalization I was going to need. And the name matched the style of the canvas so much it looks like it came from the M.S. studios that way!!While I have local shops I will continue to patronize, I will continue to use Needlepoint Vault for those special items I can't get locally or can only get on-line. They have become my favorite non-food shopping spot in NO!!

Great selection of New Orleans ornaments and threads. Friendly staff! A must visit for stitchers when in NOLA!

This store opened in summer of 2012 and seems to be a spinoff (former employee starting her own place I think) of a needlework shop about a block further on. This is a nice big space with a well lit seating area and a friendly owner. The yarn selection is thin though. Prices seem standard, with nothing on sale. Perhaps more of a needlework place.

I was so excited to discover this shop on a recent NOLA visit. It's a wonderful space andI love their selection of Louisiana-themed canvases, especially the wonderfully unique voodoo doll canvases. I bought a small stocking but plan on ordering one, if not both, of the other canvases.

I use to needlepoint, but that was 30 years ago and I had forgotten EVERYTHING. I felt like an idiot. The women here were incredible - sweet, helpful, encouraging, and extremely knowledgeable. Gusie gave me a private lesson and I'm going back for another. She's a doll!This shop's needlepoint roots go back to the old Needleworks shop on Tulane Avenue and New Orleans needlepoint icon Margee Farris. Need I say more?I must finish a pillow and two aged Christmas stockings, but I have my eye on two of their belts - a classic streetcar belt and a Saints belt.The space is wonderful, airy and bright and huge, I couldn't be more pleased. I'm so delighted that I found this place.

I was on vacation and went with a friend who's a much better knitter than I am. Usually, when she and I go places, I pretty much get shoved to the side while she talks super-knitting with whoever. This time, one of the shop girls led to me a real good project for my level and showed me how to pick up stitches for the pattern, making sure I had it good before I left.My friend found just what she wanted and ended up talking to another lady. There were several people, all women, on the floor, and they were all joking around and giving us a very nice time. What I really liked, though, was they never stopped being friendly even when I didn't bye anything and said I was a tourist. I was on a super-tight budget for the trip. They just kept giving me great advice and told me about their web site.I'll definitely be back next visit!

They're still a pretty new store, so they're obviously building up their inventory, but the staff couldn't be more helpful or nice and will order whatever you want at no extra cost, except shipping, if you want it.I love the local stuff. Needlepoint canvases with New Orleans icons and images painted by one of the owners and a selection of yarn spun by New Orleans spinners. They'll also custom-paint canvases.Customers are welcome to sit on the sofas and hang out while they knit or needlepoint or whatever. Wish they had longer hours, but this is definitely worth a visit.

The shop ladies were friendly and helpful. Selection of mostly cotton, which is understandable considering the warm climate. But, knowing all the cotton yarns available (I work in a yarn store in WI) I was disappointed to see how limited their cotton selection was, mostly worsted weight. There is so much more out there in cotton yarn: lace, fingering, sport, DK and even bulky! Their yarns and notions are not stickered with prices. By the way, they also have a small selection of needlepoint canvases, of which I know very little, so I feel I must not comment on that.