Plainview store gives 'crafty' folks a place to thrive

Crafty people have a new place to do their thing in Plainview.
Piece by Piece Creative Collaboration, which opened Sept. 4 at 401 W. Broadway, offers quilting and sewing supplies, paint-on-canvas kits and card-making kits, supplies, tools and guidance for take-home projects, and educational classes.
Classroom space is available for teaching classes or as a retreat center in the big building, which has housed Bates Variety Store, Firzlaff's Variety Store, and the Auto Value auto parts store.
"This is a place for crafters, artists, and people who don't take themselves very seriously. This is for anybody," owner Belinda Strain said. "You don't need to be artistic. If you follow some steps to create something, you're going to gain experience and you're going to get the courage to try it on your own. You've got to just take that first step."
Strain worked alongside her father, Bruce Firzlaff, from 1991 through 2018 at Auto Value. She also taught sewing and crafts at Kelley's Quality Sewing in Rochester, before owners John and Darlene Kelley retired and sold their business in March, and she works part-time as a licensed office professional at Thrivent Financial in Plainview.
She missed being with fellow crafters when the Kelleys retired. And she knew of a certain building at 401 W.

If you'd like to read more about Plainview's new business 'Piece by Piece,' login to your online subscription of the Plainview News or purchase a Sept 12 edition on stands now.