Business Spotlight: Come to the Point

Come to the Point
10 California Ave.
415-485-4942
www.cometothepoint.com

What do they offer?

Come to the Point is a needlework and craft supply store offering countless colors of thread, needles, canvases, full craft kits, books, custom canvas painting, finishing and a place for needlepoint artisans to come together.

Who are they?

Owner Michelle Hufford has four decades of experience in needlework. Her lifelong passion and art has become her business. A Marin County resident since 1974, Hufford currently resides in Sun Valley, a close walk from her store located on California Avenue. She is well known in the needlepoint world, having been granted the honor, in the mid '90s, to have her work used on one of the choir chairs being revamped for the 150th anniversary of the founding of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. There is also a piece of her craftsmanship at the Vatican, by way of Roots of Peace, as a needlepoint wine holder of her design was presented to the Pope by Roots founder and fellow Marin resident Heidi Kuhn.

How long have they been there?

Come to the Point has been open for business for seven years, with four years in it’s current Sun Valley location.

Why are they in our spotlight?

As a former educator with a M.A. in Education, Hufford is no stranger to instruction. Although she no longer offers group classes, she will absolutely sit down for a private session to help a beginner gain confidence in their tent or basic stitch, a style of stitch on which she has written on extensively.

In addition to her stitching prowess, Hufford has always had the eye for color matching. Anyone wanting to work a canvas but not sure which colors are required simply need to come in and chat with her for a few minutes before she’s grabbing the perfect selection of threads for the project.

Needlepoint inventory gets expensive and the variety of threads runs in the hundreds. Although Come to Point only carries 20 to 35 lines of threads, Hufford is willing and very happy to special order anything a customer might want for their project. The store will ship product all over the United States, and carries specialized lines of cotton threads from Presencia, a Spanish line that prefers independent craft stores as opposed to big box retail chains.

An in-house finisher will turn a needlepoint canvas into any number of fabulous works, including pillows, blankets, artwork, tote bags, holiday ornaments and more. The quality of the finish at Come to the Point is well known in the needlepoint world. Once a crafter from Saint Joseph, Mich.,  sent a canvas to the store to be finished, as there were no shops for her work within 75 miles of her home.

Hufford welcomes customers to come in, browse, or stay a while in the warm nook often used by people wanting to find a peaceful, meditative spot for their craft. Needlepoint work is a one-person job but it’s always a good idea to get feedback from other stitchers, which is why every Friday artisan will gather at the store for input, advice and suggestions. Come to the Point supports others in the needlework craft, offering 10 percent discounts to any guild members.

Did you know?

Come to the Point also has a free weekly newsletter offering tips, ideas and suggestions on varied subjects including stitch guides for canvases, references to other handy online guides such as History of Needles and more.