Petunia’s Buttons and Crafts; Small space,
big surprises at new business
Published:  April 29, 2015

There’s buttons and bows and lace and embroidery floss, buttons and knitting needles and crochet supplies, yarn, greeting cards, gift certificates, fabric remnants and buttons, as well as handmade clothing and hats, jewelry, yarn, accessories and even more buttons at a new shop in Santa Paula for crafters and those that love the unique.

Petunia’s Buttons and Crafts, all 284-packed-square-feet of it, is now open at 201 S. 10th St. Suite G (just south of Ventura Street) where the store is drawing shoppers that are delighted at the specialized inventory so close to home.

And that means for those living in Ojai, Fillmore and even Ventura who are also delighted at the eclectic assortment of custom clothing, hats and accessories as well as Bee Naked beauty products sharing space with buttons and craft items.

Owner Anna Ward, a native of Poland who moved with her husband from Culver City to Santa Paula in 2012 said, “I used up every inch of wall and floor space,” for her inventory.

Anna will put together gift baskets for those who want to give their crafty friends something unique to their crafting tastes or help select those perfect buttons from an inventory that contains thousands.

Already the owner of a successful online button business, Anna had been thinking of a specialty shop since January and after driving by several times the South 10th Street space caught her interest.

Working with her in-laws, Petunia’s Buttons and Crafts opened March 31 and people have been coming in ever since.

Many, Anna noted, “Are surprised how much stuff I’ve been able to put in a small space like this…my customers are the experts,” that are teaching Anna about their crafts at the same time they are purchasing the items they need.

“I have learned so much…buttons I know but for everything else it’s a learning curve,” knowledge garnered from those that Anna said are “experts in their fields” of fabric crafts and arts.

She promises an ever-changing inventory although the basics will stay just that: Anna is a careful shopper and passing along deals and closeouts to her customers, including sweater-in-a-bag kits perfect for beginners that has everything one would need except knitting needles.

Petunia’s will also be offering classes and a knitting circle taught by an expert: Monday will be a children’s beginning crochet class as well as a separate class for adults and Wednesday beginning knitting for adults.

“I really have grown fond of yarn,” said Anna, who admitted, “I had no idea there is such an enormous variety!”

Buttons she is more comfortable with: there is a healthy dose of vintage and other unique looks among her inventory guaranteed to make any shirt or jacket look new again.

“People can bring in a shirt they love and put new buttons on it,” either to match the old look or to bring new life to a wearable friend.

Even a plain shirt can be saved with great buttons to “make it something special…”

Anna said an influence on opening the business was the complaints of her friends who had no place local to shop for the supplies, accessories and equipment needed in sewing, crocheting, knitting and other fabric arts.

“They had to drive out of town for the simplest things,” said Anna and out-of-towners are enjoying the wide selection in the easy to make a selection store.

“This is so unique!” exclaimed Patricia Hernandez of Santa Paula who came in to purchase some elastic to finish a Salena costume for her 5-year-old niece. 

An artist, Patricia was quite taken with the colorful and diverse inventory offered by Petunia’s Buttons and Crafts and said she would not only be back but also let others know it is open for business.

With Mother’s Day on May 10th, Anna is planning on selling plenty of gift certificates or making custom baskets crafted to each creative passion. 

Petunia’s also offers jeweled pins, flower bedecked summer hats and handmade clothing items — from soft shirts to flowing skirts — in summery patterns. There is even a line of custom greeting cards featuring photos of the fabric craft supplies displayed in Austrian shops.

Anna said, “I’m really excited,” about opening Petunia’s and pleased at the welcoming remarks she has received from customers.

Petunia’s Buttons and Crafts is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, call 805-518-9679.




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