By Char Schneider

Where can I buy my fabric and craft supplies?” This question would definitely have been asked by any of the early residents of The Woodlands who liked to sew, knit, crochet, or do cross-stitch. The answer  to it was simple: The Needle Nest on Sawdust Road.

The shop opened in 1976 at the junction of Sawdust Road and South Millbend. In the early years this was the closest and best place to shop. The original proprietor was Joyce Godfrey. At first the store hours were quite limited because Joyce worked full time at Wilkerson teaching reading.

About 1982 or 1983 Joyce stopped teaching and started running the shop full time. She was a very knowledgeable and experienced craftperson. However, anytime you went in the store you could usually find other experienced ladies as well, if you needed advice.

It wasn’t very long before Joyce’s business outgrew its humble beginnings. At that point she built her new building around the corner, but still on Sawdust.  She was so excited about her new store because it was also her new home. The lower floor was devoted entirely to the store, along with a room for classes. The upper floor was her large residence. She continued to live there the rest of her life.

Even as it became difficult for her to work, Joyce was still in the store to visit or give advice or suggestions. She was truly a wonderful, old-fashioned, “small business” owner. Even though chain stores moved into the area in the later years, The Needle Nest was still the place to go for the hard-to-find items. Joyce carried older crochet patterns and yarns that were difficult to find in the chains.

A few years back Joyce sold the store and reduced the focus of the shop, but she continued to be ever-present. Since her death the property has been sold and will soon be another set of office condominiums. However, those of us who shopped there or knew her will always think of that corner as The Needle Nest.