Testimonials :

This is a sad time indeed! Words can not begin to express the void that I already feel with your decision to close your "beautiful" store. I treasure my visits to your store and the gift of your friendship. Selfishly speaking, I will miss the therapy sessions. No matter how badly I was feeling, I always left feeling refreshed, renewed and ready to tackle the next hurdle. I am sure this was not an easy decision to make. My prayer is that God will sustain you thru the weeks ahead. I'm sure they will be filled with sadness and joy!!

With love and prayers,

Barbara A.

Sarasota, FL

TO MY MADE FOR MEMORIES FRIENDS:

In 2003, my oldest daughter, Sara, became engaged and quickly decided she wanted her invitations "hand-made".  It was a really busy year for us. In March we had found and rented the "cottage", and after several setbacks, including 2 surgeries, we finally made it to Sarasota in December.  I knew I had work to do.

Having done a little scrap booking but no card making, I had to find somewhere and someone to help. and quick.  I remember the exact day I walked in to Made For Memories.  After about 2 minutes, I proclaimed to Ade, "I'm going to be your new best friend!"  Ironically, Pat  was in the store that day also.  I spent hours picking minds, pouring over papers, and slowly but surely, I knew, Yes, I could do this.  They came out perfect, and Sara loved them.  Of course, that was just the beginning of my now LOVE of this marvelous hobby.  I took every class I could and practically lived at the "store".  I spent so much time there, I also remember the day Ade said " You should just work here".  Of course, I was overjoyed, because by this time I not only had Ade for a best friend, I had made plenty of others.  

A second wedding, Kate's, came about, more "save the dates" ( flip flops, most of you will remember?) place cards, table favors, menu cards.. they were all shared with you.  Wedding albums, and now baby albums, all done with care at a store I have come to love.  My daily calendar never said work, it always said simply "store".  "Teaching" classes was just a way of "sharing"  the fun, the joy, the adventure of creating something beautiful with all of you.

Now, I find myself, along with Margaret, Jenny, Ade and her family, facing the closing of Made For Memories.  As difficult as this is to adjust to, it is, for me, more difficult to think of what not only I will miss in the future, but what others will also miss.  For those who might never know the joy of walking into Made for Memories and being awe struck by the sheer beauty of this store.  For those who might never know the joy of making a scrapbook layout, and then sharing it with friends, and patrons, who could experience that moment with you all over again.  For those who will no longer have a place to tell their stories, happy or sad, long or short.  For those who will not be as lucky as I was to have found these "best friends".   

I want to thank every one of you for being there with me.  There has been much in the last six years you have helped to get me through, so much joy you have shared with me, there are no words to tell you how much it has meant.  So, to Ade, who is now more than a friend, to a group of ladies who know how much I care about them, and to a store that will always remain in my heart, I will miss you all so very very much.

I PROMISE TO REMAIN IN TOUCH! Keep creating and encouraging others to do so.

Love,  

Jeannie

I love you very much. Thank you for sharing yourself with me and my family, but there is a lot more to do!

Susan P.

Sarasota, FL 

As I read your beautifully written Email this morning with tears in my eyes regarding the closing of "Made For Memories", it left me with an overwhelming  sense of sadness in the upcoming loss of a place that I just love & feels like a second home.

Our world is changing and Made For Memories is such a safe haven. A place to forget what is going on outside and just get lost in our projects & learning and spend time with very special women. I have so loved coming to a place where I felt welcome and a part of a wonderful community of women who shared the same interests and were like minded in so many ways.

Made For Memories is a place where everyone can experience and find the extraordinary. Not only extraordinary supplies that can not be found anywhere else, but extraordinary in terms of compassion and caring every time anyone walked into the store. Every customer was always welcomed and treated with such warmth and kindness, care and compassion. Everyone's story mattered. You remembered those stories and always made the time to ask how things were going. Thus the appropriate name of a special place "Made For Memories". No one need to go on an annual treasure hunt. The treasure was at "Made For Memories" and a very special gift awaited anyone who entered those doors.

Thanks for the wonderful gift of yourself that you have given in the past 4 years I have known you. Thanks for all the people whose lives you've blessed with your compassion and gift of listening to their stories. Thanks for "Made For Memories" & for helping others preserve their memories. I will surely preserve mine of a special place where I grew in my own creativity. Thanks for the gift!!!

Love you,

Carol M.

Sarasota, FL

You have truly made your store into a family. It has been a home away from home for all of us and there are no words to express the gratitude I have for your kindness and friendship. I am sad to see the end of what has been no less than a cherished piece of my heart. Please know that you have helped to make many memories that will live with many families for generations to come. Because of you and your dream, I will now be able to fulfill my dream of having something to leave behind. The albums and gifts that I have created through the years will serve, as sweet mementos, of a very special time in my life and documentation of my family that they otherwise would not have had.

Thank you for everything and I will be here for you always!

Love,

Laura Ann O.

Sarasota, FL

Lots of love to you and your family and wishing you only the good things life has to offer as you venture on.

Kim S.

Sarasota, FL

I cried when I read your message, but I marvel at all the good you have done in your 10 years of business. I know that when I lived in Sarasota, you were all an important part of my life. My daughter Sarah always said that MFM was like Mom's "Cheers Bar", the place where everybody knew my name. I wish you and all your wonderful family a truly wonderful life, and all the luck in the world. You surely deserve it. I'm a big believer in Karma-the good you do in the world will some day come back to you.

Hugs and love,

Kathy L.

Pennsylvania

Hugs and gratitude,

Marji B.

Sarasota, FL

I am saddened (as many will be) by the news of the closing of an "icon" scrapbooking store!!! Although I wish much luck to you and your family, we will surely miss this store! I started scrapbooking, or should I say, my addiction with scrapbooking at YOUR store. My daughter and I did a couple "Mommy & Me" classes many years ago and we have gone FULL steam ahead since that time! Times are tough, I have been out of work and can no longer fulfill my addiction. I still scrap, but do so on a shoestring!!! We will surely miss you and your entire staff. I feel like you guys were family!!! Thank you for being there for us, we are here for YOU now!! Best of luck with this tough decision!!!

Karen & Devin

Sarasota, FL

You have touched my life in more ways than you could ever know. As you say, "when God closes a door, he opens a window." Going thru my pictures and putting them into special albums "thru scrapbooking" has brought back many happy memories for myself and for my family. Each scrapbook was made because of the love and commitment to family and friends and that was made possible by our good Lord!! He puts people into our lives when He knows we need it the most. Blessings to you and yours.

Sandy E.

Sarasota, FL

I just wanted to thank you for another wonderful visit to your great store! Wherever we travel, I always hunt for a scrap book store and I was fortunate to find Made For Memories a few years ago. You have the most interesting displays and the best products...and I especially love looking at all of your wonderful projects. You guys have such an inspiring style and I learn so much each time I visit! Most importantly, Ade & Jenny are both so lovely and kind...my favorite destination in Sarasota...right after the beach! Thank you and have a prosperous year!

Lisa Cotton

South Bend, Indiana

I live in Deerfield Beach but was in Sarasota this past weekend. I searched the Internet for Scrapbook Stores, and found yours! I was lucky enough to have Margaret wait on me when I came in the store. She was wonderful, helpful and patient. I found great things and left with what I needed and felt really good about the experience...only sad that you are so far away. You have a GREAT store with special staff and an awesome selection of products. I will definitely visit again the next time I'm in Sarasota. Thank You!

Lynne Eisenberg                                                                                                Deerfield Beach, FL

I loved your store. You have such wonderful travel papers and so many other things that I haven't seen in the stores in my area, and I have quite a few good stores to choose from. They can't compare to your store though. I was very impressed and wish your store was where I live!! I purchased the "Pages By Design" system and even though I was in a rush to leave the store, on our way to Orlando, you were very helpful and even offered assistance via e-mail when I got home. I'm so excited to start scrapbooking this way. If I could offer only one suggestion, it would be nice to have an "ideas" section on your website for those of us who sometimes need inspiration. You had so many great ideas around the store. Thanks again for your kindness and I look forward to visiting your store again the next time I'm in Siesta Key.

Joanne Jones
Batavia, Illinois
 

I just want to say THANK YOU!! I have always had a passion for being creative and crafty. I moved here about 8 months ago and have not been as crafty as I had been in the past, because all that I found was the basic Michaels and Joann's etc. and not knowing the area, didn't know where else to go. I just happened to go by your store on Wednesday and decided to stop in! WOW!! I loved it! Not only did you guys have a huge assortment, but the friendliest people I have ever seen! I didn't feel like a first time shopper, I felt so welcomed and like I had been a customer for years! So, Thank You! You have made me excited to scrapbook again and let my creativeness flow!

Aimee Wallis                                                                                                        Sarasota, FL

You always go beyond what is required to keep your customers informed and happy. It is no wonder you are so successful. My many thanks to you for always being there.

Joan Melley
Sarasota, FL
 

A dear friend of mine who is a regular visitor to Sarasota introduced me to your website after her first visit to your store. I checked the website regularly and love to read about new ideas. In January she came home full of more wonderful ideas and projects and also told me about the great ceiling fan that you had decorated. I thought this would be a great project to do with my daughter who has just purchased several ceiling fans for their first house. Now I am one of those people for whom a picture is worth a thousand words and I was just wondering if there was any way that you could put a picture of this on your website. Someday, I would love come to Sarasota to see your store, but for now I'll just keep checking your website for new fun things including the ceiling fan!

Peggy
Cleaveland, OH

I loved your store, it was stocked with just about anything you could think of for scrapbooking. I've been scrap booking for 5 years now, and try to stay up to date with the latest and greatest, and your store had it. I really loved your 50% off Quickutz stuff. I picked up some great stuff at a great price. I also loved your June raffle drawing, especially since I won a great basket full of stuff.

Valerie

New Mexico

While on vacation in Florida this spring, I was anxious to get some unique Florida items to use for my vacation scrapbook. I visited several stores in the area but was disappointed until I walked into yours! Your store is filled with every category of scrapbook material that one could imagine. You have so many wonderful sample pages on display and everything is so wonderfully organized. I love your class area, it was filled with people busy at work and laughing and having a good time. I only wish I could have stayed and taken a class. Next time for sure! Your staff is friendly and very helpful. My only wish is that I lived near you. How lucky Sarasota is to have Made For Memories!

Connie
Nebraska

I was in your store while on vacation in Siesta Key. I live in Staten Island, NY and was very impressed with your store. I found papers and embellishments that aren't available in the stores I frequent on Staten Island. My friend who lives in Siesta Key has just started scrapbooking and I think you'll have a frequent shopper. I look forward to coming back down next year and visiting your store.

Marilyn Miller
Staten Island, NY

I have visited the Sarasota area at least six times now, and the highlight is ALWAYS the several trips that I make to your store. It is truly my very favorite store and you always have the latest and greatest products! It's like Christmas when I get home and unpack my purchases! I hope you continue to be there for many years to come! I just wish I didn't live so far away!!!! Thanks for always making my vacation so exciting!

Kathy
Anderson, IN

I loved your shop...it's the BEST one I've ever visited in Sarasota!

 

Dr. Sharon M. De Beck
Greenville, NC
 

I always visit your store when I am in Sarasota. It's the best store I've ever shopped! Such a good selection plus the friendly, helpful people. You are the highlight of my trip!

Kathi
Crossville, TN
 

I visited your wonderful store back in Jan. when my partner and I were in town for the dog shows (he's a professional show dog handler, I'm a scrapbook and collage artist from Easton, MD) I love receiving your newsletters and WISH that you could move to the Eastern Shore and open another location here!! I travel all over the country with Greg and try to visit as many scrapbook stores as time permits...your store is one of the BEST!!! You and your staff were so gracious, allowing me to continue to shop past the closing time (I honestly could have spent hours with you!!) and pick up many of the supplies that my business requires. Wish I had a chance to get to your wedding section, I am about to begin a wedding book commission and would have enjoyed all of your wonderful selections! Keep up the good work! Can't wait to return!

Carla Viggiano

Easton, MD