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When Megan first became a part of the Erk family, she found that she and her new stepdaughter, Cicek, shared a love for making jewelry out of beads. As their relationship grew, so too did their interest in beading, and Megan introduced Cicek to the art of quilting. In time the family began scouring different lands in search of quality beads and fabric.
About one month ago, the Erks opened up the beading and quilting supply store Natural Expressions of Los Gatos in the downtown area. After considering locations in Saratoga, Campbell and Willow Glen, the Erks decided to set up shop in Los Gatos, where Megan and her husband now live.
"We figured there would definitely be a market for this here," says Megan.
"Our number one choice was Los Gatos. We just didn't think we'd find" an available space so soon, Cicek says. The family chose Los Gatos for its small-town feel, says Cicek, who grew up in Monte Sereno.
Shoppers who enter the store are dazzled by an assortment of colored beads that represent every continent except Antarctica. A former anthropology and sociology professor, Megan says she wanted the merchandise to be cultural. The Erks have traveled to China, Hawaii, the southwestern part of North America and other places to find the right selection.
From common beads and the semiprecious to vintage Bavarian glass and Australian crystals, Natural Expressions offers individual beads valued between 5 cents and $3.25. Customers can purchase strands of beads for $2 or $100. Large shells and other loose pieces of jewelry are marked at $6.50 and up.
Some necklaces come ready-made, but individuals with a knack for design might choose to fashion their own accessories. For about $20, shoppers can purchase large individual pieces of jewelry and string them together as one necklace, says Cicek.
Further inside the store, shoppers will find a selection of 100-percent cotton fabric perfect for quilting and other sewing projects. Some of the materials are flannel and others are hand-dyed fabrics from Indonesia. The bulks of fabric range from sophisticated prints to fun prints of animals or sports equipment to help accent a child's room. Prices typically range from $5 to $10.50 per yard.
For customers who need extra help in selecting colors that would go together nicely, sets of five to eight smaller samples of complementary fabric are available for $12 to $20.
Natural Expressions also sells books on beading and quilting, quilt kit designs and other supplies for beading and quilting.
Additionally, the store offers beginning, intermediate and advanced beading and quilting classes. Beading classes last one hour and cost $15. Quilting classes run for three hours and cost $40 to $45.
Roughly 25 people have signed up for classes, according to Megan. Many of the students are adults with no prior sewing experience and women who sign up along with their children. Instructions are offered to anyone age 9 and up. As interest in the classes has begun to grow, people are beginning to sign up 11/2 months in advance.
"If the store wasn't in Los Gatos, I don't think we would have" gone into business, Cicek says.
Natural Expressions of Los Gatos, located at 326 N. Santa Cruz Ave., is open daily except Monday. For more information, call 408.354.5330.
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Photograph by George Sakkestad