Posterity of the Pottery Shack

Barbara Diamond

With the future of the Pottery Shack up in the air, needleworkers may

be interested in the canvases offered by Strands and Stitches on

South Coast Highway.

“We have an 8- by 6-inch canvas of the Pottery Shack, painted by

Candace Mittman and long-time artist Shay Robb is coming out with an

12- by 12-inch canvas,” said Carol Harrison, one of the five owners

of Strands and Stitches.

Other local scenes captured on canvas include the Sawdust

Festival, Las Brisas, Hotel Laguna, Date Shack, an overview of

Crystal Cove cabins, the Cottage restaurant, Greeter’s Corner and

Forest Avenue.

“These are really special,” said Nancy Kreder, who completes

sample canvases for the store to display. Mittman’s canvases are 13

mesh, which means 13 stitches to the inch, up, down or across, 169

stitches to the square inch.

“They are going out the door like hotcakes,” Harrison said.

Mittman also does 5-inch round canvases of the local scenes.

Robb’s canvases of local scenes and Christmas decorations,

including one with the lifeguard tower, are worked on 18 mesh. The

larger the mesh, the more stitches per inch.

Harrison, a Laguna Beach resident, is the needlepoint expert at

Strands and Stitches. Lisa Triebwasser, Kelley Perry, Cindy Hartman

and Judy Macurda specialize in knitting.

Besides the owner’s expertise, the cozy store offers canvases and

needles; a large inventory of yarns for needlepoint, crocheting and

knitting; pattern books; instructions and helpful advice.

Harrison conducts free needlework classes from 1 to 3 p.m.,

Mondays. Triebwasser holds a free knitting workshop from 10 a.m. to

noon, Wednesdays.

Strands and Stitches was located originally where Cafe Zinc’s

market is now. All five of the current owners worked there.

“When the owner retired, we all threw in to save it,” said

Harrison.

They moved the shop 12 years ago to the little cottage at 1516 S.

Coast Highway, across from the Surf & Sand.

“It’s been a real success,” said Harrison.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays-Saturdays; noon to 5

p.m., Sundays.

For more information, call (949) 497-5648.

HOMETOWN BARBECUE

The annual Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce Hometown Barbecue is

set for 5 p.m., July 5 at Wells Fargo Bank parking lot.

Tickets are $15, at the parking lot entrance or in advance at the

chamber office, 357 Glenneyre Street, next door to the Friends of the

Laguna Beach Library Bookstore, under the Orange County Library

branch.

Combination tickets for the barbecue and Pageant of the Masters

performance are sold out.

For more information, call (949) 494-1018.

LIFE’S A BEACH

Beaches and Cream opened recently, but it’s kind of hard to spot.

The tiny eatery is tucked in behind the stairs of the Collection

in the 500 block of South Coast Highway.

Owners Steve and Jill Hanoka put up an A-frame sign to attract

passing customers, but the city cited them for violating the sign

ordinance.

“I need the signage for visibility,” Jill Hanoka said. “There is

no visibility from the sidewalk.”

Hanoka was under the impression that she didn’t need a sign permit

for the A-frame where she displayed it. She said the sign information

she was given said the city opposes signs in the public right of way

(sidewalks, streets).

“But I had my sign on the steps to the patio, with the approval of

the property owner,” Hanoka said.

The problem was that Hanoka had failed to get a permit for a

permanent sign and she had already exceeded the time limit for

temporary signage, said Mayor Cheryl Kinsman, to whom Hanoka appealed

for help.

Kinsman advised her to apply for a permanent sign permit.

Hanoka describes herself as an extrovert, and she will need

perseverance as well as a bubbly personality to make a go of the

shop.

To date, at least five different owners have tried to make a

lasting success of a lasting success of a business at the location.

In its latest incarnation, the shop offers fish and chips, panini

sandwiches, salads, Lappert’s Ice cream imported from Hawaii, soft

drinks, iced tea and specialty coffees.

“I really know coffee because we also have a coffee shop in

Mission Viejo,” Hanoka said.

Store hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., weekdays, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.,

Fridays and Saturdays.

For more information, call (949) 494-9306.

* DOING BUSINESS is a periodic feature of the Laguna Beach

Coastline Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Mail to Barbara Diamond,

P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; fax to (949) 494-8979;

hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22; or call (949) 494-4321.