Cindy Cooper managed doctors’ offices for many years before retiring in 2012. In her next stage of life, Cooper turned her hobby into a business when she purchased an existing yarn shop in Shorewood and changed the name to Elemental Yarns.
In November 2014, her daughter, Laurie Cooper, joined the business full time with the opening of their second store at 74 W. Van Buren in Oswego. The new store is located near the corner of Main and Van Buren in downtown Oswego.
“We love the charm of the downtown area,” says Laurie Cooper.
In April, their Shorewood store relocated to downtown Plainfield.
Elemental Yarns carry a variety of colorful yarns and specialty fibers, many which are produced and dyed locally and in smaller quantities.
“We pride ourselves in carrying unique items with a lot of color choices,” says Cooper.
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Popular brands include Classic Elite, Plymouth and The Fiber Seed. The store also carries hooks, needles, patterns and other items needed to complete a project.
If you can’t get into the store, all items are available for sale at their online store. The items will be pulled from the shelves by a store employee and shipped directly to the customer.
With the handmade craft movement on the rise, many people are looking to learn or expand their knitting and crocheting skills, according to Cooper.. Elemental Yarns offers classes for all levels of expertise. The classes are small, ranging from six to 10 people and are taught by independent teachers, Cooper says.
Class schedules can be found on their website..
When classes are not scheduled, Cooper opens the space to yarn lovers to “sit and knit.”
Daycare expands to Oswego
Kiddie Academy, a national chain of daycare facilities, is opening a new location in Oswego at 1580 Douglas Road. The construction is scheduled to be completed in mid-June. This will be the fifth location for franchise owner Saj Rizvi.
“We are encouraging interested families to tour and start at the Naperville location and move to Oswego when it is complete,” says marketing consultant Natasha Fleury.
Enrollment is open to children 6 weeks to 12 years old. Before and after school programs, as well as a summer camp adventure program are provided for school-aged children.
Kiddie Academy officials say they have a “learning through play” curriculum. Age appropriate themes are used to provide education and social activities to meet each child’s needs, the officials say. Meals are served family style with the children and teachers sitting together and interacting throughout the meal.
For the safety of the children, a pin is required to enter the facility.
Know of a business coming to or leaving the Fox Valley area? Contact Pam Molnar at [email protected].
Elemental Yarns
Where: 74 W. Van Buren, Oswego
Call: 630-636-9392
Website: http://www.elementalyarns.com
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Sunday
Kiddie Academy of Oswego
Where: 1580 Douglas Road, Oswego
Call: 630-416-8000 (Naperville location)
Website: http://educationaldaycare.kiddieacademy.com/academies/oswego
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