The Red Bee

The store is now closed according to the website and I didn’t even get a chance to experience it!

I really like this place!
It was hard to find at first (I don’t have a smart phone… yet!) but once I saw it I was hooked. It’s HUGE. There are lots of different types of craft supplies in here, and lots of examples throughout the store. The scrapbooking selection is decent, you’ve got your basics and a few extra goodies here and there. Can’t wait to go back and check out more of their craft supplies soon!

Selections: 3 stars
But I give 1 more star for their customer service.
I found this place about 2 years ago. Since then, I’ve probably gone back at least 2~3 times a month. I bought a lot of stuff from here too: yarns, card stock paper, candles, beads, ribbons, etc. I found this place as a knitter and now I do little bit of all crafty things including sewing so I love this place offers local shop feel with well-​established mid-​size corporation customer service. They send you weekly newsletters, along with 30~40% off coupons.
However, one downside is their selection. As a knitter, I was a bit disappointed that this place doesn’t have consistency in their yarn inventory. The first trip to their shop, I found 4 balls of Cascade 220 Superwash in purple. I love them. I went back the second time, but couldn’t find any cascade 220 superwash. In any color. I found a lot more acrylics that are common at Michaels and JoAnn. For the first few months after that, their yarn shelves were pretty much bare.
Then last Winter they started restocking. They had a lot of Berroco yarns, which I love. In fact, they started carrying a lot of yarn brands that I love. But then, they don’t have enough color choices for all of the lines. For instance, they had a LOT of color varieties in Berroco Comfort yarn (worsted). But then they have only 2 solid colors and 2 handpaint colors of Cascade Heritage Sock yarn (Gray and Black, and then greenish handpaint ones). They have every color imaginable by Cascade Pima Cotton yarn, but two colors (Dark brown and Black) of Cascade 220 Superwash.
I guess variety of yarn brands/​lines is better than little (since you can special order off of what you see in the store) but if you’re looking for something specific, call ahead, or you’ll have to place a special order, which they’re really great at.
But if you just happen to be near the store or just need some inspiration, go ahead and check it out.

The Red Bee is such a cute store! Seeing as how I only knit, and don’t really do the other crafts they have there, my review is based mainly on their yarn selection (although the scrapbook section looks really good). They used to have only a mediocre selection, but they have really stepped up their game. They have recently started carrying the entire line of cascade yarns (except 220!), which is exciting! They decorate really cute too, right now it is Valentine’s Day themed. Oh, and I looooove that they’re open until midnight on Fridays!!!
The only thing I don’t like is that they charge you to go there and knit. Most yarn stores encourage people to knit in them for free and some even offer lessons for free (in an effort to sell yarn, of course). But red bee charges $ 5 to come in and knit on Friday nights! Lame.

#452,346,903^th sign of aging: lunch time and Friday evenings spent scrapbooking with women whose other hobby is Bingo.
Here’s why I love this place:
1. They have «open session» for scrapbooking
a. pay a fee of $ 5.00, and they in return will offer an area dedicated to scrapbooking and all the basic supplies (die cutters, stencils, etc.).
b. gives you a chance to «experiment as you go», rather than stocking up on a bunch of stuff you might not end up using.
2. Selection is amazing for scrapbooking. The best embellishments are here at this store.
3. If you sign up for their newsletter, they often have 50% off coupons which is perfect if you’re in no hurry to finish a project and could wait for those.
Scrapbooking UYE perhaps?

Meh… yeah it’s close to wear I live but I think I’d rather make my drive to Barranca and go to Joann’s. Red Bee didn’t have as much stuff as I was hoping. It’s small and cute but kinda dirty looking. I was looking for stuff to make my mask for my masquerade party but boooo a super fail on Red Bee’s end. This busy bee could have saved her time going to Joann’s.

When I’m feeling crafy, the Red Bee is usually where I be!
Located in the old Joann’s location in the Larwin Square center, it’s a pretty nice sized store which manages to pack a great selection of crafty items. I’ve never not been able to find something I was looking for here — which says alot cuz that happens quite often to me at the much larger Michaels nearby.
They also offer a great array of classes from knitting to scrapbooking. Thanks goodness for the BEE cuz the new Joann’s is just too stinking far down on Dyer, plus being a Tustin-​ite I prefer to keep my crafty tax dollars IN Tustin. ;-)

Red Bee is one of my favorite scrapbooking stores. Yes, their prices are slightly higher than Michael’s or Joann, but they’re a small store, give them a break. They also carry specialty items that you won’t find at Michael’s. If you sign up for their emails, you get coupons on a fairly regular basis. The staff is also very friendly and knowledgeable, which you don’t always get at the bigger stores (Joann on Barranca!!). They’re always willing to give you advice, and they actually know what they’re talking about. I haven’t every gotten around to taking a class here, but they have crop nights every Friday until midnight, and they make Starbucks runs. Does it get any better than that?!

I miss going here during my lunch breaks at work. I was surprised how close by this craft store was to work, and also to a Michael’s down the street, and this place has a different feel than Michaels. I would say their main focus is on paper crafts and knitting/​crocheting. They have a lot of scrapbooking materials that you would not be able to find at Michael’s, but I do believe it is a bit pricier here. I once asked someone about a certain type of glue I was looking for and a staff member was very informative, being a scrapbooking person herself, so I like that she was knowledgeable and an enthusiast as well.

What the hell is up with orange county and scrapbooking? of the 4 times that I’ve been down here, somehow i run into a place that is all about the scrapbooking.
now there are other arts and crafts here. and they do have a restroom that they will let you use if you are shopping around the nearby businesses. gotta give them a plus for that. that’s rare in this day and age.

First of all this is so much better than your local Michaels. The Red Bee has a fantastic selection of paper arts supplies for card making, scrapbooking, mixed media and anything else you can use this stuff for. I love the selection. Most is traditional (for the non traditional go to The Art Bar in Santa Ana).
Also they have a wonderful selection of yarn and the staff is extremely knowledgeable about the stuff. Tell them what you want to use it for or what you are knitting and they show you the best type for the job. So nice.
They offer many classes although I have yet to join any. When I go in and they are having a knitting group there always seems to be lots of laughing going on so it must be fun.
I love the atmosphere and the selection of items. Nice place to shop.