Cards, puzzles, calendars, and books are going off the shelves at a long-standing Wellington bookstore as it prepares to close its doors.
After 33 years, the owner’s reason for closing is a familiar one for bookstores in the city - the economic climate.
But this one feels personal for Wellingtonians. Like a quilt laying over an old couch, the specialist craft shop is part of the capital’s furniture.
The closure comes with others like it: Good Books two years ago, and Vic Books a year before that.
For 68-year-old Anne Scott, she takes a deep breath, saying, “I’m too old”.
Scott shared the announcement to Facebook on Monday: “It is with very mixed feelings that I have decided to close Minerva – and retire".
With 150 direct messages, and 1000 likes, Scott was overwhelmed with the community’s response.
“Where did that all come from?”
“I’m sad to close, really. I love it, but you know, I don’t love all of it,” she told the Herald.
Scott sat in the back of her shop this week, surrounded by archive quilting magazines, old exhibition flip-throughs, and of course, a couple of quilts hung up.
“Those long, hard winter days when there’s no one around and you’ve still got to be open. Business is really tough here,” she said.
You’d guess Scott’s favourite colour is orange, looking at 237 Cuba St, nestled in between a dairy and an outdoor appliance store.
Craft books imported from as far away as the Shetland Islands sit on top of heavy wooden tables - one handed down by Scott’s great-grandfather.
Weekends are for the card and puzzle buyers, and weekdays are for the humble quilters, with questions for Scott on stitching and fixing.
Scott described falling into the business, sparked from her quilting magazine which often reviewed niche books no one else could get a hold of.
“I started bringing them in, just for readers and that, and it was just a business that grew organically.”
Being able to sell such unique products is a blessing and a curse. Today, it costs Scott too much to bring in stock, particularly when it arrives damaged.
The business started in Kilbirnie, with textiles displayed amongst books in the old Masonic Hall. Sometimes, people queued around the block for an exhibition.
The part gallery, part bookshop moved to Cuba St in 2008, and Scott’s magazine kept going until edition 100 printed in 2017.
Scott plans to put out what copies she has left of Quilter for free next week, saving some archives for herself at home.
In the midst of all the business, Scott travelled to France, Canada, and the United States to exhibit quilts.
“We’d just pile them all up in suitcases and off we go.”
She also travelled to Laos six times to teach women with HIV to sew.
The name, Minerva, means goddess of wisdom and handcrafts.
It’s also the name for the goddess of war, which relates to Scott’s family personally through her husband and late son.
Her son was in the British Army, and was killed in Afghanistan, she said.
Sewing had always been there for Scott through the grief.
“It’s something you can do and achieve and get pleasure out of.”
A quilt that stands out to Scott was one she was gifted after her son’s passing.
“There’s one that’s actually at home. Someone gave it to me - it’s ‘Gallipoli.’”
Right now, Scott’s working on a quilt for a friend’s expected grandson, due next month, using a 1920s American top.
This niche art is what built Minerva - and the customers who are part of it are sad to see it go.
The Facebook comment section was flooded with praise and despair at losing such a specialised store.
“It feels inadequate to simply say thank you so much for all you have done for the craft community,” wrote one.
“The very best craft bookshop in New Zealand,” said another.
“Thank you for bringing so much beauty and creativity to our city,” another person added, while a fourth said, simply: “I will miss you and your haven”.
Minerva’s diehards can enjoy a closing sale starting on Monday, and penultimate day drinks from 4pm to 6pm on February 27.
The shop itself may be putting down the sewing needle, but Scott doesn’t plan to. Her retirement will include sewing, gardening, and travel with her husband.
Sammy Carter is a journalist for the New Zealand Herald covering news in the Wellington region. She has previously worked at the Rotorua Daily Post.