ABOUT US

I admit it – I’ve had a lifelong love of crafts. When I was five, I made capes of all colors for my Barbie dolls. I then went on to knitting, crocheting, stained glass, needlepoint, quilting, stamping, beadwork…you name it! I really wanted to be an artist, but I couldn’t draw. So crafts gave me a creative outlet.

Crafting has been a hobby that’s enriched my life and allowed me to share wonderful hours with my children, Ryan (9) and Jared (7). Ryan loves to draw, and Jared creates marvelous “inventions” out of a variety of materials.

Although he’s an accountant by training, my husband David shares our family’s creative bent and loves working with stained glass – when he’s not satisfying his sense of adventure piloting small aircraft. I must say that David has been heavily involved in starting up and providing direction for The Artsy Crafter. He has tremendous analytical skills.

While crafting has always been my passion, I haven’t always earned my living working on crafts. I spent nearly nine years in a corporate environment until my position was eliminated in May 2003 as part of a company downsizing effort. My mother had died three weeks earlier, and I realized then just how short life can really be. I had time to think about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, and I was thrilled. I knew it was time to make some changes.

Shortly after I lost my job, we took a family vacation to an area near St. Germain, Wisconsin. We had spent several vacations there, so I had already become familiar with the rubber stamp stores in the vicinity and was especially fond of the Mark-it Place in Sayner.

On our way home I found myself wishing we had a store just like the Mark-it Place in the Green Bay area. I researched the market and concluded there was a need for such a store here. A little voice in my head said, “You’re not busy. You do it!” At that point, The Artsy Crafter was born.

I wanted to create a warm, comfortable, and fun environment where people could come and be inspired. I also wanted an opportunity to help bring out the artist in people. At The Artsy Crafter, there’s something for everyone all year long. There are so many beautiful materials you can use to create small works of art. It’s not hard – for example, you can come in for a single class and go home with a unique piece of jewelry!

You’ll find our staff both knowledgeable and helpful. Our cumulative talents and creativity will engage enthusiasts of beading, scrapbooking, rubber stamping, and clay sculpting. Come in to see us – we’re here to help you in any way we can!

Fondly,

Kim Clabots
Owner