It arrived in September, this cozy craft shop, and has nestled in amid the graystone facades of the city’s business district. Kathy’s Craft Collage seems to be here to stay.
“At first I was happy to have people come in and look around,” said owner Kathy Kibler. “Now we have people come in and they’re buying.”
The store leases space to about 40 crafters who display their wares and pay the store $35 a month, plus 10 percent of their total sales. Kibler supplies a pegboard display for an extra $15 a month if the crafter needs one. The crafters are mostly local-from Joliet, New Lenox, Lockport and Bolingbrook-but one comes from as far away as Darien. Their products vary, but most of the prices are comparable.
“The majority of the stuff in here is between $10 and $20,” said Kibler, a former preschool teacher who opened the store with the help of her husband, Bill, an electrician.
Kibler got the idea from watching ABC-TV’s “Home” show, which aired a segment on two women who started their own craft mall. She decided she could do the same.
Bill’s grandfather donated the space, Bill and friends donated their labor and Kibler was in business.
All the items in the store are handmade or have been modified by hand, like the padded photo albums or decorated baskets and picture frames. Throw pillows range from $11 to $30, painted sweatshirts cost $20, baskets made from cut pieces of wooden rulers sell for $8.
Framed, matted photographs of seascapes and downtown Joliet scenes range from 3 by 5 inches to 11 by 14 inches and from $15 to $50. Made-to-order chocolate chip, peppermint and pumpkin marble cheesecakes sell for $15; fudge costs $5 a pound.
Southwestern-style earrings and key chains range from $3 to $15; beaded earrings, bracelets and necklaces cost $3 to $12; and wreaths of many sizes cost $8 to $20.
For $8, gifts can be wrapped in a clear balloon that is blown up to 18 inches. In the Frog Wild section, stuffed frogs hold picture frames or fishing poles, make music or do the laundry dressed like wizards, teachers or cheerleaders. These cost $5 to $10.
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Kathy’s Craft Collage, 75 N. Chicago St., Joliet, is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday. Call 815-727-7139.
