The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Sharing her passion
Small Studio Productions specializes in unique supplies for crafting
A North Olmsted business has the supplies necessary and the expertise to help folks with a variety of craft projects.
Small Studio Productions, 24549 Lorain Road, specializes in having unique items that customers can’t find elsewhere.
“I’ve owned Small Studio for almost six years. I’ve been in North Olmsted for the last three, and before that I was in Westlake,” said Margaret Bakke, owner of Small Studio Productions. “I bought it from the former owner (Ginny Smallenburg).
“She mostly had the paper crafting, mixed-media supplies and some of the vintage stuff. After I bought the store, I brought in the yarn and that stuff. I bought the store because everything that is in here is so unique and there really isn’t a store like it.”
Bakke said the crafting paper at Small Studio is unique.
“I used to do craft shows selling handmade journals and a lot of the book binding stuff, and the papers I have here are perfect for it,” she said. “The next closest place to get a variety of this stuff was in Ann Arbor (Mich.), and they closed.
“So, it’s not something that you see from a lot of stores.”
Classes are a hit
A big part of the business are the classes, Bakke said.
“We do all kinds of classes,” she said. “We are leaning more toward online classes with COVID.
“But, we do collage, journal making, card making, and all kinds of things including knitting and crocheting classes.”
Bakke said the store is for people with a passion for crafting or those who are interested.
“Anybody that likes to be creative, come on in,” she said. “If you haven’t done this stuff before, that’s OK, we will help you out.
“Most of my classes are basically showing you how to use some of the different art supplies that you might not be used to using. Some folks just got to know what to do first, and that’s what I can help with.”
Bakke said she has a large selection of decorative wrapping papers that patrons can use for crafts like collages.
“I also have acrylic paints, some other mixedmedia items, interesting vintage pieces and a large
selection of yarn,” she said. “It’s some of the nicer quality brands you don’t see at some of your typical craft stores.
“I also have things like (8½ inches by 11 inches) cardstock, some stamps and dye cut things as well. I also have wax linen thread that you would use to sew the pages together for book making. I also sell little dye-cutting machines for card making.”
Bakke said the business also has plenty of holiday specific wrapping papers.
“Some people use it for their actual presents, but sometimes I’ll do more of a decorative thing where I wrap up some empty boxes with a nice bow on it as more of a decorative present,” she said. “If you are looking for high quality larger sheets of wrapping paper, I have about 100 different designs. I also have interesting and unique greeting cards.”
Bakke said teaching is a passion.
“Most of my knitting and crocheting classes are on a one-on-one basis because it is hard to find multiple people that are doing the same project,” she said. “My background is in art education, so I have done almost every art and craft thing known to man, and sharing how to do that is something that I’m very passionate about.”
Online store
The store’s online component has made things easier during the coronavirus pandemic, Bakke said.
“It’s been a little bit rough,” she said. “We had to close down for about two months. I was working on putting together an online commerce right when it was starting to close, so I had some good timing in that aspect of it.
“It’s changed how we do things. We can’t do as many in-person things. We have a seven-person capacity for in the store right now. We just started doing classes in Zoom, and those have been going really well.”
“We have a card class coming up this coming weekend (Quick Christmas Postcard, 1 p.m., Nov. 21), and then on Small Business Saturday (Nov. 28),” she said. “I’m planning to have that more virtually, so I’m planning on having a Facebook Live sale in the morning and a craft demo in the afternoon.
Bakke said this is the perfect time to work on crafts.
“It’s something that is great to do when you are stuck at home,” she said. “There are always people that have done these things, but it is becoming more mainstream.”