The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Three friends are gathering the crafty community
Crafty Workshop and Gifts will soon mark its grand opening at 420 Newell St. in Painesville.
Owned and operated by three Lake County natives, the ceramics and woodworking shop offers classes, paint ‘n sips and birthday parties for all ages.
Co-owner Kelly Debelak, born and raised in the Painesville/Leroy area and graduated from Riverside High School, said ceramics have been in her family for years.
“My partners and myself decided this was the right time in our lives to do this,” Debelak said. “The biggest motivation is our love of crafting and spending time with people. This is a great time to bring the community together.”
Her husband is a “pour guy” and her biggest supporter. Pouring is a way of putting a glaze or slip on to pottery. It is the method used to cover a piece of clay or bisque by tipping the liquid over the piece prepared.
Having two grown sons, she wants to be an example to them by following her own dreams.
“We want there to be a place where families can go and have fun together or a place for friends to gather and reminisce about past times and future adventures,” Debelak said.
Co-owner Heidi Campbell, who grew up in Willoughby and Mentor, became a certified ceramics teacher at the age of 15. She got her love for ceramics and painting from her mother who owned Erie Shore Ceramics in the 1980s.
“When I am painting or crafting I think of nothing else than the project I’m working on,” Campbell said. “With the stressful times we’re in right now, we want to invite people into our studio and help them have a stress-free time and think of nothing but what they’re painting or crafting.”
Her husband is also a “pour guy” and carpenter at the studio. She hopes her four daughters never give up on their dreams.
“Dreams can come true at any time and at any age in life,” she said, “just like mine has in opening this studio with my beautiful, crafty friends Kelly and Heidi.”
Co-owner Heidi Fosnaught, who grew up in Mentor and graduated from Mentor High School, has fond memories of working on things with her father as a kid.
“My parents have always instilled in me that I can do it no matter what it is,” Fosnaught said. “I love to make people happy with my crafts and thought it was a good time in my life to start this adventure with my friends Kelly and Heidi. I cannot wait to introduce the community to all the great things we have to offer, from ceramics, to wood crafts and tons of stuff in between.”
She has a grown daughter and son and wants them to reach for the stars and never look back.
Although celebrating the grand opening on March 6 from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. with raffles, food and crafts, Crafty Workshop and Gifts is offering a few “soft open” events like a St. Patrick’s Day ceramics class on Feb 27 at 1 p.m. and a kids plaque class on Feb 28 at noon.
Senior Day is March 10 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. There is a $3 class fee plus price of craft or ceramic.