Brittany Kelley
WIMBERLEY — The Senior Citizens Craft Shop has been serving the older adult population in Wimberley for 40 years and, now, it’s time to celebrate.
The nonprofit began in 1986 when a group of women wanted a new opportunity to get their crafts to people, since they had given as much out to their friends and family as they could, said board of directors president Marilyn Pierce. The building — originally a candle shop and front porch — in the Wimberley Square was donated and the rest is history.
Over the years, the interior of the building, which still sits in its original location, has gotten a facelift, through new flooring, shelving, expansions and more, said vice president Madonna Kimball, but its goal has remained the same: “Keep seniors active.”
The idea of the shop is simple: “It’s a place where seniors can continue making their crafts. They can work a day a month, so they get to socialize and they get extra money,” she said. “It’s a win-win situation.”
The criteria consists of being 55 years of age or older, living in the 78676 zip code, being able to physically able to go up and down stairs, having the ability to work one full day or two half days a month, attending a monthly membership meeting, passing the five half days of training and possessing the cognitive function to work a register. Then, the Membership Committee will review the applicant’s work to determine that it is not duplicating another already available in the shop.
The crafts made must be unique, explained Kimball, whether this is a varying medium or object. Each member, or employee, keeps their own inventory, sets a price and receives payment for each item sold.
From there, a vote will be taken by all members of the Craft Shop on whether the candidate joins.
The membership fluctuates between 25-30 members, according to the shop’s information sheet and if a product is already being sold, aspiring members can be put on a waiting list, in case an opportunity arises for their craft.
Because the shop emphasizes unique crafts from its members, there are a variety of options available for visitors, such as embroidered items, crochet and knit pieces, glassware, Christmas decorations, wood burnings and more.
“We have a lot of really unusual stuff in here, like the microwave bowl holders,” the vice president shared. “You put the whole thing in the microwave and then, when you take it out, you don’t burn yourself, plus the fact that the bowl is usually hotter than the food. So, this way, you don’t have to wait for the bowl to cool down … We [also] have somebody that paints bluebonnets; it’s about all she does is paint bluebonnets and cardinals on glass and on ornaments, log slices. We have jewelry [and] we have just about everything imaginable.”
Pierce herself also participates in creating some of the products. In the shop, customers can find wooden signs on the left wall with sayings displayed created by Pierce herself. She goes out, sources the wood and the rest of the materials needed to put the artwork together. Then, she brings it into the shop, where community members and visitors can then purchase them. This is why they are able to keep the prices so low, Pierce said: “There’s no middle man.” Every item is handmade or assembled by an older adult in the community. So, when customers purchase items, they really are directly supporting their neighbors.
Those that choose to purchase items at the shop, allowing it to continue running, are helping older adults in more ways than one, stressed Pierce.
“It [gives us] a chance to socialize. You have to think because you’re doing business. If some of the members are having a few problems, we pair up and work together, so everybody has an opportunity to be useful,” she said.
Kimball added to this, stating that it provides a reason for older adults to continue crafting and being creative.
This support is given back to its community, said Kimball, as although the shop’s aim is to support older adults, it also focuses on giving back to the community. She noted that they regularly provide snack bags, personal care bags and more to the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center and recently gave a $500 donation to the local VFW.
The shop will be celebrating 40 years “of crafting with love” from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at the shop, where a new mural dedication will be made and residents can come out and enjoy a night of refreshments, door prizes and music by the TrebleMakers. Additionally, shops along the square have committed to staying open later that night.
“When I first walked into this building in 1990, it was a lot of little vases with pipe cleaners and little pipe cleaner animals, that kind of thing. I’d like everybody to know that we have some really talented crafters in here,” said Kimball. “The stuff we sell is very well made … We want [visitors] to go home and see the quality with which the item was made and to realize that’s what our shop is: a shop with quality items and good prices.”
The Senior Citizens Craft Shop is located at 116 Wimberley Square.
