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Austintown library offers burlap wreath class
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Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.Austintown library adult services librarian Lindsay Platt unrolled her burlap for the burlap wreath making class. Platt supervised the event for the library.
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Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.Bea Richardson showed the people who attended her burlap wreath making class how to weave the pipe cleaner through the burlap.
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Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.Bea Richardson gave pipe cleaners to a woman who was attending her burlap wreath making class at the Austintown library.
By TIM CLEVELAND
The Austintown library offered area residents a chance to make their own burlap wreath on Dec. 16 with a class taught by Bea Richardson.
Richardson, a Beloit resident, brought the supplies for the class, which included metal wreaths, pipe cleaners, red burlap and holly that can be removed after Christmas to turn it into a Valentine’s Day wreath.
“It’s two in one,” Richardson said.
Richardson taught the class how to fold and weave the burlap and pipe cleaners through the metal wreath using either big or small loops, depending on how the individual wanted to proceed.
“I say it’s simple but they laugh at me and say it’s not,” Richardson said. “It’s pretty easy. It’s simple as long as you don’t worry about things.”
The approximately one-hour class attracted 12 people, which included Austintown library adult services librarian Lindsay Platt, who supervised the event for the library.
“I’m not very crafty, myself, but it’s fun to do,” she said. “I did one with her last month or October when she was here.
“She’s really good. She’s really good at what she does. We get a lot of turnout. It’s a popular program.”
Richardson didn’t bring an example of the finished product to the class.
“I don’t bring a sample because I don’t want anyone to feel, oh my god, her’s looks so nice,” she said. “That way you do it on your own and you feel confident about it.”
Richardson was an activity director for 17 years and spent more than eight years working for Pat Catan’s and Michaels crafts stores.
“I just grew up doing crafts,” she said. “Lots of experience wrapped up into one person.”
Richardson said her husband encouraged her to go into business for herself teaching her skills to other people.
“My husband said why do you keep giving Pat Catan’s all your money?” she said. “You put all your ideas in their classes. I’m going to foot your bill and you just go do it. This is where I am. I make money from my own ideas instead of other people.”
Richardson said she enjoys working with the public and teaching them how to be crafty like herself.
“Just giving confidence that you can do it,” she said. “I love to interact with people, all different people and ages, especially people that aren’t as fortunate as others, like people with disabilities, the elderly. I’m just a people person.”