WESTERVILLE, Ohio — Kate Thompson’s most treasured wreath features ornaments from her grandmother’s attic.
“All of them are pre-70s, and I love the colors. I’ve always loved vintage Christmas,” said the artist and business owner.
That wreath sparked a passion for life. Westerville native Thompson founded her own wreath-making business in central Ohio, Kate’s Kustom Wreaths.
It’s grown since she started it.
“I have a degree in forensic chemistry, and I graduated during the recession in 2008, and there were no jobs. So I got a job doing payroll, made a vintage Christmas wreath and one of my friends was like, my friends want to make one, bring stuff over. I came up with a design for Ohio State, got it licensed and the rest is history,” said Thompson.
(Dennis Biviano/Spectrum News 1)
Cutting styrofoam, folding and pinning the felt takes patience and time, up to three hours for some.
But Thompson said anyone can learn the craft, and she admits she has some help along the way.
“The base is a hand-cut styrofoam that comes in sheets 4 ft. by 9 ft. My father so graciously cuts them down for me to the shape that I want. We put them all, we cover them in duct tape so that when the pins go in, it helps to keep the adhesion on the back side of the duct tape helps to help it from coming out as easily,” said Thompson.
Thompson said now that COVID cases are down, business is picking up rapidly.
If you are invited to one of her wreath-making events this spring or summer, and are a little weary of your art skills, don’t worry — she said she will offer support.
(Dennis Biviano/Spectrum News 1)
“And I always tell them, ‘listen, that’s why I’m here, I’m the professional. I’m going to tell you if your wreath is not good, and we’re going to make it better.’ A lot of people have told me they go home, and their husbands are like ‘You didn’t make that’ and they did. They make it all on their own,” said Thompson.
