The Art House: Creative Collective combines imagination and skill under one roof

By Edward Gehlert, Staff Writer
Posted 8/10/22

A creative environment for the Linn community is opening its doors for instruction and crafting parties beginning Aug. 12 and will operate regularly scheduled classes and other events by …

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The Art House: Creative Collective combines imagination and skill under one roof

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A creative environment for the Linn community is opening its doors for instruction and crafting parties beginning Aug. 12 and will operate regularly scheduled classes and other events by appointment.

The Art House: Creative Collective co-owner Lauren Krie wanted to offer something new for residents in the area, so she and her sister and co-owner Megan Rudroff eventually decided on a plan that would help stimulate artistic endeavors.

“We wanted to do something, but we weren’t sure what the community needed,” said Krieg. “I signed the lease before we even had this business plan. I talked to my sister, and we were thinking kids’ pottery painting, birthday parties, adult classes with some sort of crafting — we went to the internet and started googling ideas.”

 Since creating their website, the pair have scheduled three classes — two of which have already sold out.

“Our slime night, which is the first kids’ class, is sold out. That went really quick because no parent wants to make slime at home,” said Krieg with a laugh. “We can let them make a mess, feed them pizza, and let the parents get a break. They can go to another business and maybe get a margarita or something.”

Krieg said that the inaugural class scheduled at The Art House will be focused on door art for classrooms.

“Our very first class is a teacher classroom door sign,” said Krieg. “The teachers like to put their name and grade on them. You can paint them, put tassels on them — whatever you want to personalize them. We had to sneak that one in once we were ready because school is starting so quickly.”

Krieg, a former accountant, is quick to admit that her sister is craftier than herself.

“It’s not really anything to do with my background,” Krieg joked. “Oddly enough, my sister is much more creative.”

Rudroff, also the owner of Rudy Lane Flower Farm in Rich Fountain, has always loved crafts and held workshops at her flower farm.

“For the most part, we sell our flowers through the farm stand,” said Rudroff. “In the off-season last year, we did wreath workshops. We had people come out to the farm. I provided them with all the supplies, and then I taught them how to make their own fresh-cut evergreen holiday wreath they could put on their own door. It went over very well.”

Rudroff said that she had more requests for workshops than she had space.

“At Christmas on Main (Street), I talked to people, and they suggested I should try to come into town or go to other towns and do classes,” Rudroff noted. “We had been thinking about a space really before it was a possibility.”

The pair has plans for several more classes and would like to hear ideas from the community for even more options.

“We are planning a flower arranging class at the end of August,” said Rudroff.

“She’ll bring in her fresh-cut flowers for that,” added Krieg.

“That’s going to be kind of the recurring theme with The Art House Creative Collective,” said Rudroff. “We are hosting all kinds of creative classes. Kids’ classes, adult classes, flowers, wreaths, growing things, and then eventually host workshops ran by other creatives.”

The sisters said that one of their primary goals is to provide activities of this nature so area residents wouldn’t have to travel too far from home to enjoy artistic pursuits.

“The response has been just super from people,” said Krieg. “People have told us that they always wanted something like this here.”

“Especially with gas prices the way they are now,” said Rudroff. “People don’t want to drive all the way to Jefferson City.”

Highlighting the fun involved in learning various crafts is another priority for the sisters.

“We didn’t want to be limited,” said Rudroff. “We want something like someone coming in to show us how to make clay earrings or someone to have a class on basketweaving or woodworking. We are starting with our classes to get it going. To invite someone else in, that is an expert in their field, to show their skill at making things, is a goal of ours.”

The environment provided is open to all skill levels, and the entrepreneurs encourage everyone to explore their creative abilities.

“Anyone can learn anything,” said Krieg. “These are all beginner-level things. In the flower workshop and the wreath workshop, Megan’s going to make sure everyone can be involved. Her six-year-old daughter helped with the class last year.”

Rudroff said, “I had people telling me, ‘I’m not crafty, I can’t do this,’ and they walked away with these beautiful wreaths. That is definitely a priority of ours is targeting all ability levels.”

“Someone who thinks they aren’t creative is going to find out otherwise,” said a smiling Krieg.

The Art House: Creative Collective is located at 401A East Main Street in Linn.