Please help us welcome Barb of B2 Crafts & Wreaths to The 815 Artisan Collective!
Barb lives on a small farm near Orangeville with her husband, and after their three children grew up and “empty nest syndrome” set in, she found herself putting more time into something she had always enjoyed—crafting. What started as a creative outlet and stress reliever grew into B2 Crafts & Wreaths!
Today, Barb creates beautiful floral wreaths and arrangements, decorated lanterns, bows, door sashes, coasters, and plenty of seasonal creations. Her style leans toward country-inspired, but you’ll also find touches of elegance, whimsy, and lots of variety throughout her work. And if it’s Christmas? Even better! Christmas is Barb’s favorite season to create for, especially when she gets to work with pine and all those wonderful holiday colors.
One of our favorite things about Barb’s work is how much thought she puts into where her creations will actually live.
When her parents became ill and homebound, Barb loved bringing them wreaths and changing them with the seasons. Later, when her dad spent time in a nursing home for rehab, she noticed that residents often had beautiful wreaths hanging on the outside of their doors—where they couldn’t enjoy them when their doors were closed. That observation inspired her to begin creating smaller bows and door sashes that could work inside narrower door frames and smaller spaces, including nursing homes and assisted living residences.
Listening to her customers continues to shape what she creates. She’s added thinner wreaths, swags, cemetery decorations, and other options based on conversations she’s had with people at the many craft shows she attends throughout Northwestern Illinois.
A good creative day for Barb starts with coffee and ends with her basement workshop looking like an absolute disaster! She’s learned that sometimes the best pieces happen when she stops trying to make everything perfect and lets the florals find their natural flow and movement.
More than anything, Barb wants someone to look at one of her pieces and feel like it was made especially for their home. Whether it’s a wreath for your front door, something seasonal for a smaller space, or a gift that simply makes someone smile, she creates with different styles, spaces, and budgets in mind.
We’re so happy Barb finally found the storefront she’d been looking for, and even happier that she chose The Collective!
Stop in and discover B2 Crafts & Wreaths and help us give Barb a warm welcome to The 815 Artisan Collective!
