Brenda Krueger is always looking for new ideas and patterns that she can sew.
“I started sewing in high school in your typical home economics class,” Krueger said. “I love to sew. I like putting things together. It’s fun.”
When her daughter was born, Krueger was a stay-at-home mom, and that gave her more time and reasons to sew.
“I made her clothes and then Barbie Doll clothes,” Krueger said.
After her granddaughter was born, Krueger made a purse for her for Christmas one year. That led to coin purses with a penny inside for little girls.
“I try to find fabric that little girls like,” Krueger said.
A girlfriend who knew about Krueger’s love of sewing gave her a book of patterns to make something from a yard of material. Krueger found a pattern for purse organizers that she sells for $10.
“It holds a lot,” she said.
Some of the other things Krueger makes are diaper totes, hot pads and place mats.
Krueger also likes to crochet, which can be done while watching TV, in bad weather and in the winter. Krueger makes afghans and doilies, which are popular at Christmas.
Krueger credits her grandmother for the crocheting gene.
“I wish I had her patterns,” she said.
Krueger keeps her prices reasonable, acknowledging that she can’t charge for all the time she puts in.
“I try and keep it so I make some money and pay my way,” she said.
Like all seamstresses. Krueger has a lot of material and many little leftover pieces.
“Sometimes I pack them into bags and give them to Goodwill,” she said.
Krueger has been a regular at the St. James and Lioness craft shows.
“I’ve been trying to be involved in three to four craft shows a year,” she said.
This year she will be at the Jumpin’ June Jamboree on June 14 in Shawano and at Bonduel Founders Day.
The Krueger house at Tracy Corners in the town of Washington also is home to many beautiful pieces of furniture crafted by Krueger’s husband, Steve, who works at Diversified Woodcrafts in Suring. He made a sewing machine cabinet specially designed for her, and also made their bedroom set, cabinets and most wood items around the house.
The couple enjoys fishing, with several prize catches displayed in their living room, and camping. Steve is an avid hunter and there are four black bears proudly adorning the walls and floor of their home.
Brenda Krueger is a native of Gillett, graduating from Gillett High School. She attended Northeast Wisconsin Technical College to become a medical assistant and worked for a doctor in Oconto for nearly seven years.
“I loved working with people,” she said.
Then she worked in medical records at Bellin for three years and currently works for IOD Inc. out of Green Bay, spending one day in Oconto Falls and three days at Shawano Medical Center.
Categories
