Date: Fri 28-Jun-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Illustration: C

Location: A-9

Quick Words:

LaPak-craft-parties-Bees-Knees

Full Text:

(feature on Maureen LaPak, 6/28/96)

Craft Parties Keep Maureen LaPak Busy As A Bee

(with photos)

By Andrea Zimmermann

Dogs come and go, friends help themselves to sodas in the refrigerator, and

laughter punctuates most discussions that take place in the home of artist

Maureen LaPak. This happy, active pace lends itself to the name of her

business: The Bees Knees.

Maureen, who creates samples for and teaches classes at Craft Basket in

Brookfield, does pieces on commission and also offers "craft parties" for

people in their homes.

"It's like a Tupperware party - but they make the crafts," she said. "I take

ten or twelve samples - stencilling, wreath making or tole painting - that the

person [hosting the party] can choose from." On the designated evening,

Maureen returns to teach that craft project to a group of people.

Her favorite student is the one who says he or she is not very talented. After

following step-by-step instructions, that student will leave with a finished

piece such as a bowl painted like a watermelon, or a church birdhouse.

"They can't believe that they did it. That's the most fun," says Maureen.

"They say they can't do anything, but they can if they just try it."

The self-taught artist hopes to eventually have a shop in Newtown where she

can sell her own painted pieces and dried arrangements, and have the space to

instruct others.

A native of Newtown, Maureen and her husband Dennis recently moved their

family to a home on Parmalee Road. Already the artist has made her imprint on

the house by sponge-painting, stencilling and preparing a plaster wall in one

room for a mural she has designed. Her equipment surrounds the long dining

room/work table, with the focal point being the racks on which she dries

summer's bounty.

Maureen gathers and dries native flora such as lamb's ear, straw flowers,

hydrangea, artmesia, sweet Annie and larkspur. She also dries her own apples,

oranges and lemons to use in arrangements.

The dried herbs are fashioned into wreaths that convey sympathy, or celebrate

a wedding, new home or friendship. Each herb in a wreath has a meaning, she

said. Rosemary, for instance, signifies "remembrance." A card accompanies the

wreath to explain the meaning of each herb used.

Another innovative piece people regularly commission is for their child's

teacher: A wooden apple bearing a painting of the school on one side, the

teacher's home on the other side. Maureen also makes wreaths for Hawley

School's front door and office.

"I was doing craft fairs a lot when I had two kids but now, with my third, it

just got to be too much," Maureen said. "Right now I'm concentrating on

getting my own business going."

She gets many referrals from Craft Basket and from people who have purchased

her artwork in the past. Although her work keeps her very busy, she still

finds time to meet with friends each Wednesday to work on craft projects. She

also heads a craft group she began ten years ago.

"When [my son] Matt was three, one of the moms at his nursery school wanted to

know how to make a photo album," so Maureen volunteered to show everyone who

expressed interest. "That snowballed and we've been doing it once a month ever

since. They come here. We've never done the same thing twice and they don't

know what they're doing until they get here. I just charge them for supplies,"

she said.

Longtime member Kit Dougherty said meeting once a month over such an extended

period with the same group of people, "becomes a novel." The women have

supported each other through births, deaths, moving and other major events.

"You go in and out of life crises in that time period, and [working on crafts]

is very therapeutic," said Ms Dougherty. "You may go and sit and chat, but

you're producing something."

Maureen views home craft parties as a natural extension of her work. She

offers parties for all different levels of crafters - beginners to experienced

painters. And children's parties are geared toward specific age, interest

level and ability.

"I have three boys who are always making something," said Maureen. "I love to

teach."

Anyone interested in finding out more about The Bees Knees home parties, or

commissioned pieces, can call Maureen LaPak at 426-6616.