PK Crafters
Local crafters coming together with a variety of handmade products
Story and photo by Kasey Lawson
Pictured left to right, Ann Burns, De Boon, Kristen Fairrel and Rhyannen Arriaga in front of PK Crafters on FM 2353
Those looking for the perfect gift for a lifelong friend or family member – or perhaps a treat for themselves – can head over to PK Crafters to find unique items from various vendors, all in one place.
The business, located at 308 N. FM 2353 at Possum Kingdom in Graford, Texas, is owned by Ann Burns, who said she grew up with a tool always in hand and ready to build something thanks to the influence of her father. She has maintained that enthusiasm throughout her life, as she and her husband, Todd, built a home from the ground up in Sportsman’s World in 2017. The house is almost entirely made of recycled materials donated by family and friends, making it the iconic home featured in PK Magazine’s early summer edition last year.
Burns had been a longtime business owner before deciding to open the store. She has owned and operated Clean Cruis’n, a boat-cleaning service, since 1998, and later began selling her handmade products in her small business, Ann Made It.
She has now made it possible for anyone to shop from a wide selection of her custom items, in addition to those of 18 local vendors. Burns said the store receives new stock constantly, creating an unlimited variety for customers to explore.
Visitors walking into the store for the first time can expect the unexpected. There are booths holding anything from handmade quilt work and embroidery, to resin art, to photography, and much more.
For Sandy Winkelman and her husband, Tom, the owners of Ancient Art Handcrafted Soaps, PK Crafters was the perfect place to showcase their time-honored products. The Winkelmans took over their business, which started in 2000, from its original owner in 2019.
“All of our handmade soap consists of olive oil, palm oil and coconut oil,” Sandy Winkelman said, in addition to a unique ingredient: “Crazy Water No. 4.”
The company also carries 35 variations of scented soaps, with some of the more popular variations being Texas bluebonnet, redford and lavender oatmeal.
Another vendor at PK Crafters is Dust N Rust Junk’n, owned and operated by Lisa Pendergraft. She stocks her booth with various furniture items and trinkets that she has refurbished.
Pendergraft, who described her work style as “giving pieces a modern touch while still letting their character shine through in their finish,” is most grateful for “taking something that has been set aside and weathered and bringing it back to life.”
Her marketable skills continue beyond refurbishments, too. She sells custom T-shirts and jewelry, which also can be found in her booth.
Many other vendors add to the diverse assortment of products in the store, allowing customers to find items that speak to them. It could be a custom stained-glass design from Mary Zicklefoose, or it might be something in Nancy J. Warren’s booth, which features a wide variety of high-fashion jewelry. Another vendor, Let Us Do It Landscaping, has an outdoor section where shoppers can find the perfect garden sculpture that can make any yard stand out.
The PK Crafters store is available to the public year-round, and the business participates in many events around the lake.
We do craft shows,” Burns said. “We are doing one in Sportsman’s World this coming May, and all proceeds from the booth rentals at this show will go to the Hells Gate volunteer fire department.”
By offering vendors a place to display their work at the event, the business also is giving back to those who risk their lives for our safety.
Despite having a broad range of items, PK Crafters’ grandest display is of these core values:
- All of the vendors are local to the Possum Kingdom community.
- Some items have been repurposed instead of being regarded as trash.
- The employees make up a little family with big hearts.
- The business offers vendors the chance to introduce something they love to the community.
