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AT YOUR CREATIVE SERVICE ­—Computer and canvas wiz, Audrea Horejsi, is ready to take the lead in all your creative and business-driven projects. (Star Eagle photo by Rachel Rietsema)

Geneva’s newest business to hold open house January 21

By RACHEL RIETSEMA

Staff Writer

Therein the home sweet home of Audrea Horejsi lies a shrine of keepsakes. Everywhere visitors look, Horesji has taken the liberty of featuring heaps of art projects and other crafty items on the walls.

How fitting is it then that her newest business venture thrives off the knack she has for transforming empty space into a colorful kaleidoscope of creativity?

“I’ve worked in an office all day long since I was 18 years old,” Horejsi said. “I just didn’t want to do it anymore.”

Officially free of the filing cabinet, this innovative daredevil is overjoyed to announce the founding of her new business, Custom Creations by Audrea, with an open house to be held on Saturday, January 21 from 12-5 p.m. at the Geneva Community Center. She welcomes any and all curious souls to stop by and soak in all the services she plans to provide.

“I completed my legal notice in April, so I’ve been doing things off and on for people,” Horejsi said. “But I’d like to get my name out there even more so people know what type of work I can do.”

Atop the plastic tables at the open house, visitors will see a vast assortment of past or sample work, which includes all of the following: calendars, scrapbooks, personalized stationary, announcements, postcards, certificates, flyers, bulletins, bookmarks, door hangers, invitations, greeting cards, photo cards, personalized address labels, business and appointment cards, raffle and event tickets, poem writing, fact photo pages, recipe cards, stickers and organizational lists and charts.

“For someone who doesn’t really have the time, artistic ability, patience or whatever, it’s my hope that I can custom create a keepsake for them,” Horejsi said. “That would make me feel wonderful.”

Future clients of hers can choose to buy the materials themselves, or she can certainly head to the store with the creative vision in mind. “Then, I’d just charge them whatever the cost is for the supplies, plus my hourly rate,” Horejsi said. “I don’t plan on publishing a price list, as every project will be personalized and unique.”

She can however provide a price quote, once the entire project idea has been established. Don’t fret though; her rates won’t be outrageous. She would like to keep everything as low key as possible.

“Say someone came to me wanting a personalized stationary, I would write up an invoice that they would sign and accept prior to project completion.”

From there, she will then collaborate with her trusty computer to extract the best option suitable to the client’s needs and desires. Any digital pictures wished to be included in said project can be sent

to her via e-mail.

“If the client didn’t have an e-mail address, we’d have to figure out a different way to liaise during the creative process, whether it’s by phone or whatever,” Horejsi said. “Even if someone lives an hour away, I’m willing to drive there with some examples.”

Savvy in most computer creation programs, she hopes Custom Creations will diligently complete five to ten projects a week. But that’s not all she has up her creative sleeve.

“I {Custom Creations} am also offering art classes through community education for grades K-6,” Horejsi said. “At this point, just a handful of kids have signed up at both locations.”

Any young, aspiring Picassos are encouraged to either check out the Ellendale or Wells classes. The sessions beginning the week of January 9 will unfold as follows: Week 1, Decorate your own 2012 calendars; Week 2, Make bookmarks and door hangers; Week 3, Paint wooden photo cubes; Week 4, Make Valentines and/or greeting cards; Week 5, Making “Discovering Me” stars.

“They don’t have to attend all five of them, Horejsi said. “Each session will be $10. I just ask that they circle the ones they plan on attending when enrolling.”

Enthusiastic clientele should register quick-like, as the deadline is set for January 6. Also worth noting are class times.

“The Ellendale students will meet right after school on Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m.,” Horejsi said. “Wells participants are gathering from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursdays.”

Local Community Education Director, Marilyn Dobberstein, will be in charge of all registration purposes.

“I’m offering another set of sessions beginning the week of February 20,” Horejsi said. “We will make life-size paper dolls, paint wooden photo frames, make yarn drawings, do family trees, and make crepe paper Easter eggs.”

As the sole instructor, it’s held in Horejsi’s highest regard that her students and the paintbrush become an inventive pair to be reckoned with. It might take a bit of patience, but she’ll be right there for any guidance purposes.

“I just love to do this kind of thing,” Horejsi said. “That’s just how I am.”

Kids, teenagers, adults – whatever the clientele is at any given moment, she promises to devote her utmost attention.

“You may contact me via phone at 507-351-0676,” Horejsi said. “Or you can email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I’ll be more than happy to help you with any project you need help with.”