Craft Underground opens their doors

STEVENS POINT — Craft Underground is gearing up to celebrate their grand opening in Stevens Point, where they are ready to provide a custom crafting experience that isn’t available at big name craft stores.

Sister-in-laws Krissy Halama and Brenda Halama took on opening Craft Underground after they both lost their long-time positions in Feb. of 2026. Within ten days, both Krissy and Brenda lost their jobs due to financial reasons within each company.

“I just kept thinking ‘this can’t be a coincidence,’” Krissy said. “It’s too weird that we would have both been fired at the same time. We gotta’ do something with this.” Together, the pair brainstormed their next career moves.

Krissy and Brenda have been life-long crafters, something they typically viewed as a hobby.

“I have a picture of me, probably two-years-old, on my grandma’s lap with a crochet hook in my hand. It’s just always been in me,” Krissy said.

Brenda has also grown up creating. “My siblings and I were a bunch of engineering nerds, so I’ve always gravitated towards hands-on projects. Making things with small power tools is more of how I like to express my crafts,” Brenda said.

Almost every aspect of the store has had Brenda and Krissy’s hands in it, from refurbished tables that hold supplies for sale, to the artwork on the walls. However, they also feature local artists in their store. Each month, four area artists are chosen to showcase their work for sale in the storefront of Craft Underground. Each month, four artists who specialize in different mediums will be featured.

Their products include yarn, paint, fabric, coloring books, vinyl, and much more.

Adding to the custom feel of the store, Brenda and Krissy offer many aspects that aren’t available at big name craft stores. Crafters who have an abundance of materials they aren’t using can bring them to Craft Underground. Based on quality and need, Brenda and Krissy will buy the unused materials from the crafter to re-sell to customers. Resell items are repackaged and, often times, Brenda and Krissy explain can be a hidden gem amongst crafters.

“We’ve had one customer come in, and she was so excited because one of our resale items was just what she needed for her project.” Brenda said.

In addition to their resale, Craft Underground also offers custom cut vinyl. Vinyl is typically sold in twelve by twelve inch sheets or by the foot, leaving it as a product that can often go to waste when a crafter has an excess amount. Craft Underground will custom cut vinyl to the size, similarly to fabric.

“If someone comes in and shows us a specific fabric that they can’t find anywhere else, we will do our best to try and find that for them.” Krissy said.

Krissy and Brenda are most excited, perhaps, about their workshop space. Located in the back of the store, is a space the owners intend to share with the community. From sewing to scrapbooking, the workshop space will act as a hub for community crafters to come together. In the near future, Krissy and Brenda are excited to begin offering classes in a range of crafts from painting to sewing, but also to offer the space for community groups to gather together and work on projects independently.

Brenda and Krissy are eager to give back to their community with their space. They said the community response to their store has been overwhelming in their very first few weeks. “The community’s response has been overwhelmingly awesome. We’ve been meeting people who come in and use our products and their craft to give back to the community,” Krissy said.

After meeting in their teen years, Krissy and Brenda are excited for their next chapter together through Craft Underground.

On the opening of their store, “I have the best partner with me that I’ve ever had in my life. Doing this fully feels like me. Our talents are different, but so complimentary, and our tastes are very similar,” Brenda said.

Krissy added, “We’re just having so much fun. It’s been so much fun, every step of the way.”

Craft Underground is open now, but will celebrate their grand opening on Oct. 10. The store is located at 135 Division Street N., Suite G, in Stevens Point.