The wallpaper border has an Ohio State University theme, and pictures of Brutus Buckeye and coach Jim Tressel hang on the wall. The Buckeye theme continues to her work, as she makes Buckeye necklaces, bracelets, earrings, zipper pulls, key chains and more.
Tabler, 57, who is a client of the Licking County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities at the shelter workshop, called LICCO, loves what she does. As a devoted Buckeye fan, she was excited when a new company, Spirit Line Products, was created to fulfill the demand for Buckeye jewelry and to offer adults a new job opportunity.
Tabler made bracelets Tuesday by stringing the clay beads onto fishing line, one by one. The tedious and time-consuming job is something to which Tabler looks forward. She can produce up to 40 per day.
"I get frustrated with the little ones, but it's neat we can make money out of it," Tabler said. "My favorite thing to make is the necklaces, as they are easier to make. They go quicker."
Spirit Line Products grew out of the need for work for some of the clients in the product-support department at LICCO when the factory floor was reorganized about a year ago, said Kyle Miller, chief executive officer of LICCO.
As a way to fill downtime, the workshop specialists often come up with ideas to keep the workers occupied.
"Everyone in this building is a Buckeye fan," Miller said. "It started as fun project for the workers to do, and then people started coming in and asking for them. So we started a new business. This is something that our clients can relate to because they actually get to see the finished product rather than just one part of it."
Workshop specialist Vicki Wilkey created the idea of making the Buckeye necklaces. She collected the nuts and drilled them at home so the clients could string them the next day. Soon people were giving donations for the brown and red jewelry. Within a month, the workshop had enough money to buy a drill press.
It snowballed from there, and now the workers are producing jewelry for area high schools, such as Heath and Lakewood, and for causes such as breast-cancer awareness.
The finished products are displayed on professional-looking block O boards and are individually priced, while some of the smaller items, like earrings, are packaged. Several local businesses, including State Farm and The Grill on 21st Street, have sold products for LICCO.
They no longer are using just Buckeye nuts but also are making their own small clay beads, rolled to look like mini-Buckeyes, so they can make bracelets, zipper pulls and earrings. The workers get paid by the piece, whether they are making the clay beads, drilling Buckeyes or stringing a complete necklace.
Wilkey said this business is perfect for the LICCO workshop, 600 Industrial Parkway, Heath, because people with varying levels of productivity can participate in the project. Some people who might not be able to string the beads can roll the clay, or others who are not able to spell out the words beaded into the jewelry can package the finished product.
"Any one item we sell means that Mary Ann (and others) can make more," Wilkey said. "This job is a blessing. Our folks love working back here. They just want to work. You will not find more dedicated workers than the people we employ here."
Source: newarkadvocate
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