‘Lotsa Stuff’ joins Tekoa business scene

Linda Schmidt

A new business, Lotsa Stuff, opened this month in Tekoa and will share space with Scrappers Getaway which has been open since 2009. Linda and Lloyd Schmidt hosted a grand opening for the new business which sells hand-made knick knacks and other home decorations.

Schmidt said her range of items, from her hand-made soap to sterling silver jewelry, justifies the Lotsa Stuff name of the new business.

“I try to have the gifts priced so Tekoa can afford it,” Schmidt told the Gazette in an interview Monday.

Schmidt has taken over running the shop’s business hours for the owner of Scrapper’s Getaway, Debbie Porter, who will continue to supply the store with her own merchandise and offer her own scrapping workshops on the side.

The businesses at 115 E. Henkle are open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The two business owners jointly rent the building space from the owner.

Since her opening in March, Schmidt said her soap, at $4 a bar, has sold better than anything else.

Raw shea butter and olive oil form the base of her soap, she said. The ingredients provide a one-two punch that delivers healthy moisture to the skin. She melts the two oils together, then applies scent-specific oils like vanilla or lavender.

“I like the shea butter because it’s a better moisturizer,” said Schmidt said. Scents like bay rum (for men), orange vanilla and evergreen lavender waft up from the basket of bars which sits at the front of the store.

Hand-made tea towels by Tekoa resident Wendy Sienknecht are hung in a front corner of the store. The towels have patches of animal designs stitched to the front.

Schmidt Monday brought in porcelain dolls hand-made by June Arnold of Tekoa. The all-porcelain figures are cloaked in elaborate dresses created by Arnold.

Schmidt said she is trying to offer items people may not find at other businesses in Tekoa.

A table full of decorations for Easter is in the front window.

Linda and her husband Lloyd are both retired. They moved here from Tumwater last year with the hopes of retiring in Tekoa.

This is their second business venture in Tekoa. In 1997 they renovated and opened a shop in the same building called Linda’s Ribbons `n Things, along with Linda’s Latte and Deli. They closed the business after one year following the death of Linda’s mother.

The bulk of the merchandise in the store is still stocked by Porter. Much of Porter’s merchandise is also made by hand. It includes items such as hand-decorated light switch frames and cards.

For scrap booking, Porter sells a host of wooden buttons, ribbons in all colors, stickers, colored paper and other supplies.

She earns her bread and butter from the hobby by conducting workshops and retreats. Porter said the retreats give her a chance to dive into what she really enjoys, teaching about scrapbooks; .

“I just like teaching people how to do it. I donate four days of my life to my 30 women,” Porter said.

She opened her scrap booking business in Tekoa in 2004, closed in 2007, and re-opened in 2009.