The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce spotlight for November is Ties and Bows Craft and Novelty
Shop in Antwerp, Ohio.
Marilyn Graft is the proud owner of one of the newest business establishments in Antwerp. Ties and
Bows is located at 410. E. River Street in Antwerp, Ohio, which is most recently the site of
Bragg’s chiropractic office. Marilyn has enjoyed crafting since she was very young and it has
been a part of her adult life off and on between other jobs.
She started making stuffed elephants about 5 years ago when her granddaughter was expecting and
the nursery theme was elephants. She made blankets and burp towels and then decided it was
time for toys. She started with flannel and then decided to try ties. She would deconstruct the
tie, quilt it and make the elephant. Each quilted seam is hand knotted. No two are alike. Even if
the elephants are made from the same fabric, they are still different. Each one has its own
personality. One animal led to another as customers asked for dogs, cats, pigs, sharks, and
dinosaurs.
Marilyn was doing craft shows until COVID hit. When it was slowing down, she saw an ad in The
West Bend paper to join an outside show and rummage sale at the home of Krazy Krafters on
Canal Street. It was so much fun and the Krazy Krafters adopted her into their group. She rented
a room so that she could do inside shows as the weather was getting cold. Tonya Walker of
Krazy Krafters took it over and we expanded. Each time it was time to end, Marilyn and the
Krazy Krafters were saying, “If we just didn’t have to pack up the heavy displays and store them
until the next show”. In August of this year, Marilyn took the plunge and purchased the old
chiropractor office to sell crafts and projects that she could not do at home because of space.
Krazy Krafters and Ties & Bows will continue to collaborate on sale dates and special events.
Tonya, Vicki, Michelle, Uncle Larry, and Diane have been a great help to Marilyn and her husband,
Ralph, in getting the shop up and running. Thank you does not go far enough to express their
gratitude. It is an ever-changing shop with several rooms to explore. You never quite know what
you might find. As you enter the front door you will see a variety of unique, inexpensive
displays, including bags of locally roasted coffee beans. While best known for the elephants,
Marilyn also does hats, bags, floral, and soon will return to making glass art. She is especially
proud when she sees a child (or adult) hug an animal and smile. Her passion is making someone
happy with that unique one of a kind item that she was able to create for them.
For a special occasion or ‘just because”, she will try to make what you want in a one-of-a-kind
reasonably priced item. She can use ties or fabric that belonged to a loved one to make beautiful
keepsakes.
Marilyn is happy to be a part of Antwerp and hopes people will stop in to see the shop and let her
assist them with what they may need. She can also work with vintage baskets to make unusual
floral pieces.
The Christmas shop is open and snowmen and snow-ladies are ready for a new home. The room will
feature nativity scenes to help us remember the reason for the season. She hopes to see
everyone in the shop especially during this holiday season.
The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce is excited to partner with Ties and Bows in the growth of
Antwerp and the surrounding community.
