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Judy Kleinstub’s corner of hand-painted pencil boxes, lap trays and stationery is a neat, bright splash inside her husband’s shop of novelties on Lee Highway.
As owner of Judy’s at World Sales, Kleinstub said she will personalize anything, even painting a found turtle’s new name on his shell, Freeway, Jr.
“It’s part hobby, part work,” Kleinstub said. “It’s my hobby that’s turned into a job.”
Most of her customers are grandparents and parents buying personalized gifts for children.
“Kids like to see their names,” Kleinstub said.
She offers painted puzzles, bins, “garages” for miniature cars and other merchandise. Kleinstub’s bestsellers are lap trays, which are great gifts for adults, too, she said. One client bought one for a spouse coming home from the hospital.
She does most of her painting at home, spreading her work across the dining room table.
Kleinstub said clients’ requests recently led her to add invitations, personalized notepads and napkins to her repertoire.
She has books filled with invitations for baby showers, rehearsal dinners, wedding showers and birthday parties. Though some designs may also be available online, Kleinstub said she shepherds each project through to completion and takes responsibility for printing mistakes.
“I offer the personal touch,” she said.
Kleinstub’s favorite stationery products are the coordinating collections of notepads, which she has ordered for herself. Tic-Tac-Toe, Mom’s To-Do List, Week At-A-Glance and Babysitter Notes are among the themes.
Kleinstub opened Judy’s Personalized Gifts more than 25 years ago, then also inside her husband Jerry’s shop, originally located on East 11th Street downtown.
“It’s come full circle because I’m back at his store in a little section,” she said.
Kleinstub said painting children’s parasols was among her first projects. Later, after a stint with her own space, Judy’s Personal Touch at Hamilton Place, she tried to retire and sold all her inventory.
“I turned 68 and I thought it was time to retire,” she said.
But she couldn’t lay her craft down, and her husband opened a wall in his store for her “because she asked me to,” he said.
“It’s my husband,” Kleinstub said. “He’s not afraid to recommend me.”
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