BLACKFOOT — A new craft and home decor store offering unfinished products opened in Blackfoot on Friday.

The Wood Station, which is co-owned by Nancee Peterson and Linda Baldwin, is at 1235 N.W. Main St., and is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Peterson said the store sells popular products from The Wood Connection, which is based in Utah.

“I talked to so many crafters in Southeast Idaho ... and anybody who did any crafting at all knew about The Wood Connection. Their products are good quality and cute,” she said.

Peterson said she used to travel all the way to Utah to purchase The Wood Connection products, but after more than a year of asking, she and Baldwin were finally able to convince the company to allow them to open a local store.

“By the time you drive down (to Utah), eat a meal and pay your expenses, you could spend $150 to $200 depending on the vehicle you’re driving down,” she said, adding that now people can simply drive to Blackfoot — centrally located between several cities — to get the same products.

Peterson said they sell a variety of unfinished items at The Wood Station: wood lettering in two different fonts, wood cutouts in a variety of shapes and sizes and numerous other home decor projects.

“They are all unfinished products,” Peterson said, but added that they also sell all of the papers, paints and embellishments people need to put them together.

Many of the items come in kits and the store displays samples of what the finished projects will look like. People can mimic the displays or just get ideas from them, Peterson said, adding that they are going to offer craft classes each month for those who want to improve.

Peterson said there are several advantages to buying unfinished products.

“(You can end up) paying a lot for home decor at places where they have all finished products,” she said, adding that those they sell are less expensive because they haven’t been put together. “With unfinished products, you can match them to your home colors, and they make awesome family projects with your kids.”

Peterson said they currently have a lot of spring and summer projects in stock, and will add additional holiday and seasonal decor throughout the year.

She and Baldwin have hired two part-time employees to help them at the store, and they hope people will stop by in the future.

Tish Dahmen, executive director of the Blackfoot Chamber of Commerce, said she believes the “charming craft” store will add a lot to the community.

“(It will make it so) people who enjoy woodcraft don’t have to travel outside of the area to get supplies,” she said, adding that the Chamber is always excited to see new businesses open locally. “These two women are not just very talented, but they saw a need and they filled it.”