Greensburg opens heart to new artisan shop

There's a new store in downtown Greensburg for women — with products crafted by women to bring a positive message for women.

Artisans of Hands & Heart opened recently a shop at 18 W. Second St. that features the work of seven local artists — all from Westmoreland County — ranging from a baker to a soap maker to a jewelry designer.

Products include blessing bells and blessing beads with a word such as “trust,” “faith,” “believe.” The jewelry is fashioned from stones that some believe carry healing properties, with each stone connoting a different meaning.

A grand opening celebration will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Look for works by:

• Sonia Miller, S. Clover Creations, a fabric artist.

• Chrys Sebula, a folk artist.

• Marsha Bauer, Laurel County Herbs, a natural soap maker.

• Nancy Keegan, a jewelry designer.

• Alyssa Wells, The Healthy Hearth baker.

• Helen Keegan-Geroux, Healthy Thoughts, Better Life, gifts with intentions and blessings.

• Cia Williford, Briarwood Studio, a mixed-media artist.

“Everything I do has a positive message,” said store owner Keegan-Geroux, whose blessing scarves feature blessings that can be found in the color, charm or word found on each scarf.

“We're determined to be here as long as possible,” she said.

The idea for the store began after Keegan-Geroux started hosting Christmas craft open houses, with proceeds going to women's shelters and food banks as a way to give back to the community.

Miller, a fabric artist who features bags and children's clothes in the store, used to work for the government until she had a baby.

“I've always made crafts and given them away as gifts,” said Miller, who has taken private sewing lessons for more than seven years and makes most of her own clothes.

“I had attended Helen's open house in the past and had a good reaction. When the idea for the store came up, things just moved quickly,” she said. “In eight weeks we had a location.”

Most of the women have a day job and have spent years practicing their craft as a personal creative outlet.

Keegan-Geroux, a management consultant who has worked all her life in business, used making jewelry as a way to express her creative urges.

“I love turquoise, amethysts too …,” Keegan-Geroux said. “And what they each mean.”

Other products include painted wine glasses, bird baths, candles, paintings with a message, bangle bracelets with a message, all-natural soap, baked goods and light and dark honey from Zambotti Bee Farm.

Prices range from $1 to $75.

In addition, Keegan-Geroux said she will feature other local artists' work for two weeks at a time at the front of the store to continue to promote local artists. New items will arrive each season.

“Right now, everything in the store is under $100,” Keegan-Geroux said.

Williford said it's nice to finally have an outlet where people can come in and see their work.

She said they have been pleased with the amount of foot traffic coming into the store for the last three weeks.

Steven Gifford, executive director of Greensburg Community Development Corporation, is not surprised by the early success.

He said evening hours to be offered by the store are a great way to capitalize on the downtown market.

“The big picture is any time a new business that is unique and different comes to Greensburg, it adds to what we currently have to offer,” Gifford said. “What you find here you can't find in national retail.”

“All of our products are locally made, and American made,” folk artist Sebula said. “I think it is stores like ours that are going to help to save downtown Greensburg. I think there needs to be some creative outlet to bring people in.”