SEQUIM — When Virginia Sheppard first looked to market her ugly cup covers — decorative, functional covers made from a variety of fabrics to transform a broken or ugly coffee cup into a useful storage container — she found various levels of success.
Sheppard sold some at the local market and had little interest online.
Now she’s found a new venue for her creations and many others in a community style on her own terms — and in her own shop.
Sheppard opened Crafter’s Creations in Creamery Square in Sequim, with the same setup as the Bag Ladies of Sequim, the space’s previous owners. She features and sells merchandise on consignment from local artisans and crafters.
The shop, at 247 E. Washington St., features everything from wool pins to necklaces and earrings to bags and purses, crocheted hats and scarves, tiny gnome scenes on wood rounds, and toys from 3-D printers.
“We have items from $4 to $200 … lots for everyone,” Sheppard said.
Starting young
Sheppard, who hails from Port Angeles, got her start in sewing when she was 7 when her mother gave her a needle and thread and said, “Make something.”
“I, of course, made clothes for my dolls,” Sheppard said.
Sheppard’s mother was a seamstress and once was given a fur coat to make into a stole; she gave her daughter small pieces of leftover fur. The younger Sheppard turned that into a fur coat she made for her Terri Lee doll, complete with lining and pockets.
Over the years, Sheppard has had various hobbies and businesses. She developed the Ugly Cup Cover and sold them at the Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market for a several years.
“You can’t find these anywhere,” she said of the covers, which she said are “a perfect way to add personality to your workspace or home decor,” and they can also help to keep one’s desk or counter organized.
Seeking another way to market her product, Sheppard connected with Victoria Julian-Grey of The Bag Ladies of Sequim.
“When Victoria asked me to open shop, I was thrilled at the prospect of creating a new store for those crafters and artisans like me who needed an outlet for their talent,” Sheppard said.
She said she considered all aspects of running a business, and she consulted friends, family and acquaintances before she said yes.
Crafter’s Creations officially opened on Aug. 7 and held a grand opening two days later. Since then, Sheppard has increased the number of vendors and revamped the store.
Sheppard attracted all of her vendors “from word-of-mouth,” and she said her vendor list has grown to more than three dozen, including Dauna Cole’s centerpieces and table runners, Linda Hackney’s “Heart” tags and travel jewelry boxes, Gloria Hancock’s watercolor, pastel and multimedia artwork, Kelly Lawrence’s Skwim stickers, buttons and coasters, Brianna Van Blair’s candles, Jennifer Duncan-Taylor’s Lost Mountain Pottery, Debbie Piccirill’s driftwood Christmas ornaments, and dozens of other artisans’ hand-crafted items.
Crafter’s Creations is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, call 601-451-4898 or email info@crafterscreations.com.
Crafter’s Creations vendors
Laura Campbell — wool pins
Jennifer Capehart-Mira — badge reels
Dauna Cole — centerpieces and table runners
Lauralee Deluca — felted dryer balls soaps, cat toys
Barbara Falk — prints, tiles, mugs from her original watercolor paintings
Jennifer Duncan-Taylor/Lost Mountain Pottery — vases, teapots, mugs, butter keepers, platters, pie plates, plates, and yarn bowls.
Rene Ewbank — fresh hats (adjustable, reversible), visors, hoods, crocheted hats, billed tams, beanies, head bands, scarves that Sheppard calls “Dragon Tails”
Linda Hackney — “Heart” Tags , travel jewelry boxes
Dick Hancock — tiles, necklaces, earrings using art of acrylic pouring, wildlife photo cards
Gloria Hancock — original artwork (watercolors, pastels, multimedia), blank cards
Vicky Humphrey — woodwork items made by her late husband
Kelly Lawrence — Skwim stickers, buttons, coasters
Dana Stinson Lopez — painted rocks
Tina Merdinyan — greeting wands, accordion card booklets, garden plates, string lights and wreaths
Kathy Nichols — printed cards from her original artwork
Linda Pang — jewelry made with jade, jasper, fossilized coral, lace agates and other stones
Carol Pearson — jewelry made with stones and other beads
Beth Peterman — bags, purses of different sizes, crocheted from plastic grocery bags
Sharon Prosser — glass garden flowers, bird feeders, hummingbird feeders, bird baths
Jim Spreine — wooden bird houses using old license plates, recycled hardware, spoons, keys and hinges; lamps from vintage irons, toasters and other kitchen objects
Nancy Schroeder — pillows, wall hangings, felt gnomes and penguins
Dayne Allen Sheets — crocheted hats, scarves
Virginia Sheppard — Ugly Cup Covers, hostess aprons, hanging kitchen towels, tissue box covers
Jazmine Stamper — tiny gnome scenes on wood rounds
Claudia Swing — crocheted cowls, animal ties, scarves
Dexter Tedrick — 3-D printed toys
Traci Lockhart — Epic Suds soap, spa soap, lip balm, bubble bombs, shower steamers, beard oil, foot fizzies
Ruth Ann Toney — Cozy Legs made from recycled sweaters, Cozy Arms from warming materials
Julie Turnross — crocheted scarves hats, ear warmers
Brianna Van Blair — candles
Michelle Goff — boxed baby clothes cupcakes
Angela Graham — greeting cards
Judy Markle — zipped ladies’ bags, large cloth shopping bags
Debbie Piccirill — driftwood Christmas ornaments
Morgan Stephenson — fused glassware
Brianna Van Blair — soy candles
Shauna Moore — Christmas socks with dog, cat themes and corded bowls
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Michael Dashiell is a former editor of the Sequim Gazette of the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which also is composed of other Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News and Forks Forum.
