Carol's Creative Cottage celebrates official grand opening
<span>CHESTER -- Although it has been technically open since April, Carol's Creative Cottage celebrated its official grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday.</span>
<span>Carol's Creative Cottage, located in the alley behind 1511 Swanwick St. in Chester, specializes in handmade jewelry and crafts.</span>
<span>It is one of a string of recently-opened businesses in Chester's historic Swanwick District, joining S.I. Vapor, EDITboutique, Etc… and Benson's Wine Bar.</span>
<span>"Business is picking up," said co-owner Carol Allison, who owns the shop with her mother-in-law Bev Allison. "We're now doing memory beads, and that's where you bring flowers from a funeral, wedding, baptism, anything special in your life and we incorporate the flowers in the clay.</span>
<span>"We add other gemstones and natural stones and sell them."</span>
<span>Unlike costume-grade jewelry made with glass and plastic stones, handmade jewelry is typically crafted out of pride by the artist and often carries a story behind the inspiration for each item.</span>
<span>While such workmanship can be expensive at other place, the Allisons try to keep their products affordable with prices starting at $5.</span>
<span>"I would like to incorporate a little more crafts into (the business)," Carol Allison said. "Right now, the jewelry is the big seller."</span>
<span>Handmade jewelry is largely a "under the radar" industry, serving as a popular hobby for some and a way to earn extra money for others. Some crafters also sell to retail stores.</span>
<span>"It started out as a hobby, making jewelry together," said Bev Allison in previous statements to the Herald Tribune. "We started liking it more and more."</span>
<span>Bev Allison said the pair were making jewelry in separate locations, but that process became aggravating and they decided to open their own shop.</span>
<span>"It's a slow process," Carol Allison said. "We're doing OK. The memory beads have helped, definitely."</span>
<span>Carol Allison said the business has done "quite a few" of the memory beads for those affected by the recent deaths of Toree and Bret Chandler, who were tragically killed in a car wreck in Missouri on July 19.</span>
<span>"(Toree) was a dear friend of mine," she said. "It's been hard, but (the memory beads) have helped me to get through it.</span>
<span>"We've had quite a few people bring in flowers wanting to make memory beads."</span>
<span>Carol's Creative Cottage is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. "most days" and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. almost every Thursday.</span>
<span>"If the sign's out, we'll have it open," Carol Allison said.</span>
<span>Personal appointments can be made by phone by contacting Carol Allison at 618-615-1870 or Bev Allison at 573-270-8941. Carol's Creative Cottage can also be contacted via email at carolscreativecottage@gmail.com.</span>