Crafters find their passion in NEPA

Jun. 25—One local crafter aims to protect the planet while another seeks to preserve the past.

As more aspiring entrepreneurs expanded their imagination throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the local craft scene continues to evolve. From jewelry creations to eco-friendly products, wood decor and more, area artisans sell a wide variety of items online and through craft fairs.

"The pandemic really gave people a chance to work with their hands a little bit more and revive or learn some skills or pursue some interests," said Abby Glassenberg, co-founder and president of the Craft Industry Alliance.

Tunkhannock resident Laura Maxson launched Laura's Piece on Earth in 2020 and began selling handmade, sustainable products in 2021.

The venture started as a COVID project and continues to progress, Maxson said.

"I bought some products and thought let me see if I can make them," she said. "It started with beeswax wraps and went from there."

She also sells "paperless" paper towels made using 100% cotton and kitchen scrubbers made from upcycled beach towels.

"Everything is made to use and reuse to try to curb our waste," Maxson said.

She sells and ships products through Facebook and also attends about 20 craft fairs or festivals each year — traveling as far as Delaware.

"My slogan is saving the planet one piece at a time," Maxson said. "Many of us want to do something for the Earth and not a lot of us know how. They recycle but we all know recycling isn't enough. We can start with something small, and I think it makes them feel good to do one more thing."

Constance Denchy, a third-generation descendant of anthracite miners, takes pride in creating sentimental mementos for people that honor their ancestors.

Through Denchy C.O.A.L. Company, she sells anthracite jewelry through Facebook and various small businesses, including Old & Brew in Blakely.

"The beautiful part of when I'm doing a custom design is four or five different family members can be in one necklace," Denchy said. "It has such great sentimental value for the women because they can say this came from my great aunt and this came from rosary beads my grandmother gave me. It tells a story."

Denchy, a Child of Anthracite Legacies, honored her own family when producing her first coal creation. Denchy Coal Company was started by her grandfather, William Denchy, in 1934.

"I polished it up and crocheted a chain around it to represent my grandmother's chain of love," she said. "It was like having both of my grandparents with me. It was a really hard time in my life and sometimes I grab that necklace and think about the stuff they went through in their life."

She enjoys transforming antiquated accessories like big, chunky beads into fashionable wares.

"People don't wear that style now and sometimes they're broken," Denchy said. "When I take them apart, I upcycle them with other more modern beads. A lot of people might think this is junk jewelry, but it's not junk because the memories attached to it make it a treasure. It's more than jewelry, it's a piece of history."

Denchy stressed each product has its own unique characteristics.

"I call it neck art because I think of each one as an individual design," she said. "They might have a similar look, but no two are going to be the same. People love that they are made individually, hand crafted and created locally."

Denchy's designs have made it around the country — California, Mississippi and Texas — and the world — Belgium, Italy and Spain.

She noted the coal's appearance makes it an ideal source for developing into jewelry.

"Anthracite is naturally very shiny," Denchy said. "A lot of people don't understand there are different grades of coal or how rare and beautiful anthracite is."

The Jessup resident also recognizes the importance of educating the area's youths about the history of coal in Northeast Pennsylvania.

"I like seeing the younger generation have a deep appreciation for the people who built this area," Denchy said.

Darcie Brocious of Shavertown, owner of Artful Things by Darcie, was inspired to create wood flower arrangements when she couldn't find the desired color of flowers for her wedding in 2020.

"I came across the wood flowers and decided that's what I wanted to do," Brocious said. "I really liked it, and the business was born."

She sells her creations on Shopify and the Back Mountain Makery in Dallas as well as craft fairs in Northeast Pennsylvania and beyond.

"I like to use a lot of vintage and upcycled containers and those are popular," Brocious said. "I do a lot of things in teapots and teacups."

What started as a necessity during the pandemic turned into a continued pursuit for crafters, Glassenberg said.

"We saw a lot of people take out their sewing machines because everybody needed to make masks," she said. "Once they had it out, they started doing other things like making their own clothes. A lot of people wanted something they could control, something that was meditative and something that made them feel productive."

She added many artisans turned to crafting to supplement their income in recent years amid a growing number of consumers looking to purchase goods online.

"It's very easy to start an Etsy shop," Glassenberg said. "It only costs 20 cents to list an item, so there is a really low barrier to entry and a lot of customers are coming to Etsy for the first time."

The emergence of TikTok, a video sharing app, during the pandemic also introduced many children and young adults to arts and crafts for the first time.

"I think that's been a really great push for younger people to get involved and reinvent older techniques for what they want to make now," Glassenberg said.

Glassenberg feels the crafting community has ample opportunity for anyone interested in exploring their creativity.

"There is room for everyone in the space because it's creative," she said. "The way you put color together or the phrase you use on a T-shirt is not going to be the same as somebody else. Something handmade is completely unique and there is always going to be a market for that."

Contact the writer: rtomkavage@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131; @rtomkavage on Twitter.