LEWISTOWN - Crafters from all over the Juniata Valley have teamed up to open a co-op in downtown Lewistown that offers a variety of homemade crafts and collectibles.
Arbogast Video Crafts 'N Such, located at 29 W. Market St., is made up of artisans from Mifflin, Juniata, Perry and Snyder counties. The shop, which opened on Jan. 3, features soaps, jar candles and aromatic wax-dipped plush animals, helium balloons, sports hats, Amish furniture, Boyds Bears, quilts, chocolates, and a variety of other items.
May Furlong, co-owner of Candle Light Scents, which is one of the vendors at the store, said she previously owned a shop in Beaver Springs, but was planning to close it because of expenses when she ran into Joe Arbogast, a local store owner. She had seen him before at various craft shows, she said.
Article Photos
Sentinel photo by MARJORIE?STROMBERG
Joe Arbogast, left, and May Furlong, crafters at Arbogast Video Crafts ‘N Such, a co-op in downtown Lewistown, stand inside the store that opened on Jan. 3. The shop features a variety of homemade crafts and collectibles, such as candles, jewelry and furniture.
Arbogast, of Mifflin, said he owned a craft store, but he and his wife wanted to start a craft co-op, so he offered to partner with Furlong.
"Neither one of us could afford to be there ourselves," Furlong said about owning separate shops.
Furlong, of McClure, said the new co-op brings crafts to the community so people don't have to go out of the area to shop.
"This way it's in town for people that can't get out to them," she said.
Arbogast said that working with all the vendors as part of a co-op has been "very positive and constructive."
In the future, he said, he hopes to expand the store and one day offer antiques.
Store vendors include: Candle Light Scents by Furlong and Holly Hockenberry; Crafts 'N Such by Arbogast; Fiberoptic Hats by Mike Dixon; K & C Crafts by Carol Fultz and Kathy Harlon; Longaberger baskets by Alison Cahill; Pheasant Farm by Sandy Snook and Leslie Feehre; Emily Henry, who builds primitive furniture; Roberta Leister, who creates handmade jewelry; Betty Mundy, who makes flower arrangements; and Robert Hill, who constructs wood crafts. Additionally, Arbogast, through Arbogast Video, transfers old reels and slides on DVDs, and records 8-tracks and cassettes to playable CDs.
The store is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each Monday through Thursday; from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. each Friday; and from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each Saturday.
For more information call 953-9158 or visit www.craftsnsuch.net.
