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 she found varying levels of success selling some at the local market and little interest online.

Instead, 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.

In early August, Sheppard opened Crafter’s Creations in Creamery Square, with the same set up as the Bag Ladies of Sequim, the space’s previous owners: featuring and selling 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, from artists across the North Olympic Peninsula.

“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 at the age of 7, she recalled, when her mother gave here 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 child turned that into a fur coat I 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 Farmer’s & Artisans Market for a several years.

“You can’t find these anywhere,” she said of the covers. The covers, 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.

“When asked by Victoria to take over the shop, I considered all aspects of running a business. I consulted friends, family and acquaintances before saying yes.”

Crafter’s Creations officially opened on Aug. 7, with 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 her vendor list has grown to more than tree-dozen, she said, including Dauna Cole’s centerpieces and table runners, Linda Hackney’s “Heart” tags and travel jewelry boxes, Gloria Hancock 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 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday. Email to info@crafterscreations.com or call 601-451-4898 for more information.

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 — wood work 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, and more

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, more

Dayne Allen Sheets — crocheted hats, scarves

Virginia Sheppard — Ugly Cup Covers, hostess aprons, hanging kitchen towels, tissue box covers, more

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

Editor’s note: Some vendors are not included at their request. — MD

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell /Badge reels by Jennifer Capehart-Mira, one of more than three-dozen local artists featured at Virginia Sheppard’s Crafter’s Creations. The shop, in the space formerly occupied by The Bag Ladies of Sequim, opened in early August.

Jennifer Duncan-Taylor’s Lost Mountain Pottery artwork — including vases, teapots, mugs, butter keepers, platters, pie plates, plates and yarn bowls — is featured in Virginia Sheppard’s Crafter’s Creations.

Virginia Sheppard’s Crafter’s Creations features dozens of local artists including scarves made by Rene Ewbank that Sheppard has coined “dragon tails.”

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Jazmine Stamper’ tiny gnome scenes on wood rounds are available at Crafter’s Creations at 247 E. Washington St.

Toy maker Dexter Tedrick sells these 3-D printed toys at Crafter’s Creations in Creamery Square.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Virginia Sheppard recently opened Crafter’s Creations at 247 E. Washington St. in Creamery Square, offering merchandise on consignment from more than three-dozen local artisans and crafters.