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Carrie Schramm is all in for another quarter century operating her Penn Township craft shop.
In October, the Crafty Shack, located along Harrison City-Export Road, will reach its 25th year in business. It offers community members a space to paint ceramics, make pottery, paint canvases, create mosaics and decorate stepping stones.
The anniversary came as a surprise to Schramm. Her youngest of four sons, who was 6 weeks old when the shop opened, brought it to her attention.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long — probably because I love what I do,” said Schramm, 53, a Penn Township native. “If I didn’t love it, it’d be different. But I love going to work. I love coming here and being creative and getting the community involved and helping kids and adults.”
A formal celebration will be held in June, but various birthday-themed activities will be held throughout the year, Schramm said.
Art has always been a part of Schramm’s life. Completing crafts on long car rides and tagging along with her mother and grandmother on their trips to the ceramics studio are among her fond childhood memories.
Schramm was inspired to open her own art business by her experience visiting the craft shop at Deer Valley YMCA. She has camped on the Somerset County grounds since she was 2 years old.
“That was my favorite place to be,” she said, “so when this all came about, I was like ‘I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna have a Deer Valley craft shop at home.’”
Since the shop’s opening, it has been Schramm’s goal to provide a creative outlet for children.
The shop regularly collaborates with the Penn Township and Murrysville recreation departments to host programs for families, and it used to host after-school art classes at nearby elementary buildings. Since the pandemic, the shop has transitioned to providing students with art kits they can complete at home with their families.
“We’re just going to keep doing what we do and building relationships with the community,” she said. “We’ll be here for another 25.”
