By RONDA GREGORY
News & Journal Staff Writer
A new craft/home décor shop called My Mother’s Daughter opened this month in the former McCrory’s Five and Dime at 318 W. Main Street in Clarksburg. Owner Stephanie Wyatt said her location in the heart of Clarksburg’s business district and within a former city landmark business couldn’t be more perfect. “I have a great spot,” she said.
My Mother’s Daughter features an eclectic mix of either handmade or “hand-touched” country and primitive home decor and other items by only West Virginia artisans or crafters, she noted, adding that many products are even more from “home”, being made by local vendors.
Wyatt explained that hand-touched items are those that aren’t handmade but “are customized or personalized to the customers’ requests,” such as the pine wreaths.
Wyatt said she now stocks more country-crafted items than primitive, but will continue to build her already varied inventory in all areas.
“I’m looking forward to adding more quality products. We have so many talented artisans in the state, it will be a privilege to include them as things progress,” she said.
Shoppers already can enjoy the sights and scents of a plethora of enticing choices – pithy plaques, free-standing decor, baskets, quilts, handmade jewelry, candles, scented tarts, jams, jellies, candies and soaps.
Soaps with yummy or exotic names like “Raspberry Vanilla”, “Rain”, and “Amazon Lily” should attract quite a bit of customer interest.
A couple of Tamarack artisans, who are area locals, are featured at the shop: basket maker Elaine Sinclair and chocolatier Diane Wickland of A La Carte Fine Chocolates, Wyatt said.
Stephanie herself is a contributor to the lovely goods at the shop. She said her favorite craft is refurbishing furniture – “up cycling” it.
“I love to repurpose a lot of things into one-of-a-kind items,” she said.
Reviews are already stellar. One Facebook reviewer, Kylie Davis, commented, “I’ve ordered a few things from My Mother’s Daughter, and everything that I have bought from there is reasonably priced and beautiful. Stephanie is great at what she does.”
While Wyatt said she appreciates her customers for their business, of course, she really enjoys their company and getting to know them personally.
“The most exciting part of opening a new business is the potential to meet and create new friendships,” she stated. “I love talking to new folks and learning their story. Being in this business, I have the pleasure of meeting people of all interests.”
A great way to get acquainted with her customers and a place where they can refresh while shopping will be at the shop’s coffee bar, which set to be up and “pouring” by late January.
“I’m so excited about the coffee bar,” Wyatt said. “The counter was already there.” And she hopes to expand the menu in the future.
Wyatt, a native of and current resident of the Salem area who lived a couple of stints in the metropolitan area of Cleveland, said she is just getting started with ideas for the shop and its offerings. Being inspired by living in such diverse areas, she’s bringing together and mixing big city business ideas with the unique genuineness of Appalachian culture and artisanship.
“I have so many more entrepreneurial ideas for the shop. I want to do everything,” she said.
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony is tentatively scheduled for some time in February.
Current hours of operation are “trial hours” and may be subject to change at a later date. For now, My Mother’s Daughter is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and closed on Sundays. For more information about the shop, visit on Facebook at “My Mother’s Daughter”. Or you can see updates on the new shop at the City of Clarksburg’s website at www.cityofclarksburgwv.com.
