Hand Made Haven
Lawrenceville — the Pittsburgh neighborhood long regarded as a dusty working class community — is now the city’s trendiest place to shop, drink, dine and live. Butler Street, the ’hood’s main drag, is home to a diverse collection of shops brimming with handmade, vintage and repurposed items. Here are some picks from a few of our favorites.
JAY DESIGN
JAY DESIGN
4603 Butler St; 412-683-1184; www.jaydesign.com
What: Minty Pear Soap, $10.50 for a 6 oz. bar
Every bar of soap sold in this local standard is made right in the shop. (Don’t believe us? Look behind the curtain.) Choosing just one is next to impossible, but we like Minty Pear. It’s spicy, sweet and as refreshing as a bite of the bell-shaped fruit itself.
DIVERTIDO
3609 Butler St; 412-6873701; www.divertidoshop.com
What: Friend or Foe, $38
Its tag says, “Oh no, you have a foe!” But between the endearing polka-dotted body, pink felt teeth and wide button eyes, it’s hard to imagine anything adversarial about this fuzzy fellow. Local artists Tracey Weber and Amber Bonaroti handcraft every creature from this shop using vintage and recycled materials.
WILD CARD
4209 Butler St; 412-224-2651; www.wildcardpgh.com
What: Jet Set Stationary, $8
Stretch out your hand muscles — and impress Mom and Dad — it’s time to send snail-mail. This set of six note cards and old-fashioned Air Mail envelopes are great for jetsetters and trendsetters alike. Each stationery set is hand-printed by Noelle Griskey of Pink Bathtub Designs and is available in a variety of locally themed designs.
PAGEBOY SALON & BOUTIQUE
3613 Butler St; 412-224-2294; www.pageboypgh.com
What: Bicycle Cap, $39.50
Nobody captures Lower Lawrenceville’s ecofriendly zeitgeist like Pageboy. Co-owner Rachel Vallozzi has a line of “upcycled” fashion and sells items by like-minded folks in her boutique. This cap, handcrafted from recycled wool by Endless Hats in Bloomsburg, PA, is cozy and adjustable, so it’ll keep your noggin warm on a crisp autumn afternoon.
GALLERY ON 43RD ST
187 43rd St; 412-683-6488; www.galleryon43rdstreet.com
What: Four-piece placemat set, $60
Mary Coleman, owner of this house-turned-gallery just off of Butler, taught herself to weave after buying a loom at an auction. Now, her textiles — from rugs to wall hangings to curtains — adorn homes from Pittsburgh to Paris. These cotton placemats look as though they’re made of fallen leaves, so they’re perfect for the season.
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