Meet the Staff

When Tom McConnell retired a few years ago, he never thought he would end up working at Painted Dog.  It just happened. Now, besides being in charge of the wood division, he co-ordinates all the packaging and shipping for the company.

 

Goldie and Beamish, well, they just kind of oversee everything!

 

And me, I just try to come up with the ideas. Sometimes, Tom just looks at me and says, ‘Really!?!’

 

~ Chrys

Curious Cat was founded in 1998. How it got its name is a long story, but it *was* actually named Curious Cat because of my cat. I did home parties for a year, before I found a location for a shop in Irwin, PA, my home town.  Then, in 2008, I moved a few storefronts down the street to a much larger location, and that’s where we are to this day. Although Curious Cat features many hand crafted items, we also stock table top linens, specialty foods, home decor. Something for every season, and so much more!

 

I actually first started out designing florals: wreaths, baskets, etc.   Today my shop is still well known for our designs.  And custom florals were only the beginning.

 

I started painting really by accident. I wasn’t finding things that I wanted to stock the shop with, so I gave it a try.   One thing lead to another and in 2002 I started selling painted slate, then I added the glass, and now the wood.   I am self taught, and I am very humbled by the fact people love my work.

 

There is a sign in my retail shop that reads:   “Welcome, there are no strangers here, only friends I haven’t met yet.”   That is truly how I feel.

 

~Chrys

“I never decided at all to be an artist; being an artist seems to have happened to me.”
Anne Truitt