Newest shop on Hill exciting, fun, jazzy

by PAT STOKES

In this week's jazz piano lesson, I've been revisiting a Kurt Weill song, "This is New" from Lady in the Dark. While the musical is old, old, the song is a classic. Maybe it was a coincidence, but "this is new" is the first thing I thought of, walking into this scintillating, jazzy, upbeat wall-to-wall gorgeous shop, Artisans on the Avenue. It's at 8440 Germantown Ave., yes, in the very place where you used to have your hair done.

The slightly sassy good looks of this merchandise may not be new in L.A., but believe me it's new for Chestnut Hill. Refreshing? Yes! Exciting? Yes! Fun? Yes! Note that the jazz music background is non-stop, not too loud, just right to set the mood.

The shop opened in its present location on Saturday, Nov. 20, but as you probably know, it had a previous life in smaller quarters a few doors down the Avenue in the "little gray house" next to Caruso's, having originated there in December of 2002. When Chestnut Hair decided to move, they did too. Richard Snowden, owner of the space, worked with them in every possible way to help get things up and running in the shortest possible time.

So who is responsible for all this? Three supercharged ladies, who are indeed artisans in their own right. Lisa Howe, who does decoupage and painted furniture; Georgia Doyle, buyer of gift items, flower arranger for weddings and parties; and Beth Redpath, decoupage and knitted scarves and accessories.

Just getting some facts down on paper was a kind of whirlwind experience, as all three were perpetually busy, with customers or on the phone or doing their spectacular gift wrapping in brilliant tissue and net ties.

When Lisa had a few free moments, I learned she lives in Wyndmoor with husband and three children. Georgia and Beth also have families to care for in addition to their duties at the shop. "With the move, and the freedom of so much more space," Lisa says, "we took a great leap into carrying more clothing. In our buying, we try to find interesting one-of-a-kind things that you won't see elsewhere in Chestnut Hill, some not even in Philadelphia."

What strikes the eye immediately are the racks of "crinkled" silk blouses in jewel tones, ruby, amethyst, burgundy, bottle green, amber, some unexpectedly lined with their opposite color. Some are short with a button or two for the current snug look; others, longer, could double as jackets.

I struck out on my own, through the maze of displays so fetching they make you want to ogle everything. Hand-knit sweaters by Margaret O'Leary in a rainbow of muted colors, others with ribbon laced through buttonholes or edged with eyelash yarn. Here's a gray-green silk skirt whose three kick pleats are tacked down with bars of contrasting colored stitching.

Here's a big straw basket filled with ... flowers ? No, they're long colored scarves edged in contrasting color, rolled up so the edges look like petals. As you can see there's a bit of whimsy and fantasy here, as in the necklace of knitted gray yarn studded with pearls strung on tiny glistening silver wires.

More down-to-earth stuff? Plenty. Colored leather wallets, photo albums and frames, CD cases, soaps tableware, platters, bowls, trays, candleholders, a lamp or two. Never run of the mill.

For an out-of-the-ordinary event I could include here, Lisa remembered a moment during the move, when something on the floor also moved, unexpectedly. Eek!  It was a tiny harmless garter snake, in the proper shade of green, of course, duly removed by a kindly workman.

It won't be hard to fit in a visit to Artisans on the Avenue while you're doing your holiday shopping. Their regular hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 to 5, and from now until Christmas they'll also be open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights until 9 p.m. More information, 215-381-0582.