Meet the Makers

Paperworks creates handstamped, handcolored, quite often quirky greeting cards. They just hit our shelves last month, but are already a favorite! I met Leigh, the owner and creative behind Paperworks, at the Bordentown Farmers Market this summer and immediately fell in love with her whimsical cards. We're all looking for different ways to connect with each other in the time of social distancing - a handmade card by Leigh is definitely one you keep on the mantle or coffee table to look at again and again.

At Paperworks, Leigh creates a wonderful assortment of cards for special events: birthday cards for adults and kids - as well as cards for holidays, anniversaries, thank you's, get well notes, new homes, new little ones and soooo many more. They are each stamped with a message inside, and even have a coordinating message or decoration on the envelope. I really appreciate Leigh's attention to detail, it's those little extras that make the difference!

Stop in and take a look through her designs, I'm sure you'll find something that will put a smile on your loved ones face when they find your note hidden among the bills or ads in the post box. 

I have always loved doing a variety of crafts. I would see something I would want to try and would teach myself the best way to do it! Several years ago a good friend introduced me to the process of stamping. I decided to expand on the process to include coloring and adding other media to make greeting cards for my kids at college, as well as their friends. Now, after retiring from a 33 year career as a Health and Physical Education teacher, I am able to devote my time to creating greeting cards using different techniques, loving how the cards can express a variety of sentiments. Hopefully spreading good vibes from the sender towards those that receive them! 

-Leigh Cicchino

Rebecca Carson Collins is the owner of Carson's ReCreations - a Bordentown City based business creating locally themed home goods and decor. I met Rebecca through her cousin, after she suggested Carson's ReCreations might be a perfect fit for my shop. She was 100% correct! That was late 2017, and that meeting and ensuing partnership has transformed my shop.

Carson's ReCreations creates handmade wood signs, bottle openers, and keyhooks from upcycled pallet wood. Becky's father, Joe Carson, handles the woodworking and cutting of her signature signs and cork ornaments. Rebecca then sands, stains and paints what has become a go-to gift for any local resident wanting to show their NJ pride! A top seller are her etched glasses, and she has also expanded into etching growlers and antique windows. You'll find favorite quotes from famed Bordentonians like Thomas Paine and Clara Barton adorning pillows in homes throughout the area - and Carson's ReCreations is currently running a promotion of street name dishtowels that benefit our Bordentown Historical Society.