By Denise Allabaugh
The Citizens’ Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
WWR Article Summary (tl;dr) Entrepreneur Cherie Cruz, owner, of “Sip N Silk” is combining her passion for art with socializing, bringing friends, family and even couples closer together through creativity.
FORTY FORT
A new business in Forty Fort will offer people the chance to come together for silk painting party events to design wearable art including scarves, sarongs and more.
Cherie Cruz, owner, will hold a grand opening at Sip N Silk at 1142 Wyoming Ave. on Saturday from 2 to 7 p.m.
Private parties and public events will be offered at Sip N Silk. Parties could include aromatherapy and people could make their own essential oils, organic products, bath bombs, lip balms, body scrubs and whipped body butter.
Parties last two to three hours and include games, prizes and music. People could bring their own food and beverages, she said.
The cost is $35 to $60 a person, depending on the type of party, Cruz said. Birthday parties, kids’ parties and showers will be offered.
“It’s a girls’ night out. It’s kind of an art therapy experience,” Cruz said. “Our social mission is women’s empowerment.”
Sip N Silk also will have “couples nights” where a couple could paint a silk scarf and tie to match.
A portion of proceeds raised at Sip N Silk will be donated to the Catherine McAuley House in Plymouth, which provides emergency, short-term shelter and resources for homeless women and children.
Once a month, Cruz will host a night when people could donate clothes for the homeless women to get back into the workforce.
She also plans to hold an event once a month for the women at the Catherine McAuley House. Fundraisers also will be held for other charities.
Raffles, free samples and giveaways will be offered at the grand opening planned for Saturday as well as games and special discounts for people who sign up for upcoming events or book a party, Cruz said.
Before starting her new business, Cruz previously had a small online business selling hand-painted silk scarves.
“It brings me joy to bring this experience to other women and give them confidence in creating their own unique art,” Cruz said.
Cruz said she wanted to start the business to be a role model for her five children and five grandchildren so they can realize they can be whatever they want to be.
In the future, she would like to help other artists by using her business as an incubation center where they could host parties and sell their work.
A Facebook page she started for Sip N Silk has already garnered more than 2,200 “likes.”
For more information about Sip N Silk, call 570-301-8731.
