The Creative Hand first opened its doors on July 12, 1977 at the Beech Tree Shops in Eagle, Pennsylvania.  This artisans cooperative consisted of 12 members who met while selling their crafts at school fairs.

From the beginning, The Creative Hand, has always been more than just another craft store.  Members frequently presented their crafts and gave demonstrations to area service groups.  Children’s and adult classes were often sponsored at the shop.  And “Candlelight”, our yearly Holiday Open House, dates from the first year of the cooperative.

1979 was a big year for the cooperative.  Pressed for space and looking for a  more central location, the group moved to the ZOOK House, a lovely historic building adjoining Exton Square Mall.  (It is now home to the Chester County Tourist Bureau.)  That year, the ZOOK House was part of the Chester County Day Tour.  To celebrate the occasion, the members wore traditional garb and demonstrated their crafts for visitors.

In 1986, the cooperative was faced with the necessity of moving again, this time to a location in Exton Square Mall.  The cooperative continued to grow and change.  In 1988 as it was preparing to move to its current location in the Exton Square Mall, the cooperative organized the Excellence in Arts Awards Program  to recognize area high school art students.   This program continued for ten years. In 1993, the Shops in the Great Valley Corporate Center invited the cooperative to setup a Christmas Shop.  As it proved worthwhile, the cooperative maintained the second location through August of 1997.

Shortly after the Holiday Season of 1998, Exton Square Mall began major renovations.  For the cooperative, it brought many challenges. Through short term moves within the Mall, construction nightmares, and their own shop renovations, the cooperative  continued to provide a showcase of quality, hand crafted products. Today The Creative Hand is still locally member owned and operated.  Now, however, artisans from around the USA are also represented.  Many of the artisans welcome the opportunity to design and create products for you.