Meet Shannon D’Arpino | Owner & Maker of Beautiful Things

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shannon D’Arpino and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, how does your business help the community?
Colliope Co was created to help makers find a place to share their talents with their community. After being a therapist for 15 years, I would utilize art to foster breakthroughs with my clients and often found myself using my maker skills to find mental harmony when I was stressed by my caseload. After I realized I could pursue my passion of sewing and painting and be successful at it, I wanted to create a place for makers to collaborate together. I like to call Colliope Co a creative collaborative because every maker I bring on board helps make the shop more beautiful with their talents. Most of our makers, as well as myself, are very eco-concious. We create our pieces with recyclyed items, upcycle furniture that others may have just thrown away, use non-toxic chemicals, sell fair trade to educate and offer products that support social awareness. A huge way for me to help my community is by passing on the knowledge through our classes as well. We offer small, intimate classes that encourage people to try making something with their own hands and achieve a beautiful success so they feel good when they leave our shop. I feel that the more people we touch with our shop and local influences, the better we make our community and quite honestly the world around us.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I have been an artist my whole life in one way or another. When I was in middle school I learned how to sew and I just immediately fell in love. I began my creative business making baby items. I make bonnets, hats, clothes, blankets and well, pretty much anything that makes me happy. Then I started upcycling furniture items to display my sewn items. This caught the eye of a friend of mine who had a shop and she asked me to join. From there, I began selling my items at events and eventually became in demand for wholesale products. When we moved back home to Tucson, I found that there wasn’t really anything like what I was doing and so I decided to open Colliope Co. Since creating Colliope my heart has really been in the painting part of my creative process. I custom paint furniture as well as sell my painted furniture in my shop. I think I have gotten to this place professionally by being really good at the psychology of selling, as well as really listening to my customers needs. I also love displaying my eclectic tastes for your home in the shop, to really help people see how they can incorporate something I made into their space or use something they already own and give it new life.

Since we opened we have just continued to grow beyond my wildest dreams. Last year we became displaced due to an unfortunate fire that happened in the development where our shop was. When this happened I decided to build a completely new shop from an existing shell. This process has not gone smoothly. This challenge has been something I never anticipated going on as long as it has and we got through it with the support of our customers and biggest fans. I know that because of the community we have built, they came out and supported us during this time and really look forward to our Grand Re-Opening in May. The lessons I have learned are so profound, if you build something authentic and unique, they will come and they will bring friends! Just be you, be geniune, be vulnerable and treat your customers and employees like the special humans they are. I want the world to know that when they step into Colliope Co, they are going to be treated like a best friend and we are going to provide them with inspiration and freedom to express themselves in their home and in their community!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Welcome to Tucson…we are gonna eat! Tucson has been hailed as a gastronomy mecca. Then we will hike in our beautiful mountains and finish the day with a drink at one of our many beautiful bars or taprooms. We will begin with brunch at Cafe A la C’Art in downtown. This gorgeous cafe is next to the Tucson Museum of Art and has the best patio to just sit and enjoy their amazing food and drinks. Then I would take them to Gates Pass for a breath taking view of the Tucson Mountains and the valley of West Tucson. There are also some amazing hiking trails here, as well as great photo opportunities. From their we would grab some lunch at the MSA Annex at Beaut Burger or at Rollies Mexican Patio Food Truck. After we eat we can shop at the local shops in the Annex and the new shops along the Avenida del Convento. From their we can jump on the street car and head downtown. I love to take visitors to see our murals. Tucson is full of talent! Our mural game is the best I have ever seen and they are always being added all over town. So, I would take my friend on a walking tour of our murals and hit 4th Ave for some more shopping and good Tucson energy. Finally, we would end our evening at another hidden gem, The Coronet. We would enjoy the ambiance and beautiful drinks they offer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shoutout to my husband for supporting me on this huge undertaking! I am blown away by the tasks that he helps me get done. I know it’s because he sees the pure joy that Colliope Co gives to me and sees how good I am at building this beautiful community. Plus, as the creative, I really appreciate his business sense when I throw out my crazy ideas for us to make or try out in the shop! I imagine, being married to a creative can be a crazy ride and he has really been by my side for this adventure and for that I am so incredibly grateful.

Website: www.colliopeco.com

Instagram: @colliopeco

Facebook: facebook.com/colliopeco

Yelp: Colliope Co