Racks of quirky totes and custom tumblers now fill a small New Kensington storefront — but two years ago, The Bag Lady began with a single handmade Halloween trick-or-treat bag designed in honor of a deceased loved one’s birthday.
Now, The Bag Lady owner Heather Naugle, a Penn Hills resident, has turned her creative emotional outlet into an eccentric gift shop built on one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted designs.
“I never make anything twice. So all of my shirts, totes, cups, anything you see here, you would be the only one to have that,” said Naugle, 51.
The Bag Lady opened as a pop-up shop on Fifth Avenue in November. Naugle started crafting in 2023 after her mother died unexpectedly over Christmas of the previous year.
“She was really young, and I had such a hard time with it. My husband suggested I start crafting to keep my mind busy, and I tried so many things and nothing stuck. Then, it was summer and I started thinking of Halloween: It’s my favorite and my mom’s birthday,” Naugle said.
Naugle’s crafting repertoire has since expanded to include earrings, key chains, tumblers with built-in Bluetooth speakers, hats and more.
The Bag Lady previously had a booth at Rossi’s Flea Market in North Versailles, but after seeing an ad online from developer Olde Towne Overhaul, which has been working to restore downtown New Kensington for six years, Naugle decided to open a “home base” for her business.
Michelle Thom, Olde Towne Overhaul operations manager, described Naugle as an “integral and very active member” of the business community.
Almost every square inch of the roughly 950-square-foot building’s wall space is covered with products.
Naugle said she has “no idea” the exact extent of her product lines, but estimates the store holds more than 1,200 cups, hundreds of bags and pens, dozens of shirts and lip balm holders.
Naugle’s crafting workshop is split between the store and her house.
In the shop, Naugle has a small brown desk, where she recently bedazzled a guitar with rhinestones for her 13-year-old granddaughter. At home, Naugle has an industrial heat press and crafting materials spread out across two rooms and the dining room table.
“I’ve, like, taken over the house,” Naugle said.
But Naugle’s husband, Eddie Cookson doesn’t mind. He even helps host events at the store.
The Bag Lady serves as a community gathering space where people can play fantasy tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, learn how to paint Ouija boards or make masks, attend a vampire book club or play a game of giant Plinko to win free products upon checking out.
Naugle said that having consistent events helps draw people into the store throughout the winter season, which sees less foot traffic.
“We have started doing Sunday Funday, (when) we have workshops and classes. Some are free and some are a small cost to cover materials and such,” Naugle said.
The Bag Lady’s lease will be extended into 2027, Naugle said.
She hopes to continue to expand her crafting techniques and begin including epoxy tumblers by late spring.
“I really hope customers leave the shop feeling like they got something that is special and unique and had a really good time,” Naugle said.