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Heart and Hands: Carol Bennington

Imagine the most creative people you know in one room together. Can you picture it? That’s what you get when you walk into Heart and Hands on Main Street in downtown Franklin – a room bursting with collections of items hand-crafted with love and toiled over with time.

“We started Heart and Hands out of our love of creating,” says Carol Bennington, one of the store’s three owners. “When we share with you what we make with our hands, we share our Heart.”

It’s a store that includes several different vendors, but all the merchandise is mixed together so well that you’d never know there are more than 45 different people selling their handiwork here. Three different card makers are featured on the rack by the counter, and a different seller painted the pictures next to the children’s shoes. And in the back of the store, a separate specialty boutique, Patchwork Pantry, offers linens, antiques and other unique gifts. Heart and Hands is the store that makes sure no one is forced to give a gift card again.

“I just like making people happy, and I love selling something I made that they love,” Carol says. “The joy of having this shop is the freedom to create anything.”

The eclectic blend, which might include a light-up wine bottle a few feet away from a baby toy, works in Heart and Hands in a way that it may not in another shop. Carol’s co-owners, Cindy Lane and Sandra Thomas, help manage the store and also sell their products in the space. All of Heart and Hands’ employees are also

vendors, which helps keep the merchandise fresh and the atmosphere intimate.

“It’s like a family inside the store,” Carol says. “Every day, there’s always someone here who made something special.”

Maybe the best part of Heart and Hands is that every single product is made in Tennessee, from the heirloom angels and handmade jewelry to the jelly and dolls. Carol says there’s an ever-changing selection of painters, sewers, potters and jewelry makers.

“You can take a little bit of Tennessee home with you,” Carol says, who is an expert sewer. “It’s like a craft show seven days a week.”

Heart and Hands began in 1992, out of local artisans’ need for a place to sell their handcrafted treasures. They’ve had four locations in downtown Franklin over the years, but they’ve been at the 342 Main Street location since 2007.

“We love the atmosphere here,” Carol says. “It’s all about downtown.”

Carol, who moved the area from upstate New York, says the relocation was just what she needed – from the people to the weather.

“I didn’t know what I was missing!” Carol says with a laugh.

For more information, visit their website.

 

Faces of Franklin

  • Avec Moi: Bob Roethemeyer
  • Barn Door: Kevin King
  • Baskin-Robbins: Brandon Anglin
  • Battle Ground Academy: Will Kesler
  • Boutique MMM: Maria Magdalena Molnar
  • Brandon Binkley: Bink’s Outfitters
  • Carnivore Market: SJ and Virginia Botha
  • Coffee House on Second and Bridge: Barbara Spierto
  • Damico Frame & Art Gallery: Michael Damico
  • Daniel-Christian Real Estate: Dianne Christian and Matt Daniel
  • ECCO SALON ON MAIN: Lisa Asselin
  • Finnleys Good Findings: Dawn Craig
  • Franklin Antique Mall: Amanda Pitts
  • Franklin Art Scene: J. Edward and Brenda Campbell
  • Franklin Mercantile Deli: Graeme Asch
  • Franklin On Foot: Margie Thessin
  • Frothy Monkey: Chase Ingalls
  • Gallery 202: Kelly Harwood
  • GEAR Foundation, Our Thrift Store: Dave Krikac
  • GRAY’S on Main: Joni Cole
  • Heart and Hands: Carol Bennington
  • Heylee B.: Heylee Achten
  • I Love Juice Bar: Jason Collins
  • Imago Dei: Sarah Tucker
  • JJ’s Wine Bar: Jessie Myhre, Spencer and Jill Pittman
  • Johnnie Q: Brooklyn Byrd
  • JONDIE: Rebecca and Jondie Davis
  • Kelly Spalding Designs: Kelly Spalding
  • Kimbro’s Cafe and Carpe Diem: Will Jordan
  • Landmark Booksellers: Joel and Carol Tomlin
  • Lotz House Museum: J.T. Thompson
  • McCreary’s Irish Pub: Natasha Hendrix
  • Mellow Mushroom: Mark Clark
  • Misty Westebbe Photography: Misty and Bruce Westebbe
  • Onyx & Alabaster: Tanya Hembree
  • Papa C Pies: Chad and Gary Collier
  • Parks Realty: Danny Anderson
  • Philanthropy: Christina Martin
  • Red Pony, 55 South, McConnell House, Cork & Cow: Jason McConnell
  • Riverside Antiques: Lynda McGuire
  • Savory Spice Shop: Hollie Rollins
  • Scarlett Scales Antiques: Scarlett Scales
  • Shannon Eye Care: Shannon Zingle
  • Shuff’s Music: Ron Shuff
  • Sweet CeCe’s Frozen Yogurt and Treats: CeCe Moore and Mike Hissong
  • T. Nesbitt and Co.: Trisha Nesbitt
  • Taylor Made Smiles: Missy and Court Burton
  • The Bunganut Pig: Mark and Amy Goodson
  • The Cellar On Main: Janice Swartz
  • The Heirloom Shop: Elaine Thompson
  • The Shop Around The Corner: Teresa Powers
  • Tin Cottage: Marianne DeMeyers
  • Triple Crown Bakery: Alena Vaughn
  • Twine Graphics: John Bond and Brandon Hagan
  • Vue Optique: David and Wendy Shen
  • Walton’s Jewelry: Julie Walton
  • Williamson County CASA: Marianne Schroer
  • Winchester Antique Mall: Kim Tuzzio
  • Yarrow Acres: Sheri Gramer
  • Zolo’s Italian Restaurant: Judy and Brian Holmes
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