A cabinet stands on display at the back of the pop-up shop, in Evolve over the weekend. Ainsley Hall

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Elaa Life Made Furniture and Martha Leone Design held a pop-up shop in Evolve Shepherdstown, from last Friday through Sunday.

Both businesses specialize in locally made furniture with beautiful and unique designs. While it may not be considered common for women to specialize in woodworking and creating cabinets and drawers, both of the female business representatives at the shop made it clear they are passionate about what they do.

Elaa Life Made Furniture is an e-commerce furniture brand, which ships all over the country. The brand’s name originates from the Finnish word “elaa,” meaning “to live.” Jane Tseng, who was representing the brand at the pop-up shop, lives near Shepherdstown and has worked with Elaa Life Made Furniture since 2017.

Tseng’s counterpart in the shop was artist and small business owner Martha Leone, who has been designing the furniture she sells through her business since 2012. When she was younger, Leone would sit on the floor and play with the scraps of fabric left by her mother’s work as a seamstress. Today, Leone uses her passion and experience with graphic design to make unique pieces of furniture designed for functionality and longevity.

According to the business representatives, they teamed up to open the pop-up shop, to give potential customers a chance to see and touch the one-of-a-kind furniture for themselves.

Martha Leone’s Wind + Willow Design hangs on the wall of the pop-up shop in Evolve over the weekend. Ainsley Hall

“It’s been tough getting people to come and touch the furniture,” Tseng said. “There’s something really satisfying about just touching the furniture and feeling the different textures. Imagine waking up and putting down your morning cup of coffee. That’s one of the reasons we decided to open this pop-up shop.”

Not only does it give customers the chance to touch the furniture, but Tseng and Leone said they hoped it would help grow both businesses’ presence locally and build a personal relationship between the businesses and community members.

“Jane and I were in agreement that selling and making locally is important,” Leone said. “We wanted to create a local presence, and what better place than a town like Shepherdstown and it’s art appreciation.”

Opening a pop-up shop at Evolve Shepherdstown gave them a chance to meet with customers, build relationships and continue to grow their trade. They also partnered with Alisha Hanlin of Appalachkey Kid, who sold some of her baked goods on Saturday and Sunday, which quickly sold out.

According to Leone and Tseng, being able to hold a pop-up shop in Evolve Shepherdstown’s prime retail space on German Street, is a great opportunity for growing businesses — like Elaa Life Made Furniture and Martha Leone Design — to connect with the community.

“One thing that I find the most exciting, is being able to meet customers face-to-face,” Leone said.

Elaa Life Made Furniture and Martha Leone Design are both dedicated to making unique, modern furniture and creating relationships with others.