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<p>FORTY FORT &#8212; Cherie Cruz believes art has a therapeutic value.</p><p>A few years ago, she learned this notion first-hand.</p><p>The Wilkes-Barre resident lost her husband in 2010, and taking over his real estate and plumbing businesses had begun to take a toll on her mentally and physically.</p><p>Then, one day, her grandchildren asked her to do some arts and crafts with them.</p><p>&#8220;The grandkids wanted to paint, so I brought out all the paints and worked with them,&#8221; said Cruz. &#8220;My fiancee said he could see it in my eyes. I forgot (painting) was my happy place.&#8221;</p><p>Cruz reignited her passion for art that very moment, which led her to turn it into a new business. Sip N Silk at The Silk Gallery, located at 1142 Wyoming Ave., offers public and private parties for those looking to socialize while tapping into their inner artist.</p><p>&#8220;This gives me joy and I want to bring other people joy,&#8221; she said.</p><p>The business will hold its grand opening Saturday, March 25.</p><p>Sip N Silk is modeled after wine-and-painting businesses in the area but the medium is different. Cruz teaches participants to paint on silk, which includes items like scarves, ties, sarongs and others.</p><p>&#8220;You can feel proud and wear it,&#8221; said Cruz. &#8220;This is wearable art.&#8221;</p><p>Cruz and her fiancee, 63-year-old Jerry Walsh, first started holding the classes at the Courtyard by Marriott in Wilkes-Barre Township as a test run in early 2016, and the events quickly grew in popularity. The couple bought what was once a single-family home in Forty Fort that summer and turned it into a colorful studio. The building had been vacant for close to 20 years, according to Cruz.</p><p>Cruz also offers classes on creating bath and body products using essential oils like bath bombs, body wash, lotion, lip balm and more, which she said is more popular with the tween crowd.</p><p>While the projects can be more labor intensive than traditional paintings (for example, drying time for silk is longer than that of canvas), Cruz fills the time by providing games and raffling off product samples, wine glasses and gift certificates during any down time.</p><p>Participants can bring their own food and beverages to parties, and the space can accommodate between 15 and 20 people at a time. Cost varies, depending on the project, but ranges from $25 to $50 per person.</p><p>Cruz also uses her business to give back to the community. She donates finished projects and proceeds to the Catherine McAuley House and brings her supplies to engage with residents at Wesley Village and clients of Candy&#8217;s Place cancer wellness center at no cost.</p><p>&#8220;It was important for us to have a social mission,&#8221; she said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wine glasses, mugs and product samples are just some of the items raffled during Sip N Silk events. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL031617sipsilk2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wine glasses, mugs and product samples are just some of the items raffled during Sip N Silk events. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL031617sipsilk3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wine bottles adorn the wall at Sip N Silk, located at 1142 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL031617sipsilk3.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wine bottles adorn the wall at Sip N Silk, located at 1142 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL031617sipsilk1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cherie Cruz, owner of Sip N Silk at The Silk Gallery, demonstrates some silk painting techniques at her Forty Fort location. The business will hold a grand opening Saturday, March 25. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL031617sipsilk1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Cherie Cruz, owner of Sip N Silk at The Silk Gallery, demonstrates some silk painting techniques at her Forty Fort location. The business will hold a grand opening Saturday, March 25. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Sarah Hite Hando</p><p>shando@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>OPEN HOUSE</strong></p><p>Sip N Silk at The Silk Gallery is hosting an open house as part of its grand opening from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 25 at 1142 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort. For more information, call 570-301-8731 or visit <a href="http://www.sipnsilk.com" target="_blank">www.sipnsilk.com</a>.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Sarah Hite Hando at 570-704-3945.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Sip N Silk in Forty Fort lets participants create wearable art