Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Ilo, a new arts and creative crafts store in Hancock, is the first store offering supplies in the Copper Country since Commercial Systems, in Houghton, closed its doors in the 1980s.

HANCOCK — A new arts and crafts and creative supply store opened on Quincy Street on April 13. The family-owned business name is ‘ilo,’ which is Finnish for “joy.”

Brian Paavo, an area native, and his wife Rebecca, a native of Florida, are owners of the store.

Rebecca said she and Brian were both civil engineers serving in the U.S. Air Force. Brian, who enlisted in 1999, recently retired after a 23-year career.

“He retired in September,” said Rebecca, “and we just decided to move back to his home area.”

When they arrived, she said, all the festivals, art shows, and other events were going on, and she was amazed that in spite of the number of artists creative crafts producers, there was not an art supply store in the area. The only options for artists were to drive to Marquette or online shopping.

“We put into our ‘future dream’ list, that wouldn’t it be nice, one day, to open an art supply shop. It’s just always been kind of a back-seat dream.”

When the location, 129 Quincy Street, became available, Rebecca saw it as the ideal spot for the type of store they had wanted to open.

“If you’re going to be an art supply store,” she said, “there’s no better place than right across the street from the Copper Country Community Arts Center.”

The store offers kits to create art, which include paint kits and drawing kits, said Rebecca, most of which come with online classes and tutorials.

The Paavos offer supplies ranging from watercolor to acrylic to oil paints, along with pastels, gouache, and even alcohol markers for illustration.

Also available are drawing pencils, colored pencils and drawing pens, along with a wide variety of brushes, canvases and papers. There are also supplies for felt sewing and embroidery.

There are also block-printing supplies and block carving, macrame, basket weaving kits. There are also supplies for kids, said Rebecca.

“One of the most popular things,” she said, “is a soapstone carving kit where the kids get a raw piece of soapstone that’s cut into the rough shape of animal. The kit comes with a file and the polishing cloths.”

Bonnie Loukus, assistant director of the Copper Country Community Arts Center, across the street from ilo, said the new art store is a wonderful addition to the area.

“It’s great to have a neighbor as an art supply store. For us being an arts center, it’s a wonderful fit.”

Loukus, like Paavo, said previous to ilo opening, artists and art students either had to drive to Marquette for supplies or order them online.

“So,” said Loukus, “to have a local resource is excellant.”