And I’m the heart and soul behind Bella Me-a Mercantile-along with my wonderful husband, Rick, who is my biggest supporter and techy person. Our Motto is ‘Scatter Kindness’ and we live by the belief that quality always matters more than quanity.

I was born and raised in the small town of Carbondale in Northeast Pennsylvania,
and my husband grew up just a mile down the road. As of 2025, we’ve been married 52 years, blessed with two children-our son, Jim, and our daughter, Tristin, who arrived almost nine years later. These days we are honored to hold our favorite titles: Nana and Pop from our only grandchild, sweet Bella Mea, the insperation behind the business name.

My love for all things thrifited, vintage, rusty, and chippy started early. When I was about ten years old, my job alongside my dad was to pull the nails from old boards and straighten them-many of them were the old square, hand-forged nails. I even helped trim boards with a circular saw. Looking back, I realize that’s where my passion for old materials and handcrafted treasures truly began.

Bella Me-a Mercantile has had a few name changes along the way. We first started as Bella Signs, then Bella Mea Designs. Both were great, but they didn’t feel quite right. When “Mercantile” came to us, everything clicked. The word carries the warm feeling of an old-fashioned general store-a cozy place filled with heart, handcrafted goods, and specialty items that feel like home. It remindes me of a little neighborhood grocery store I adored as a child-one my mom eventually owned. I can still picture every detail and remember how much I loved working there as a young child.

We are incredibly grateful you’re here, supporting this handmade journey of ours.
Your kindness brings warmth to our hearts and means more than we could ever begin to describe. Your thoughtfulness truly makes this adventure extra special.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
Peg and Rick