ADAMS — After 10 years in business, Crafter's Cottage on 27 Grove St. has ceased operations. The store featured the handiwork of local artisans and sold various crafts, quilts, and folk art.

Store owner Michelle Gajda said that the decision to shut the store down was a career decision. "Business was fine, but I just finished my teaching degree and got a job teaching third grade at C.T. Plunkett Elementary School," she said. "I couldn't put 100 percent into both jobs, that and my father passed away, and he was a big part of the store."

Gajda moved her business from 23 Park St. to Grove Street in 2003, putting $100,000 into renovating the former schoolhouse, built in 1904.

Cheshire quilter Betty King said she was sad to see the store go out of business. "It fulfilled a need to the area, and it gave us an outlet for us who wanted to create," she said. "It was very popular for many years, and I just think that this area needed an outlet."

She said that she and other artisans have already relocated their work over to Crafty Creations in North Adams. "I do think we're going to do better over (at Crafty Creations) because there is a major touristy industry there," she said.

Gajda said the building is up for sale with SteepleView Reality, and that she will miss certain aspects of the business. "I'll miss meeting with people and the creative end of it," she said.