One of the first things you notice when entering the Cow Bell Trading Post in Preston’s Tally-Ho Mall is the smell of freshly cut wood.

Owners Jen and Dave Ihloff of Norwich say they recycled a lot of the wood that was used in the doll shop that formerly inhabited a portion of the Route 2 retail facility, as well as material from an area sawmill.

“It’s been a lot of work,” said Dave.

It’s work, though, that has been paying off for the couple, who also own the Davis Family Farm, just down the road from the trading post. Cow Bell noted its first anniversary just over a month ago, and has been an oasis for local craftspeople and their customers during the pandemic.

COVID-19 forced the cancellation of many fairs and shows where crafters would show their wares. The Cow Bell Trading Post houses more than 40 local vendors, featuring a variety of “country rustic-type of crafts,” according to Jen.

“We’ve been more busy due to the lack of crafts shows,” she said, “and also because people want to give a unique one-of-a-kind gift, and be able to see it and touch it before buying it.”

Jen Ihloff has been a quilter and crafter for many years, and had been exhibiting her merchandise at places similar to the Cow Bell. and decided she wanted such a place closer to home. All vendor spaces at the Trading Post are sold out, and she says she gets inquiries every other day from crafters wanting to rent space.

Vendors pay a monthly fee for exhibit space, with the Ihloffs and their staff tracking inventory.

“Vendors generally come in every week or two to check on their space, and replenish and freshen up their stock,” said Jen.

The crafts aren’t the only items for sale, though. Cabot cheese and butter, locally made honey and maple syrup, teas, locally baked items, and dip mixes are sold. A separate room features antiques and refinished furniture. There’s also the Cow Bell Classroom, where instructional sessions are offered featuring all sorts of artistic media, including painting, knitting, crocheting, and, in the holiday spirit, wreath-making.

The classrooms can also be reserved for private functions.

“We recently had a bachelorette crafting party and are having a birthday painting party,” said Jen. “It’s a good place to meet with friends to craft, as you need a lot of space to do the activity, and most people don’t have the space at home.”

She stresses that “we follow the COVID rules. We have enough space to seat everyone at separate tables, and we’ve just lowered the room capacity, in line with state mandates.”

Cow Bell is also an authorized retailer of Country Chic paint, with 62 colors available, many on display on the classroom wall. The clay-based paint is environmentally friendly, safe for children, and is used for re-finishing furniture, sign-making, and mixed-media wall paintings, among other things. Classes on how to use the paint are offered regularly by “Lori from Menagerie,” based out of Salem.

Perhaps the most unusual program offered at Cow Bell is regularly scheduled psychic readings by medium Brenda Tedeschi. The Preston native, who now lives in Massachusetts, offers private readings by appointment on alternate Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, as well as group readings.

Two vendors who have rented space at Cow Bell since it opened in November 2019 are glad to be there. Cindy Keenan of Oakdale sells decorative signs.

“I used to go to about 10 craft shows a year, but nothing this year. (Being at Cow Bell) is lot easier, as you don’t have to do all that packing and unpacking. I’m getting a bit old for that,” she said.

Katania Trudeau of Colchester owns K.T. Designs, specializing in earrings and hair accessories.

“I love it here,”, she said. “I fill my space every other week or so. Pretty good success.”

Praise for the crafts place also comes from shopper Rose Majcher of Preston.

“It’s a nice shop,” she said. “You can get a gift for anybody there. They have a good variety and good pricing.”

The positive feedback comes as a pleasant reward for the Ihloffs, who remember all the renovation work they had to do to the building, while reusing and recycling as much of the wood as possible.

“A lot of hours after work cleaning up and dismantling stuff, trying to save what we could,” said Dave.

“We hammered out a lot of nails,” added Jen.

Cow Bell Trading Post is open Wednesdays and Thursdays noon to 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m to 6 p.m, and Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, visit cowbelltradingpost.com.

Kevin Gorden lives in Norwich.