INSIDE THE ILLUSTRIOUS ORDER OF MAKESMITHS. | PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

If you haven’t walked into the Illustrious Order of Makesmiths, you might not know you need certain items.

You don’t know, for instance, that you need a prehensile pencil — a long wooden writing implement with a serpentine tale, like a snake. You might not know that you need a phone monstrance, a found-object collage that holds and amplifies your phone for Zoom calls (or streaming-music dance parties). And you’re probably unaware that you need a gluppet — that’s glove-puppet, which you can wear on your hand while making it merrily waltz around a tabletop.

PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

Once you visit, though, you’ll decide you absolutely need all of these items … and the combination hammer/feather duster. And some new wall art — maybe the lovingly illustrated plate of avocado toast.

The Illustrious Order of Makesmiths, a storefront shop of art and oddities in the heart of Blawnox, is the creation of Chief and Steve O’Hearn (the latter is best known for his work as co-founder of the uncanny performance troupe Squonk). Both visual artists, they’ve exhibited at such local institutions as Contemporary Craft and The Warhol; in Blawnox, however, the space is fully theirs to make and mold.

“It’s been kind of a big dream of ours to have a shop where we just sell whatever we want — which is the stuff we make,” Steve says. “Part of it is to inject some joy back into art and artmaking.”

The store is a surprising collision of gallery, shop, makerspace and studio; the O’Hearns make new creations on site. They’re also opening the space up to the community, offering biweekly Wednesday-night gatherings; some are drawing sessions and others are “show and tell” evenings, where guests can show off anything they’re working on — from crafts to writing to performance.

PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

“It’s an excuse for people to get together, and we try to keep it very open,” Chief says. “For me, show and tell could be a loaf of bread — or a poem.”

Those simply looking to shop can visit during the store’s regular hours, Wednesdays through Saturdays from 2-6 p.m. (When you check out, be sure to look for the hidden compartment just underneath the register.) Updates on new creations and events can be found on the store’s Instagram page.

The O’Hearns agree that the joy of the store is in people coming together — and making things by hand.

“Inviting people to come in and enjoy this and do this kind of brings us back into our bodies” in an age of increasingly virtual contact, Chief says. “It connects us with ourselves — and with each other.”