About Us

The Kiss of the Hands, LLC, is a small, family-owned specialty gift shop located in the historic "Little Italy" district of Cleveland, Ohio.  Since the why behind a business or other venture is very often what gives it its unique character, we would like to share a little bit of background with you.  Then you'll know what puts the "special" in "specialty"!

Just about every aspect of our shop -- the reasons we envisioned and established it, the choice of products we decided to carry, the shop's location, and even the timing of its opening -- points in some way to our grandparents and parents.  Our paternal grandparents were immigrants from Sicily; they arrived and settled in Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood in the early 1900's.  Our maternal grandparents were also immigrants -- they came to Cleveland from the Czech Republic. 

Most likely our grandparents embarked on their new life here with a strong sense of hope and purpose, but undoubtedly they also experienced fear, uncertainty, and homesickness.  Yet with patience and persistence, they settled down and began to build and to work and to raise their families.  The pioneering spirit and sacrifices of our grandparents, and the steadfastness and sacrifices with which our own parents respectfully and lovingly carried their parents' dreams forward, have provided for us the security, happiness, and way of life that we enjoy today.  We also believe that, because of their efforts and hard work, many opportunities were opened up for us.

Approximately one hundred years after our grandparents first settled here, we made the decision to "come back" to our roots in Little Italy, and establish a small business to honor our grandparents and parents.  In November 2003, we opened The Kiss of the Hands, LLC.  Our shop sells exclusively handmade items, imported from Italy and Sicily.  Then, in the Fall of 2008, we fortuitously came upon "an exception worth making" -- so we also carry an exquisite line of hand-cut crystal items from Bohemia!

Our grandparents and our parents were hard-working and humble.  Each of them, in their own ways, worked with their hands, and each possessed a deep respect for all such labors of love -- their own as well as those of others.  The name of our shop pays tribute to this, and symbolically conveys two special meanings.  First, the "kiss of the hands" is the actual description of that endearing clasp of the hands by which Italians warmly greet their friends, and secondly, it intimates the wonder, inspiration, joy and love that move the artist or craftsman to put their hands to their particular medium, and create. 

So ... to each of our grandfathers and grandmothers, and to our Dad and Mom, we gratefully exclaim, "Salute!"  

To each of you, we warmly announce, "Benvenuto!"

The Hands on Deck

Proprietors:  

Margaret Cicirella

Leonette Cicirella

Design Consultant:

Leonita Therese

Signage:

Leo J., Jr.

Product Photographs:

Anurak Thungtong

Leonette Cicirella

Krit Kheawsanan

Weerayut Boonburaphong

                                 

In Memoriam, and with All our Love...

Leonore Grazia

(1946-2008)