Through the work, Squirrel Hill Design and Craft aims to capture and celebrate the beauty of the natural world by creating highly accurate, one-of-a-kind topographic maps out of thin sheets of cherry and maple wood. Inspired by an effort to embrace a sense of place, each piece is designed using 2D and 3D data. Each layer is cut then stacked and adhered by hand, revealing the true-to-life elevation of the landscape.

Started in early 2018 by Erin Cridlebaugh, Squirrel Hill Design and Craft was named after Erin’s favorite hill and neighborhood in her hometown of Pittsburgh, PA – Squirrel Hill. The business quickly became a mainstay at craft fairs throughout upstate New York. Each weekend between May and December the pop-up shop tent could be found at shows like the Rochester Lilac Festival, Memorial Art Gallery’s Clothesline Festival, and the Roycroft Arts & Crafts Festival. The maps can now be found in several shops and galleries throughout the region. 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the business transitioned away from the festival circuit to an online shopping experience. In the summer of 2020 Erin moved back to her native Pittsburgh and began revamping with a new line of products and maps featuring her hometown. By the end of 2021, with vaccines became widely available, Squirrel Hill rejoined the craft fair scene debuting at the Handmade Arcade Holiday Market in Pittsburgh. 

Most recently, Erin has been working to develop a footprint in her beloved city with work in local shops and festivals. Her work has diversified beyond maps and includes pins and stickers of local landmarks as well as puzzles that are both educational and fun for natives and visitors alike.