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Artist Brooke Andrews is one of are few artists who create pins and each includes a story card making them very special. Read on about Brooke’s very particular process… each piece begins with a vision, spontaneously toying with her imagination, until it feels “ripened.” Then she sketches the image directly onto porcelain clay, using techniques in the tradition of bas relief carving. The final design rises out of the porcelain “canvas” after many hours of coaxing, gently carving away the layers of “negative space” – what the design is not. Once the design is developed, the original piece is bisque fired. Clay hand press molds are created from the “mother piece,” and kiln fired. The “children” or actual product pieces are hand pressed into the molds using white or color-stained porcelain clay, then bisque fired. Next, color stains are applied, dried, and wiped down to reveal the detail of the relief carving. Underglazes provide highlights. The second kiln firing fixes this layer of color. Finally, an over glaze, containing 11% gold by weight, is carefully painted around the edge to frame each piece and to accent designs such as the Fireflies and Iris. The third and final firing brings the images to life, wonderful art to wear! -
Will Carswell handcrafts heirloom-quality, eco-friendly, wooden jigsaw puzzles one at a time from start to finish in the foothills of Western Massachusetts. With each new puzzle he creates, he strives to give you the most memorable, unique, jigsaw puzzling experience possible along with an enjoyable opportunity to slow down amidst a fast-paced world. Originally a British tradition, each Zen Art puzzle includes a number of unique to the puzzle themed pieces. For example the chameleon puzzle has pieces shaped as a chameleon, dragonfly and other insects and salamanders. These specially shaped pieces are called whimsies. Enrich your life with the challenge and charm of these wonderful whimsical pieces, the beautiful imagery of the puzzles, and the devious trickery he designs into most of our puzzles, such as false borders and false corners! Enjoy tranquil solitude or togetherness with family and friends as you discover the nuances of each new puzzle you choose for your collection! Zen Puzzles™ and Peapod Puzzles™ also make the perfect, unique, giftable keepsake! As both a profit and a mission driven company, Zen Art uses eco-friendly materials, collaborates with non-profits, and donates a portion of profits to social and ecological causes. -
J. Brooke Patterson is an artist currently working in Oakland, CA. In 1993, she earned her BA degree in Art from UC Berkeley, where she focused on drawing and printmaking. For some years she had made these dioramas for friends and family, simply using chicken eggs. In 1996, she began selling them through an Open Studios event in Berkeley, CA, where they quickly sold out. In 2000, it became a full-time artistic pursuit, and she now exhibits in many shows and stores throughout the country. -
Renaissance Jewelry is handcrafted in their studio just outside Asheville, North Carolina. The glass is fired in a kiln to over 1400 degrees in several layers. Each color combination is unique, so no two pieces are ever exactly alike. -
Embossed leather with pewter closures by Oberon Design hold removable hard bound unlined journals, ideal for writing or drawing. Hand stitched with magnetic and unusual closures by Reimagined hold quality handmade paper, perfect for creating a treasure of memories or drawings. -
BRING A LITTLE BIT OF NATURE INDOORS Oh, if this stone could talk... "I was born from magma in the center of the world, millions of years ago. I've traveled thousands of miles through the shifting earth to what would become New England. I've been deep underground, deep underwater, and high on a hill. I've been splintered by glaciers, baked in the sun, and rolled and dashed relentlessly by the mighty Atlantic. My epic journey ended when I was carefully chosen from gazillions of neighbors based on my coloring and shape, for an inventive role in your home. Life is easier now, and sweet... So when you touch me, I will touch you back and tell you my story." Special thanks to the sea stone artists for sharing this marvelous story! DON'T MISS THE BOOZE CUBES ideal for the whiskey, bourbon drinkers to prevent diluting. -
Beautiful free formed "velvet" Mesquite wood, inlaid Turquoise and pierced Copper. A small staff of craftsmen contribute to the making of the lamps and shades at W. Kohler. The business has grown throughout the years, but the uniqueness and quality of each lamp remains. Lamp bases are free formed “Velvet” Mesquite harvested from the Sonora Desert, which is some of the most diverse and dense wood found anywhere on Earth. Each piece is handcrafted making it a one-of-a-kind heirloom. Turquoise is inlaid in the naturally developed cracks of the wood. Each lamp is topped off with a shade hand crafted in 100% copper with a unique pierced design. The copper shade is finished with a hand applied patina and a clear lacquer finish to protect it. The result is MAGICAL as the design is cast on to the wall when lit. Nature’s finest elements are brought together in a brilliant display of craftsmanship and artistry. These lamps are inlaid with brilliant turquoise, worked into mesquite wood burls; two materials emblematic of the American Southwest, where they are made. No two are the same, each reflecting the unique characteristics and personality of a single tree. -
Solmate Socks was started in the year 2000 by Marianne Wakerlin with the simple idea that “Life’s too short for matching socks.” As a lifelong textile artist with a wonderful eye for design and keen instinct for business, she knew there was a market for beautifully crafted, mismatched socks made right here in America. Solmate Socks' product line also expanded to include hats, mittens, and scarves in addition to mismatched, colorful socks. Passionate about color, pattern, and quality, they draw inspiration from the exquisite natural beauty that surrounds them in the Pacific Northwest. -
Artists Nicole and David Stasinski create stunning silk pieces. Each piece is like no other. Together they create vibrant colored scarves as well as sconchos, a unique piece to be worn a variety of ways. -
Corrine Hodel of Autumn Fern’s love for ferns first had her making her sun print handbags. Her sun print handbags are made using a linen blend material that she hand dyes using a heat sensitive dye. They have two main pockets with zipper closures and a back pocket with a Velcro closure. The lining is a cotton batik design. Corrine uses a variety of foliages and hand cut images, from ferns and leaves to dragonflies, butterflies and hummingbirds. -
Maruca Design embraces the principles of the Arts & Crafts Movement in America (1860-1910)…A movement that invigorated and emphasized the value placed on traditional and decorative craftsmanship using simple forms. Maruca Design, believes that creating small production runs of their bags within a cottage industry, creates a consciousness that humanizes their work and makes for a more “harmonious society”. The result is that they can tout a product that is unique, well made and moves from heart to hand. As an American-based company, they seek to balance resourcefulness and creativity. After 25 years, they remain rooted in the principles of this philosophy. However, ultimately it is the consumer who will determine the value placed on American made handcraft. -
Basic Spirit is a homegrown company located in the seaside village of Pugwash, Nova Scotia. Their business and passion is to create gifts that touch the heart & delight the spirit. Using traditional methods of pewtersmithing with high quality, lead free metal, they put a fresh twist on their line of fine pewter. -
Spooner Creek/Macone Clay is the art of Michael Macone. Every piece is handmade in God's country - Northwest Wisconsin. Michael creates frames with heart touching quotes and intricate designs that add warmth to your home or office. -
Erik lives on the coast of Virginia with his wife and two sons. Woodworking started out as a way to relax after a hard day at the office. It has now turned into a full time career. Most of the wood purchased is from local vendors. Endangered species are not used. Some of the wood is recycled from tree surgeons who remove it for natural or safety reasons. Some of the wood is one of a kind, therefore, will not be found anywhere else in the USA. Erik takes great effort in making use of mother nature's resources by using recycled wood. This makes for an earth friendly "green" supply of wood and keeps costs lower. He mills and air dries much of his wood. He uses trees that are blown down by wind storms, some by city removal, and some from tree arborists who are sending logs to landfills. -
Sunblossom Solar Gifts is an award winner. Designated as one of Michigan's "Best and Brightest Sustainable Companies" (2010-2017), it continues to innovate and produce undeniably unique solar powered products. With chiming and movement, the outdoors is brought inside. No wind. No batteries to replace. No fans or electricity. -
Founded in 1986 by Mike Mikutowski and his wife Liz, Mikutowski Woodworking is the definition of “small but mighty.” Many are shocked to learn that the fine woodworking shop, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and specializing in high-quality jewelry boxes, employs only about five people to take raw lumber through the largely hands-on production process. Another four employees bring the finished product through the invoicing, packing, and shipping stages; these individuals are also responsible for cultivating and maintaining customer relationships. Despite the small workforce, Mikutowski Woodworking manages to produce close to 40 different products and sells to high-end galleries from coast to coast. -
Locally owned and family operated, John and Robin Davis are the husband and wife team behind J. Davis Studio. innerSpirit Rattles are the result of a family creative collaborative. Their daughters’ joyful curiosity inspired John to create his line of raku pottery. The rustic and unpredictable surface of the raku firing process creates the essence of an ancient civilization, like an artifact unearthed from a primitive Indian camp ground around in a Rio Grande riverbed. Native Americans used rattles to ensure blessings upon their crops. Use your innerSpirit Rattle to help rattle some rain into your life, some rain out of your life, to rattle your worries away, or (if you insist) just to keep your papers from blowing astray. -
Designer Stone, Inc. produces three completely diverse styles of Garden Art. They spent their early years getting established and sought “Treasured Finds,” traditional garden decor that can fill a landscaping void and fill all hearts in the process. Their unique earth tones are achieved with Integrated Coloring. The colors will never bubble, peel or flake as some topical applications do and the colors will never fade but will weather perfectly for generations. Each piece will stain in its own unique way with varying imperfections which add beauty and originality to the hand-crafted products. Although Designer Stone, Inc. strives for consistency a variance is to be expected. -
Francis Metal Works’ majestic sculptures are inspired by the world’s greatest water bird sanctuaries. They are handcrafted from iron and Minnesota fieldstone and offer timeless reflection of nature’s finest works, adding a touch of serenity to any environment. Each spring, Minnesota farmers discover the earth has once again given birth to stones of every imaginable shape and size. They appear to have magically popped to the surface of the farmer’s field, hence they are called fieldstone. This phenomenon is due to the cyclical freezing and thawing of the ground. Often they appear as if giant birds have laid eggs all over the ground. At Francis Metal Works, the finest of these fieldstones are selected from the farms that grow them and add are copyrighted uniquely through iron work to create one of kind sculptures that will adorn that special place for generations. -
Antonio Stradivari (Italian, 1644-1737) is generally regarded as the creator of the most beautiful sounding stringed instruments ever made. No one knows how he did it. Music of the Spheres is still thriving in the post-recessionary economy because the value of such a beautifully crafted instrument playing tones of such incredible clarity with such a rich sustain speaks for itself. It says “I am the Stradivarius of wind chimes!” -
Bottle Benders’ chimes are made from wine bottles that are sliced up and melted down. The rings are then fired in a kiln to around 1500 degrees Fahrenheit until they melt flat. Bottle Benders takes a lot of pride in the making of their chimes out of the best materials. The string on the chime is made out of stainless steel, and will last at least 10 years. -
Studio M is as passionate about quality as they are about innovation. They strive to create truly distinctive products while holding themselves to a higher standard than others in the industry. They take pride in their work, and together strive to be remarkable—using innovation to make good products great. Each product created starts with a unique piece of artwork—a sketch, painting, or graphic illustration … a mosaic, collage, or piece of wood that’s been burned and painted. Together with talented artists from around the world, Studio M strives to create remarkable products that inspire creativity and personal expression. Art fuels everything they do. -
Glass Eye Studio was founded in 1978 by Seattle glass blowers who wanted to provide customers with quality handmade art glass that was also affordable. The Glass Eye Studio design approach is "teamwork." Their team strives for innovative, affordable and leading-edge glass design. Glass Eye makes an intense effort at new product lines resulting from customer feedback and exploration of 'century old' glass forming techniques. -
In 2004, spurred on by the fact that there seemed to be very few American glass artists interested in making high-quality, Jill Henrietta Davis began designing the production pieces that would eventually grow into "Henrietta Glass". Henrietta Glass seeks to provide excellent design and craftsmanship. All glass pieces are designed by Jill Davis and are hand blown, one at a time, at the Henrietta Glass studio in Pawtucket, RI, by Jill and her team of 4 other artists. Jill creates unique glass designs such as small vases, and wine stoppers. She conveys humor and joy into each design, with an array of bright colors and intricate designs. Jill is the creator of ‘mom’s little vase’, a tiny vase that holds a single flower, simple yet extravagant. -
Artists Ann and Jay Schwartz have been artistically etching glass since 1975. They have innovated and refined several sandblasting techniques that are unique in the production of artistically sandblasted glass and glassware. The airbrush quality and dimensional depth of the finely detailed etchings illustrates their dedication to producing work that conveys a sense of flow, beauty, and humor. Ann designs and freehand draws all of Jaguar’s imagery. She also skillfully cuts all of her stencils by hand and sandblasts each piece individually. To ensure the authenticity and preserve the timeless value of their art, each individual piece is signed and dated. -
Artist Kathy Hudson is the founder of Me 2 U, a business that enables her to pursue her passion in fused glass. Kathy works with kiln-fired glass, creating beautiful art that is sold throughout the country. Her pieces entail eye catching colors that are both affordable and functional. -
After more than 17 years in a career of designing art through handmade blown glass, Michael Hudson is at the forefront of creating glass objects of desire. As the owner of Hudson Glass, Michael approaches the demands of glassblowing and glass sculpting with excellence in creativity and product design. His return to Louisville, Kentucky, led him to invest time working in various studios and assisting in the creation of the University of Louisville Glass Program. Hudson Glass designs decorative and functional handmade glass artwork that captures the true beauty of color and light. All of their collectible treasures are handmade in Kentucky, one by one, in the traditional method of blown glass. -
A New Hampshire native Pat Barker began painting glassware in 1998 while living on Sanibel Island off of Florida’s West Coast. Her brightly colored whimsical designs reflect what she loved about island living. In 2012 she returned to New England, where she continues to create new designs in her Massachusetts studio. Her work is Dishwasher safe, top rack. Hand washing is recommended. -
Luke Adams is a Boston, MA based glass artist and graduate of Massart. He works with a group of artist assistants to produce his work in glass. Luke states: “From the age of five I know that I was an artist, some of my earliest memories are of drawing and sketching the world around me. Working with hot glass is incredibly fun and rewarding. I consider myself very lucky to be able to do something that I love to do every day.” Luke creates ornaments, sun catchers, dream catchers, and more. -
Kitras Art Glass is a family run, Canadian company, with a strong belief in finding, making and sharing the Everyday Beautiful. Their story started in 1988 when husband and wife duo, Stephen and Elke Kitras moved to small town Fergus, Ontario. Stephen set up a small studio and produced every piece himself, shipping it from their dining room table. In 1999, they suffered the loss of Elke Kitras to Leukemia. Her vision of celebrating beauty in all parts of life is still the driving factor behind every piece Kitras creates and brings to their customers. Kitras is well known for their vibrant colors, and breathtaking patterns. Each piece is unique and is not identical to any other. As utilized centuries ago, ancient methods of glass blowing are still used today to create a one of a kind treasure. -
Gray Art Glass is known for their Witch Balls which are historically hung in the window to ward off evil spirits. By nature, witches are curious creatures and are attached to the sheer beauty, sparkling bubbles and strands of colored glass. Witches enter the glass ball, only to be trapped for life. -
Zetamari Mosaic Artworks are handcrafted in Seattle, Washington. Artist Angie begins by shaping each mirror base from birch with standard shop tools. Then, she precisely shapes and sets each piece using traditional mosaic techniques. Once the setting is complete, she grouts using colored cement giving the piece a unified and finished look. Angie finds the creation of each piece a meditative and cathartic way of working with her hands. She takes pride in the work that she does and hopes to educate the public about this ancient art form and to increase public appreciation for hand-crafted artwork. She also hopes to bring the joy of spirit she feels during the creation of each piece to the home of others.
120 East Street, Route 10, Plainville, CT 06062 860.747.4121 Store Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday 10-5, Friday 11-6, Saturday 10-5.
