It’s been a while since we’ve released a new product with Kurt Halsey. Production always takes longer than expected & we had hoped to have this new super adorable deer necklace out in time for Valentine’s Day. Alas, it didn’t happen but we hope to have them in stock soon. Here is a quick pic of the sample. I will post on our Facebook and Twitter page as soon as we start to sell them. We haven’t figured out pricing yet, but it should be in line with the fireflies / birds necklaces we’ve done with him.
Thanks to all of our customers who shopped handmade this holiday season. Purchasing an item from our shop directly supports over 50 national artists – many of whom live right here in Philly. These times are tough, so we appreciate everyone that made a commitment to shopping local & handmade this season. It really makes a difference!!
Now that the holidays are over – its time to get organized. Pick up one of our 2012 Calendars by Art Star favorites: Amy Rice, Rachel Bone, Eleanor Grosch, & Kurt Halsey. We worked directly with these artists to create these calendars & they can only be found at Art Star. We only made a limited quantity, so pick one up while they are still in stock.
Rachel Bone 2012 Calendar
Rachel Bone is a Baltimore based artist, painter & apparel designer whose illustrative paintings center around women on absurd adventures with open ended narratives and symbolism. This series – titled I Bet You – plays with typographical design. Each painting subtly represents one alphabet letter, while still standing alone as individual works of art. Signed prints of the entire alphabet series are available through Art Star. Rachel also runs the hand-printed, folk inspired apparel line Red Prairie Press which is carried at boutiques across the country (including Art Star) and sold online.
Eleanor Grosch 2012 Calendar
Eleanor Grosch is a Philadelphia based artists who loves animals; you name it, she’s probably drawn it! Eleanor’s unique graphic perspective aims to simplify line and playfully arrange form to capture the essence of each animal she draws. She’s well-known for her graphic take on our feathered, furry, and fuzzy friends. With roots in modernist design, she brings the mid-century aesthetic up-to-date.
Kurt Halsey 2012
We have been working with Portland based artist, Kurt Halsey, since we opened up shop in 2004. We had no idea how huge of an online following he had when we asked him to exhibit his work in our shop. He is still by far one of our best selling artists!
Kurt captures small, precious moments in time through his sweet renderings of couples & animals just living life. The imagery is illustrative in nature & the artist typically incorporates text, which is simple yet poetic. The calendar includes all new work, rich in browns & sepia tones of drawings on collaged found papers. Grab this calendar while you still can. We only have 1 box left!
Amy Rice 2012 Calendar
Beginning with not-so-traditional print making methods (hand cut stencils and a Japanese Gocco printmaking toy) Minneapolis based mixed-media artistAmy Rice makes original, one-of-kind pieces by additionally employing acrylic, gouache, ink and collage. Her “canvases” range from weathered wood panels and discarded objects to antique envelopes, age-worn love letters, and found journal pages yellowed with time.
Amy’s imagery, nostalgic and wistful, is largely biographical and reflective of her pensive nature. She draws inspiration from childhood memories growing up on a Midwestern farm, the urban community in which she now lives, bicycles, street art, gardening, collective endeavors that challenge hierarchy, acts of compassion, downright silliness and things with wings.
Amy has exhibited her work in galleries throughout the United States, Canada and the U.K.
We are stocked to the gills with holiday ornaments & cards that have been handmade by over 20 of our artists. Artists include Noosed Kitty, Happy Owl Glass, Oh My Cavalier, Kurt Halsey, Andrea Kang, Ecoleeko, Hoosier Magnolia, Miss Millie, Bedhead Sheep, Horrible Adorables, Abby Glassenberg, Damned Dollies, Abbey Christine, Eleanor Grosch & more. Give the gift of Handmade this holiday season!
Reindeer Ornaments by Andrea Kang – a shop favorite!Felted Animal Ornament by BedHeadSheep – new this year!
Shop online or stop by the shop. We will be adding more ornaments to the site regularly. Check out what we have up so far here
Cards will be added soon!
Winter Ornament by Happy Owl Glass – New this year!Holiday Display at Art Star
We are getting tons on new items in! Everyday we get at least one package to open up, price, & put on the shelves. Here is a little sneak peek of brand spankin’ new goodies – some are now on shelves + others will be in stock soon.
NOW IN STOCK
Skirts, Tops & Dresses by Jay McCarrollEarrings by Maria Eifebangles by Maria EifeSculptures by The Maple RidgeSkirts by Erin WaxmanScout Handknits
AND COMING VERY SOON….NEW Art Star Exclusive 2013 Calendars + Planner
Kurt Halsey 2013Noosed Kitty 2013Weekly Planner by Julianna Swaney
Stop by the shop to check it all out and keep an eye out for website updates. Follow us on Facebook,Twitter, or Pinterest for most up to date info!
Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study? I finally got around to college by age 25 and went to Moore College of Art and Design.
What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar? Those attending the Bazaar will see light weight knit sweaters with blocks of color that can be worn on a cool evening at the shore or layered artistically all year round. I will also have handwoven and netted scarves.
Sweater by Janell Wysock
What materials do you work with? Yarns that are made out of wool, rayon, silk, metallics are my favorites. I blend them sometimes to create unique color stories and you may find them crocheted, woven, or knitted.
by Janell Wysock
How are your items made? Describe your process. I create my work using both a fine gauge and bulky knitting machine as well as the floor loom. The process starts with a cone of yarn and a pattern I have developed that gets set up on either machine and a lot of hand work techniques to bring it all together both in finishing edges and decorative details.
the artist's studio
Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job? I do spend a full amount of time producing my work and handling the business side of it -Monday thru Friday, 8 hours a day. But I also keep a constant income flow going from local neighborhood weekly cleaning accounts that I service, as well as photographing everything from other designers work to peoples head shots and my favorite, weddings.
Who are some of your favorite artists?
Some of my favorite international artists are Friendreich Hundertwasser, Kurt Schwitters, Arline Fisch, Sheila Hicks, Janet Echelman, and Haas&Hahn. Favorites I have studied with are Lewis Knauss, Deborah Warner, and Michael Olszewski, and my favorite local folk are Karen Henderson, Rebecca Landes, e Bond, Darla Jackson, Donna Quinn, Termain Smith, Brienne Rosner, Rene Micheli.
What are you reading/listening to right now?
I am listening to Deadmau5.
wool crocheted over a rock by Janell Wysock
Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years? In the next ten years I would like to have a production line that is viable and be able to also create large scale outdoor art pieces.