Art Star

Tag: art star

  • Big News! Art Star Craft Bazaar coming to LBI, NJ this July!


    W    e have been hard at work beginning to prep for our 11th (yowsers!) Art Star Craft Bazaar (ascb) at Penn’s Landing Great Plaza on Mother’s Day Weekend AND we have big news to share!  We have also decided to host a 2nd Art Star Craft Bazaar at the Long Beach Island Art Foundation (LBIF) in Loveladies, NJ in July as well!

    The Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences. The Art Star Craft Bazaar will take up the gallery spaces of the LBIF plus the entire grounds outside

    Last year the kind folks over at the LBIF approached us about bringing our ascb to them to help freshen things up and we were excited for a couple of reasons.  One, I grew up there.  I graduated from Southern Regional High School in gulp, 1996 and spent the summers there on the beach and at my high school job at the 7-11 right when you enter the island.  I haven’t lived there since i graduated high school but my family and many good friends still do.  Two, the foundation is a great organization that is dedicated to promoting the arts and sciences on LBI through their art studios, gallery, craft shop, workshops, classes and more!  The grounds are pretty big and can accommodate 100+ art/craft vendors plus food, music and make + takes.  I had helped install a show there back when I worked at The Clay Studio, so I am already very familiar with this wonderful organization that is literally a few steps away from the beach!

    the Gallery space within the LBIF that we will fill with our vendors

    They have hosted a craft show at the foundation in July for many years now and it is one of their biggest fundraisers of the year.  They wanted to try something new and we were more than happy to step in and try it out!  Because this is partially a fundraiser for the LBIF, we will be asking a small admission charge (to this show only, not our Philly show) of $5 and a portion of that will directly benefit them and help them to continue to promote and nurture good art/craft on LBI!

    the crowd at our Philly Art Star Craft Bazaar. The LBIF’s annual craft show already attracts 2-3k visitors and we hope to at least double that number this year!

    We are really excited about this newly added venue and hope for it to continue to grow like our Philly bazaar has over these past 11 years (and counting!).  We will be partnering with select businesses from the area (like our girls from School of Vintage) to get as many people as possible to the show and also hope to seek out some amazing local food vendors, musicians, etc that will compliment the vibe of our show.  If you think you fit the bill, please let us know!

    Applications are open to crafters/artists/makers from all over the country.  Apply today!

  • School of Vintage Restock!

    If you’ve been in the shop, you may have noticed that our back gallery space is now School of Vintage!  It started out as a temporary pop-up but our customers loved it so much and it felt like such a good fit, we decided to ask them to stay and they said yes (yay!).

    image by Urban Romance Magazine / photographer Meredith Kleiber

    School of Vintage is a shop in Surf City, NJ that carries (IMO) the best vintage finds around, plus a small selection of handmade goods.  They have women’s clothing, jewelry, accessories, books, housewares, men’s and more!  They also have a beautiful bridal line. If you come by the shop, ask to see their bridal look book and check out 3 of their incredible wedding dresses!

    The ladies behind this incredible shop are Erin + Jeannine and they recently drove up and restocked us since it got pretty picked over after the holiday season.  They left some really stunning pieces here that you MUST come by to check out and try on.  Here are just a few of my favorites (through instagram photos). Enjoy!

    Mini Dress, 1960’s / $29
    glasses, prices vary, most around $50
    fur cape, 1950’s / $68
    polka dot blouse, 1960’s, $14
    cotton skirt with pockets / $29
    hat $50 / fur purse $29
    fur trimmed coats form the 1950s / prices range from $95-$109

    Hungry for more? Stop on by Art Star or visit them online here and here.  If you are interested in anything above or would like measurements, please email or call us! We ship everywhere!

  • Clover Market This Sunday!

     We will be set up at Clover Market here in Philly on Sunday! We will be bringing a mix of goods from the shop – clothing, jewelry, prints, Horrible Adorables, knitted items, bags, and more!  We put together a new display just for this show.  We will post pics of it soon.  See ya there!

  • Meet Jewelry Artist, Ashley Gilreath



    We are thrilled to welcome recent Philadelphia transplant, Ashley Gilreath to our roster of artists.  Ashley graduated from East Caroline University in North Carolina with her BFA in metal design in 2010 and then went on to exhibit her work across the country, teach and hold various artist residencies, most recently at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee.  Her multiple lines of beautifully sculpted jewelry are inspired by the “decay of memories, architecture, and heirloom objects”.  We are really excited to carry a few of her lines of jewelry in the shop!  Here is a look at each series of jewelry that we are carrying PLUS a statement by Ashley about each one. Enjoy!

    Weathered + Broken Wood Series

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Pieces within this series are inspired by broken and decaying wooden fences, barns, or farming equipment. I’m interested in the process through which these functional structures are built, utilized, and abandoned over time. I enjoy how splitting and water marks on the surface of the wood provides a visual timeline for the life of these crafted objects. – Ashley Gilreath

    Water Castings

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    These earrings are made out of sterling and fine silver water castings. During the casting process the silver is poured into cold water and as it sinks it cools very quickly, and forms these little cups! Sometimes looking like nests, drops, or blobs, I save the best formed cups and fill them with colored glass! Enameling is a process that allows for fusing glass to metal, and it adds a wonderful reflective dimension to these earrings!
    – Ashley Gilreath

    Inscription/Book Cover Series

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    This body of work explores the tradition of writing notes and inscriptions upon the inside covers of books, and how a confluence of stories and people come together to create these objects. The words of the characters, the choices of the author, the artists of the covers, the writers of the secret inscriptions, and the owner of the book all effect how an individual would interpret the personal messages. Through time, as the book passes from hand-to-hand, these stories continue a dialogue whose original intimacy has faded.

    – Ashley Gilreath

    Botanical Jewelry 

    The designs in this series are directly influenced and inspired by the gardens of my past, specifically the hydrangeas that my mother rooted from her childhood home in Louisiana and brought with her to North Carolina. This transplanting of roots from one place to another directly reflects the paths we follow in life, and how home is given new meaning through time.

    These flowers are so delicate, their blooming so quick and fleeting, yet their impression on our senses endures. I attempted to merge those characteristics into a wearable object, so that one could wear a shadow of the blossom.

    Check out our full collection of Ashley’s Jewelry here and visit the shop to see it all in person! Any of her pieces would make a wonderful gift for Valentine’s Day!

     

     

  • New Year / New Craft Show Display

    Every January, of every year, I start to think about organization and improving our space here at Art Star.  This year is no exception but with Clover Market right around the corner, Erin and I have been brainstorming low cost and creative ways to improve our craft show display set up.  We also need to think about a display that is light weight enough and that breaks down easily so transport is not a huge hassle.  One of my favorite ways to start brainstorming is to go on pinterest.  I found some great display options that I thought I’d share here with you.  We have an entire board dedicated to Craft Show Display Inspirations.  If you are a crafter who needs a display make over like ourselves, please follow us on Pinterest!

    pinned from Flickr (Ken Marten)

    Since most craft shows use a 10’x10′ display footprint, we try to squeeze in as much merchandise as possible without making the space look cluttered.  I’m always on the look out for creative ways to create a variety of heights.  I love this rustic table paired with chairs and stools.  A light weight, simple, yet creative way to create different shelf levels.  I also love the neutral tones of the furniture and bright pops of color from the plants.

    pinned from frenchbydesign.blogspot.com

    This stack of crates looks great and is super easy!  I think we will actually do something like this with our display this year.  Plus, you can cart all your merch in the crates. That’s a nice bonus!

    from Leah Jackson ceramics and display at Mr. Kitly. Repinned from pinterest – no direct link

    I love the clean lines of this simple step shelf.  Fits a variety of objects without looking too bulky.  Plus, you could store extra merchandise underneath.  It would just have to be made to break down and then put together easily for transport.  It probably won’t work for our purposes but it is a great idea and would be really nice in a gallery show or shop!

    Pinned from www.sfgirlbybay.com via the october issue of inside out magazine.

    This is one of my favorites! I love the peg board idea for easily hanging goods and shelves.  Looks pretty simple and low cost to create something similar too!

    pinned from https://www.etsy.com/shop/SqueezeMyHand

    We are always looking for unique ways to display lots of little things, like stationary.  I have seen a few crafters use old library card filing cabinets to display cards.  Looks really great and keeps the cards organized and easy for people to flip through.  I could see a little tag for each type of card (ie birthday, anniversary, etc) labeled on the front.

    Pinned from Kellimurray.com

    It is very important to incorporate your shop logo into your display. We are always changing this up!  Here is a fun DIY for a Batic Dye Wall Hanging.  I could see this idea being put to good use as a shop banner.

    Welp, those were just a few of my favorite display ideas that I’ve found on Pinterest.  I’m going to continue to pin these to two of our boards: Craft Show Display Inspiration and Display Ideas (which is mostly for shop display ideas) but really any of these can be utilized in a retail space, your office or your own home.

    Are any of you crafters out there also upgrading your show display? If so, please share your ideas or pins in the comment section!  Follow all our boards on Pinterest!

  • School of Vintage Party Dresses

    With New Year’s and all, I’ve got party dresses on my mind.  Here are some of my absolute favorites from our School of Vintage section in the shop.  They’ve got tons of great stuff here, so if you are local, pop in to check it all out.  And if you are interested in any of the dresses below, just let us know.  Enjoy!

    100% cotton with nylon layer on top, from the 1950’s, has all original tags and is in great condition! $139

    The perfect little black dress, marked “Jane Hodges New York” from the 1950s.  $99

    Oh how I wish this one fit me!!!  Marked 100% cotton and Made in the USA – BONUS!  Also from the 1950’s. Comes with a little belt.  $129

    You’ll feel like a 50’s housewife in this gingham number!  The skirt is slightly discolored but other than that it is in excellent condition! $65

    This dress was made from an original 1950s wedding gown bodice, lining and crinoline.  A new skirt was added, along with some other lovely details by the ladies of School of Vintage.  $118. This is the perfect party dress!

  • 2014 Wall Calendars

    We created two Art Star Exclusive 2014 Calendars this year with Jamie Fales of Noosed Kitty and Minnesota based artist Amy Rice.  Each calendar features a full color image that accompanies each month and the calendar was designed so you could cut and frame the images once the year is through!  Both calendars were designed in house at Art Star in collaboration with the artists and printed right here in Philadelphia at Fireball Printing!

    We love Jamie Fales’ Narwhal illustrations so much that we asked her if we can do an entire calendar dedicated to this beloved animal. It includes some old favorites but also some new pieces that she made just for the calendar.  Only 50 of these were printed, so it is sure to become a collectors item.  Pick this up for $24 before it is gone!

     Back by popular demand is our 2014 Amy Rice Calendar!  We made one with her back in 2012 and her fans were so sad that we didn’t have one in 2013! This calendar is filled with a selection of Amy’s art work from the past year.  We love how she combines her stencil work with antique letters and other found materials. Her use of color and pattern is absolutely stunning!  Her adorable dog, Pumpkin, makes a few appearances too!  Only 25 of these were printed.  Grab one for $34 ASAP!

    We also have a few different wall calendars by Paper Sparrow.  These are single 11×17″ digital prints that feature 2014 at a glance. Choose from Two Foxes above, Animal Party or Instruments.  These are just $15 a pop and fit in a standard sized frame.

  • Holiday Market Gift Guide – Under $25

    This Thursday through Monday will be your last chance to get to our Art Star Holiday Market at Winterfest before Christmas.  If you don’t know about our market and Winterfest already, read this post for the details.

    We will be open from 11-8pm each day and the market features the best craft vendors in the biz! If you are already shopping in the city, we are just a quick walk from Old City – just head east on Market, walk down the steps and turn right until you see the tents!

    I have assembled a group of 10 items by 10 different vendors that are participating  and all these items are under $25.  So come pick up your last minute gifts and maybe one or two for yourself 😉

    Chalkboard Gingerbread House Ornament, $10 by B. Goods
    Vending Friday Only, 11-8pm
    Azul Dinner Napkin by Boutique Textiles, $12
    Vending Monday ONLY, 11-8pm

    2014 Mini Calendar by Eleanor Grosch, $10
    Vending Friday + Saturday ONLY, 11-8pm

    Hall & Oates Tee by Exit343Design, $20
    Vending Saturday + Sunday Only, 11-8pm

    I Am The Walrus 4/4S Iphone Case by Fuzzy Ink, $18
    Vending Thursday through Monday, 11-8pm

    Beard or Mustache Comb for Dad by Hannah’s, $9
    Vending Thursday Only, 11-8pm

    Felt Binary Bracelets by Maria Eife, $18 each
    Vending Friday + Sunday ONLY, 11-8pm

    Set of 4 Letterpress Medicinal Herb Coasters by Typothecary Letterpress, $10
    Vending Thursday ONLY, 11-8pm

    Antique Brass Locket by Yummy + Company, $22
    Vending Thursday Through Monday, 11-8

    2014 Narwhal Calendar illustrated by Noosed Kitty for Art Star, $24
    Vending Thursday Through Monday, 11-8

    View this week’s complete vendor line-up here 

  • Holiday Market Early Bird Special + A Treasure Hunt!

    The early bird gets the worm!  Stop by our holiday market from 11am-1pm on Saturday + Sunday to receive 10% off in our Art Star booth PLUS at few other participating vendor booths TBA.

    We have an awesome new line-up of craft vendors this Friday through Sunday – check them out here.

    We will be hiding 2 signed Dr Dog records + 2 tickets to their January 31st show at the Electric Factory in one of the vendor booths on Friday at 4pm.  The first person to find it, gets to keep it.

  • Dr. Dog Ticket + Signed Vinyl Giveaway!

    Awesome news!! We’ve got 2 Tickets to Dr. Dog’s January 31st concert at the Electric Factory to give away to one lucky winner!! And that’s not all – the winner will also receive 2 copies of their latest album B Room on Vinyl, which are both signed by all 6 band members.


    Here’s what you’ve got to do to be in the running:
    – follow @artstarphilly on instagram
    – go to our Art Star Holiday Market at Winterfest this Friday (12/6), Saturday (12/7), and/or Sunday (12/8)
    – Snap a picture of one of your favorite things at the Art Star Holiday Market or at Winterfest in general.
    – Post the photo on instagram and tag us @artstarphilly with #ArtStarDrDog

    We will choose the lucky winner on Tuesday, December 10th.  Good Luck!


    Dr Dog is also playing on February 1st at The Electric Factory.
    Go HERE for Tickets.

    Tickets for their January 31st show can be found here 

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