Tag: art star

In the Studio with Julie Moon

Porcelain Skull by Julie Moon

This month’s edition of “In the Studio” features the work of ceramic artist Julie Moon. Julie Moon is originally from Canada & worked in the garment district in Toronto before she began her career in the field of ceramics. She received her MFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2010 and is now a resident artist at The Clay Studio right here in Philly. Julie creates incredible sculptures but also has a production line of ceramic jewelry & skulls that we carry here at Art Star. Julie was kind enough to give us a little glimpse into her everyday studio practice through photos. Enjoy!

A snapshot of Julie’s studio at The Clay Studio. Love seeing all the sculptures drying on the side there!

Julie slip casts all of her skulls from a mold. Here they are drying before they can go in the kiln.

Here are some flowers in progress. These will be made into jewelry or used as crowns on some of the skulls’ heads. The skulls with flower crowns always sell out first here at Art Star.

A bucket of glazes. The next step is glazing.

Here they are after they have been glaze fired. The final step will be to apply the decals to the skull heads.

I hope you enjoyed this little sneak peek. Here are some more pieces by Julie that we just added to the site!

Flower Stick Pins by Julie Moon, $40 each

Geometric Pendant Necklaces by Julie Moon, $80 each

Buttercup Stud Earrings by Julie Moon $50

Visit Julie’s website for more info and to check out her amazing sculptural work
Check out our entire collection of her skulls and jewelry

August 14, 2013
Pretty Pretty Rebel Trunk Show at Art Star!

We are super excited to present a trunk show with local Philly designer Leah Delfiner of Pretty Pretty Rebel! Leah will be bringing her new fall line, which includes the most adorable pieces inspired by 80s punk rock music & cult icons. Expect a fabulous mix of bright & crazy patterns and tons of girly pink skulls & bows!

Sunday, September 8th from 10am-4pm // FREE
Bring your girlfriends – we’ll be serving mimosas & brunchy snacks!

About The Designer:
Leah D is a Graduate of The Art Institute of Philadelphia. During her time at A.I. she studied all aspects of the Fashion Industry with concentration in Fashion Design. After interning for Betsey Johnson, Leah was inspired to launch Pretty Pretty Rebel.

Since the creation of Pretty Pretty Rebel in 2010 Leah has been painting the fashion industry pink. With her energy, crazy patterns, and punk rock bravado, Leah has become a show stopping designer.

Leah’s motto of, “just have fun” has been appreciated by models and her clients alike. With models dancing down the runway in bright colors and prints it should come as no surprise that Leah always manages to tell the fashion world that she his here to stay. Her brand is well on its way to leaving a big, bright impression on the fashion industry.

Inspired by 1980’s Punk Rock Music and Cult Icons, Pretty Pretty Rebel is perfect for the inner wildchild in everyone. With a diverse selection of products, the brand allows you to be a Barbie one day and a Rock Star The next.

Since partnering with Fashion Photographer and Style Icon Taylor Horne in 2012, Leah now has the team she needs to put Pretty Pretty Rebel on the map. The punk-rock marriage was a match made in 80’s heaven, even calling themselves, “The Sid and Nancy of The Fashion Industry”

Leah D is currently working on a variety of exciting projects including, a childrens-wear line, a t-shirt line, and Pretty Pretty Rebels newest collection. PPR will showcase the Spring/Summer 2013 line at Small Boutique Fashion Week 2012 this September.

Enjoy the rest of these sneak peeks from Pretty Pretty Rebel’s New Fall Line!

August 13, 2013
Old Calgary PopInShop

We are excited to welcome Old Calgary, an online brand of handcrafted wallets and gadget covers made from Italian Leather and German Wool. We will be hosting the brand for a limited time and will kick off their debut with a Thirsty Thursday reception this Thursday, July 11th from 5-8pm. Enjoy a boozy cocktail while you shop. Also while you are in the neighborhood, visit Arcadia who will be hosting online brand kyu malange + Duke & Winston who will be hosting Maxton Men.

Ipad Proxima in Concrete by Old Calgary

Old Calgary began as a one man operation. What started as a simple design project, has now become a passion and continuing exploration of merging technology with traditional craftsmanship and quality. Our ethos remains the same; design and construct products with careful attention and provide amazing service. We obsess over every little detail, from the industrial thread we use to construct our designs, tasteful packaging, nifty letterpressed inserts, to the box your order is shipped in. We believe in the details, without losing sight of the larger picture. Some of our designs, though simple in appearance, have taken years to distill and perfect. Resulting into a finished product that is stylish, long lasting, and unique

Alpha Card Wallet by Old Calgary

Brought to you by PopInShop

July 9, 2013
In The Studio with Karin Persan of Better Than Jam

I think it is very important to show our customers what goes into the creation of all the wonderful handmade items that we sell in our shop. I think taking a peak inside an artist’s studio is a great way to learn more about them and their process. I decided to start a series on this blog where our artists can share snap shots of their studio. First up is Karin Persan of Better Than Jam.

Handprinted Oatmeal A-Line Dress

Karin creates women’s dresses, tops and accessories that are each pieces of one-of-a-kind art, yet comfortable and easy to wear. Each piece is made by hand by Karin from start to finish. All of her fabrics are first screen printed with a collage of her unique imagery, which are either created from a photo, drawing or just an item thrown directly on the scanner. She designs all her patterns & sews them up into a truly unique garment. Karin seems to treat each dress or top as a blank canvas for her art. I hope you enjoy this peak into her studio space in Brooklyn as much as I did. If you ever find yourself in Bushwick, feel free to visit b/c her stuido is also home to her own boutique, also called Better Than Jam, which stocks handmade fashion by many other local designers. Shop our collection of her A-Line Dresses here. I have one and I am obsessed with it! Stop in the shop to check them out in person and also some longer ones that aren’t yet on the site.

imagery to be printed on fabrics

printing the fabrics

a burned screen ready for printing

stacks of screens – each burned with an image that Karin will print on the fabric individually, creating her final collage of images

Patterns

sewing all her beautifully printed fabrics into stunning garments

Better Than Jam Handmade Storefront

Thank you Karin for sharing these snap shots of your studio!
http://www.betterthanjamnyc.com
http://betterthanjam.wordpress.com/

June 29, 2013
3rd Ward Philadelphia

I’m so excited that 3rd Ward Philadelphia is finally open! For those of you that don’t know, 3rd Ward is a 27,000 Square foot space for creating really anything you could think of. They have so many cool classes you really won’t find anywhere else, like LED Millinery, Urban Farming, Digital Textile Design, and um the History of the Cocktail? Sign me up! I have not actually visited the space yet, but I hope to take a tour soon to check it out. They run tours every half hour between 1 and 5pm all week.

After perusing the site I am most excited about the Drink & Draw evenings. There is one tonight from 8-10:30 and for $10 at the door you can kick back, drink some beers and draw. What better way to unwind? Just bring your drawing materials and they will provide the beer and model. I have been looking for a space in Philly that offers this with not much luck. I really need to brush up on my drawing skills and drawing from a live model is the best way to do it! I can’t make it tonight, but I am hoping this will be a regular thing for them.

Also, I am a novice when it comes to design and it would really help us at the shop if I could gain a few more skills. Intro to Illustrator or Photoshop 2 might be a good place to start! It would be a dream to learn Photo Etching on Copper, Upholstery, Enameling……..I want to learn how to make everything! To me there is nothing more satisfying then making something entirely from scratch. I can’t wait to see what other classes will be added to their roster.

I also wanted to share that they recently asked Erin and I to be judges for a contest they are running called Learn.Make.Inspire. They are asking people to share what they are learning, making, or what they are inspired by. Learn more here for your chance to win some cash, class credit or for your submission to be included in a culminating exhibition at 3rd Ward. We are so excited to see all the submissions and honored that we were asked to be a part of it!

And to all you local makers, they are looking for teachers. Sounds like a great opportunity to make some extra cash and become a part of an organization that may just become a creative epicenter in Philadelphia.

June 12, 2013
Thirsty Thursday and 80’s Iron On Make and Take

Image by Andrew Zangerle of The Maple Ridge. Copyright 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Click on image to buy his work.

Thirsty Thursdays are back by Popular Demand this summer. We will be hosting a couple of these each month and our first one will be this Thursday (June 13th) from 5-8pm.

Photo Courtesy of A Beautiful Mess

We will be serving up the above Cucumber and Mint Gimlets. The recipe is by Emma from A Beautiful Mess. You probably already read their blog and If you don’t, you should. I am pretty obsessed with it. Those ladies are very inspirational to me. Anyway……..Thirsty Thursdays.

A sample of one of the Awesome Iron Ons Hope will be bringing with her.

The coolest part about this Thirsty Thursday is that our friend Hope Rovelto of Little Chair Printing will be set up with her Heat Press. She will have a slew of 80s themed Iron on Transfers for you all to use and design/heat press your own t-shirt! It is Free if you bring your own T-shirt (any color, though Hope says white works with all the designs) OR you can purchase a blank from her for just $10.

And that’s not all! Enjoy 20% off all regularly priced items during the event. Just for you! Because we like you and we’ll all be drinking.

While your here, check out our HUGE SUMMER SALE which is taking up our entire back gallery space. We have Art, Clothing, Housewares, Prints, Ceramics and MORE priced to sell!

Soooo Come drink with us and make a sweet T-shirt. Maybe buy some of our stuff too 😉 See ya Thursday! Peep the Facebook Invite and tell us if you can make it – Invite your Friends!

June 11, 2013
Art Star Summer Tour

Can’t make it to the shop in Philly? This summer we may be in a city near you! We will be bringing a selection of goodies from our shop to the following summer shows:

Clover Market
Sunday, June 9th, 10-5pm
Ardmore, PA

Renegade Craft Fair BOOTH #75
June 22nd & 23rd, 11-7
Brooklyn, NY

Gallery 1603 Pop Up
July 5, 6, 7, all day
Surf City, NJ – My Old Stompin’ Grounds!

Artscape
July 19th + 20th, 11-8pm and July 21st, 11-9pm
Baltimore, MD

June 7, 2013
Hello Dear Friend Necklace Instagram Giveaway!

Our first Instagram giveaway!! We will randomly select 1 instagram follower who reposts this photo with #artstarphilly as soon as we reach 300 followers. Spread the artstarphilly love!!

March 28, 2013
Free Fare: A Collection of Landscape Inspired Prints by Shawn Hileman

Free Fare
A Collection of Landscape Inspired Prints by Shawn Hileman
April 13^th – May 26^th, 2013

Opening Reception: Saturday, May 13^th, 6-8pm
Free & Open to the public

Art Star is pleased to announce Free Fare, a collection of landscape inspired prints by Philadelphia printer & graphic designer, Shawn Hileman. The exhibition will be on display from April 13^th – May 26^th, 2013. An opening reception with the artist will be held on Saturday, May 13^th from 6-8pm. Light refreshments will be provided.

Shawn Hileman’s first solo exhibition at Art Star will include a series of screenprinted abstract landscapes based on the desire to explore the world. The work will take the viewer on a journey that spans from desolate desert to mystical mountain side castles. An illustrated collection of ephemera will accompany the expansive fields of color and texture. With a keen graphic eye and a lust for playful illustration, the prints will feature a symbiotic relationship between paper and ink

Shawn received his BFA in Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and has since worked as an Art Director and Freelance Graphic Designer / Printer. He started Masthead Print Studio in 2010, which serves as a hub for local Philly printmakers to create & show their work. The Studio features monthly exhibitions, curated by Hileman & other Masthead members, as well as special events & lectures. His freelance clients include Urban Outfitters, Academy of Music, World Café Live, and Electric Factory, amongst many others. He also creates his own line of silkscreened posters & prints, which you can find at Masthead, Art Star, Etsy & Little Paper Planes in CA.

March 17, 2013
Put a Dik Dik on it!

A few days ago my husband & I were convinced that the Pygmy Goat was the most adorable animal we’ve ever seen, but thanks to BuzzFeed’s post we are now all about the Dik Dik!

Source: Courtesy of the Chester Zoo via Buzzfeed

It looks like a mix between a miniature deer & giraffe, but it is a mini antelope from South Africa. They are between 20-28 inches long & weigh 7-16 lbs. Sounds like the size of my cat – I wonder if they’d get along b/c I want one!! So crafters, I’d love to see you put a Dik Dik on it. What is your favorite animal that you’d like to see plastered all over everything?

See more cuteness over on Buzzfeed.com

March 16, 2013