Thursday, April 8, 2010

Dean Designs


So, how many people out there still haven’t gotten anything for your Valentine? Unfortunately, I don’t know that this week’s artist can get items shipped to you by Sunday, but better late than never for the perfect gift, no? Now, the perfect gift part - that I can help you with.

Tracie Dean, like many of our artists, got her start because she wanted something she couldn’t find. So, what’s an artsy person to do when you want a product that’s not out there? You make your own. So, when Tracie couldn’t find a cell phone and purse charm that she liked, she decided to do just that – she made her own.

Tracie created Purskeys, a completely handmade line of purse and cell phone charms, as well as bracelets and earrings. Her creations range from whimsical to funky to completely girlie. I love them! Tracie has a shop on Etsy, www.deancustomdesigns.etsy.com where you can see and purchase any products that strike your fancy. Just be sure that if you would like any changes made to the order that you let Tracie know before you finalize your order. So, all you late shoppers, get on Etsy and get that perfect gift!

Made By Melissa


Christmas is over. I’m through pushing my readers to buy Christmas gifts from our featured artists. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security, though, because the next big shopping occasion is right around the corner. That’s right, Valentine’s Day is coming!


Yes, it’s time to start thinking about candy, hearts, and my personal favorite, jewelry! What better way to kick off the AW countdown to V-Day than to feature an artist who not only creates jewelry, but offers a multitude of other creation which would make excellent Valentine’s Day gifts.


Made by Melissa is an online Etsy store which offers not only jewelry, but plush toys, blankets, scarves, washcloths, dishcloths and potholders. All of these, as the name of the company suggests, are made by Melissa. She lives in Saddle River, NJ, and while her crafts are not her full time profession, they are her full time passion. Melissa works as an environmental engineer and also has a 2 year old son, but somehow, amid all these other responsibilities, she is able to devote time to her crafts – crocheting and working with beads. Her satisfaction not only comes from those pieces that she sells, but from the admiration of her number one fan – her son – who insists on hugging each of her creations and giving the highest praise of all, “that pretty, Mommy. I yike it.”

Melissa’s creations can be found on her etsy shop, www.madebymelissa.etsy.com or her Flickr site, www.flickr.com/madebymelissa. You can also keep up with her at www.madebymelissa.blogspot.com.


So check out Melissa’s beautiful jewelry as well as her crocheted items and see if there is something just perfect for your Valentine!

Squish Art Market


Happy New Year AW readers! I had the best of intentions to continuing to write about exceptional artists over the holidays, but alas, I could not. So, it is with greatest pleasure that I introduce you now to our first artist of the New Year! Actually, it is not an artist I’m going to write about this week, but a group of artists who work together to promote creativity, artist networking, and community recognition. They work together to bring independent artists together and display their work in a small, flea market-type setting.


Squish Art Market was created by Justine Pepe, an artist herself. She was born on Long Island, NY, and currently lives in Franklin Square. She earned her Associates degree in Fashion design and Merchandising from Nassau Community College and also has a BFA in Graphic Design from Briarcliff College. Since then, she has become friends with many types of artists and has worked to put them in contact with one another. It was from that desire to network that Squish Art came about.


Squish Art Market began in July of 2009, and just recently had its grand opening in even in a loft in Brooklyn. Though they had a slow morning for their opening even, that afternoon brought about quite a crowd!


Artists who are looking for a way to network with other artists or to find a place where they can display their creations, Squish Art Market may be the place for you! Information about joining the Squish Art group can be found on their website, www.squishartmarket.com. At this time, there are no events to sign up for, but you can also find contact information on the site to get additional information.