Image courtesy of Poketo.com

Functional art that adds a spot of brilliant creativity to your everyday life.  Need I say more?

Oh, yes, and I should also add: boys like them.  Finally, something for the lads at Hello Bluebird!  We even have tees in UNISEX.  The future’s looking pretty bright!  Equal opportunity abounds at Hello Bluebird!

Now for the nitty gritty: Poketo ( POH-KAY-TOH) is an LA-based designer of limited-edition art accessories, prints, and decor.  Poketo promotes the work of top international artists by showcasing original artwork through their fun and accessible wares. Poketo takes art off of gallery walls and makes them a part of your everyday life.

Poketo’s Philosophy: In Their Words (quoted from their website):

As a part of the art community Ted, filmmaker and Angie, graphic designer were always curating shows for artist friends. The shows were a lot of fun and brought tons of people together. But there was one problem. No one could afford to buy the art displayed. For this reason, Ted and Angie came up with an affordable solution to satisfy everyone’s art lust. They created limited-edition artist wallets that were accessible and well designed so that no one would be without a piece of art of their own.

Stuff Boys Like: Sci-fi! Octopi! Rayguns! Coffee!!

Poketo has currently collaborated with over 200 international artists and has been commissioned by San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The De Young Museum, Nike and bands like The Arcade Fire, Weezer, The Shins and more to create exclusive products. Ted and Angie have conducted design seminars for Parsons School of Design and served as guest jurors for American Illustration’s Annual 27. And in 2008, Poketo was invited to participate in the Glasgow International Festival, Scotland’s equivalent to the Whitney Biennial.

Poketo Tees (artist: Melissa Contreras), now available at Hello Bluebird (S,M,L)

Poketo has been featured in press internationally: The New York Times Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly, How Magazine, Dwell Magazine, Real Simple, Bon Appetit, and on ABC’s Eye on LA, and E-Network and more.

Pretty cool, huh?  Find them right here in West Reading, PA at Hello Bluebird!

Poketo Wallet (artist: Lisa Congdon)

Poketo Wallet (artist: Catherine Campbell)

Poketo Wallet (artist: Luke Ramsey)

Poketo Wallet (artist: Jayme McGowen)

]]> http://hellobluebird.net/introducing-poketo-art-for-your-everyday/feed/ 1 http://hellobluebird.net/skeem-candle-casting-some-light-into-the-dark-days-of-winter/ http://hellobluebird.net/skeem-candle-casting-some-light-into-the-dark-days-of-winter/#comments Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:57:55 +0000 admin http://hellobluebird.net/?p=394

Philly-based Skeem candles, now available at Hello Bluebird!

Just when I think I have the shop packed as tight as I can get it with unique, artist driven goodies, another box of gorgeousness arrives!  We have several new arrivals this week, which I’ll be highlighting over the next few days.

Yesterday, I unpacked and made way for four boxes filled with vibrant patterns and delicious scents that could brighten any grey, February day!  Skeem candles to the winter rescue!

Graphic designer Geoff Weiser and former retail buyer, Suji Meswani, are the co-owners of Skeem Candles. Prior to launching the Skeem brand in 2004, this Philadelphia-based husband and wife team did more than a year of research and development to perfect the wax formulation, develop the scents and colors and, of course, create the candles themselves.  ”Skeem”  is a play on words: the company is named after the couple’s “scheme” to break free from the corporate world! The rich, colorful designs and unique long-lasting scents are inspired by their vast travels which include three to four annual trips to exotic locales such as, India, Costa Rica, and Thailand.

Skeem 3-wick Water Jasmine scented candle (80 hour burn time)

IN THEIR WORDS: SKEEM’S PHILOSOPHY:
We’ve never understood the plain-ivory-candle-in-the-fancy-box thing. Isn’t it a bit of a let down when you open it up, and the box, which is the nicest part, is just trash? We’ve thoughtfully designed all our products so they are beautiful and reusable. Everything we sell is made in the USA. Our candles are silk-screened, then poured with our custom soy wax blend to ensure a clean, even burn. Once the wax has burned down, our pillars are reusable as drinking glasses. We also encourage you to reuse our 3-wick containers for things like holding cotton balls, paper clips, or even as a sugar jar. Our perfumes are long lasting Eau de Parfums, rather than toilettes, meaning they are more concentrated and a little goes a long way…In addition to making beautiful, long-lasting products, we’re proud to have done our little part to manufacture products that can be re-used and recycled. It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

"Snuggle Up" Print by Verity Kizek, available at Hello Bluebird

First, let me just say that it is SNOWING.  Right now.  Again.  Are the 3-4 piles in front of my house not good enough?  If things keep on this way, there won’t be enough wine, butter, or chocolate left to keep me sane.  My kids MUST return to school TOMORROW!

We enjoyed a pleasant, albeit quick, Valentine’s weekend.  Taking advantage of the brief break in this weather, my mom and her fiance came to visit.  It was a bright spot in this seemingly endless winter!  They left early this afternoon to return home to Virginia, trying to beat the snowfall.  Winter: I am feeling a little bitter.  A weekend with my momma is NEVER long enough as it is!!

Alice in Wonderland Scrabble Tile Bracelet by BB Bellezza

Before leaving,  we popped over to the shop this afternoon so Mom could pick out her (belated? well, yes…) Christmas present.  After many many try-ons and a pile of tempting options, she settled on a scrabble tile bracelet and a pair of czech glass earrings, both made by Lancaster-based jewelry artist, Kimberly Burkhart of BBBellezza!  The coolest part about her selection is that I actually requested the “Alice”-themed jewelry with thoughts of my mother in mind!  She instilled an early love for the illustrations in the Lewis Carroll classic, which have probably influenced my current love of  quirky, darkly whimsical art.

It was great to be able to send my momma off with a PA-made trinket.  She said she’ll have such fun wearing it–these days, she might as well rename it her “Alice in a Winter Wonderland” bracelet!

Vintage frames become beautiful magnetic memo boards, by Vintage Jane.

Looking back, it was so easy the first time!  I had a gallery theme, “Show and Tell,” to use as my centerpiece, and a the shop was a blank slate!  Using words, text, and inspiration as my guide, I filled the shiny, new space with mantras and words to live by, laugh at, or linger over.

Heading into this new season, I don’t have a specific gallery theme to guide me, and I also face a strange fear that I won’t be able to have the same magical success that I enjoyed during my first few months!  As a shop owner, I find myself questioning, “What if I have no idea what made it work the first time?  Can I do it all again?”

Some of the changes at Hello Bluebird...

My inspiration for February came from a random customer, an older woman, who spied some handmade ribbon-and-button ornaments by Kerri of A Little Sparkle.  She exclaimed, “Oh my goodness!  Are those Surprise Balls?!!”

Surprise balls (plus new bags from Dahling Accessories of Philly!)...

I, bewildered, explained that they were ornaments…but, of course, I was hooked!  Surprise balls?  What are those??  They sound super fun!!  She explained that, as a girl growing up in the area, she used to save her allowance to buy a “surprise ball” from the corner store.  ”Surprise balls” offer a miniature scavenger hunt in your hand, with a dozen or so small prizes wrapped in layers of crepe paper, wound around and around into a ball, and then decorated with ribbon, paper, flowers, and other embellishments.  Lovely!

Google to the rescue, I decided that I either needed to find someone out there who is making them, or find a way to make them myself!  Lo and behold, they seem to have made the craft circuit a bit, popping up in blogs and shops such as Not Martha, Kiosk, and Oh Happy Day, among others, each with their own take on how to make your own.  I learned that these little treasures are also given at special holidays, or played as a game, with each child unwinding a toy and then passing it to the next child, and so on, until the last child “wins” by getting the last, best prize in the middle!  What fun!!

Retro-inspired bird whistles at Hello Bluebird!

I found a source for Surprise Balls, handmade in the USA, and my theme for February!  With thoughts of the corner shop in mind, I am filling the shop with retro-inspired prizes, glass jars of plastic bird whistles (an old favorite, of course!), homemade marshmallows stacked on cake plates and filling glass bowls, cupcakes and gum ball-inspired bath bombs, paper pinwheels and party tins, and–well, you’ll just have to come in to see for yourself…

I wouldn’t want to TOTALLY spoil the surprise!  *wink*

A few more photos of our newest indie goods...

Upcycled Youth Sweater by Vals Art Studio

Valerie Rosenthal Hebert is a fiber artist and painter from Southern California, who loves working in wool, and wearing it too! “Even though I live in Coronado (just across the bridge from San Diego), I live near the beach, so I wear wool nearly year round. Wool is also my medium of choice, it makes for a versatile canvas on which I stitch my art.” Val’s artist style was hatched at a young age, while watching her mother at her crafting table. Sewing and needlepointing as a child turned into painting and crafting in fiber as a life long hobby. Three years ago, Val started her company, Val’s Art Studio, as a need for fueling her creativity, but also out of a desire to be home with her growing boys. “I promised myself that one day I’d make cute clothes for boys, because when my boys were young, most everything cute was for girls.” Val’s refashioned sweaters are embellished with needle felted “paintings”. Each sweater is one of a kind and completely unique. Each is a work of art.

Some of the gorgeous upcycled, felted sweaters by Val's Art Studio, available at Hello Bluebird.

Along with children’s clothes, Val creates women’s purses, pillows for the home, scarves and wrist warmers, among many other items, all from recycled wool. Val has recently been published in several Somerset Publications, including Altered Couture and Haute Handbags. Future publications include Jewelry Affaire and Somerset Home, and San Diego Home and Garden Magazine.

We are happy to include Val in our pool of very talented artists here at Hello Bluebird.  Once the plows have made their merry journey and you’ve shoveled your sidewalks like good little citizens, we invite you to come in and check out the latest arrivals from Val’s Art Studio!

Bee Happy print by Melanie Linder of Spread the Love (available at Hello Bluebird matted or framed)

We have been busy as bees this week.

News of impending snowstorm notwithstanding, Hello Bluebird is bringing on the spring!  Boxes are filling the shop, full of pretty things made by good people.  New jewelry, candles, diffusers, handbags and reusable shoppers, cards, handmade marshmallows–the list goes on and on!  You might wonder, where on earth are we going to put all of this happy new merchandise?

Never fear.  As a gift for being such a good girl over the holidays, the shop was rewarded with some new fixtures (via Ikea–thank you, Swedes) last week!  Corey was sweet enough to put his after-work painting time aside to help me assemble (and by help, you know what I mean) and get the new furniture in place.  It has been a fun, albeit very crazy, week of getting the shop put back together.  Slow-going at moments, and some stashes and corners are still unfinished, but, all in all, I am please as punch with how fresh and spacious it is turning out.

Of course, don’t take my word for it!  Please swing by and take a look for yourself, while its all shiny and new and brimming with fresh goodies!  We even have free marshmallow samples (strawberry shortcake! yum!!), as if you needed to be bribed…

Since you missed out on all of the fun, here are some scary IN PROGRESS pics!  I’ll post some AFTER photos tomorrow–stay tuned!

From Jan’s post, here is a great pic of the items she brought home in 2009:

Daisy Janie's 2009 HB finds!

1. tinsel time linen teatowel from sara smedley
2. pinecone charm necklace from michabella creations
3. large zippered vegan tote from emily lazo
4. vintage book journal from the fancy lamb
5. tis the season holiday cards from stephanie corfee
6. vintage feedsack tea towels from primrose design
7. happy birthday card from a punkin card company

For more photos of the goods and Jan’s sweet sentiments, please check out her blog.

We’d love to hear what handmade purchases you particularly loved, or what handmade gifts you received over the holidays or the rest of the year?  If they were from HB, we’d appreciate the feedback, and, if they are from elsewhere, we’re always looking for new artists to carry!

(Front) Compendium "Trust Your Crazy Ideas" Anywhere Notebook, $3.95

Shame on me.  I never did take a minute to publicly thank you for such an amazing first season.  From the day our doors opened in September, we have been blessed with a stream of lovely, enthusiastic customers, admirers, and kindred spirits.

I must confess, we didn’t know you were out there.

Opening a shop is a very scary thing to do, even in normal times.  I can’t tell you how many caring individuals shook their heads with worry when we told them of our plans for Hello Bluebird.  Who can blame them?  But, if you have ever known me on a friendly basis, you can vouch that I’ve been known to get a bit headstrong, especially once I’ve decided a dream is hanging in the balance.

Well, so far so good.  I would like to think it is because we have such amazing taste (ha!), but I think it has as much to do with the beautiful artists we feature at the shop, and the kind, responsible companies with whom we prefer to do business.  There is some seriously good karma happenin’ in here!

So, officially this time, THANK YOU.  We could not have made it this far with out such amazing community support, both in the shop and from our internet onlookers.

Now, onto the new season: full of more surprises, more art, more great makers, and more new friends!  Hello, 2010!

(reverse) Compendium "Trust Your Crazy Ideas" Anywhere Notebook, $3.95

I would like to invite you to another swell event at Hello Bluebird!  Starting with a swingin’ opening reception this Friday evening (5-8pm), Hello Bluebird is hosting another terrific 3-day trunk show upstairs (thank you, amazing landlord!).  Olive Park Links and Tea Street Vintage will be featured, as well as some swanky tunes and holiday refreshments!

Ongoing at the shop are our latest exhibit, Sewing Circle, and, of course, a packed house of handmade goodies for everyone on your list…

Please remember to keep shopping local this season.  Support handmade, independent artists and sustainable goods!

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Lancaster-made, artisanal jams and preserves by Christina Maser

Good thing this isn’t a countdown of News Years resolutions, or I’d be off to a shaky start!  Nothing like trying to hang a new show, decorate the shop for the holidays, provide excellent customer service *wink*, AND start a new habit of daily journal entries all at once!  Ha!

So, to make it up to you, I’m going for TWO features in one day!  I’ll post the Day One item now, and Day Two tomorrow morning!  So, all day Wednesday, you can have 5% off of TWO fabulous artists’ wonderful products!  Yay!

Day One: Looking for that perfect hostess gift?  Look no further!  Inspired by a visit by local indie blogger, Tara Gentile, of Scoutie Girl and HandmadeinPA, (who was looking for just such an item and took home the Cranberry Poblena), I am featuring the amazing pantry goods of Lancaster-based Christina Maser.  All of Gretchen’s foods are crafted from the freshest, locally grown produce she can find.

Hello Bluebird proudly offers a range of jams, as well as Red Sauce, vinaigrettes, soup and chili mixes, and her 100% soy scented candles.  Please enjoy our 5% discount on any Christina Maser products purchased on Wednesday, December 2nd!