Category — Retail Store

This month we’re excited to feature the beautiful work of Alissa Thiele from A Tea Leaf. She’s been selling at our craft fairs for quite some time and is also the newest employee in our retail shop!

Combine one part sweet Midwestern drawl, one part savvy designer, one
part hard-core crafter, with a dash of Portland, Oregon’s hip
independent spirit and you get mixed media artist, Alissa Thiele. This
petite artist charms you with her soft accent, and cuts you with her
sharp artistic sensibilities stemming from her study of nature and
design.

Emerging deep from the husks of the Nebraska plains, this artist is
now seeking inspiration, good teas, and a dose of rain in Portland.
Her subtle artistic observations combine influences of urban and
natural beauty alike. Her artwork series, Standard Movement, displays
her delicate juxtaposition of found and created components such as
coffee rings, stencil graffiti in honeycomb patterns, found vintage
paper, and drawn native Oregon plants. Together, the various elements
create an abstract, yet recognizable organic collage that is as
elegant as the flourished frames that hold them. These same graphics
translate well to Thiele’s greeting card series, custom-made wallets,
and pendants that carry the same name.

To round out her craft offerings, she has a jewelry line, strictly
earthy color. Overall, Thiele’s work is elegant yet quirky, wild yet
calming, altogether creating a harmonious symbiosis of the organic and
other-worldly. She may be short and sweet, but this Cornhusker
transplant’s art and crafts pack a solid punch.

You can also see more of her work online at http://www.etsy.com/shop/atealeaf

Be sure to come by the shop this month to see the beautiful work of April’s Artist of the Month, Old School Stationers! They are a small, family owned letterpress studio that specializes in the production of handmade cards, wall prints and other letterpress goods.

Old School Stationers’ goods are made one at a time using pencil, paper, ink and 900 pounds of cast iron. The beautiful, thick letterpress paper used for their cards and prints is imported from Milan Italy, where they have been pulping this style of sheet for over 350 years.

Old School Stationers was founded by Brian Reed back in 2004. After spending years in the printing industry, computer technology came to replace the need for his skills. It was at this time he decided to forgo computers and step back to embrace the skill set of an earlier era. An era in which hand made and home grown were a part of everyday pride. It was with these values in mind that Old School Stationers was born. Brian began sketching out designs in the kitchen at night. He set up two vintage C&P letterpress printers in the garage and launched his first collection of letterpress botanical cards. The response was very exciting!

After the birth of their daughter in 2006 he and his wife Amy decided to join efforts and became co-owners. Drawing from her knowledge gained through years working in the textile industry Amy began assisting Brian with color and pattern choices. She also took on the proud title of “Girl Friday Extraordinaire.”

We are thrilled to showcase the incredibly talented designer Anna Joyce as our March Artist of the Month! Anna was also featured in our event program from last December’s Super Colossal Holiday Sale, so you might have learned a little more about her from that as well.

Anna Joyce is an appliqué artist, textile designer, and printmaker living and working in Portland, OR. Anna is known for her modern take on machine appliqué and hand printing. Her line of apparel, textiles and housewares are sold in boutiques across the country. She teaches appliqué and surface design at Modern Domestic in Portland and Purl Soho in New York City. Anna’s work has been featured in Lucky and Real Simple magazines, and been spotted on IFC’s Portlandia and the Nate Burkus show. In addition, she’s been covered on a circuit of the best design blogs like Martha Stewart; Design*Sponge; Oh, Joy!; Poppytalk; Creature Comforts; Frolic!; and Kate Spade. Anna also just wrapped up a collaboration with the iconic fabric house Liberty of London and was a finalist in the Martha Stewart American Made Awards.

Stop by our retail shop and come out looking like a Valentine’s Day super star! We have a huge selection of cards and gifts for everyone you love! (That includes yourself too!)

808 SW 10th Ave.
in downtown Portland, OR
across from the central library

open Mon-Sat 10a-6p and Sundays 12-5

This month’s featured artist is Molly Muriel, a line of hand crafted natural soaps, lotions, body oils, and soy wax candles…perfect for pampering yourself or your sweetheart!

Molly Muriel began in 2002 when creator Branda Tiffany decided to turn her hobby into a business.  She had been dabbling with product making for 8 years and was ready to expand.  A business was born. The company is named after Branda’s inspiration, Molly Muriel herself, who just happens to be her dog.  Molly Muriel launched with only a small line of soap and over the years has grown to include many more soaps, as well as shampoo bars, lotion, bath & body oils, and candles.  Branda is now perfecting her line of lip balms and bath bombs.  She is also working on facial creams, toning sprays, and hair serum.

Making natural, healthy products is top priority in the world of Molly Muriel.  All products are made with food grade oils and pure essential oils for scent, with no synthetic fragrances or perfumes.  Organic herbs are infused into lotions and oils for their medicinal properties.  Candles are made of pure soy wax, essential oils, and a cotton wick.  By using minimal paper packaging, and glass instead of plastic, Molly Muriel is trying to raise awareness about environmental impact and individual health.

This month we’re pleased to feature the work of our long-time vendor Mugwump!

Mugwump is an independent design troupe using reclaimed materials to create fashion accessories for the modern world.  Based in Portland, Oregon Mugwump utilizes all variety of recycled goods, from retro records & cast away vinyl banners to lost maps and your favorite childhood books.   Making use of these re-purposed materials, and an industrial sewing machine, Mugwump creates handbags, clutches, passport covers, wallets and much more.

Since 2001 this female owned and operated, micro-business has sold her products at stores across the country.  Sole designer, Suzanne Keolker, learned from her mother early on that nothing should be wasted, and to this day that remains the inspiration behind Mugwump – ‘a clever endeavor in accessories’. Be sure to visit her website!

Hello! We hope you’re relaxing and enjoying the holiday season! Just wanted to let you know that we’re back to our regular store hours!

Crafty Wonderland Retail Shop
10am – 6pm Monday through Saturday
noon – 5pm Sunday

808 SW 10th Ave. in Portland, OR

We still have a fantastic assortment of handmade goods, so stop in, say hello and pick up something special for yourself!

Hello Holiday Shoppers!

You still have a few days left to pick out some awesome handmade gifts for your friends and family!
Our retail store will be open:
Saturday, Dec 22nd from 10am – 7pm
Sunday, Dec 23rd from Noon – 6pm
Monday, Dec 24th from 10am – about 3pm

It’s been so exciting to see how many people are shopping at locally owned stores and giving gifts made by local artists this holiday season! We are so thankful for and appreciative of all of your support! Thank you!!!

We’re all huge fans of Appetite over here! They screenprint a beautiful array of their own designs onto fabric and craft them into a fun mix of housewares and accessories. We have a good selection of their purses, cosmetic bags, clutches and wristlets, potholders, napkins, dishtowels, pillows, and more! Their products make excellent gifts for so many different kinds of people!

Appetite is designed and manufactured by hand in Portland, OR by sister duo, Erin Albin and Megan Oser. Erin, upon graduating from the University of New Mexico with a fine arts degree, founded the business in 2005 printing fabric and making bags at her dining room table.  Soon, Megan was lured to lovely Portland and joined Erin in the business. Appetite has evolved from a couple of simple handbag designs and pillows to an extensive line of homewares and personal goods. Erin & Megan have now opened an Appetite shop in East Portland in Spring 2012 and they continue to sell their handmade goods in shops around the US and Canada and at indie craft markets.

This Friday from noon-4pm come down to the shop to kick off the season with a commemorative wacky holiday photo! Wear your ugliest Christmas / Winter sweater or borrow one from our collection! We’ll also have some fun props on hand. The folks from Tinderbox Photobooth will be taking your photo in front of a green screen…then you get to pick your favorite background!!
Prints will be available on the spot for $4, or you can download the image later for $1. Once the photos are online you’ll also have the option of ordering merch with your photo on it (like mugs for everyone on your list!).