Ginny's Small Studio

Road Trip

John and I decided to go junking today. We love the hunt. Little did we know when we started out early this morning that we would see such wildlife. As we drove out of town we passed the house where we saw Buzzards last spring. Same yard today we saw this:

I thought the Buzzards had returned early this year which would be the first time in the 50 years they have been tracked. John turned around for us to get a better look.

Wild Turkeys! One of them was not pleased we were there.

One of our stops was an antique mall. We were disappointed in the displays. It seemed to me that there was too much Pyrex and Corning Ware to be at all interesting. There was one booth that had some interesting things displayed effectively. What a difference a nice display makes.

Hello Dolly!

I don't wish to brag excessively, but I have the greatest customers. Look what one of them brought me today. Eat your heart out, Michael deMeng:

Sun Rubber Co made dolls from 1923-1950.

Coffee Break Design

I carry quite a bit of the Coffee Break Design line. In fact I have always carried CBD stuff no matter where or what kind of store I have owned. Owner Kristen Hubick does a great job with this company, but it will always, always remind me of the original owner and very original guy, Mike Meador. So many of us still miss him and his humor and his friendship. It has been in the back of my mind to be more organized in how I present CBD kits. Here is what John and I came up with for Small Studio.

Now that samples and clearly designated kits are easy to see, I think you should come in and find some treasures to create for yourself. Tomorrow would be good for me. Saturday we are open 10-5 just for you.

While you are thinking about us, don't forget to sign up for our workshops. The first one this year is this month featuring our favorite journal maker, Ingrid Dijkers. You can read about our workshops here.

New stuff

Here is what I love about having a store: 1. The customers, their projects and their stories. 2. Getting new stuff to put on the shelves

Today we got Gelli Plates back in, 12x12 Graphic 45 French Country and a bunch of Kelly Rae Roberts plus a few other odds and ends, cool odds and ends.

Books

From the Berkeley Library in CA and Castle in the Air

I love these book sculptures.

Makes me want to try this. I especially like the entry arch in the top photo. What do you think?

A Little Graphic 45 Art

One of our favorite customers who we now call "friend", Randy Cecil, came in on his lunch hour for a little bit of Show & Tell for me. Do I need to say again how much I love Show & Tell? I didn't think so. Anyway, he and his wife, Peggy, have been playing with one of Graphic 45's boxes and the new French Country paper (both available at Small Studio). Here is the lovely result:

Such a nice project from every angle. Thank you, Randy, for sharing.

Hop on over to our web here and sign up for Ingrid Dijkers workshops on March 23-24th. We are so lucky to have Ingrid join us again this year. Her workshops last Fall were a big hit with everyone. Ingrid has a wonderful eye for the unusual and she is a very good teacher. Come play.

It was a beautiful day in Ohio today.

A Good Friend

There is very little that is better than a chat with a good friend. I don't know what your criteria is for a good friend, but my list includes someone who laughs easily and who makes me feel good just to be in their presence. There are many more things, but my friend Michele Monet is a gem of a friend. Michele walked into my old store, Creative Block, one day right after we opened. We hit it off immediately, sharing our life stories and cementing our relationship right then and there. Michele designed the very first Stampers Anonymous stamps for me back in 1996. They were an immediate hit. Over the years, Michele, who is a professional photographer, has taken photos of our entire family. We have had many a long, long dinner together, never running out of things to talk about. She has a ready smile, quick laugh and she is tremendously talented in so many ways. She also designs my business cards, postcards and ads. They are always just what I want, but much better. Here is the latest ad she did for me.

I am so thankful for her friendship. I hope you have a friend like Michele.

Three Days...

So, what do you think this
and this

and this have in common?

They are each a part of a three day project John and I created on a wall in our classroom. We pushed two of our tables together which have grid mats on them. Then we started laying out our collage wall.

This is the finished wall.

Maybe you would like to see it a little closer? Okay.

We had so much fun putting it together, searching for the thing that was the right color, size and accent. We think it looks so much better than our show banner that was up there before. What do you think?

Distressed White

New in the store today:

SMALL STUDIO

26113 Detroit Road

Westlake OH

Tue-Sat 10-5

Accepting Registrations for our fabulous Workshop Series

Kelly Rae Roberts

We received some new product designed by Kelly Rae Roberts. We have had her colorful products in before and they sell out quickly.

The boxes are as cool as the product.

Do you cloche? Cloches (or glass domes) are so much fun to play with, creating little vignettes of cool stuff. We sell a variety of different cloches.

Have a great day!

Sunday Morning on Lake Erie

I have no idea how these drifts of ice are formed, but they are several feet tall. The Lake is endlessly entertaining.

Classes & Workshops

I taught a little book class at Small Studio today. I haven't taught a class in years and i had forgotten how fun and rewarding it is to teach excited and creative students. Everyone's finished book was perfect and beautiful. I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did.

Thank you, students, for joining us today.

Our next store class is the 23rd of Feb. with Aimee who will be teaching a drawing class on Face Basics. There are still a few spaces left.

Our first Small studio Workshop is in March. Ingrid Dijkers will be teaching 2 one-day workshops. The first on Sat Mar23 is "The Wall", a graffiti book.

The 2nd workshop on Sun Mar24, is Journal Obscura.

Ingrid is a really good instructor and her classes are always popular here. Be sure to go to our website and fill out the registration for her workshops. While you are there check out our other wonderful instructors and sign up for those too. Registration is ongoing until the workshops are full.

Carded!

I haven't been carded in years. Actually I have not been carded in decades, but last night we ran a few errands after dinner. There on an endcap was a very cool looking six pack of beer. I don't drink beer. In fact, I have never had a beer in my life. I just don't like the smell. But this beer came with cool graphics, cool bottles and super bottle caps. John occasionally has a beer and my son drinks beer when he visits, so I bought it. I took it up to the counter and was asked for my ID. I laughed and thanked the clerk.= for asking. John said that she wasn't kidding. I looked at her and she nodded. Seems she cannot sell spirits without swiping a driver's license. Good idea, but really I am definitely old enough to buy beer.

Batch 19 is a Coors product based on a pre-prohibition recipe. The bottles we bought do not look like this, but they are still interesting. We didn't see the big bottles, but apparently you can buy them.

Funny what catches one's interest.

Re-arranging

Every time new product arrives, it requires a little dance of changing things around in the store to make room. I am not complaining. No, I am gloating. I love making new displays. That is, I love making new displays when I have an idea.

Today the Dylusion Sprays came and you are going to love the six new colors: Cherry Pie, Linen White, Dirty Martini, Calypso Teal, Funky Fuchsia and After Midnight. Have you watched the cute video of Dylusions Meets I Love Lucy?

We also got a shipment of new and restocked greeting cards.

We have a good selection of art supplies to support our workshops, but we also have an eclectic collection of things for your home and studio. Have a little browse around the store with me...

We are looking forward to seeing you here.

The Workshop Series is now online and we are taking registrations.

Around Small Studio Today

Folk Magazine arrived today. Along with Sweet Paul, this newish magazine is full of decor, recipes and crafts. Great photography abounds in both. We have a few copies of the new Uppercase still available. Uppercase is full of articles about art people and artsy stuff.

Another arrival today was a box of appealing little globes in 4 colors. They are about 5" in diameter and come with a little wooden ring to keep them from rolling off the shelf. Better hurry in and get yours before I take them home and keep them for myself.

A sweetly scented candle in a soft white pot would make a lovely gift for a friend. It comes in a nice box with this little plaque on the outside:

Small Studio has an ever changing selection of authentic vintage and antique items. One of my favorites is this tin box of British Pub dominoes.

The box is cool with interesting directions and the set is complete.

Have you noticed the Assemblage Boxes by Randy Cecil that are on display at Small Studio? Randy recently discovered an appreciation for Joseph Cornell's work and tried his hand at making a few boxes. He tells me that he has now made many and just cannot stop. It is fun to make art always.

Have you signed up for our upcoming February classes? Next Saturday I will be teaching a quick and easy book class and on the 23rd Aimee will be doing a quick and easy Basic Face class. Don't forget our wonderful workshop series with awesome instructors: Keith Lobue, Michael deMeng, Dan Essig, Ingrid Dijkers, Chris Cozen, Andrea Matus deMeng, Mary Beth Shaw and Julie Snidle and Carol Owen. Click here for Small Studio's website.

Awesome

Another birthday

Tim's youngest just turned 11 and here are the usual suspects celebrating with him.

Happy Birthday! I just want to go on record that Grandpa John picked out the card.

The Party

I woke up excited for the day to begin. Today was Small Studio's First Anniversary party. Hooray! I looked out the window and was dismayed to see heavy snowfall. Oh no.

This is what it looked like outside as we drove to the store. Note the large and lovely snowflakes.

This was the temperature:

I try to be positive about things. I was positive no one would show up.

I was so organized. The refreshment table was ready.

The craft table was ready.

Aimee arrived to help out for the day.

We waited. We made bets on how many people would show up. We made bets on how many people would Not show up.

But then our wonderful and loyal customers and friends began to wander in and they kept coming in right up until closing.

Some brought us gifts, yes gifts! Teri brought us helium balloons and Kathy brought us a plant. How unexpected and wonderful. Thank you both.

Everyone made Valentines, Small Studio style. There was much laughter. Here are photos of some of the hearts made today.

It kept snowing all day, but Ohioans are not intimidated by weather. We had a lovely anniversary and I think everyone had a good time. Thank you all for making my day.

Learning by Doing

I have owned one store or another since 1991. They have always been craft stores. When I married John almost eight years ago, i thought I was done with being a shopkeeper, but then i decided I had one more store in me. I missed the people, the show and tell, the displays, the buying, the planning, the workshops and being surrounded by creative people. Small Studio is different from my other stores. It is only half craft with the other half gifts and home decor. This has been fun for me since I love decorating and I love stuff. Now I have all the above perks plus stuff.

We are at the one year mark today. I opened Small Studio Feb 1 2012. I have learned quite a bit in the last year. Learning is so energizing. I have made many, many new friends and acquaintances. I have seen first hand how the economy has affected the shopper and the distributors. I have been amazed at how few people pay with cash anymore. I have been disappointed to find that 99% of the gift market is manufactured in China and almost as much of the craft market. I learned that gift stores are expected to start ordering Christmas about now. I have been reminded of how much I love having a store and planning events.

Tomorrow (Saturday) we will have our First Anniversary Party. I hope you will come and join us. We have put together some snacks and a fun little craft project and we will take 25% off all of your paper purchases. Come and give me a chance to tell you how much i appreciate your business and your friendship.

We have some new tapes for you and some new paper packs.

If you don't show up, what will I do with all the rosettes I made?

The Alchemist

Some people, some special people are just not content with the ordinary. It is imperative to them to seek out the authentic, the historical and the unusual. Professor Asperity is such a man. He wanders through the trees seeking out Oak Galls. They have to be the perfect and proper Oak Galls, for Professor Asperity hand makes batches of Oak Gall Ink.

The ingredients are a wee bit strange and the process unique to this product. Here in his words is the process of brewing: "To brew Oak Gall Ink (or Iron Gall ink) it is best to brew it in an iron cauldron or pot, and add nails as many recipes suggest to set the color. When iron sulfate (called vitriol or copperas in the past) is added to the liquid tannin, it turns from a mild brown to a purple black color."

Interesting, isn't it?

Professor Asperity also makes his labels by hand in another step towards making his ink especially special.

Why, you ask, am I telling you all this? Small Studio has been chosen by Professor Asperity as just one of three stores that have his handmade Oak Gall Ink available to customers. I am thrilled beyond thrilled. I always say that I am a lucky person, but this stroke of luck has me in awe.

Come in and claim your bottle.

(All photos except the bottom one are property of Professor Asperity and taken by photographer Samantha Bryson. Bottom photo is mine)

The Week

It seems that blogging time escapes me and all of a sudden it is next week. Since I am at the store most of the time and it has been freezing (9 was the high the other day), John and I have not been out exploring much. That means that I have no new adventures to share with my readers. Let me see how else I can amuse you.

Oh, THE 2013 WORKSHOP SERIES IS ONLINE!!!!!

Let's see. What else. We have been having spectacular sunsets.

Yesterday, Launie McDevitt taught a Zentangle class at the store.Students were having fun doing the Tangle.

Driving home along the lake we always admire the old, traditional homes. There are so many different types of architecture, but generally they are pretty traditional.

Some are large and some are small.

Some are new and some are quite old.

What a jarring surprise it is to come upon this new construction that is replacing the small old home next to it.

Here is "better" view.

What do you think?

One (or three) of Those Days

The plan was to have the 2013 Workshop schedule live on Jan 15th at the latest. So many things got in the way. Missing info from some of the instructors was one. Computer problems on both my side and daughter Amy's side. My mail server changed and upgraded the program which deleted sent mail and saved mail. Guess whose mail contained pertinent workshop info. When I sent Amy (my webmaster) photos, they totally disappeared. There has been much hand wringing and hair pulling and "arghhhs" exchanged this weekend when we were working to finish the site. We thought we had 90% of it that we could get live, but we are still working on it. Maybe tomorrow, maybe not. Cross your fingers, please. And toes. When we walked into the kitchen this morning, there was something huge sitting on the deck post. By the time I got my camera, it had flown into a nearby tree. John thinks it is some kind of hawk, but it is so huge. It was surely more than a foot in height and almost as wide.

Then we went along the lake since it was so stormy and windy. We love to see how high the waves are. As I was trying to get a photo of the waves, which were about 3-4 feet high, a gull flew right in front of me. Scared the camera right out of my hand.

Do you think it is some kind of sign?

Speaking of birds, we have so many Canadian Geese in this area. They no longer head South, instead choosing to stay here. We have noticed that they no longer fly in a V formation. I wonder if they have forgotten how.

We had a great time on Saturday at our Free Play Day. We were so busy in the store that I was unable to take any photos, but it was a really fun group. Love Play Day. Next month it will be on the 23rd of Feb right after Aimee teaches a quickie face drawing, shading and painting class.

Keeping Busy

We sell Cage Dolls, sometimes called Santos. They are beautiful all by themselves, tall and graceful with quiet, serene faces. I decided to fashion a skirt from our vast array of ribbons for one of them. My sidekick Aimee, elbowed me out of the way (because even grown-up girls like to play with dolls) and created this:

Isn't she lovely?

It has been like Christmas at the store with boxes coming in from several companies. Below are just a few things that are on our shelves right now at the store.

French style striped ribbon. Wouldn't this be great on a table runner or as a closure for a book or journal?

Ivory and rust combine to make these shabby clips.

Authentic vintage street signs.

Uppercase is one of our favorite magazines. This issue has some particularly interesting articles.

Sweet linen hearts for your Valentine's Day (or any day) sweetie.

We have restocked the Peerless watercolor pads as per your request. I also added to this order 2" square Peerless papers that come in a set of 20 colors. These are great for on-the-go journaling.

Speaking of journaling, we have 2 spots left in our Journal Play on Saturday morning. It is free, but reservations are required. It is so much fun! Call to reserve: 440-808-8599

Hunting & Gathering

John and I had fun shopping for vintage goodies today.

See anything you like?

Arrivals and Departures at Small Studio

The Snowflakes for Sandy Hook have departed and were mailed to the White House at the beginning of the week.

The snowflakes looked so pretty all nestled in tissue in the box. I felt so important sending a box to the President. John took the package to the PO and when he returned I eagerly asked him if the postal clerk made any remarks. No, the postal clerk said nothing. I hope the president sees the snowflakes. Even if he does not, the good feelings of the participants was a great thing. We all felt like we were making something happen. Thanks again to all who created the snowflakes.

We have had some new arrivals this week at the store.

Valentine goodies.

We received some new Coffee Break stencils and kits.

Also among our recent arrivals are apothecary jars with interesting old labels.

And we received these very cool vintage style metal "camera" clocks.

Stop by and have a browse. We have a handful of spaces available for our Journal Play morning on the 19th and it is not too late to sign up for the Zentangle classes on the 26th. Call the store 440-808-8599 or stop by

Small Studio

26113 Detroit Road

Westlake OH 44145