Val Lord designs unique etched glass pieces in her Seattle studio.  She is shipping up a variety of pieces for this First Friday event so be sure to come by and see what is available.  You might even catch a Ninja, who knows!  Most of Val’s designs are inspired by nature but fanciful does have its place. Val uses high ball, pint and stemless champagne glasses made in the USA for her etchings.  They are easy to handle and fun to share.

We will also kick off our Fabulous February Pen Sale at this First Friday event.  We will feature deep discounts on selected pens, so come early while the selection is best.  Refreshments and a door prize drawing round out the evening.

 Imagine how happy your feet would be cuddled into colorful, soft socks on a cold January day!  Solmate Socks are designed by Marianne Wakerlin and knitted in recycled cotton at a family owned knitting mill in the USA.  They are handfinished and mismatched to bring you joy!  Come in to see the exciting colorways we carry from yellows and oranges to pinks and purples, greens and blues.  The socks are nature-inspired, resourceful, and original.  We carry Solmate Socks in sizes for adults, children and babies.

 Carafes that catch the light will delight you and your guests.  Available in clear, cobalt blue, green, ruby red, and yellow/orange, carafes afford an convenient yet elegant way to serve the beverage of your choice at the table.  Blenko has manufactured quality glass in the United States since 1893.

 Raika leather products are handcrafted in the USA using only the finest top grain leathers. Quality materials and precision contribute to the elegance and durability of all Raika products.  Our introduction for fall 2009 includes picture frames and photo albums.  We carry luggage tags, passport covers, wallets, coin purses, gusseted card cases, travel shoulder bags, red heart leather paperweights, photo envelopes, journals,  and 5 x 8 writing pads.  Colors range from lime and tangerine to rich red and brown.  Textures range from alligator to ostrich and add to the variety and uniqueness of Raika’s offerings.  Ask us to show you other options available as special orders.  We have the leather swatches on hand from which to choose.   This is a great line for corporate giving; imprinting and engraving is available on special orders.

We’re Nuts About You!  Come in during the month of August and show your token to a sales associate when you make a purchase.  You’ll receive a complimentary pack of Nunes Farms Almonds.  Don’t eat almonds?  Then choose a Rosy Ring jar candle instead!  This is our way of wheting your appetite for our 2009 array of  specialty foods which will debut at our First Friday event in October.

 Join us on August 7 as we feature selections from the Photobox Collection of Rebecca and Rick Puig.  Rebecca and Rick build these boxes in their Roswell Georgia studio, SugarBoo Designs.  Sepia tones, crisp black, or muted shades of color set the stage for personal photos centered on inspirational  quotations.  We will have a fabulous selection from which to choose; these boxes are wonderful wedding, birthday, anniversary or baby gifts.  Custom orders are also welcomed.

 Caralyn Kieckhaefer’s experience as a potter spans 40 years.  She has studied with a variety of potters including Carlton Ball and Jack Crouse.  Her work is influenced greatly by her travels.  In Korea, China and Japan she visited several potters and learned their techniques and sources of inspiration.  Caralyn has been a member of two pottery co-ops, and has exhibited in numerous galleries over the years.  Caralyn maintains her studio at Wildcat Lake in Bremerton, Washington where she is influenced by her natural surroundings.  

About the Pottery:  Porcelain pieces are designed by molding leaves, driftwood and water lilies from Wildcat Lake and high fired in an electric kiln.  They are airbrushed with lead-free glazes.  Ikebana Arrangers are available in both high fire and raku.  Raku glazes are fired in a propane kiln and reduced in a can with newspapers.  Wildcat Lake Pottery is food safe, oven proof and microwave safe. 

 Custom designed garden stakes are available in poppy, sunflower, and salmon .  They are one-of-a-kind pieces and are truly works of art.

 Join us  for a very special trunk show!  Guest artist Laura Moore will be here from California.  She will have several one-of-a-kind pieces at this show as well as a great selection of the standard designs we usually carry.  Come meet Laura, the designer and creator of Billy’s A Bad Kitty silver jewelry, get a first-hand look at our new offerings and join us for refreshments and a door prize drawing.  See Martha’s Diary below for information on the workshops Laura will offer on June 6 & 7th.

 Join us for our second annual tea tasting.  Just in are the artisanal blends of Brenda Meyer, owner of Sterling Tea in Rockwall, Texas.  Sample hot and iced varieties in black, green, rooibos as well as herbal blends.  We will also introduce teas from Fairbanks’ own Jenny and Steven Downer of Sipping Streams Tea Company.  We’ll have a terrific assortment to sample and purchase plus complementary refreshments.  Welcome in Spring with us!

 This winestopper will add a touch of whimsy to your outdoor party or indoor social event.  Whether you’re Alaskan to the core or a wannabe, the skeeter will remind you of summer on the Last Frontier!  Designed, patented and built by Doyle Letbetter, the tipsy skeeter is constructed of electro-plated stainless steel and made in the U.S.A.  Each comes carefully packed in its own box, easy for travel or gifting.