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Fairfield Artist Accepted into International Exhibition
Fairfield, IA – Fairfield artist Tahmi DeSchepper announced her work, “Pearl Filled Crown Sinnet Bracelet”, has been accepted by the Handweaver’s Guild of America (HGA) for their annual Small Expressions exhibit.
Small Expressions 2008 is an international juried exhibit featuring high quality, contemporary fiber art works. The exhibit is sponsored by the HGA to showcase fiber art of a small scale, less than 15 inches in any direction. This highly prestigious exhibition will open at the Tampa Museum of Art and will run from April 18 – July 6, 2008.
Gently Spoken Sprouts New Magnets for Christians
Anoka, Minn. – Gently Spoken, a leading publishing company dedicated to providing a source of encouragement and inspiration, introduces its new Sproutables magnets for Christians. This new collection offers some of the Bible’s most loved and cherished passages, expressing faith, hope, peace, joy and thanksgiving. The growing collection features twelve favorite verses, beautifully scripted and accented with bright, colorful borders.
A perfect accent for any refrigerator, the Sproutables magnets for Christians also make great gifts.
Home Comfort introduces new collection of Jellybean rugs
Alpharetta, Georgia – New to the Jellybean line, designer Sally Stetson has created a colorful collection of kitchen rugs with delightfully stylized vegetables. Perfect individually or as a group, the collection includes: Vegetable Medley, Summer Peas, Summer Tomatoes, and Carrot Top.
The Jellybean Indoor/Outdoor rug is made from a blend of polypropylene and acrylic fibers.
God Bless Our Love wedding gifts designed for Dicksons
Seymour, IN. – “Reviewing marriage statistics reveals weddings are no longer June and December events. Weddings are taking place in April and October as much as June and December. Dicksons has developed an exclusive contemporary wedding gift line, ‘God Bless Our Love’ for these joyous events during whatever time of year that is ideal for the couple,” states Dave McNabb, Vice President – Product Development.
The ivory on light lemon design features a botanical texture with a ribbon like area for the God Bless Our Love text.
Sisters feather their Nest with eclectic mix
Grand Rapids — In looking for a home for their new store, sisters Marcia Wals and Sandra Haverkamp saw the East Hills business district as a perfect nesting spot.
The women opened their home and garden decor and gift store — called Nest — earlier this month at 145 Diamond Ave. SE, just north of Lake Drive.
“It’s the urban revitalization,” Haverkamp said.
Store sells inspiring home accessories
Talking shop with Karen Benson, owner of Inspire, a home accessories boutique that opened last week in downtown Fort Myers.
The store sells home furnishings and decorative accessories. There are plans to sell slipcovers and to offer design seminars.
“The store is divided into two different rooms,” Benson said. “On the left side is the urban eclectic contemporary side and it’s painted black. On the right hand side is my coastal living room with whites and blues.
U.S. District Court: Radko not Reponsible for Rauch Debts in ‘Elmet’ Case
CHARLOTTE, NC – U.S. District Judge Graham Mullen has rejected a legal attempt to make famous Christmas ornament designer Christopher Radko pay off nearly $2.5 million in promissory notes from Rauch Industries, Inc. to pay three of its vendors.
The complicated case – separate from the main court case involving Radko and Rauch – involved a contention that Mr. Radko was somehow responsible for repayment of promissory notes signed by Rauch in favor of three vendors, Elmet Technologies, Inc., Watauga Opportunities, Inc. and Complete Design & Packaging, LLC. Rauch incurred the debt before Mr.
PBC Introduces Holiday ‘Kringle & Jingle’ Collection
PBC International, Inc. has always set the standard when it comes to high-end animated, musical plush. This coming holiday season is no exception. The Chantilly Lane Collection from PBC introduces Kringle & Jingle – Santa, with a mouse perched on his shoulder, singing a duet of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”; a puppy named Trouble with a wagging tail and wrapped in flashing Christmas lights singing “I’m Gettin’ Nuttin’ for Christmas”; and Noel, an angel bear with moving wings that sings “O Holy Night”.
Organic Happy Yoga Mat keeps yoga gear clean, fresh and healthy
Plainfield, MA – Yoga and Pilates enthusiasts seeking a natural and organic means to clean and restore their sticky mats and other gear have a new reason to blissfully inhale, exhale and relax.
The new Happy Yoga Mat Wash from Kathy’s Family is the latest addition to a popular collection of wholesome, trustworthy and hard working products.
Downtown Woodstock loses boutique to rising costs and a sluggish economy
Williams and Company set up shop three years ago after a retail exodus left downtown Woodstock a virtual ghost town.
Northwoods appeal, family traditions drive start of summer season
While much has been made in the press of record high gas prices, which topped the $4 per gallon mark last week, extra pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters at the pump seemed to do little to deter Memorial Day tourism traffic through the Northwoods.
And while questions and concerns linger over the impact of gas prices on discretionary purchases, retail sales for the extended Memorial Day weekend were largely positive, albeit somewhat mixed, throughout the Lakeland area.
At the 486-member Minocqua-Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Area Chamber of Commerce, executive director Diane Hapka said an inform
Survey says: Gas and groceries more important than Dad
Father’s Day will take a back seat this year as sons, daughters, wives and others grapple with high gas and grocery prices, according to a new survey.
Consumers plan to spend on average $94.54 on Father’s Day gifts this year, a nearly 4 percent dip in spending compared to last year’s $98.34, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2008 Father’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.
“Unfortunately, consumers are torn between their love for dad and their need for gas this year,” said NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin in a statement.
The majority of spenders (68.4 percent) w
B&B Gourmet Biscuit Meal to Introduce Exciting New Versatile Product to the Gift Industry
Parkman, Maine – B&B Gourmet Biscuit Meal will be introducing their new product at the upcoming Boston Gift Show in Boston, Massachusetts in April.
The product comes premixed in ten mouthwatering flavors and in a unique knead-in-bag that allows the consumer to go from bag to piping hot fresh biscuits from the oven in 4 easy steps and 10 minutes time.
GHTA’s Retail Advisory Board brings back Trolley Tour
Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA), the industry’s professional trade organization, announced its Retail Advisory Board (RAB) is building upon the success of one of its events at The Chicago Market: Living and Giving.
This unique presentation will begin with a discussion forum at 4 p.m.
Johnston’s moves to new home, organic
“At this point, we’re just putting it all back together,” said Sheri Johnston.
She will be reopening Johnston’s Home Furnishings and Gift Shop on June 2 in its new home on 3rd Street from its previous location on Standard Veneer Road.
Sheri and her husband, Michael, own Johnston’s Cabinetry and Home Furnishings and Gifts. After almost eight years of business, they decided it was time to move Sheri’s portion of the venture downtown.
“There’s a real push for downtown to grow,” Michael said about a local desire to fill empty storefronts.
A place to “park, walk and shop,” Sheri added.
New to High IntenCity – Mini Boxed Sets!
High IntenCity launches a collection of box sets featuring jewelry based on the company’s impressive line-up of licensed properties. The new line focuses on a cast of favorite characters including Hello Kitty, Hannah Montana, High School Musical 2, and the lovable Mr. Men Little Miss crew.
These goodies are a jewelry treat for any girl as a gift or party favor. The individual sets, showcased in branded packaging, include heart lockets on silver ball chains and the matching rubber bracelets feature raised rubber icons and designs.
Midwest ‘Monkeying Around’ with kid-friendly gifts and home decor
MN – Midwest, leading designer and manufacturer of the Seasons of Cannon Falls brand of innovative holiday, home, garden and gift products, introduces Monkeying Around, the company’s first colorful collection of plush sock monkeys, gifts and decor designed to encourage kids to play the old-fashioned way – using imagination and a lot of activity.
Magnets are safely hidden inside monkeys’ paws for added fun and play value, and tags specially designed for each character feature their name and favorite activity – for example, sing and dance with Rusty, hop and skip with JoJo, and bounce and gig
Metro Home Style honored by Home Accents Today magazine
Greensboro, N.C. – Metro Home Style, located at 2100 Park Street in Syracuse, New York, has been named one of Home Accents Today’s 50 Retail Stars for 2008 by editors of the premier trade magazine for the home accents industry. The stores selected have exhibited strength in merchandising, display and advertising, are operating successfully in their marketing areas and have a strong presence in their communities.
Home Accents Today editors focused on independent retailers, specifically those considered specialty or home accents stores.
Peking Handicraft Debuts Trend-Forward Holiday Designs
San Francisco, Calif. – Peking Handicraft, Inc., an international manufacturer and wholesaler of high quality home decor, tabletop and giftware items, introduces new trend-forward holiday textiles designed by the company’s in-house designers. The attractive, new products offer a new take on contemporary holiday decor, using variations of the traditional red and green colors, matched with shades of brown, pink and sky blue to create a more fun, contemporary look to celebrate the season.
Mud Pie debuts holiday gifts tailored to fit customer’s budget
Tucker, Ga. – The award-winning international gift company, Mud Pie, introduces its much-anticipated new holiday gift collections for the 2008 holiday season. Its new collection of Santa-themed gift products is sure to steal the show, featuring Santa’s red coat and favorite belt.
The collection offers items perfect for gift-giving and holiday decorating, including a wine bottle bag, guest towel, coasters, dinner plates, platters, photo album and picture frame. Affordably priced at retail ranging from $7 to $25, the adorable holiday items will make cash registers “ring” in the season!