Sleeping Dogs Studio

We have had a great relationship with a number of wonderful stores in Bloomington for years, and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one in particular that everyone should frequent, whether just in town for a visit, or a longtime Hoosier!

That store is Elements, which can be found on Covenanter Drive, near the Kroger store, just off of College Mall Road.

This photo covers only half of the store - it's huge, and filled with handmade delights!

Elements was among the first to showcase our cards, and still does so.  They have a nice selection of our everyday cards, as well as holiday cards specifically for this time of year.

The card display is nestled among hand-blown glass and lots of gorgeous furniture...

Elements also carries our earring holders, and beware!  I would have to have an unlimited supply of holders to purchase all of the jewelry I’d like to purchase for myself!

Just one of the jewelry cabinets stock full of goodies - and topped with a Sleeping Dogs Studio earring holder!

 Lastly, they’re also now carrying our constructions, frames and boxes – so you are sure to get the full picture of SDS options when you visit.

Their shelves are packed with lovely items, this time of year and always...

If you are in Bloomington, be SURE to stop by – you’ll realize immediately that it was worth it!   

We get to meet the other Indiana Artisans later this week at our “Boot Camp” – hope it’s intellectual, not physical!  It will be fun to meet others who are also interested in representing the state in this way, and in learning more about how to market our products with this designation.  A good company to be in, and hopefully, lots of new friends made! 

I just entered a few new items on our Studio Store/Etsy site, and will continue to do so until the holidays.  We also do have holiday cards and ornaments for any of you who are used to seeing those items at art fairs this time of year.  If interested, just use the feedback form, and we’ll be happy to contact you!  Lola Rue in Bloomington is also carrying our holiday cards, as well as platters and bowls:

Lola Rue Business Card

Still waiting for the first snowfall, and with the ever-decreasing temperatures, I’m thinking it’s probably getting closer – our neighbors think so, as many put out their holiday decorations out this past weekend.  We typically go for the kind of displays that don’t blow transformers and fuses – so they don’t take much time to put up…but I guess we’d better get to it! 

Happy holiday season!

I have lots of friends who like to go to art fairs – I do too, for that matter!  Some plan weekends around them, others stop by on the spur of the moment…regardless, these folks know that the primary season for this type of shopping is during the summer; and immediately prior to the holidays.

"Coquette" card set - on Etsy.com

I do think, however, that the rest of this month and early December will be devoted to expanding our Etsy site (for those of you who haven’t tried this site out yet – beware! It’s addictive, a lot like e-Bay, but all handmade items), and our Studio Store.  In that way, if customers want a last minute set of cards; a box to hold a holiday gift, etc. – they can still shop online even though we won’t be attending any additional art fairs.

"Alice in Wonderland Box" - on Etsy.com

For those of you who visit the site, I hope you’ll feel free to click on the store, and the associate Etsy link; and check out the great photos that Etsy allows us to provide of each item.  You might just find that perfect gift there, or at one of our great partner stores, even though we may not see you in person until the new year. 

We just found out that we are among 29 artists of 104 applicants who have been juried in to the Indiana Artisans program!  (You can find out more about it at:  www.indianaartisan.org.)

This terrific program is designed to assist Indiana artists in marketing their products, as well as providing them recognition for their accomplishments.  While we work like we do because we love making art, it’s nonetheless very rewarding to get a pat on the back once in awhile – particularly one of this caliber!

I imagine we’ll be on cloud nine for a few weeks…

In the meanwhile, I’ll leave you with a follow-up to the chaos from the last post, where I showed you 35 boxes in progress!  Here are the final nine, completed boxes, about to go out to their new home, a store in New York…

Completed Boxes

And my personal favorite from this group – Aladdin’s Lamp:

Aladdin's Lamp Box

Thought you might like to see what a normally organized studio looks like in holiday production mode.  Even the flat file has been drafted into a drying rack!

These products are 35 boxes in various stages of prep that will go out to two of our new stores.  Even Jasmine seems a little overwhelmed!  (Also note the very essential cup of java in the middle of the boxes!)