March 29, 2024

Five Gifts for the Artsy Type

Nov. 23, 2014

1. STURGEON BAY POTTERY Petoskey - Steve’s Coffee Mugs $18.50 www.sturgeonriver.com

Long hours spent creating masterpieces require lots of coffee (or tea or chai, if you prefer). Yet, artists need something a little more inspiring than the average coffee cup. Sturgeon Bay Pottery, a place chock-full of artists, including founders and potters Steve and Karen Andrews, is the ideal location to fi nd a mug as unique as your giftee. Available in earth or water tones, Steve’s Coffee Mugs are familiar sights in homes and shops around Emmet County. The perfect size for just the right amount of beverage, these handmade mugs are what the Andrews call "one of a kind pieces of functional art." You can even put together an entire collection. "Our best-selling items in the store are far and away our own pottery and we work very hard to keep it affordable for people," added the Andrews’ son, Dana. "We want them to have the pleasure of buying something handcrafted here in northern Michigan and not have to pay an arm and a leg for it."

2. BAABAAZUZU Lake Leelenau - Recycled Sweater Mittens $50 baabaazuzu.com

Artistic types need to keep their hands warm for all of that crafting. So how about a pair of luxury mittens to do the job? Lake Leelenau eco-fashion house Baabaazuzu has plenty of great products, but their mittens remain a standout. Founder, designer and CEO Sue Burns credits a laundry accident for the mittens’ inspiration. Her husband put her favorite wool sweaters in the dryer. What was Burns’ reaction? She cut them apart and upcycled the mini sweaters into garments. Today, Baabaazuzu transforms 2,000 pounds of discarded wool garments per month into items, like those famed mittens, crafted from sweaters in a wide range of color and pattern combinations and lined with fleece. The extra cool thing is that every pair is unique. "Our customers initially gravitate toward our mittens because of the design, but soon become fan-crazed, as each product is individually designed, is one of a kind and belongs to that one fan," explained Burns.

3. GALLERY FIFTY Traverse City - Boss Brown Clocks prices start around $100 galleryfi fty.com

Whether your artistic pal likes to craft things herself or just look at cool creations with her artsy eye, Boss Brown wall clocks are on the cutting edge of the reuse and repurpose movement. Artist Mark Brown’s quirky talent for building these clocks from recycled forks, spoons, beads and fl ea market finds is top-notch. Each clock has its own personality and would be a great addition to any studio or workshop. Brown was trained as a painter and worked on canvas for two decades, which enhances his skill with color and balance and adds even more to these inventive timepieces.

4. HANDZ ON ART Traverse City - Pottery Experience prices start at $5 tchandzonart.com

If your giftee is the type that would be inspired by Sturgeon Bay’s mugs, perhaps they’d like to try painting their own pottery, courtesy of a Handz On Art gift card. Handz On Art is a great place to test your talent, whether you prefer to paint plates, tiles, vases or cartoon-inspired figurines. You just choose a piece of unfinished ceramic, plan your colors and design and then utilize their friendly on-site studio space to paint away. Once your work is complete, Handz On fires your pottery in their kiln within a week. The result is a unique piece of art and an unforgettable crafting experience.

5. ARTCENTER, Traverse City / Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey - Art Education prices vary artcentertraversecity.org / crookedtree.org

For the right person, a gift of learning can mean even more than a gift wrapped in a box. This is where Petoskey’s Crooked Tree Arts Center or Traverse City’s Artcenter can make their appearances on your holiday gift list. Do you know an artistic type who just needs a little push in the right direction? Try gifting them a class in pastel landscapes, figure drawing, glass painting, clay art or even super heroes drawing. Artcenter also offers a series of winter/ spring lectures on a wide range of artistic topics and Crooked Tree Arts Center boasts a plethora of workshops, plus a culinary arts series.

Memberships to either art center are also available as gifts (starting at just $35 for Crooked Tree and $40 for Artcenter Traverse City), which include discounts, invitations and the opportunity to meet like-minded fellow artists.

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