Customer "Art at Home" Contest!

We're looking to add a section on our website to show customer snapshots of art and craft in their home, purchased from our shop.

Every entry will receive a $10 Valerie's Gallery gift certificate AND a chance to win a $50 restaurant gift certificate.

Ideas for what we're thinking of:
* Did you redo your kitchen or bath cabinets or furniture with the glassknobs?
* Did you hang two or three Matthew Smith prints together on a wall?
* Did you hang a large piece of art over a fireplace?
* Do you use a ceramic bowl as a centerpiece for a tabletop?
* Do you use a mousepad at your desk?
* Did you hang a hot air balloon or Salamandra Glass rondell in a special window?

We'd love to have your pictures on our website. It's great to see how customers use what they purchase in their home settings.

For your privacy, only your first name and town will be included on the web page.

Please email your pictures to: vgcontests@gmail.com -- Deadline: December 10, 2008

Have you hugged your mug today?

Hand Warmer Mugs are here! If you have been looking for these mugs and appreciate their "warm" design, rest assured they can be purchased once again in Newburyport. (They were carried by both Newburyport Candle & Mug and Hog on Ice Gallery before they closed.) Clay in Motion in Oregon makes these wonderful mugs with their copyrighted design of a slip in handle that keeps your fingers toasty warm while drinking your cocoa or coffee. Try one out; also available in a leftie version.

New! Lauren Pollaro earrings

We've just received our first order of earrings by Lauren Pollaro. Lauren is a member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen and makes intricate collage earrings, some with just papers and others with silver, copper and gold-filled metal. She is an accomplished artist and designer and I'm excited to carry her work here. Her background in fine arts and graphic design led her originally to strike out on her own with a line of greeting cards with collages. At a show, many years ago, she made a simple pin from one of the collages and her jewelry has taken off every since.

Happy Halloween!

In Newburyport, we had a fun time with all the oh-so-cute trick or treaters who came by! On Halloween afternoon, downtown merchants and restaurants hosted this traditional Halloween activity for families. Pictured are employee Diane with her crazy glasses, and gloves. And little Kalla Lively and her friend Wyatt, and then a group of masked children. We had such a great with all the children!