MaJe Gallery: made in USA

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Sunday, May 24, 2015

Wedding Gifts They'll Cherish

Choosing a great wedding gift can take some thought. Yes, picking something from their registry is helpful and all, but it won't be something they'll remember you by.

Here are some out-of-the-box ideas to help you select a wedding gift they'll cherish they're whole life together. The best part is they'll always think of you whenever they use it!

A mosaic mirror is for an extra special gift. The mosaic frame suits a modest budget

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Seattle's Angie Heinrich studied mosaic-making with masters in Italy and Spain. The craftsmanship she applies to her mosaics is very high. Shown here is a lovely oval mirror measuring 22" x 18". Easy to hang with a picture wire on the back. This one features brick red and golden tiles - perfect for homes with warm colors. Other colors and sizes are also available - just email me with ideas and I'll send pictures for you to review.

If your budget is more modest, check out the gorgeous silver picture frame on the right. It holds a 6" x 4" photo - perfect for their favorite wedding portrait. A great gift at $62. Other colors also available - just ask.

Bud vases of copper and steel between glass

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The ancient technique of fusing metal between two pieces of glass is brought into the 21st century by Charlton Glassworks. Here we see elegant simplicity in a trio of bud vases that were created by fusing pieces of copper and steel between the glass. When copper is heated up to fuse the glass together, wonderful colors like burgundy, purple, brick and black come out in a beautiful array that's never the same twice. The steel turns a shiny black.

Due to the simple style, this design works well in nearly any home decorating style. For a special couple, get the trio. For someone less beloved or a more modest budget, just choose one.

Mid-Century inspired fused glass trays

For various reasons, you may not wish to spend a large amount on a wedding gift. Never fear! Here are some great options starting at $20.

At top left we have an original acrylic painting (this is NOT a reproduction), "Colors of Love", by Julie Terrell. For a couple who loves color, this is a wonderful gift, and easy to place, measuring 10" x 10".

At top right we have a delightful pair of Everyday Drinking Glasses, perfect for milk, orange juice, water, or whatever you want. At just $20 for a pair, that's a gift they'll use every day! Sorry, but this item is SOLD OUT.

At the lower left we have three choices of the elegant yet fun beaded salad sets by Chantal Trandafir. These are the three most popular color choices because they go with so many different types of plateware.

At lower right, a charming oil or vinegar bottle features a fused glass heart. Celebrate their love for each other and their love of cooking with this simple, elegant gift. This particular oil/vinegar bottle is SOLD OUT, but many other options are available. Let me send you images.

Of course, we have many more options in the gallery, but this gives you some fun ideas to contemplate as you plan for your weddings this summer.

Hope to see you soon,
Manya and Jeff

Saturday, July 27, 2013

5 Simple Ways to Wear a Scarf

A scarf can turn mere clothing into an OUTFIT! Add a scarf to a T-shirt and jeans, and voila! Outfit. Add a scarf to a skirt and top, and voila! Outfit.

Let's take a look at 5 simple ways to accomplish that.

We're going to take a black skirt and black top - a staple in every woman's wardrobe. It's quite fine all by itself. But look how much pizzazz a simple scarf can add to it!

1. Tie the ends and wear it long around your neck.

We're using a 74" long scarf that's 20" wide. It's a gorgeous silk chiffon, so very sheer and lightweight. The black background ties it in beautifully with the black outfit, yet the brightly colored butterflies and flowers create a cheerful vision. (Don't worry - there's a chance to purchase this one-of-a-kind scarf at the end of this blog).

To accomplish this look, simply tie a knot into each end of the scarf, and put it around your neck. Let the long ends hang down freely in front. Easy-peasy!

2. Loop the scarf once around your neck, and let the ends fall freely on each side.

For this effect, loop the scarf once around your neck, and pull it down a bit so it creates a bit of a drape, like a cowl-neck top. Then simply let the ends fall freely on each side of the cowl.

One can see more of the scarf with this, since it opens it up more than our first example. Isn't that a pretty scarf?

3. Put both ends of the scarf through a loop around your neck.

To achieve this look, before putting the scarf on, fold it in half the long way. You now have a loop in one hand, and two ends in the other.

Put it behind your neck. Put the two ends through the loop. Make it as tight or loose as you wish.

This is a very common way to wear a scarf. It creates a charming assymetrical look, which is especially nice on top of a solid color, like this black.

4. The Twist!

This effect begins the same way as #3. Before putting the scarf around your neck, fold it in half length-wise. Now you have a loop in one hand, and two ends in the other.

Put the scarf around your neck while holding the loop and ends, one in each hand.

Now, rather than putting BOTH ends through the loop, just put ONE end through. Continue holding the loop. Let go of the end.

Give the loop a half-twist, so you now have a NEW loop. Put the second end through this new loop.

This is a particularly pretty look, and it lays flatter against the body than the look of #3. For a video on how to achieve this, check out our previous blog post.

5. Wear it as a belt!

Wrap it around your waist and wear it as a belt or sash! Doesn't it change the mood of this outfit totally? Simply wrap it around the waist, and make a SINGLE loop to "tie" it closed.

A double loop make a big lump, and isn't very attractive. A single loop should do the trick.

If the scarf you choose is on the slippery side, you can keep the tie in place with a pin.

Now, if you've fallen in love with this scarf, and have to have it, here is your chance! Check out this close-up view of the design:

It is a sheer chiffon scarf, measuring 74" long x 20" wide. It is 100% silk. It has a black background with red poppy-like flowers with yellow centers. Various butterflies in purple, yellow and green flutter around the flowers so beguilingly. It's a one-of-a-kind scarf.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

What is Contemporary Fine Craft?

Guest blogger Rani Richardson posted this excellent response to a question we frequently get at MaJe Gallery too. Rani owns a gallery featuring all handmade in America products, made by artisans all across America. Her gallery is called Random Acts of Art. Isn't that a great name?

Here's how she answered that question: What is contemporary fine craft?

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That is a question I frequently get asked, and it's a hard one to answer. When I say that I have a contemporary craft gallery people mostly ignore the word gallery and assume I have a store that sells scrap booking and knitting supplies. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against scrap bookers and knitters (some of them are my best friends), but it's not what I do. I've searched the internet for a definition of contemporary crafts. Most of what I found was extremely limited or so esoteric as to not make any sense. Now, I'm not promising to make any sense, but I'll do my best.

The things I look for in contemporary crafts and craft artists are:

1.Utility---Not everything that is contemporary crafts is functional, but most can trace its roots back to something that was (or still is) a part of everyday life. A perfect example of this would be blown glass. The work of Dale Chihuly is in no way utilitarian. It was never meant to be anything other than beautiful and decorative. Yet, you can trace the roots of glassblowing back thousands of years in the making of drinking glasses, bowls, windows, and more.

2. Vision---The ability to see something in a common object that wasn't readily visible to others. When you see a piece of scrap wood, do you see fuel for a fireplace or do you see the figure of an angel with something to say? When you see an old muffler, do you see something to throw away or do you see the body of a dog?

3. Mark of the Hand---Contemporary craft should show that it was made by a person, with skill and care. Even when something is made with the most cutting edge machinery, it should still show something of the artist in it.

My description of contemporary craft is by no means definitive. Some people will disagree with it totally. Some will say it is too broad. Some will say it's too vague. I challenge them to come up with their own definition (it's not as easy as you think.) These are just the guidelines I use for choosing work for my gallery. After that, it just comes down to what I love. And even then I've been known to throw the rules out the window for something I truly love!

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Thanks, Rani, for offering this definition. We definitely use those concepts when choosing work for our gallery too.

What about you, dear readers? What do you think? Let us know in the comments, or with an email directly to us at info@majegallery.com!

Jeff and Manya

MaJeGallery.com