Celebrating 10 Years

It's hard to believe we opened our doors 10 whole years ago.  Where has the time gone?  And I know for sure I personally haven't aged that much.  These rites of passage seem to lend themselves to some strolls down memory lane, so here we go.

Before opening our gallery, I was busy making jewelry and selling it at every opportunity possible - at craft fairs, farmer's markets, trade shows, through sales reps, and online.  It is rather exhausting work, but it definitely had its rewards.  But I was getting weary of lugging a tent around every weekend, only to be at the whim of the weather.  And we all know, we NEVER get rain here in Seattle....

But in the meantime, I had made many new artist friends.  Friends who made all kinds of beautiful things like pottery, glass, silk scarves, candles, and other kinds of jewelry.  I realized it was time to open up my own permanent art show!  Besides, I was fully devoted to helping others surround themselves with beauty and creativity.  What better way to do so?

Arizona artist Scott Johnson

And thus began the journey.  We started out representing only artists from Washington State.  But there are so many lovely things made in other states, that eventually I couldn't resist.  We now have works by over 100 artists.  About half are from Washington, and the other half come from other states, as well as two from Canada.

Manya in clothes from Bellingham

We have also expanded our wearable art selections, especially lately.  If you know me at all, you know I loves clothes.  I suppose it was inevitable that I'd find it irresistable to expand in that way.  We've had scarves, jackets, shawls and wraps for quite a few years now.  But this year, I got to add two new lines of my favorite type of clothing to wear - comfortable, attractive, drapey, and washable.  Just doesn't get any better than that!  One line from Bellingham enjoys eco-friendly fabrics.  Her T-shirts are a blend of organic cotton and a soy protein fiber - also known as the cashmere of the vegetable world.  They are the softest T-shirts in my closet.  And so pretty, too!  Her "posh pants" are organic cotton and hemp, and are very good looking and extremely comfortable.  I have to force myself to wear something else from time to time!

So here's to another 10 years!  Who knows how we'll grow and develop in that time frame.  It certainly is remarkable to think that when we opened in 2000, the economy was so rosy.  Then 9/11 happened, and the market for art shriveled up so much.  It sort of leveled out, but has never been as easy as we've heard other gallery-owners describe in the pre-9/11 years.  Now we're struggling through a recession, and doing our best to offer affordable, colorful, unique items in a very wide price range.  In fact, over the past 18 months we've increased the number of things under $40 quite a bit.  You should see our choices under $20!

Well, I'm sure I'll have more musings along these lines over the next few days, so stay tuned...

Manya

November 2010

ManyaVeeSelects.com

Through the eyes of a child

A few days ago, I was treated to a visit by someone soon to turn the ripe old age of 3.  Her parents were letting their dog drink water at our water dish out front, and she poked her head in the door.  Everything about her body showed she was really dying to come inside and see things.  But, well-behaved child that she is, she knew to wait for permission.

Soon enough it came from mom, who entered with her.  Oh, her eyes were simply not big enough to take everything in!  She was dazzled by all the beautiful things around her.  It was a sight to behold!  She walked forward, completely mesmerized by everything, until something right at her height - a lovely red lantern - caused her to lay down on the floor in front of it to admire it at greater length.

And I repeat, this is a well-behaved child.  She was far enough away from the lamp so as not to even be within arms reach of it.  But my, oh, my was she in love with that lamp!  It captured her attention for nearly a full 2 minutes!

Then she was up and at it again, wandering slowly, taking everything in as if she were drinking the most delicious milk she'd ever tasted in her life.  This time, a group of mosaic candle cups stole her attention, as she stood before them, hands carefully crossed in front of her.  The wonder in her eyes at all the lovely colors, and details, and composition, and sparkle were nearly too much to take in all at once.

I was finally treated to some original artwork by Miss Caroline in our booklet - its the one on the front counter where we invite folks to sign up for our emails.  With mom's help, she signed it! 

It was a marvelous reminder to look at the world with wondering eyes, with curiosity, and with astonishment at the bounty of beauty that surrounds us!  Thank you, Miss Caroline, for that very pleasant reminder.  And know that you are a welcome visitor to my shop any time!

Manya Vee
ManyaVeeSelects.com

Win - win - win - win!

It's such fun when something new comes to the gallery.  Today, on a dreary and wet Monday, the entire place got livened up by a delivery from Edmonds artist Amy Vakontios and her Sagapo candles.  You already know that we like win-win situations quite a bit.  Well, Amy's candles are sort of a win-win-win-win and keep winning deal.

First off, she uses palm wax, which is a renewable resource.  It's not paraffin, which is derived from fossil fuels.  Paraffin candles are the ones that make black spots on the ceiling above where they've been lit.  But not palm wax, no!  It burns cleanly and wonderfully.

Next "win" on the list are the fragrances Amy uses.  Not one to scrimp here, Amy uses the highest quality fragrances available for use with candles.  She knows a lot about this from first-hand experience, because she used to work for the only perfumery in Washington state, which provided lots of fragrances for the entire candle industry.  Talk about first-hand experience.  Because of this, her fragrances have very little solvent in them, so the scent comes through in a more pure form - not laced with chemicals.  This is much nicer to breathe, I can assure you.

Another "win" is that Amy painstakingly tests each candle to make sure the best possible wick is used.  So I asked her the other day just how many wick options are out there.  She said over 200!  Who knew?!?  So much for my one-day candle-making class taken years ago when I learned that there were maybe 2 kinds of wick.  Amy tests them to make sure the wick she uses with a particular wax in a particular shape will burn all the way to the edge and make the best use of every millimeter of wax available!  Waste not, want not...

But wait!  There's more!  Purchasing a candle made by Amy, an Edmonds artist, from Manya Vee Selects, an Edmonds business, means making the most of your spending money by infusing it right back into the community.  I'm sure you've heard it already, but shopping at the mall sends most of your money far away from here.  Shopping locally keeps 68 cents of each dollar in our area.  Shopping at Manya Vee Selects keeps about 80 cents or more here because you are supporting (1) Manya Vee Selects and (2) a local artist.

So there you have it!  Respect the earth! Make your home smell great! Improve our local economy!  It just doesn't get any better than that.

By the way, Amy's candles are available on our website too: Sagapo Candles

Manya
manyaveeselects.com