VIX Emporium

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas. Schedule Changes. MAY FAIR in Clark Park. Terrarium Workshop.

vixemporium — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:51:50 +0000

This Saturday, May 12 is the annual May Fair in Clark Park, presented by the Spruce Hill Community Association. There will be art and craft vendors, food trucks, children’s activities and a raffle of prizes & gift certificates donated by local businesses, including VIX. We will have a booth there too, with an assortment of our wares and West Philly gifts, so please stop by if you go to the May Fair. It is in the southern section of the park, near the “Bowl”, from 10am to 4pm.

Please note: the shop will be open from 11am to 4pm, closing early in order to break down our booth after the Fair. So, if you need any last-minute Mother’s Day gifts, please keep that in mind. (There are a few suggestions to follow.)

One more scheduling note: VIX will be closed Friday, May 25 and Saturday, May 26 for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Click the picture to register for the workshop.

On Saturday, May 19, we welcome back Beth Richey for another terrarium workshop! She will help us go to our happy places, as she likes to refer to her whimsical terrariums. Terrariums are low-maintenance plant ecosystems under glass. Create your own little world with wild-gathered moss, water, and pretend inhabitants. Paint your own happy little residents that Beth makes out of clay, or choose from an assortment of other miniatures. The $15 fee includes instruction, moss, some decorations and other necessary materials. Bring your own jar with a tight-fitting lid, no more than 6″ diameter. We will also have a few jars available for purchase at the workshop, as well as special discounts on handmade miniature glass animals in stock at VIX.

The 1pm workshop is full; we are now accepting registrations for the 2pm session. Please click here to register online, or stop by the shop. Pre-registration is required.

If you are still searching for the perfect gift for a Mom in your life, please consider some of the unique, handmade selections that can be found at VIX. Here are just a few suggestions, created by some of our wonderfully talented artisans…

Screenprinted wall mirror, tote or kitchen towel by Kaye Rachelle Designs

A small photo of you, framed in Amy B’s laser-cut “Polaroid” pin or necklace

Organic soaps, moisturizing butters, bath salts and other all-natural skin care products by Volta Organics

Architectural block print or note card by Suzanne Francis

“West Philly is the Best Philly” tee or tote bag, commissioned from local tattoo artist Justin Turkus

Handmade beeswax tapers by West Philly-based Mellifera Candles

Jewelry punched from the covers of discarded books, by Overdue Industries

Bright, vividly colored artwork by Pragya Kothari

A living air plant ornament by KellyAnne Mifflin

A diminutive vintage locket in silver or gold, collected and repurposed by Cosmic Girl

Herb garden markers, cast in porcelain by Melissa Crotty

Vibrantly colored wheel-thrown pottery by Jason Silverman

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and mother figures out there.
All the best from West Philly,
Emily, Sean and Nora

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Corina’s cards are back! Portable Fortitude 54-card deck, illustrated by Corina Dross.

vixemporium — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:23:17 +0000

Now in its third printing, Portable Fortitude, the brilliantly illustrated 54-card deck by the illuminated Corina Dross, is back in stock.

This time, she worked with Philly favorites Fireball Printing, who did a great job on this unusual request. Stop by and pick one up for good luck.

Checklist for GO WEST! Craft Fest

vixemporium — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:58:59 +0000

Saturday’s weather is supposed to be lovely, and the cherry trees and dogwoods are in full bloom. What perfect surroundings for a Craft Fest!

Here are some things to remember that might help make the most of your day at GO WEST! Craft Fest.

SEPTA tokens. The Fest is right across from the 40th Street trolley portal, served by the 12, 13, 34 and 36 trolleys. Hop on any westbound “Green Line” subway/surface car from Center City (EXCEPT the 10) and arrive in minutes.
Comfortable shoes. While the Fest is conveniently close to the entrance, visitors may choose to explore farther into the 54-acre grounds and even tour the Hamilton Mansion, a grand example of 18th century neoclassical architecture. William Hamilton, an avid botanist, collected and planted dozens of various trees on the estate, many of which are now some of our nation’s oldest and largest specimens, thriving among the monuments for over 30 thousand eternal Philadelphians. Stroll the winding paths and see for yourself.
Your Gift List. Our talented vendors make a huge variety of products, like jewelry, clothing, accessories, fine art, cards, toys, candles, teas and more, even honey produced right there on the grounds of the Woodlands. Keep in mind your loved ones’ birthdays, weddings, graduations and other gift-giving occasions like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Your unique GO WEST! gift will be fondly remembered because it was made with love and care by a local artisan.
Cash. Some of our vendors do accept credit cards, but there is a good chance that the irresistible treasure you discover can be had for cash only and may not be seen again (even at VIX). The closest ATM is at Mill Creek Tavern, 4200 Chester Avenue.
A Picnic Lunch and Blanket. The Woodlands is a perfect place for a picnic, but keep in mind that besides Black Orchid‘s vegan specialties, there will be no prepared food available at the event. Pack a bag or stop by on your way to get a banh mi from Fu Wah, a chaat from Desi Chaat, or something yummy from Milk & Honey, Best House, Green Line or any of the other fine food establishments on Baltimore Avenue. The closest food/beverage availability is Starbucks, 4140 Woodland.
A child, who will have tons of fun singing and playing music with Jay Sand of All Around This World at 1pm, and be mesmerized by fancy juggling tricks and trapeze artists.
A camera, to capture memories of a perfect spring day, the flowering trees, historic monuments, and the dazzling aerial feats that TinyCircus will perform at 3pm!
Your senses of curiosity, creativity and wonder, and enough time to experience the day. Hope to see you there!

GO WEST! Craft Fest, and a Terrarium Workshop in May

vixemporium — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:05:29 +0000

The time is drawing near – GO WEST! Craft Fest is this weekend! It’s Saturday April 14, 11-5 at The Woodlands, 40th & Woodland, with a rain date of Sunday the 15th. If you’re not familiar with the Woodlands, it’s an amazing place, a historic cemetery and lovely green space, truly one of West Philly’s sweetest spots. The Fest will be on the lawn near the entrance, set apart from the actual cemetery. (See photo below.)

Find unique, handcrafted wares like jewelry, ceramics, clothing, accessories, home accents, edibles, knitted & crocheted items, cards & paper goods, all-natural soaps & bodycare, terrariums, teas, toys and more, all made locally by fifty of Philly’s finest artisans. For a preview of what’s in store, check out the vendor list. There’s also a Pinterest board featuring some of our vendors’ fine work.

Plus: live entertainment! Old-timey bluegrass favorites Sour Mash will perform in the afternoon (time TBA). Jay Sand of All Around This World will do an interactive kids’ set of music from many nations at 1 pm. TinyCircus by Tangle will trapeze among the trees at 3 pm, and there will be random acts of juggling throughout the day.

Visitors may stroll the 54-acre grounds of the Woodlands and tour the 18th century neoclassical mansion, once home to botanist William Hamilton (grandson of Andrew Hamilton, the original “Philadelphia lawyer”). He collected and planted hundreds of trees on the Hamilton estate, and those that have survived the years are now some of our nation’s oldest living specimens. (WHYY’s Newsworks produced a recent video featuring some notable examples, including some very rare elms.) The Woodlands is also the eternal resting place of over 30,000 Philadelphians, including such notable figures as architect Paul Philippe Cret (1876-1945), financier Francis Martin Drexel (1792-1863), artist Thomas Eakins (1844-1916), abolitionist Mary Grew (1813-96), and surgeon Samuel Gross (1805-84).

We hope to see you there on the 14th. Weather reports are promising so far, so here’s hoping for a fine day of fun!

Click the picture to register for the workshop.

The workshop is at 1pm on Saturday, May 19 in VIX’s back room, 5009 Baltimore Avenue. If it fills up, we will add a second session at 2pm.

Thanks for reading!
All the best from West Philly,
Emily, Sean and Nora

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West Philly is the Best Philly tee by Justin Turkus

vixemporium — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:00:14 +0000

VIX Emporium • Local Crafts & Artful Gifts • 5009 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19143 • 215-471-7700 • http://vixemporium.com

GO WEST! Craft Fest is April 14, 11-5

vixemporium — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:57:20 +0000

Hello all,
Just a quick note for anyone who couldn’t see the date of the GO WEST! Craft Fest in yesterday’s message, it’s Saturday April 14, 11-5 at The Woodlands, with a rain date of the following day, Sunday the 15th. I accidentally left the date out of the text, it was only visible in an image. So sorry for the mistake!

Also, for any “pinners” out there, there’s a Pinterest board for the Fest, to show some examples of our talented vendors’ fine work. Happy pinning!

All the best from West Philly,
Emily, Sean and Nora

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New Location for GO WEST! Craft Fest, New West Philly Gifts

vixemporium — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:40:03 +0000

We are thrilled to announce that our Spring show will now be held at The Woodlands, one of West Philly’s most special spots. Located where Baltimore, Chester & Woodland Avenues and 40th Street meet, this “historic mansion, cemetery and landscape” is a 54-acre natural green space, popular with joggers, dog walkers and history buffs, as well as the final resting place of over 30 thousand Philadelphians since 1840. (Yes, it is a cemetery, but it is important to note that the Fest will be NEXT TO rather than IN that part of the grounds.)

This is our biggest show yet, with FIFTY of Philly’s finest artists and crafters purveying their wares, like jewelry, clothing, screen prints, home accents, fine art, toys, cards, accessories, soaps, candles, terrariums and more.

There will be live entertainment as well… Jay Sand of All Around This World will do a kid’s music set at 1 pm, Tiny Circus will perform aerial feats at 3 pm, and there will be random acts of juggling throughout the day. Face painting for kids, too!

As we mentioned, the Craft Fest is in a space that is set apart from the cemetery, so show-goers need not encounter any grave sites if they don’t wish to. More intrepid visitors may stroll around the grounds and view historic grave markers and monuments, including notables such as architect Paul Philippe Cret (1876-1945), financier Francis Martin Drexel (1792-1863), artist Thomas Eakins (1844-1916), abolitionist Mary Grew (1813-96), surgeon Samuel Gross (1805-84), and Commodore David Porter (1780-1843). The elegant 18th century mansion, once owned by botanist William Hamilton (grandson of Andrew Hamilton, the original “Philadelphia lawyer”), will also be open for tours. His former estate is now the home of some of our state’s stateliest trees, including a handful of Pennsylvania champion specimens, some originally collected by Hamilton himself. If the weather’s nice, why not bring a picnic lunch and relax under one of them?

Perhaps an explanation of the venue change is necessary. Our first choice of location was Cedar Park, where we had last year’s Spring and late Summer shows. However, this year, the city has introduced much stricter regulations and high fees for city park event permits. So, we looked for other alternatives and found a great one. Even though it isn’t as close to VIX, we are really excited and lucky to be having our event at the Woodlands, a gorgeous, green and historically significant site. If you haven’t been there before, you should visit sometime!

There are a few spots remaining for vendors, who may apply by emailing {gowestcraftfest@gmail.com} with details about themselves and their work. More details for prospective vendors can be found here.

West Philly residents know that there is a concrete turtle who has lived in Clark Park for decades, both before and after the park’s recent renovation. Generations of West Philly’s youngsters have climbed on and under his sturdy shell. We have turned him into a huggable soft pillow toy, a great souvenir of a West Philly childhood.

Measuring almost 18 inches nose to tail, Clark is made of sturdy 100% cotton fabric, stuffed with polyfill and stitched together with our trusty 1950s Kenmore (purchased at a yard sale at 46th & Springfield). Clark is available for sale here and at the Emporium.

Our newest image is now on a T-shirt! Printed by a local shop on 100% organic cotton tees, we have most sizes in stock and the rest will arrive within a couple of weeks, along with the market tote bags, in plenty of time for the Craft Fest.

We commissioned our neighbor, tattoo artist Justin Turkus, to draw this image for us. The phrase “West Philly is the Best Philly” has been rolling around in our heads for a while, ever since we saw the comment on this post on our blog in 2009. It’s my favorite image yet, featuring fancy hand-calligraphed script and two sweet birds carrying a banner.

We have also replenished our stock of West Philly “Baltimore 34″ tees in Youth sizes, which have been out for a while. Get yours now for spring and summer!

Thanks for reading. Hope to see you at GO WEST!

All the best from West Philly,
Emily, Sean and Nora

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Introducing “CLARK”!

vixemporium — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:34:58 +0000

“…in West Philadelphia born and raised, on the playground is where I spent most of my days”…
-Will Smith

Clark is a huggable, squeezable pillow version of the concrete turtle who lives in Clark Park, between 43rd & 44th, Baltimore and Chester Avenue. It has been there for decades, I wonder how long exactly? Luckily, it has survived the recent park renovation, to be climbed on and hidden under by many future generations of West Philadelphians.

We photographed it, manipulated the image and tinted it blue, had multiples printed (by an online service) on sturdy 100% cotton twill, cut them out, backed them with wavy-striped 100% cotton calico in earth tones, stitched them up with our trusty 1950s Kenmore (purchased from a yard sale at 46th & Springfield) and stuffed them with new poly fiberfill.

Great for all ages, Clark is a perfect gift for a Tot Lot buddy or a unique souvenir from West Philly.

Measures about 17.5 inches from nose to tail.

$20 in the shop, $22 online.

Charm Your Valentine, Custom Jewelry Party and Trunk Show with Sultana Aschim

vixemporium — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:44:40 +0000

One of Sultana Aschim’s fabulous one-of-a-kind charm necklaces

Do you have a small memento you would like to turn into something interesting, instead of hiding it in the back of a drawer or a jewelry box? Perhaps it is a lock of a loved one’s hair, a souvenir pressed penny, a bead, a button, the mate to a lost earring, a baby tooth, a beach pebble or shell from a fondly remembered vacation, or even a paper cookie fortune or love note. Next Thursday, you can bring it to VIX, and Sultana Aschim of Sultana Maria Jewelry will create a custom charm necklace with it.

Sultana, a graduate of Arcadia University’s Metalworking program and daughter of an antiques specialist, creates bold mixed-media jewelry with a distinctive vintage-bohemian aesthetic. To make your custom charm necklace, she will drill a hole in your item (if necessary) or seal it inside a small glass vial, and attach it to your choice of chain. Optional elements from her amazing collection of vintage charms, raw mineral crystals, handmade copper hearts and other wonderments can be added, to create a unique and personal piece for you or a loved one. You can also create your own piece using only her components, without bringing your own. She will also bring her full array of finished jewelry to use as design inspiration or to purchase as-is, with many pieces reduced 50%.

Sultana will be here from 5 to 8 pm, Thursday, February 9. Refreshments and libations will be served. We hope you can join us for this very special event!

Stay tuned for more special events in 2012, like craft workshops, demonstrations, trunk shows, and…

Mark your calendar and save the date – GO WEST! Craft Fest is back for Spring 2012! Over 40 of Philly’s finest art and craft vendors will show their wares in Cedar Park, 50th & Baltimore, across from VIX Emporium. Jewelry, clothing, screen prints, home accents, fine art, toys, cards, accessories, soaps and more can all be found at the Fest.

We’ll also have live entertainment, like children’s music with Jay Sand of All Around This World and even a juggler! We’re working on more fun stuff too and will announce the details as they become available.

Vendors may apply now by emailing {gowestcraftfest@gmail.com} with details about themselves and their work. More details for prospective vendors can be found here.

Thanks for reading and happy Valentine’s Day!
All the best from West Philly,
Emily, Sean and Nora

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Charm Your Valentine: Custom Jewelry Party

vixemporium — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:45:56 +0000

***Please note schedule change: this event has been moved to Thursday, February 9, 5-8 pm.***

Create a one-of-a-kind charm necklace with Sultana Aschim of Sultana Maria Jewelry. Sultana, a graduate of Arcadia University’s Metalworking program, designs free-spirited pieces with a distinctively bohemian aesthetic.

Bring your own keepsakes, like coins, shells, stones, love notes or other small artifacts, and Sultana will compose them into a unique statement necklace. She will drill them (if necessary) or seal them inside a tiny glass vial, attach them to your choice of chain, and add (optional) elements from her extensive selection of mineral crystals, handmade copper hearts, vintage charms, prisms, bullets, feathers and more. Prices range $20-40 depending on the number of components.

You may also create a custom necklace using only her materials without bringing your own.

Or, just choose from her wide array of finished jewelry, including selected pieces at 50% off.

Refreshments and libations will be served. Thursday, February 9, 5-8 pm at VIX Emporium.

Preview examples of Sultana’s work: http://sultanamaria.com/

VIX Emporium

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas. Schedule Changes. MAY FAIR in Clark Park. Terrarium Workshop.

May Fair in Clark Park this Saturday, and some Changes to the Hours.

Happy Places: A Terrarium Workshop, May 19

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 13.

Corina’s cards are back! Portable Fortitude 54-card deck, illustrated by Corina Dross.

Checklist for GO WEST! Craft Fest

GO WEST! Craft Fest, and a Terrarium Workshop in May

This Saturday: GO WEST! Craft Fest

Happy Places: A Terrarium Workshop, May 19

West Philly is the Best Philly tee by Justin Turkus

GO WEST! Craft Fest is April 14, 11-5

New Location for GO WEST! Craft Fest, New West Philly Gifts

GO WEST! Craft Fest’s New Location: The Woodlands!

Introducing Clark, the Clark Park turtle!

New T-Shirt: “West Philly is the Best Philly”!

Introducing “CLARK”!

Charm Your Valentine, Custom Jewelry Party and Trunk Show with Sultana Aschim

Custom Jewelry Making with Sultana Aschim, Thursday 2/9

…the GO WEST! Craft Fest, April 14, 2012

Charm Your Valentine: Custom Jewelry Party