Best Brand Without A Storefront!

A few months ago, I was perusing the Columbus Alive's "Best of Columbus" voting section online - it's a survey that lets readers vote on the best things about our city - from nightlife to shopping to food. I was glancing through the "shopping" section to see if anyone I know was nominated (I'm lucky to know so many creative and talented folks with independent, entrepreneurial spirits!), and then I saw it.

The "Best Brand Without A Storefront" category.

Stinkybomb Soap was nominated. My friend Megan makes amazing hand-poured soaps in all kinds of fun molds!

Poshta Stationery & Design was nominated. Another friend, Liz, designs greeting cards, notecards, buttons and many other types of paper-related goodies.

And then I looked at the next name: Sweet Stella Designs! Holy crap! I was nominated for a Best of Columbus award! I found out from the survey even before I received the official email about my nomination later that day.

So, of course, I asked my friends and family and co-workers to vote for me. Only one vote per IP address was allowed - and I wasn't sure I was going to win because, in all honesty, I was up against some pretty awesome competitors. I wasn't going to mind too much if I didn't win, as long as one of my crafty friends did.

After the voting closed at the beginning of March, it was time to play the waiting game. And then I got that coveted email - I WON!! But I had to keep it a secret until the Best of Columbus issue came out at the end of March.

You can read the little blurb from the Alive here.

And here is my little plaque - I guess I get bragging rights now?!

Big thanks to everyone who voted for me! It's so nice to feel loved.

Whirlwind January

January was an insanely busy start to the new year!

At the beginning of the month, Bitter/Sweet (showing my work along with works by fellow artist Linda Diec) opened at the Ohio Art League Gallery. It was my first gallery show that wasn't in a retail shop, restaurant, or at Junctionview Studios - so I was really excited! I worked so hard creating brand new work for the show.

Bitter/Sweet received some excellent press - including a shout-out in the Alive's winter arts calendar and a full-length feature article in the Columbus Dispatch.

In early January, I was also working on rallying the troops to vote for me in the GCAC's Columbus Arts Festival commemorative print competition (see previous blog post for more info). To my delight, I won the poster contest - and my design will be featured as a print to purchase

in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Columbus Arts Festival.

That very same week, my Sweet Stella Designs jewelry line was featured in the Style section of the Columbus Alive - and some close-up shots of my Tiny Treats necklaces were even included on the splash page of the print version of the paper.

You can read the article online HERE.

And in other Sweet Stella Design news: my jewelry is now available at 3 new retail locations: Magpie (Somerville MA), Anthology (Madison WI), and the Glitter Workshop (Madison, WI).

Thanks, Columbus ALIVE!

One great thing about the Dispatch and the Columbus ALIVE is the value they place on DIY & locally-produced items. I think the editors and writers have taken note that people are interested in the do-it-yourself mentality and prefer to buy items that are hand-made or created in Columbus.

This week's issue features holiday gift guides and in addition to my jewelry being featured (in relation to my Holiday Hop Trunk Show @ What The Rock on December 6th), some very fabulous folks also got shout-outs in the 20 for $20 Gift Guide, including WTR, Poshta Designs, Yumi Yumi, Tandi's Glass, Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream, Umbrella Girl Productions, Skreened, Wholly Craft & Tigertree, to name a few.

Hooray!

Artisan Sundays Blogged!

There was a little write-up about North Market's Artisan Sundays in the Retail Therapy blog (part of the Columbus ALIVE)!
I feel special because I wan mentioned as a favorite! I guess the nickname is "Sweet Stella" now: maybe "Sweet Stella Designs" is too much to type out, haha. Patrice, Anne, Chris and Adrienne also got shout-outs. Also mentioned were Lisa's Paperdoll and Starfish Designs, who I haven't yet had the chance to meet. Lisa's Paperdoll was one of the Columbus City Sampler contributors.

Here's another Artisan Sundays article from Columbus CityScene.