Creative Genius Art Gallery & Studio

Creative Possibilities....

2012-01-27T12:51:00.000-05:00

Greetings from Creative Genius Art Gallery & Studio!

Apparently I needed the month of January, just to get my head back above water after a busy 2011 holiday season. I have spent this month gathering a host of different events and programs, all coming up on our schedule for your winter entertainment over the next few months. We want to present our clients with lots of options to explore their own inner creative genius!

Starting out on Feb 2nd is Ladies Night, an open house event from 6-9pm. Come win prizes, socialize, enjoy light refreshments and update your wish list gift registry in time for Valentine's Day. Special guest Susan Drummond from NJBalance Wellness Center will be providing discounted angel card readings for attendees.

On Feb 11th, we've got a special couples event for Valentine's Day...GHOST NIGHT COUPLES POTTERY WORKSHOP. Sign up with your significant other for a fun evening workshop from 6-8:30pm. Enjoy light refreshments (you can even BYOB ) and learn hand-building and wheel-throwing. To register call Julie at 609-714-1131.

All kinds of other workshops are happening over the next few months too for both kids and adults!

Adult Art and Creativity Choices

BELLY DANCING-Feb 8th or Mar 14th

FIGURE DRAWING-Mar 7th or Apr 11th

STAINED GLASS for BEGINNERS-Mar 10th or Apr 14th

FINE CRAFTS 101:The Business of Selling Your Creations-Feb 11th

Adult Jewelry Choices

MEMORIES OF SUMMER JEWELRY WORKSHOP-Feb 25th or Mar 24th or May 5th

THE ART OF SPIRALS JEWELRY WORKSHOP-Feb 18th or Mar 10th or Apr 28th

BEADED WIRE CUFF WORKSHOP-Mar 3rd or Apr 21st

Kid Choices

CLAY CUPCAKE WORKSHOP-Feb 18th or Mar 3rd or Mar 24th

CLAY FUN BREAKFAST WORKSHOP-Feb 18th or Mar 3rd or Mar 24th

CLAY MOOD VASE-Feb 18th or Mar 24th

We're working on some additional choices including:

Chain Maille, Beading Workshops, More Kids Clay Workshops and More!

For more information visit our workshop/special events page on the web

http://www.creativegeniusonline.com/upcoming_events.htm

And of course, our regular weekly classes are always a great way to explore your creativity!

Classes include Digital Photography, Pottery, Painting and Drawing and more!

And if classes aren't what you are into, come check out new fun items from some of our exciting and creative artists:

Shop Local This Holiday Season!

2011-11-03T18:56:00.000-04:00

I was just over on one of my favorite sites and one that I have been a supporter of for quite some time: The 3/50 Project. If you aren't familiar with it, go ahead and check it out.
Here's a link:
The 3/50 Project

This is a national project that has garnered quite a lot of attention in the past few years. I remember the first time I happened upon their site a few years ago and how illuminating I felt their philosophy was. I still agree with the message and truly appreciate all their campaigns throughout the year, all designed to promote local independent businesses of all kinds.

How many businesses that you really liked have closed in the past two years? I can easily say that at least 5 different businesses that I supported regularly have closed in the past two years. Show your support whenever you can. It really is everyone's job to do so and not someone else's job. I can't tell you how many people I run across that tell me they wish they could support more local businesses but things are just too tight right now. Believe me, I get it. Times are tough for a lot of people. But if you read the message behind The 3/50 Project it really is very simple. No one is asking you to spend your life savings to keep a business going. Just support it regularly, even if you make a small purchase every now and then. Stores are not museums that will be there regardless of whether you visit or not. They require our support.

The consequences are great if we all decide not to show support. I know here in the town I am in, the consequences have already been great and more great businesses will have to close if everyone doesn't really start getting out and making that support happen. I hope everyone keeps this in mind this holiday season--I know I will!

Creative Genius in Promotional Video

2011-10-13T17:06:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to report that Creative Genius was one of the locations shown in a locally made video for a candidate for Medford Town Council. The candidate is George Youngkin who is running as an Independent in the upcoming election. He was in last week and we chatted about ways to improve business on Main Street here in Medford, NJ.

After an interesting chat, he and his videographer left and today I saw the video on facebook and recognized my store...nothing like a little extra publicity!
A big thank you to George!

Excited About Local History? We've Got A Photo Workshop for You!

2011-09-24T12:35:00.000-04:00

We've got a great photography workshop program for beginners/intermediates coming up that is perfect for someone interested in getting more into photography and local history.

The workshop program is called STROLLING THROUGH MEDFORD HISTORY and offers two different walking photography tours in Medford Village. Creative Genius is offering this workshop for students who want to learn more about effective composition, creativity, camera details and history all during a fun walking tour. Space is limited to allow each attendee to get the most out of the workshop tour.

Two workshop dates are available and the tour for each one is different.

Tour One is Saturday, October 1st from 9-11:30am

Tour Two is Saturday, November 5th from 9am-11:30am.

Each tour is a modest $ 30 per person which includes all instruction, tour highlights and information.

Pre-registration is required to attend the workshops. For more information, contact Julie at 609-714-1131 or via email at julie@creativegeniusonline.com

INFORMATION FLYER

September is Blueberry Month at Creative Genius...here's why...

2011-09-02T14:22:00.000-04:00

My assistant Reece and I were checking out some holiday websites and came up with a fun idea for our September Sale. We discovered that September is Blueberry Popsicle Month. Naturally that has zero relevance to what we do here at Creative Genius but we molded things to fit what works for us...so Blueberry Popsicle Month turned into a SEPTEMBER BLUE SALE. Clients receive 15% anything BLUE in the gallery for the month of Sept (discounted treasures excluded since they are already on sale).

And on September 20th from 6-9pm we're having BLUEBERRY NIGHT, an open house for those who can't make the sale or those who just want to enjoy some goodies. Blueberry themed baked goods will be the refreshment of the night (and maybe even some blueberry themed beverages too! ). Baked goods will be provided by CARTER CAKE CREATIONS. If you have never tried their baked items, all I can say is YUM!
Blueberries seem like a decent excuse for a sale and an open house, don't they? :)

Trash to Treasure in Upcycling Camp....a unique art camp experience

2011-08-10T16:51:00.000-04:00

This week, I've had the unique experience of helping a great bunch of campers turn a bunch of discarded items into little treasures. They have done an outstanding job of creating in our first Upcycling Camp at Creative Genius. In fact, based on feedback we've received from both children and adults, a few of these projects will be added to our workshop schedule for ADULTS in Fall/Winter 2011-2012...stay tuned for more info soon!

Among the many pieces of junk that have been converted to artistic creations:
Old spools
Keys
Hemp
String
Ribbons
Assorted buttons
old books
bottle caps
water bottles
tape measures
cereal boxes
paper towel rolls
soda tabs
stickers
magazines
newspapers
vintage clippings
old lace
extra sequins
and much much more!

I have to hand it to these kids--they have taken some truly challenging projects and made them their own. Great job, campers!

Blueberry or Cherry?

2011-07-14T16:07:00.000-04:00

The hardest decision made in Clay Camp today? Blueberry or Cherry!

Today's clay camp project was a combination of sculptural and slab work along with lots of practice scoring and slipping. The group created individual pieces of pie. With lots of coaching and direction, each camper made their own little piece of pie on a plate. and then got to the fun part--choosing blueberry or cherry! And once they got to work glazing, their creations really took shape. These pieces are greenware and still need to be fired, clear glazed and fired again. But if they look cool right now, they will look even better when they are shiny!

This year's Clay Camp projects have been really fun...from rattles to vases to wheel pieces to wall hangings, we've covered all the methods of creating in clay and learned a lot too. Everyone has been really focused on creating but also on scoring and slipping so their creations actually make it through the kiln firings and make it home safely.

As usual, Clay Camp here at Creative Genius, which is our 8th Clay Camp, has been a blast. The group this year is fantastic. Not only are the kids creative but they are so well-behaved that I can't believe a good majority of them are under the age of 10. They are an amazing group- very focused and really fun to work with. Awesome job, campers! See you tomorrow morning for the finale of Clay Camp 2011!

The Meaning Behind Spoon Rings...

2011-06-16T14:29:00.000-04:00

Just came across an interesting blog post about spoon rings and wanted to share. The artist who posted is someone we work with at Creative Genius. Her name is Jennifer Northup and she makes wonderful silverware jewelry. Actually her jewelry is like no other silverware jewelry I have ever seen (and in my 8 years working in this industry, I have seen quite a bit!). Her necklaces and rings are welcome additions at Creative Genius and our clients really like how unique her take on silverware jewelry is. Her blog post is below...who would have thought that spoon rings were so romantic?

*****************

The many meanings of Spoon Rings...

Spoon rings originated in 17th century England. There are some things that retain their general meaning across centuries and across oceans. Made from spoons that servants had stolen from their masters’ homes, the rings were used as wedding rings by those who could not afford the “real thing”. Spoon rings still represent the meaning of love and commitment that they once did.

The centuries old Welsh custom of giving "love spoons" meant a would-be suitor gave a spoon to a girl he wished to court. A practice that originated in the 15th century, the suitor often carved the spoon himself or commissioned a spoon. Spoons became very ornate with symbols of love and promise.

Give that special someone that you love a Spoon Ring and let the tradition continue.

*******************
Photos shown ©2010 by George Post for Silver Spoon Jewelry

Keeping Your Creativity Alive

2011-06-08T18:13:00.000-04:00

It's a busy world we live in. People have kids/jobs/spouses/hobbies/chores (and in many cases, all of the above) and it is a real struggle to remain true to oneself and stay in the moment while enjoying one's own spirit of creativity. I have often found myself and many other creative people often need to take time to re-energize their inner selves in order to continue to be as creative as they are fully capable of being. It is a difficult thing to choose to do, especially these days. But it can be done!

I came across a blog from a Brooklyn blogger named Eleanor Traubman about maintaining creativity in the crazy world in which we all live and thought it relevant enough to share some of the highlights. A big thank you to Ms. Traubman of Creative Times, a blog for artists and entrepreneurs.

1. Live simply and live deliberately. By choosing not to get caught up in the details of this fast-paced world, you are doing your part to slow down the . You will also discover that you have more time to enjoy being alive.

2. Stay in touch with yourself. Soul searching, meditation, and journaling are just a few of the many activities you can take part in to stay aware and learn as much as you can about your emotions, reactions, likes, dislikes, dreams, and fears. Having a solid sense of self gives you a firm foundation for living in this world.

3. Support or teach others as often as you can. This can help you form connections with people while also giving you an opportunity to make the world a better place.

4. Consciously choose what you will allow into your being. The media bombards us with visions of hate, war, and pain. Be judicious about what you read, watch, and listen to.

5. Acknowledge the beauty that resides around you. Whether you live in a sprawling metropolis or a stereotypical suburb, there are natural and man-made wonders just waiting to be discovered by you.

6. Nurture your ties to your tribe. If you don’t have one, create a community that you can belong to. Modern life can be isolating. When you have a tribe, you have a circle that you are a part of. Its members – loved ones, friends, or neighbors - can be a source of support, caring, guidance, and companionship.

7. See the larger picture. Remember that the way that you choose to live is not the only way to live. Widen your perspective by exploring other modes of being through research, travel, and discussion.

8.. Embrace the challenges that life presents to you, and challenge yourself often. After a time, even the most exciting jobs or lifestyles can seem routine. Never stop assimilating new knowledge about whatever you are doing, and your life will never seem dull.

9. Move your body. In this busy world, it can be easy to live a sedentary life. Movement reacquaints us with our bodies and connects us to the earth in a visceral way. It also restores our vitality.

10. Make time for stillness, silence, and solitude. The world can be noisy, and we are subject to all kinds of noises nearly every waking hour. We are also often "on the go" and unable to relax. Being alone in a peaceful place and making time for quiet can help you stay in touch with yourself.

New Permanent Mosaic Exhibit at Creative Genius!

2011-06-03T12:06:00.000-04:00

I am going to start this post by saying a great big thank you to Diane Emerson, the wonderful artist responsible for the permanent mosaic exhibit, now displayed on the outside of Creative Genius Art Gallery & Studio.

My husband Chris spent yesterday evening installing the exhibit and I am so excited about how it turned out, I can't even begin to describe it. I took some pictures to share how our evening went and show the progression of things being installed. Thank you, Chris, for doing such a great job with those wonderful works of art!

I am especially excited about this because it showcases one of my favorite local artists who is also one of the nicest people around. She deserves every bit of praise she receives because she truly is a talented and professional individual. We're proud to showcase not only this exhibit but other works of art available for sale from her on a regular basis. She is going to be creating some smaller mirrored mosaics for sale at Creative Genius. The exhibit is not for sale but those smaller ones will be. I have a feeling they will be like candy for the eyes and folks won't be able to get just one. The look of mirrored mosaics has always been a favorite of mine so what better pieces of art to showcase on the outside of Creative Genius...

Chris during installation


Lots of drilling needed for this install!

Lots of stuff needed to make the install happen!

Here's the press release that describes the exhibit:

Medford Gallery Installs Permanent Exhibition by Local Artist

MEDFORD, NJ – Creative Genius Art Gallery and Studio welcomes permanent mosaic exhibition by Medford artist, Diane Emerson.

Side view of part of the exhibit

Creative Genius Art Gallery and Studio, located at 32 North Main Street in Medford, NJ, has just installed a unique permanent exhibit you won’t want to miss. The outside of the gallery is now the home of nine one-of-a-kind mirrored mosaic tiles by Diane Emerson. The tiles depict various unique creations and unique class offerings that describe all that Creative Genius Art Gallery and Studio offers. All the scenes on each mosaic were created using custom ceramic tiles individually crafted by the artist as well as a colorful combination of ceramic, glass and mirrored tiles. Each tile is a true work of art and shows the creativity, color, design elements and attention to detail that Diane Emerson is known for in all her creative works.

Diane works out of her Medford home studio. A retired art teacher, she began working with tile over 30 years ago at Pemberton Township High School. Her students have created many of the mosaic murals and tile pieces that still adorn the school’s walls today.

The artist likes to use handmade tile pieces and mirror in her designs in her mosaics. The handmade tile adds another dimension to the work…glazes that puddle, raised uneven surfaces and a one of a kind look. The mirror adds a little eye-catching whimsy. To quote song writer Stephen Sondheim“ bit by bit, piece by piece…putting it together, only way to make a work of art ”.

The exhibit sees the light of day!

In addition to her unique mosaic creations, Diane is also a skilled ceramic artist. Her works are available for sale in many venues throughout the region and proudly, one of those venues is Creative Genius Art Gallery and Studio.

For more information about Diane Emerson or the permanent exhibition at Creative Genius, please contact Julie Basello-Holt at jbaselloholt@verizon.net or by phone (609) 714-1131.

Creative Genius Art Gallery & Studio is on the web at www.creativegeniusonline.com

10 Important Reasons to Shop Local

2011-06-02T17:33:00.000-04:00

The latest buzz in recent years, in the face of our country's economic woes on many fronts, is how important it is to shop locally whenever possible. Personally, I couldn't agree more. In fact, eight years ago, when I opened Creative Genius Art Gallery & Studio, it was because I believed in shopping locally and wanted to create a store that I would want to shop in, located in the town I lived in.

There are so many varied reasons, depending upon who you speak to, as to why shopping local is better for everyone and for the local community and economy. Just visit www.the350project.com if you aren't quite sure about the details and the statistics related to shopping locally. It is all quite an education and one I think we all need, even if it is just refresher course for some of us. Right now the downtown suburban Main Street on which Creative Genius resides is dangerously in need of more local shops and places to visit and it is scary how quickly a small area can go from a thriving business district to a not-so-thriving business district. The lesson is that it is all of our responsibilities to support the local economy.

I came across this interesting list of "10 Important Reasons to Shop Local" and figured it would be worth it to share it. Thank you to www.10slate.com for the interesting article (and if you want to visit it for yourself, I've included a link)....

A person who shops locally, often known as a “locavore,” helps to sustain not only the environment, but also the economy. Buying locally not only supports your community but also reduces the amount of carbon emissions and pollution because goods do not need to be transported across wide areas and consumers do not need to travel as far to obtain their items. Consider becoming a locavore. As a conscious consumer you will live a more sustainable life and help your community grow.

1) Local Economy

Your own neighborhood will benefit when you choose to shop locally. Local small business owners tend to keep more money in the community than nationally owned businesses. They also tend to source from other local business, services, and farms, continuing the local trend.

2) Job Growth

Local businesses provide local jobs. This has a chain reaction effect on sustainability and economy. When people are employed, they have more money to invest in the community. They will not have to commute to far away jobs, thus reducing pollution.

3) Community Support

Local businesses invest heavily in the community. They are more likely to support charitable organizations. When you shop locally, you are helping to support your community through your purchasing power.

4) Better Service

If a small business or farm is trying to earn and maintain your business, chances are they will treat you really well. What is the motivation for a big-box store to make you happy, when millions of other shoppers will replace your business should you choose to shop somewhere else?

5) Environmental Impact

Aside from your food transportation causing pollution, when you have to drive across town to run errands, you are polluting the earth. If your local area has a diverse array of businesses that you can walk or bike to, imagine the potential positive environmental impact. Go green! By supporting these businesses, you will help maintain a thriving local community for everyone.

6) Maintain Diversity

Part of the charm of local businesses is the diversity and uniqueness that it provides to a neighborhood. Big chain stores have taken this away and Main St. America has started to die. Bringing back community supported businesses restores this charm and diversity to neighborhoods and cities.

7) Save Money

Shopping locally can save you a lot of money and time. Gas is expensive, and so is repairing and maintaining a car. Plus, you are more likely to get in an accident in crowded Saturday morning traffic than if you stroll to your neighborhood downtown area.

8) Know your products

Local businesses are providers of services are experts. Do you remember the last time you walked into that large store looking for expertise? Did you find it? What about when you asked your grocery store produce person when something was in season or if it was fresh. Local providers tend to be able to answer these questions more successfully than the big box people.

9) Competition

There is nothing worse than a monopoly coming into town, driving up prices and diminishing customer service. Local businesses keep competition higher in order to ensure the best prices and highest quality service. Your dollars mean a lot more to a small business than a large store. You can vote with your dollars when you shop locally.

10) Entrepreneurs

Store owners are living the American dream, and by supporting them, you are helping to keep the dream alive, and to maintain a strong and thriving middle class in your community.

The best lesson from this article: Be a locavore!

To visit this article on the web, got to

http://www.10slate.com/2011/03/10-important-reasons-to-shop-local/

Why We Hesitate to Buy Art

2011-05-05T12:36:00.000-04:00

Just read a fantastic article this morning sent to me by one of my artists (thanks, Eric!). The article speaks about how we experience a natural hesitancy to purchase art and it mentions some very specific points on how to handle the process. I found it really interesting because it covered some points that I often mention to my clients.

Like the author of the article, I have managed a gallery for almost eight years and still find it amazing that people hesitate to purchase things when it is obvious that they really want a piece and they really love it. Some points to consider when we stand in our own way before an art purchase:

Don't be afraid to buy art on impulse. Most art is purchased on impulse and one should not beat themselves up about this. This is absolutely okay. Art evokes emotion and emotion is what attracts you to the piece. Over-analyzing that emotion is pointless. It's like trying to over-analyze any other emotion-generally it doesn't work. You're also supporting a local gallery and an artist with your purchase and both of these entities will continue to be around because of this support. Every little bit helps.

Now, let's say you don't go for the impulse buy. If you are still thinking about a piece the next day, call the gallery back and purchase it. You will kick yourself if a one of a kind work of art escapes you because you hesitated. Creative Genius offers clients the ability to hold a piece for 24 hours with no deposit to help you avoid this pitfall. And you might not realize how many times someone has called back for a piece, only to find that it went home on an impulse buy. If you like it and you are thinking about it after leaving the gallery, buy it. Most galleries, including Creative Genius, offer payment plans like layaway and other methods to make purchasing the piece easier.

Don't worry about what others think about your choice of art. Your choice is what speaks to you. It is truly irrelevant if it speaks to anyone else. There are plenty of genres of art that some folks find confusing, disturbing or just plain weird. Those same genres attract many collectors. You just never know what will appeal to people and therefore, when choosing your own, stick to what appeals to you. Your neighbor/sister/ best friend can worry about what appeals to them and should not have anything to say about your choices.

When it's time (and you'll know when), give the piece away or sell it to someone so that someone else can enjoy it with a fresh set of eyes.Sometimes art will stay with you forever and sometimes it just won't and either way is okay.

Thank you to Meegan Holland | The Grand Rapids Press
Great article!

One of my new favorites...

2011-04-23T15:58:00.000-04:00

I definitely have a lot of favorite artists and a lot of interesting choices to pick from. My list is a long one...because I DO have a ton of really great choices.

The latest addition to my favorites list is an artist named Tari Zarka. Her work has been at Creative Genius for the past year or so and has become a new favorite among our clients. Her works have been purchased as gifts and as impulse buys. They are one of a kind and the price is right which instantly translates well for all kinds of people. It also makes it very easy to convince yourself you just NEED to have it. And lots of folks do just that!

An except from Tari's Bio:

What drives me to create is what motivates me to be the best person I can me: mood enhancement. When I create something – whether it is a piece of glass, a painting, or a smile on someone’s face – my life’s burdens are lifted. I am also driven by the knowledge that my creations enhance the moods of those who receive them.

I find inspiration everywhere – in the glorious landscape, through the face of adversity, within the cashier at a convenience store, etc. Everything and everyone offers a chance for us to learn and grow.

Ever since I started creating art in the far away corners of my family’s hosiery mill in Bucks County, I have searched to find ways to love what I do each and every day. If something from me inspires another to move toward a life of happiness then I feel that I have done my job. This is the current in my artistic evolution.

Another artist on the list is Abbe Gold, who recently brought in some new mosaic works from her large collection of creations. These are interesting, decorative or functional and well-done. We appreciate adding more of her works to our assortment of American creations. She splits her time between Colorado and New Jersey and perhaps next time she is in NJ for a while, we'll ask her to be a guest mosaic workshop instructor. Here's a peek at some of her latest creations...

A new way to look at wood...

2011-04-04T14:44:00.000-04:00

We're very lucky here at Creative Genius because we get to work with some truly high level folks who excel in their craft. Today's selection of additions come from Andy DiPietro. We already carry his hollow forms and now we've added his wall art to the mix. And folks, this artist's work is quite an assortment to view and appreciate.

We've already featured some of his hollow forms on our facebook page and today's blog entry features his wall pieces, which are fabulous and right up any collector's alley. There is a fluid quality to the wood in these pieces that is even more striking in person than any photograph could really depict. The inspiration was from sails and it is evident, especially when viewing the pieces together that this is the case.

A little glimpse of Andy's wood turning resume includes featured articles in WoodTurning Magazine, Creative Wood Magazine and the Burlington County Times. He has exhibited in shows from New Hope and Philadelphia, PA to Delaware to MN to Trenton to right here at Creative Genius in Medford, NJ. He has provided instruction at numerous workshops and wood turner events and also provided demonstrations. And his professional affiliations are listed below:

2006 – Present, Member of the American Association of Woodturners
2008 – Present, Executive Vice President, Del-Val Woodturners in NJ.
2010 – Present, Collectors of Wood Art
Member of Bucks Woodturners in Newton Pa.
Member of First State Woodturners, Delaware
Member of the Wood Turning Center, Philadelphia, Pa.

And Andy is no slacker by day either....by trade he is a Senior Mechanical Engineer!

I have seen a lot of engineers succeed in the arts...it must be something about attention to detail that attracts them to art forms like wood turning, pottery and photography where there is a measure of science entwined with the art medium itself.

We're happy to have the new additions from Andy and we're sure some very lucky collectors will be very happy to take these new additions home.

Fun with Glitter, Glue and Cardstock (or why Thursday morning turned into a craft project!)

2011-03-31T12:27:00.000-04:00

Most people who know me know that I am not a crafty person. There's nothing wrong with being crafty but it just isn't how I roll :) We tend towards fine craft in all of our class offerings, etc and I just don't have a lot of excess time with which to dabble in assorted fun projects. That being said, I took a look at my gallery window this morning and knew that a little craft project was in order.

Although I am creative and have big, life-sized ideas, I am always on a budget. So this morning, out came the glitter, glue and card stock. I had to dig through a box to find the hot glue gun-yes, we do own one here, although it doesn't get much use. I had to rummage through another box to find the glitter-my least favorite artistic substance on the planet. Why, you ask? Because I am a photographer and glitter is the arch enemy of camera equipment. Then on to the idea......hmmm....

So I came up with an Easter/Bunny theme but Creative Genius style. That means it is not over the top in terms of easter whimsy and has a slightly (and in this case, slightly is the key operative word) modern edge to it. The idea came from a line drawing of bunny ears I came across in someone's cutesy email signature. The bags someone gave me and they were colorful and color attracts attention. In fact, I got more attention for my gallery window when I put white boxes with blue and purple tulle bows on them in my window than with anything else I have done. Incredibly simple but color pops and gets noticed.

Okay, so it is a little crafty but who doesn't love little bunny ears, right? So here's to Spring/Easter...warm weather and sun would be great but for now I will settle for colorful bags and bunny ears...and now I'm off to pack away the glue and glitter...hopefully for a while....

Spring awakenings...

2011-03-22T18:45:00.000-04:00

I know a lot of artists who hate winter...they literally feel like it saps all of their creative energy. Hating winter as an artist has to be particularly tough if you rely on your creativity and productivity to make a living. Naturally, you have no choice but to muscle through and make things happen, even if you just feel like crawling under a blanket until the weather hits 60plus degrees.

One of my personal favorite jewelry artists (and one whose work I wear a lot) hates winter. Yet this past winter she has been very creative, participating in a Ring A Week Challenge and making all kinds of new goodies. She sells her work all over the country so it isn't like she is having fun with her little hobby. This is her livelihood and she is very good at it.

Even better is that we have all new work from her fresh out of the studio. The new pieces have just arrived and can be found in her jewelry case here at Creative Genius. Here's a sneak peek but certainly come out and see them in person...the rings are my personal design favorites and even more amazing up close.

Art that speaks to me...

2011-03-19T11:16:00.000-04:00

As you can imagine, I am in front of A LOT of art and creative creations all the time. Yes, it is an integral part of my job but even beyond that, I am always on the hunt for something hand-crafted, WELL-CRAFTED and super cool. Believe me when I tell you, hand-crafted and well-crafted are very often NOT the same thing and don't always exist in the same piece of art. I am choosy and tend to be very picky about the level of quality and the overall feel of what I bring in for my clients to see. I think high standards are important and I believe my customers have come to expect and appreciate those standards.

Even after almost eight years of choosing art and interacting with artists, something will surprise me. This week's surprise came from an artist named Tracy Stannard from Georgia. My assistant recommended bringing in Tracy's work and I was on the fence but the jewelry was different than anything else we carry so I decided to give it a try. I am overwhelmingly pleased with the results of that decision. We brought in a small assortment, including a bracelet made from vintage tins. I posted the bracelet on our facebook page and got such a great reaction.

When the box arrived, I was helping a good customer select a birthday gift for a friend and happened to open the box and show her this cool new bracelet. And off the bracelet went-gift wrapped in our standard gift wrapping to it's new owner. Wonderful, I thought, I will definitely get in touch with Tracy and get a few more. Yesterday, a few more arrived. I was showing them to a friend when another good customer saw them, checked them out and the next one went home, again out of the box, with it's new owner. Terrific! I still had one and figured I would get a few more in the next few weeks. A third good customer came in and asked to see "her bracelet", the one she had seen on facebook and wanted. And the last one went home with it's new owner! More are on the way...reserve yours today or it will end up going home with someone else--I can almost guarantee it at this point :)

I was also fortunate enough yesterday to get in some new art blocks from one of my favorite local artists, who lives right around the corner from Creative Genius. Her name is Abbie Mylod Galie and her company name is Original Abbie Designs. I have helped her with growing her business from a wholesale standpoint and she continually helps me with technology and resource things. Truly a mutually beneficial working relationship...plus she is very cool!

Yesterday's new editions are wall art blocks with reproductions of her original art on them. Very well done and these new ones really speak to me. My favorite is the artist one but I also like the drummer one too. The art is whimsical and fun and would work for just about anyone, regardless of the type of home or display area they choose to put it in. At $ 20 per art block they are a great gift...thanks for the new ones, Abbie...I am sure they will be going to new homes really soon...maybe one might even be going to MY home!

Technical Difficulties...

2011-03-15T15:41:00.000-04:00

This morning when I got into the gallery, I answered the phone and directed the caller on signing up for a workshop. She informed me that the Creative Genius website was not working and nothing showed up when she went to it....well, that was unexpected and I immediately checked it out, only to discover the same missing website that my client had experienced.
As it happens, it was an easy problem to fix which took approximately 90 minutes to accomplish. That's right, NINETY MINUTES. Somehow, when you have to fix any sort of problem that involves calling someone these days, inevitably you are met with a bunch of choices (select option one for billing...blahblahblah) and just as inevitably you are left waiting for a long time once your selections are made. And if you are fortunate enough to have someone answer the phone right away, that person generally fits into the following set of options:
a-can't solve your problem because they are actually in the wrong department
OR
b-doesn't speak english well (probably because they are in a call center somewhere far far away) and therefore you can't understand them to begin to resolve your problem
OR
c-that person disconnects you by accident, of course, and you must resort to starting the entire process over again.
It's a wonder we're all not crazy...
Thankfully, the Creative Genius website is now up and running...at least until next year, when some other unplanned atrocities could strike again.
Someone should just shoot me when that happens....

If Tim Burton was a lampworker...

2011-03-09T17:14:00.000-05:00

As soon as I saw these, I thought they were really unique. My first thought was, if Tim Burton was a lampworker instead of a director, I bet he would make perfume bottles just like these. My assistant and I both agreed that these are very different and very cool. Certainly they are something that I would add to my fine craft collection. They have come to us from Deb DeMarco and in addition to these there are also some beautiful button glass pendants from her which are very well done and easy on the eyes.

If you are looking for a unique and special gift that doesn't take up a lot of room and doesn't break the bank, these are definitely worth a look.

One of the many fun parts of my job...

2011-03-08T12:29:00.000-05:00

One of the best parts of my job is the process of finding cool new things that my clients get as excited about as I do. There is a plethora of hand-crafted work out there but not all of it is at a high standard and in many cases, the lack of a professional product is a hindrance. I mean, it is always great to create something and sell it but hand-crafted work still needs to meet a standard and should not look unprofessional, cheap or like it is going to fall apart as soon as it arrives home with you. Sadly, that is often the case and I always feel badly for those artists because sometimes they aren't even told how to improve their work to make it present better. I am never insulting towards someone's creation but I very often will give advice, when solicited, for how to improve an item's presentation or saleable. I certainly don't consider myself an expert but I HAVE been doing what I do for almost eight years so I might have something of value to add, if someone is open to the feedback.

For me, in finding new items for Creative Genius to represent, it can be very challenging to weed through the lower level items to come up with a product that meets my own internal standards for both creativity as well as something that looks professional and is well-made. I have encountered many people who think their creations are of a high level. Yet they have not even explored the industry further to gain a better understanding of what is out there, what the market will bear for their product and the level that others working in a similar medium might be creating at. All of these things are important to know. It is fine to create off your kitchen table if the products you are creating are professional, finished looking and sell at a level that is consistent for that medium.

Especially with the upsurge of upcycling that has become in vogue in recent years in the crafts community, it is even more important to seek a high standard of creativity as well as professionalism when I am adding art to the existing Creative Genius environment. Our latest artist addition has definitely found the right balance between creativity and a professional product that anyone would be proud to wear. There is nothing junky about her jewelry creations and we're excited to have her as a part of Creative Genius...welcome Tracy!

Thinking of spring...

2011-03-02T15:18:00.000-05:00

The last few days have really made spring pop into the forefront of my brain. I love when it's sunny and somewhat warm. In fact, I am perfectly fine with weather in the 50s and 60s this time of year--what a gift!

All the new items arriving in the gallery are really bringing spring to mind for me too. In addition to our great finds at the Buyers Market a few weeks ago, we've also got some other new additions coming in. Some new jewelry from Marianna Bellantoni has really, for me, made the warm weather feel closer than ever. She works with all kinds of sea glass along with metal and other gemstones and her latest works are my new favorites.

We've also got some new additions coming from Michele Grady shortly that will really jazz up her showcase. Here's a little preview...

We just scheduled a bunch of mosaic workshops and added them to our workshop calendar and we've also got some great things coming up, including Figure Drawing, tons of jewelry workshops, Stained Glass and more. Our weekly classes are happening as usual including pottery classes, digital photography classes for adults and kids, painting and drawing for teens, adults, and children and much more...

For me, warmer weather all the time couldn't come soon enough...warmer weather means sun, beach, camps and more...can't wait!

(ps. I'm getting one of these ring sets...this is 5 rings in 1 and looks amazing...!)

An Artful Sunday...

2011-02-25T10:41:00.000-05:00

This past Sunday, my assistant Reece and I attended the Buyers Market of American Craft. This is a show that happens twice a year and targets folks like us, who operate fine art and fine craft galleries. The artists who showcase their work are usually very top notch and the quality is great. It is always fun to walk around and stalk new items and new artists for the gallery. This time around, we targeted a few specific categories and got a ton of information for us to utilize throughout the year. In addition, we also have two new artists who will be joining us within the next two months. And more to follow...
One is Becky Hembly, whose beautiful candles are truly works of art. Her candles definitely meet the creative criteria I have going on in my brain, every time I view potential new Creative Genius items. Reece seemed really excited about these and I think they are a new and perfect addition to our unique collection of art and artists.

Another new addition are purses from Hardwear by Renee. These are the perfect fit for our clients. They are modern and contemporary with just a touch of an industrial feel. Love, love, love these! Renee came highly recommended from a few other gallery owners I have connected with over the years in different states and I have to say, I think these are a great recommendation.

These are too beautiful to look hand-crafted!

This was Reece's first Buyers Market and she took to it like a fish to water. She was a natural, going up to artists and communicating intelligently about what we were looking for and about their items. She really has paid attention over he past three+ years, even when I thought she wasn't. I had to remind myself that she is only twenty. Good job, Reece! I'm really proud of you!

As much as I love the Buyers Market, I think the most fun part of the day came afterwards, when we headed over to Liz Kinder's Pottery Studio to view some of her new and available works. The studio is my dream space for a studio or even to live in. It is an industrial building and she and her husband and kids used to live above the studio before moving recently. The only downside is the neighborhood which is not the greatest and made for some funny (but kind of creepy) stories that Liz shared with us. Liz is a hugely talented and creative potter and also has a really funny blog that I enjoy reading. Her pieces are collected by folks all over the country and she is right over the bridge in Philly. Plus, she is a great person and a pleasure to interact with, which made the studio visit even better. We got to choose from racks and racks of awesome pottery pieces from tea cups and bud vases to large bowls, vases and plates. Can you tell I am a huge Liz Kinder fan? If I had my way, my entire set of dishes would be those made by Liz Kinder and I would use them EVERY DAY. No lie...I'm a huge fan. Here's a little peek from our newest pieces from Liz...Way to kick off spring!

An Art Museum a Week

2011-02-17T12:58:00.000-05:00

We were fortunate to be featured recently on blog that I feel is very well-written and has a unique and kind of cool purpose. Basically the blog author visits an art related venue each week and writes about it in the hopes that others will become informed about some of the great venues out there that aren't necessarily in the city but right in your proverbial backyard. I enjoyed meeting her and think she did a wonderful job of positively portraying all that I think is great about Creative Genius Art Gallery & Studio. It means a lot that someone truly understands and was able to positively convey what I have worked hard to create over an eight year time frame. So a great big thank you!

http://anartmuseumaweek.tumblr.com/tagged/Creative_Genius

Featured Store!

2011-02-16T14:00:00.000-05:00

Creative Genius is the featured store on Amy Peters' blog...check it out...
http://www.amypeters.blogs.com/
Amy has some great jewelry items for sale...her designs are fun, creative, definitely original and there are items available in all price ranges. Our newest favorite (and our clients too) are the heart button bracelets, available in various colors and very very cute for all ages.
Thanks for the feature, Amy!

Upcoming workshops at Creative Genius

2011-02-09T11:26:00.000-05:00

Greetings from chilly but sunny Medford, NJ!
Today's post is all about getting out and trying something new. We specialize in helping our clients get creative and learn something they have always wanted to learn. And our schedule is pretty full of exciting February activities you won't want to miss...
If you see anything you'd like to register for, call us at 609-714-1131...more information about each of the workshops listed may be found on our website (see link with this post)

PRECIOUS METAL CLAY WORKSHOP
Coming up on Feb 12th from 2-5pm, this workshop is a great way to learn the basics of working with Precious Metal Clay. This clay like substance becomes pure silver (99.5% pure silver) once it is fired. It is a popular material for making jewelry.

ART OF SPIRALS JEWELRY WORKSHOP
Feb 19th from 12-2pm
Learn beginner wire-working techniques using some simple tools and your own creativity.

STAINED GLASS PANEL FOR BEGINNERS

Feb 26th from 9am-1pm

Create an 8x10 inch panel while learning basic beginner stained glass techniques.

FIGURE DRAWING WORKSHOP
Feb 22nd from 6:30-8:30pm
With instruction and a live figure model, complete some basic drawing exercises utilizing charcoal. Supply list provided at registration. Model fees included with workshop.

SUMMER CAMPS 2011!

2011-02-04T17:15:00.000-05:00

Today I finally finalized our fun schedule of creative summer day camps for 2011. Camps are always a good time here at Creative Genius and the kids who spend time in them get to have a lot of fun while they are actually learning new things. Being a part of the camps is always a treat.
I decided that we would be doing something as a giveaway to go along with the camps so here it is:

To enter our contest, please email me at jbaselloholt@verizon.net or call 609-714-1131 and we'll get you an entry form and the contest rules. It can't hurt to try and win half-off one of our camps in 2011. One lucky child will be crowned our summer creative genius when he or she wins this contest. I can't wait to see what gets created...

Little inspirations...

2011-02-03T12:28:00.000-05:00

I think teaching is an opportunity to constantly be inspired by the folks around you. I am fortunate to be able to teach students in the Creative Genius studio as well as watch others teach in the studio too. And the students who have come through here are more than a little inspiring to me. My teachers have a variety of experiences that have brought them to a place where they are comfortable enough to teach others and they are all top notch in terms of talent, teaching ability and pedigree :)

Cody, during digital photo class with me

We have some really creative and fun folks who have been in our pottery classes, some great talent coming out of Digital Photography classes (both kids and adults too) and really unique perspectives in our Painting and Drawing Classes for Adults. Painting and Drawing for Teens is always full of creative surprises too. Jewelry classes also host a huge pool of talented folks with great design ideas who learn all about how to make their ideas happen.

A pic that Cody, my student, took of me

Floral Pottery shown by Andrea Smeraski

I just love the idea that folks get to come into an environment that I created from nothing and get inspired to create the way they do. I find it fascinating to see the progress that is made and it is even more rewarding when I start to see posts on facebook that just blow me away (good job, Kathleen! )

One of my favorite quotes is fitting:
"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes; art is knowing which ones to keep."

Kudos to all who create and who have the guts to not only make the effort but to put themselves out there with their creations.

And the award for worst blogger in the world goes to...

2011-01-19T16:36:00.000-05:00

I have been a completely lame blogger.
That being said, it has not been for a lack of good intentions. October through December were spent on a myriad of photo shoots and then onto the editing and order-processing part of the equation.For those of you who don't know, I am a professional photographer and co-own True Story Photography in addition to owning and operating Creative Genius. What can I say, I have a need to keep myself very occupied :)Amidst all of the good business stuff (and it really was all good stuff), I also worked full time in the gallery, first preparing for and then executing on our holiday season sales. Fortunately, the holidays went very well and we're now on to January, the beginning of which has been spent on organization, planning and tax stuff. Not my most fun time of year, although the planning part is fun!

Let's discuss the fruits of my planning for a moment:
This year we are beginning a new referral program to reward those customers who constantly talk about us. I figured I had so many great supporters at Creative Genius and a referral program would help them earn some points that they could utilize throughout the year. To me, it was a great way to thank them for something they already do anyway. None of them expected any rewards which makes the perks even better.
I truly have the nicest, most supportive customers around and they are the reason that Creative Genius continues to be in operation for the past seven years. Thank you! (and you know who you are!)

We're also doing a new lunch/mini- party program for some of the offices in the area who employee folks who shop at Creative Genius. This one is in the works and we're excited for our first group to join us at the end of this month. We'll let you know how it goes...

Another big item on the list-- made a major purchase at the end of last year: a new kiln which leads into the last planning thing on the agenda...we're going to finally do some fused glass workshops. Please don't be confused with all the gimmicks out there-we're talking REAL KILN-FUSED glass in a real kil with a qualified instructor who works with glass. Yippee! I want the first workshop to be something totally useful and fun. We should have details shortly...first and foremost, we have to get it set up and we will definitely keep our customers posted. It may take a little time but at least it's here, officially here.
Stay tuned....and hopefully I will not win any more awards for worst blogger in the world...I can DEFINITELY win better awards than THAT...:)
Julie

Upcoming Workshops at Creative Genius

2010-09-24T11:47:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I have been very bad at keeping this updated. I have some pretty valid excuses/reasons for this but let's just say that summer camps, preparation for summer camps and the potential for moving the gallery all have kept me pretty busy since April. In between all that was a busy summer rolling right into a busy fall so there are no complaints on my end but I will recognize that I have not been faithful in my updates. That being said, I wanted to post some sample photos for some upcoming workshops happening at Creative Genius. More dates and workshops are being added all the time and there will be some new offerings showing up soon on this packed list of creative things to do.

Samples shown are for the following workshops:
Linoleum Block Printing Workshop
Stained Glass for Beginners
Stained Glass Pendant Workshop
Precious Metal Clay Workshop
Beaded Wire Cuff Workshop
Corrugated Metal Jewelry Workshop
The Art of Spirals Jewelry Workshop
Memories of Summer Jewelry Workshop

We also offer walk-in workshops for kids on many Saturdays from Oct through early May and by appointment too.
To view samples and upcoming dates for all our workshops, visit www.creativegeniusonline.com/upcoming_events.htm
To register for any of our great creative offerings, here's how to do so:
visit the gallery at 32 North Main Street in Medford, NJ
call Julie to register at 609-714-1131
Email Julie at jbaselloholt@verizon.net

Chrissy Caps Special Order

2010-04-27T17:21:00.001-04:00

On Saturday, my stepdaughter and I worked on a special order for her Chrissy Caps. Chrissy Caps are necklaces and key chains designed by Chrissy and made from found objects and bottle caps. She uses all kinds of bottle caps in all kinds of colors and creates the insides using found objects, beads, glitter, pictures and all kinds of other goodies. We have sold many of her creative Chrissy Caps since she started making them in November of 2009.
This past week we received a special order for key chains using the logo for an organization. So Chrissy got to work this Saturday in the studio to create the key chains for the special order. She cut her chains, set up and chose the caps she would use and then designed her caps.

Our clients love these little goodies and they make a cool gift for just about anyone who can appreciate using materials that would otherwise end up in the trash to create clever art.
For more information about Chrissy Caps, give us a call at Creative Genius Art Gallery & Studio.

Earning a Girl Scout "Camera Shots" Badge at Creative Genius...

2010-04-20T11:56:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday, I got the opportunity to work with a great Girl Scout troop to help them earn their Camera Shots badge. This badge class combined some classroom learning along with hands-on interaction and the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves and take a lot away with them at the end. We got to look at the work of professional photographers and the girls got to analyze each others work as well.One of the enjoyable parts for them was learning how to be a storyteller with your camera. By working in pairs, they completed their hands-on projects (with some coaching from me).

Overall, it was a fun little session. And in just over an hour and a half, the troop had earned their Camera Shots Badge.

We have Photography Badge programs available at Creative Genius for both Juniors as well as Cadettes. The cadette program is a bit more advanced but both programs cover basics as well as additional lessons not required as part of earning a badge. Both programs were created by me specifically using Girl Scouts guidelines and badge requirements. Since I teach photography to kids and adults weekly, I have a pretty good amount of information to share and I also don't mind answering questions either.

And we also offer a great Junior Pottery Badge class in our studio too...

Once, a million years ago (give or take a few years) I was a girl scout too so I have a special place in my heart for all those great girls who want to try something new to earn their badges and gain the knowledge and sense of accomplishment that comes from learning something completely different.

Always something fun happening at Creative Genius!

The pictures below show the girls during the storytelling exercise. A lot of creativity was shown during this exercise...it wasn't easy at first but once they got into it, the looked like they were having fun.

Another Creative Genius giveaway and other assorted fun...

2010-04-15T10:59:00.000-04:00

This week's facebook fan giveaway is this great little paperweight by Linda Thiltgen--a great addition to any desk! The winner of this little treat is Gina Desumma. Congrats, Gina!

We have some great new gallery pieces arriving daily (jewelry, beautiful wood, pottery and more) and we also have some great upcoming events and weekly offerings added to our schedule. Two monthly programs just added include ART FOR THE YOUNG ADULT, a great weekly painting and drawing class for teens and FROM SKETCH TO CANVAS, an adult painting and drawing class for anyone who wants instructor guidance and input as they create their masterpiece from the sketching phase through to the canvas completion.

Upcoming workshops include Stained Glass Pendant Workshop, Stained Glass for Beginners (make an 8x10 inch panel and learn techniques) and Precious Metal Clay with jewelry artist, Michele Grady. And that is just in April!

There is always something creative happening at Creative Genius...stay tuned for more details....

Past two weeks of giveaways...

2010-04-08T11:08:00.000-04:00

So I got to visit yesterday with Pola Galie, the winner of last week's Creative Genius facebook fan giveaway. She even blogged about the new addition to her coffee mug collection, which was very cool.
And this morning, this week's winner was announced...Shirley Martin won the hand-painted martini glass that is this week's Creative Genius Facebook Fan Giveaway. Shirley was one of Creative Genius's first customers almost 7 years ago...how time flies....
Congrats to both winners...thanks for being fans...

NEW STUFF!

2010-03-30T14:26:00.001-04:00

Some new arrivals have just made their way into Creative Genius and kept Reece busy unpacking for the better part of this morning and early afternoon. She's finally opened the last box and is done with the display part, which is usually the most fun. And now we get to share the new creations with our customers. That is always the most fun part!
Included in our "newness" are the following items:
Earrings, necklaces and bracelets from Ted and Mary Walker
Earrings and necklaces from Shining Creations
Matted, unframed photographs from Elaine Walsh
Wood creations including wall pieces, boxes and furniture by Gary Edelstein
Linoleum and linoleum reduction prints by Diane Podolsky
and there's more....but you'll have to check out the rest in person...
Just a note that we'll be closed on Sunday in celebration of Easter...
Happy Easter from Creative Genius Art Gallery & Studio!

Yes, another giveaway...

2010-03-27T17:07:00.001-04:00

I just love giving stuff away....
I know that sounds a little strange, especially coming from a retail business owner during probably the worst economy this country has seen in quite some time. But I really love the feeling of people getting excited over something I am giving away. It makes you feel a lot more generous than your probably are in real life. :)
Here's a photo of our latest giveaway:

The lucky winner this week is Colleen Panetta...congrats, Colleen!

Our First Facebook Fan Drawing

2010-03-18T10:35:00.006-04:00

We just entered our 400 + facebook fans into a drawing to win this really cool ceramic clock, valued at $ 95. And we just chose our first winner! Kristina Watson of Medford, NJ is the lucky recipient of the clock.

For future drawings, become a fan of Creative Genius Art Gallery & Studio on Facebook....stay tuned for photos of future prizes, coming soon...

Stained Glass Workshop

2009-11-14T18:04:00.009-05:00

We had a great Stained Glass Workshop here at Creative Genius this Saturday and here are some pics to show some of the great creations that came to be during the workshop...great job, ladies!

Candy Canes for the Cure!

2009-11-05T16:16:00.006-05:00

I have been thinking over the holiday season plan for a while now and it occurred to me recently that I needed to incorporate some giving into my holiday plan too. Thus, Candy Canes for the Cure was created as part of our Creative Genius holiday plan.

We are handcrafting candy canes using two different types of clay (each individually made) and will be selling the candy canes as ornaments throughout the holiday season at Creative Genius. At the end of the holidays, we will be donating the profits from these whimsical ornaments to the American Cancer Society.

It is our hope that all of our wonderful customers incorporate at least one candy cane into their gift giving this year to help support this endeavor.

PHOTOS WITH SANTA-New Event!

2009-10-29T11:39:00.003-04:00

December 12th we'll be hosting a

PHOTOS WITH SANTA afternoon from 12-5pm.

Reservations are required...

see printable flyer for all the details...

This is a great deal...

you definitely don't want to miss it!

Creative Clothing...

2009-10-15T16:07:00.003-04:00

Just in today, new creative sweaters, capelets, scarflettes and fingerless gloves from the wonderfully talented Anna Tumas of Heartfelt. Her works are created using 100% recycled materials and she can take something old and turn it into something new and completely adorable!

Here is a sampling of what you'll see at Creative Genius...

Creative Scarecrows!

2009-10-10T17:12:00.002-04:00

Today is the annual Scarecrow contest here in Medford Village and you have got to see the wonderful creations that people come up with. There is a giant crow next door and some super-creative "crows" up and down Main Street. If you haven't made it down today, come tomorrow and be sure to stop in at Creative Genius and say hello. We're open this Sunday from 12-4pm.

Almost forgot to mention, we've got beautiful new pottery from Ericka O'Rourke (see photo courtesy of Elm Studios included here)...the pieces are especially beautiful!

Thanks, Ericka!

NEW!

2009-09-26T13:23:00.004-04:00

Pottery by Double Creek Pottery...

It's my favorite time of year, the time when holiday goodies start to arrive in the gallery. We are working on some new items from our regular artists and some great new items from artists whose work we are just starting to represent. Very exciting stuff! Hope we'll see you soon...there's more on the way and loads to check out...

Anyway, here is a small sampling of some of what's new so far:

Photo Prop by Sheryl Ellinwood in neutrals and bright fun colors too...

Red Clay Pottery Bowl by Chris Holt

Livingware Pottery Ikebanas

Saturdays at Creative Genius

2009-09-16T15:03:00.002-04:00

This past Saturday was our first Walk-In Workshop Saturday, where you can walk in, choose from our menu of projects, and create a project with us.
It was a fun afternoon with a few kids coming in to create along with their parents. We offer projects in clay, polymer clay and more and projects are for children and adults.
We hope to see you soon!

Twitter and Facebook

2009-08-15T12:14:00.004-04:00

Just a quick post to let you know that you can follow Creative Genius on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/CreativeGeniusG

We're also on Facebook...become a fan...cut and paste into your browser...

http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/pages/Medford-NJ/Creative-Genius-Art-Gallery-and-Studio/85590053501?ref=share

New! Drop-in Saturday Workshop Day...coming to Creative Genius!

2009-08-15T12:01:00.006-04:00

Finally!

Beginning September 12th, 2009, Drop-in Studio Saturdays begin at Creative Genius between 11am and 3pm every Satruday...head on over to Creative Genius and choose one of the cool projects off our craft menu and start creating. Instruction, materials, firings, etc is included for each project. Projects range in price from $ 20-$ 35 per project per person and are geared towards small children, children, teens and adults. There are many specific projects in clay (hand-building only), polymer clay, and other assorted mediums. We continually adding to the menu and think this will be a fun way to spend a Saturday in fall and winter...We will have photo samples of all our projects soon but for now, here is a small sampling...more to follow...

Been a while...

2009-07-01T18:39:00.004-04:00

Fabulous necklace by Deb Sparshott

It has been quite a while since I have actually had the time to update this blog. Shameful but getting ready for all of our summer programs and camps takes a lot of time and planning. I feel like I have not left my computer for a long time...getting a sore neck and hand cramps...But planning and schedule and coming up with new programs has taken priority over the fun stuff, like letting my customers know what is going on here at Creative Genius through my blog.

VACATION NOTICE

For starters, we are going to be closed the following dates:

7/3-7/6/09

7/10/7/13/09

We will be open limited hours on July 7th, 8th and 9th (Tue, Wed, Thurs)-gallery open 12-5pm each of those three days.

The studio will be closed from 7/3/09-7/13/09

When we return, we begin our camp programs, which we're really excited about. The first camp is CLAY CAMP 1 and following that is CLAY CAMP 2 as well as CLAY CAMP FOR LITTLE ONES (ages 3 to 6) and then DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY.

Then in August we will be doing POLYMER PIZZAZZ CAMP (techniques and projects in Polymer clay) and WEARABLE WORKS OF ART CAMP (dyes and textiles paints put to good use).

We're still accepting camp sign ups so if you find your child is interested, give us a call.

We've also got some new jewelry in here that you definitely want to check out by Deb Sparshott. (see photo).

To get on our email mailing list and receive specialty coupons good for use in the gallery (and sometimes in the studio) email julie@creativegeniusonline.com and request to be added to our mailing list.

Hope you are having an enjoyable summer so far!

Figure Drawing! Ladies Night!

2009-04-07T19:54:00.004-04:00

We've got a lot of cool events coming up here at Creative Genius to help our loyal followers usher in spring...

The first is our Spring edition of LADIES NIGHT, which promises to be a fun evening of refreshments, prizes and shopping...we've got two jewelry artists joining us with some extra goodies too...stop in, have a drink, win some prizes...this is an open house event so bring a friend (or two)...All the festivities will take place on Thursday, April 23rd from 6-9pm.

Next on the agenda after Ladies' Night is FACEBOOK PORTRAIT NIGHT at Creative Genius. This event is scheduled for Monday, May 4th and includes refreshments, browsing and a chance to have your portrait taken (you will be emailed 2 portraits that are sized for use on all those social networking sites). Photography is provided by Julie Basello-Holt Photography (www.juliebasello.com) Nancy Flynn, a professional hair stylist, will be on hand and one lucky person will win a professional photography session for their family. For more information, give us a call at 609-714-1131. Appointments are required and space is limited. Fee is $ 30 per person.

After Facebook Portrait Night, the next event on our schedule is FIGURE DRAWING/LIFE DRAWING CLASS on Wednesday, May 13th from 7-9pm. A live model will be in attendance and our instructor will be on hand for pointers. Registration is required and space is limited. For more information, visit us on the web or give us a call at 609-714-1131. Fee is $ 25 per person.

We've also got a ton of new camps for summer, workshops for kids and for adults and all kinds of fun new work to check out.

Hope to see you soon!

Law of Attraction Paintings by Kate Lemay

2009-03-20T14:27:00.003-04:00

“I attract to my life whatever I give my energy, focus and attention to, whether wanted or unwanted.”- Michael Losier

I am so excited to finally have the great new works I was awaiting from Kate Lemay. The Law of Attraction paintings are here!

Here's some information:

In each Lemay Law of Attraction creation there is a special word within the original painting.
The viewer can connect to the painting, to the word, or to both.
These “little things” make great gifts for special people in your life.
By focusing on the word and how it is placed within the painting the viewer can nurture the feeling of what life would be like if the word in the painting reached it’s full potential in his or her life.

These original works of art are available in 18 different words as well as custom words for $ 19.95 each. They make a really special gift or a treat for yourself.

You definitely want to check these out...

Workshops!

2009-03-17T12:31:00.008-04:00

We've had some great jewelry workshops here at Creative Genius recently.
Here's some photos of the creative process during two of those workshops.

Above are photos of students either making their corrugated metal creations or wearing them!

Below are highlights from Memories of Summer Workshop featuring wire-wrapped beach glass creations

We're sure everyone had a great time...coming up is our next Stained Glass Workshop for Beginners and some more great jewelry workshops. For a full schedule of upcoming workshops, give us a call or email julie@creativegeniusonline.com

Shutter Speak Opens With A Bang

2009-01-22T20:44:00.005-05:00

We opened Shutter Speak last Saturday night. Great folks turned out to support the 24 exhibiting photographers and everyone seemed to have a great time. The photographs are really wonderful and if you get the chance to come out and take a peek, we recommend it.

South Jersey Camera Club rocks!

Shutter Speak Opens Tonight

2009-01-17T14:36:00.005-05:00

"Life is an occasion. Rise to it!" -Suzanne Weyn

At 6pm tonight we will be opening our latest exhibit, Shutter Speak with a first viewing and opening reception from 6-9pm. Many of the 24 exhibiting photographers will be present and available to chat with.
The exhibit features original photographs from South Jersey Camera Club members and will be on our walls through March 1st.
A portion of the proceeds from all exhibit sales will be donated to Flashes of Hope, an organization that photographs children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. For more information visit http://www.flashesofhope.com/

For more exhibit information, visit www.creativegeniusonline.com/currentexhibit.htm

Hope to see you tonight!

Shutter Speak Opens Tonight!

2009-01-17T14:33:00.002-05:00

"Your life is an occasion. Rise to it!" -Suzanne Weyn (Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium)

Join us from 6-9pm as we open our latest exhibit, Shutter Speak. The exhibit features original photographic prints from South Jersey Camera Club and is hung in a non-traditional way: as a photographic wall collage. All prints are matted but unframed. The goal is for focus to be on the art itself and not in the presentation aspects. For more information, check out www.creativegeniusonline.com/currentexhibit.htm

Tonight's reception features refreshments plus a chance to chat with many of the 24 exhibiting photographers.

Hope to see you there!

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-22T17:30:00.002-05:00

A wish to you and yours for a happy holiday season...here at Creative Genius, we appreciate the support of our loyal customers over the past 5 1/2 years...thanks for being there!

And Speaking of Fun with Mosaics...

2008-11-26T20:58:00.012-05:00

The art teacher at Medford Memorial School in Medford, NJ (where my gallery is located) does this great project. She works with her kids on creating something small and easily transportable and then brings the art projects out to the community by having them displayed in different businesses during the Dickens Festival/Holiday season here in town. It is a great way for kids to see their work out in the world and as an art gallery owner, I think the whole project is awesome. I have participated in the past and loved seeing the kid's faces when they came in and saw their works on display. And the community really loved looking at the projects, especially people who knew the

"creators" personally. The art teacher didn't want a lot of publicity for herself in relation to this project but her name is Nancy Ohotzke and I think her project with her students is a great way to promote the arts. Thanks to Nancy and all the great kids from Medford Memorial School who are displaying their works throughout Medford Village! Shown above are photos of the mosaic window display and the inside gallery display of the Medford Memorial Mosaics at Creative Genius Art Gallery & Studio.

Isn't it fun...

2008-11-26T15:04:00.003-05:00

doing the impossible?
Spoke to my favorite sales person today and he gave me that priceless quote and I am adopting it as my new favorite...because, yes, it is absolutely fun doing what everyone else says is impossible...
Hope Thanksgiving is an enjoyable day for all...

Ladies Night..the first of two...

2008-11-21T17:54:00.002-05:00

We had our first of two scheduled holiday season ladies nights last night in the gallery and we had an awesome turnout. Of course, I meant to take pictures but we were too busy...maybe in December we'll post some of the fun on this blog...it seemed like everyone had fun enjoying dessert and the prizes we gave away all got used. Overall a fun night and we've got more new stuff arriving daily so there will be even more to look at in December...hope to see lots of great "ladies" there!

Fun with Mosaics!

2008-11-07T21:15:00.008-05:00

This evening we hosted a great workshop that is a popular favorite with our client list. Each time we run it, more and more creative interpretations of the projects emerge. The instructor, Tippy Wobbe, is a fun mosaic artist who enjoys sharing his knowledge with his students and he often shares stories about techniques and tips that he has learned along the way.

It seemed like our group enjoyed their first evening...now their pieces have to set for 12 hours. Then tomorrow they will return to finish with grouting and will get to take their works home. I can already tell that there are going to be some table tops with mosaic on them in the near future at some of their homes...

This is a great activity to enjoy with friends...bring a bottle of your favorite beverage to our next workshop and enjoy some social time with friends while learning a new skill you can use on old furniture at home.

Our next Mosaic Workshop for Beginners runs January 24th (6-9pm) and January 25th from 10-11am. Visit us on the web at http://www.creativegeniusonline.com/ for pricing or to reserve your space.
Hope to see you there!

Beaded Cuff Workshop

2008-10-25T15:21:00.006-04:00

Fun with jewelry artist, Michele Grady!

This Saturday we hosted an awesome workshop here at Creative Genius and some great women got to participate. The workshop is Beaded Wire Cuff Bracelet and instructor/jewelry artist Michele Grady was on hand to show the students how to create a beaded wire cuff bracelet out of copper and stones.

The workshop is a fun event that we host on a regular basis once every month or two. Our workshops are a great activity for get-togethers with friends, girls night out and more...For more information about our great programs and workshops, visit us on the web at http://www.creativegeniusonline.com/ and click on UPCOMING EVENTS...

5th Anniversary Fun!

2008-10-07T13:11:00.004-04:00

The gallery celebrated our 5th anniversary this past Saturday with a fabulous wood exhibit entitled "Beneath the Bark". Our opening was on Saturday night and we had a great time showcasing the wonderful wood creations on display as well as the other artists who show work in the gallery.

A great big thanks to the artists, whose work was well received and who all attended and greeted our exhibit attendees. It is always a pleasure to host artists who not only enjoy discussing their craft but make it interesting to collectors and novices alike.

We hosted a wonderful evening with great food, great turnout of folks who really enjoyed the exhibit and who have been supportive of the gallery for the past 5 years. We sincerely thank each and every one of them for their support...

Exhibit and Anniversary Fun (and Holidays Already!)

2008-09-26T12:02:00.006-04:00

Our upcoming exhibit is just over a week away and we have been hard at work getting everything prepped for a fun night celebrating our exhibit opening and our 5th anniversary here at Creative Genius. I can't believe we've actually been open 5 years. Incredible!

And then, there's the holidays...

Yes, I am talking about THOSE holidays, believe it or not. The ones that come in December and cost us all a lot of money and stress and time.

As a retailer, you have to begin getting holidays on the brain as soon as the last year's events are over. And I have done a lot of research to bring in even more unique choices for this year's festivities.

We officially have our Ladies Nights planned for November 20th and December 11th, both from 6-9pm. Each Ladies Night will be an opportunity to get your holiday wish list gift registries complete or updated as well as enjoy jewelry trunk shows, prizes, giveaways and dessert, all while shopping in a relaxing, stress-free, Creative environment. What could be better? Make it a social event and stop and have dinner in Medford Village with some friends before heading over to enjoy dessert and shopping with us. Drop in to any of our great restaurants in Medford and then join us. Oh, and gift wrapping is free on all your purchases...

Holiday orders are arriving all the time with new exciting choices from our regular artists as well as new artist offerings. I've got some great small gift items too...something for everyone here at Creative Genius.

Our 5th Anniverary Party? Fabulous Ladies Nights? Be sure to mark your calendars...hope to see you there!

BENEATH THE BARK! New Exhibit Opening...

2008-09-16T11:59:00.004-04:00

Creative Genius Art Gallery & Studio is getting ready to celebrate our five year anniversary with a new exhibit opening. The exhibit is going to be filled with unique creations made from wood-all kinds and styles of wood. You don't want to miss this.

The opening reception is SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4th from 6-9pm and will include refreshments and a chance to mingle with creative people. For more information please contact us or visit us on the web at www.creativegeniusonline.com.

We hope to see you there!

Happy Campers!

2008-06-19T20:05:00.002-04:00

Greetings from Medford, NJ!
We are working and making great efforts to complete last minute preparations for our upcoming camp schedule, which has been very popular this year. We have a full group of excited campers joining us for our 4 camp offerings this year and we're excited too...should be lots of fun...

Our camp offerings include Clay Camp, Digital Photography Camp, Funky Furniture Camp and Make It And Use It Camp...all designed to get kids thinking creatively while learning new techniques associated with art mediums and craft mediums. We like to think it is a fun way to spend a summer morning...

We're also working on a full schedule of activities for fall including workshops, classes and other events including our 5th Anniversary Party and Exhibit...stay tuned for more information...

Hope you're enjoying the start of summer...we are!

Wine and Jazz and Ocean Dreams!

2008-05-29T18:02:00.008-04:00

This weekend, Medford Township is hosting a Wine and Jazz Festival along Main Street in Medford Village. Many great musical offerings will be showcased along with samples from wineries, food, shopping and more. Creative Genius will be open from 10:30am-4pm on Sunday and will be showcasing our recently expanded gallery. Plus, there will be a table out front with coupons, a chance to sign up to win prizes including free classes and gift certificates and more...come see us!

Also included in this festival is a small showing of local art that will be located along North Main Street near Creative Genius. The art is limited (long story) but the weather is looking good and the festival should be a fun afternoon.

I wanted to take a moment to feature a few really cool pieces available for sale currently at Creative Genius. One is the beautiful necklace shown in this entry which was created by Ocean Dreams by Randie B. A truly fabulous piece, this can be worn with a t-shirt or a little black dress. And it really looks great on...

Now wouldn't you like to see it in person sparkling in the front window at Creative Genius?

I would also like to make mention of the fact that we have new work added from our best selling local jewelry artist, Michele Grady and the pieces are selling like crazy. Michele sells her work through galleries throughout the US and her jewelry is feminine and urban and just plain cool (and I am not the only one who thinks so!) There are quite a few jewelry collectors who have been turned on to Michele's work from coming in to Creative Genius over the past 4 1/2 years. Have you started YOUR Michele Grady collection?

Fused Glass Tiles! New Workshop

2008-05-07T12:36:00.005-04:00

We just confirmed a new workshop we've added to our schedule for September 27th. I know that might seem like a long way away but it will be here before you know it. This workshop is a Fused Glass Tile workshop. Students will create a set of four fused glass tiles using various colors and techniques to do so. The instructor is great and it sounds like a fun afternoon for those interested in learning about fusing glass. I have had numerous requests for this workshop so it is exciting to finally have it on the schedule.

With all the great classes and workshops we have offered over the past 4 1/2 years as well as the fact that we continue to offer 100% american handmade items, I think we have done a decent job of sticking to our vision for what Creative Genius is all about . We've proudly expanded to continue to provide our clients with an art environment that is true to its identity and doesn't try to follow someone else's vision of what we should be. Thanks for your support!

New Artists!

2008-05-01T15:34:00.002-04:00

Here at Creative Genius we've been working with some great artists over the past 5 years. Yes, we've been lucky! Well, in line with our expansion, we've also been working on adding some great new artists to the fold of wonderful creators already showcasing their works here at Creative Genius.

Here's a sampling of a few of our latest additions:

Deb DeMarco-lampworking and fused glass, truly creative pendants at great affordable prices...you definitely want to check out her Goddess pendants and sea horse pendants. They are one of a kind, lampworked creations...

Iridescent Dreams-fused glass jewelry and wine bottle toppers...really unique sterling silver and fused glass rings and reversible bracelets...a new favorite for a few of our clients...

From the Heart Creations-more silverware jewelry with a different twist...accessible and fun and different from the other artists we've showcased in this genre...

There are also some new additions or new incoming work from our existing artists...The short list includes new pieces from the following artists:
Michele Grady
Liz Kinder
Morningstar Studio
Sugarboo Designs
John Ciecierski
Melissa Ciecierski
Sherry Tinsman
Trish Proto
Elaine and Bill Snell
Nancy Salamon
Kathy Hudson
and more coming soon!

New workshop just added too...Fused Glass Tile Workshop...this will be held in September...more details coming soon...

EXPANSION!

2008-04-19T13:57:00.002-04:00

Yes, it has been a while since anything has been posted here and it is primarily because Creative Genius has expanded, and I have been incredibly busy (with lots of help) making it happen.
The studio is now in the rear of our space with a convenient separate entrance and access to the rear parking lot. Very convenient and great for people coming in for classes, parties, etc. It is all set up and is a nice studio environment. Nothing too fancy but it totally works and our students have been loving it so far.
The gallery is now 25% bigger. Where our studio space used to be is now additional gallery/exhibit space and we are slowly adding more cool items. We've got sculptures arriving, we've got new art arriving and we're having fun making it all happen. There's even a spot to sit near our StoryPeople area (I promised a few StoryPeople fans that this would happen and I am not one to back out of a promise :)
So there's great things happening every day...come see what's new at Creative Genius!
To read the press release about our expansion, visit us on the web at www.creativegeniusonline.com/press

Inspiration for Spring...

2008-03-04T15:57:00.005-05:00

Wow!
All we needed was a little sun and it would have been spring for sure...unfortunately, no such luck but today's weather was a nice little preview of warmer days to come.
And while we're thinking of spring, here at Creative Genius we've also got creativity on our minds...some great workshops are coming up that you don't want to miss:
Stained Glass for Beginners runs this Saturday from 9am-6pm. Students will create an 8x10 panel. Pre-registration is required
Fused Glass Pendant Workshop-runs on March 22nd with Michele Grady
The Art of Weaving-for beginner weavers runs for the first time here at Creative Genius on March 29th from 11-3pm.

Our great selection of camps are sure to be a hit with all those creative kids looking for summer inspiration too!

For more information on any of our upcoming workshops, visit us on the web at www.creativegeniusonline.com or give us a call at 609-714-1131.

Ready, Set, Weave!

2008-02-13T11:03:00.003-05:00

Okay, we've achieved the impossible and posted our children's summer day camp schedule EARLY...imagine that! In addition to the eight zillion things we have going on here we are also ready for summer (as I think everyone probably is after yesterday's snow, sleet and freezing rain). For a complete listing of our camps, visit www.creativegeniusonline.com and click on summer camp programs...
Also in the works are some really great workshops coming up including our beginner mosaic workshop, beginner stained glass and new for 2008, a beginner WEAVING workshop...for more information on our workshops, come visit us or check out the website for details...
We hope you are staying dry on this very soggy Wednesday...

Loss...

2008-02-01T10:31:00.000-05:00

Life is short--so LIVE!
January has been a tough month...we lost my father in law on January 10th at the age of 62. He was recovering from surgery but was expected to make a full recovery and then he didn't and it was a shock to all of us. He was a larger than life personality and the world definitely got smaller on Janaury 10th. Life really is short so be here in the present and be sure you are living and not just existing. None of us really knows what is around the corner...

It's been hectic...

2007-12-28T14:48:00.000-05:00

Well, based on the last time a blog entry was posted, it would be pretty obvious that I have been a bit busy. Basically, I have no time for blog entries, web updates, or the like in December. Such is life in retail and believe me, I am not complaining. It kind of feels good to get caught back up on my regular tasks, though.
I hope that the holiday was an enjoyable one and a happy new year to all...

Dickens Festival and Emmie

2007-12-04T11:34:00.000-05:00

It is a cold, windy but sunny day and the rain has stopped in Medford (for now!). They say snow later on in the week but for now, it is actually a really nice and brisk day out there.

We had a hectic last week here at Creative Genius and I just wanted to say thank you for a fun Dickens Festival. For starters, thanks go to all our customers, both new and existing, who stopped in on Dickens Night and showed support. We greatly appreciate you and your appreciation of fine art and fine craft. A big thank you also to our helpers this year: Reece, Makayla, Gina, Chris and Chris (and Zachary too!). Thanks for being there! We had a great time and hope you did too!

I also wanted to take a moment during this season of giving to mention a brave little girl named Emily Mangione who has extensive health issues and has had not only a birthday this past week but a hospital stay. I know her mom, Kim, through the gallery and she is like supermom. The emotional, physical and financial toll that a very ill child can have on a family is extensive yet Kim is always positive, upbeat and filled with hope in her email updates about Emmie and I not only admire that but want to make people more aware of Emmie and what she has and continues to go through. Even with all the problems we all may have, I think when you look at a little 8 year old who battles every day of her life, you have to really get some perspective. To learn more about Emmie and her family, please visit www.emmie.info

Enjoy the season...try not to stress too much and not to forget the true meaning...

Holiday Fun!

2007-11-30T14:50:00.000-05:00

To start with, thank you to all the great women who came out for our Ladies Night on Wednesday, Nov 28th. Your support of American fine art and fine craft is appreciated. I hope you enjoyed the refreshments and a chance to browse and shop without the pressures and chaos of the mall. We enjoyed hosting the event...look for future Ladies Nights events in the future. And I hope all those prize winners make good use of their prizes.

The next upcoming event I am telling everyone I know about is Dickens Festival, Medford Village's Annual Festival on Main Street filled with holiday cheer, Dickensian characters, refreshments, entertainment, shopping and more. It is a fun night out with the kids and a great chance to browse through the wonderful shops along Main Street. There are some unique finds available out there if you take the time to slow down and browse. :) Anyway, I hope you get a chance to come out for the festival and kick off the holiday season right. And one last note about the festival: be sure and look for the Stilt walker...my step daughter met him at a concert and he supposedly travels all over the country to do his stilt walking and will be joining us in Medford Village especially for the Dickens Festival. How about that? It's such a great festival we even attract traveling stilt walkers...

Well, regardless of what you decide to do for entertainment, here's to an enjoyable weekend for all...

2007-11-16T13:06:00.000-05:00

Greetings!
A brisk wind is blowing through the streets of Medford today but it is toasty warm here at Creative Genius. I am in the process of working on some great upcoming events that we are pretty excited about.
Of course, the first event is our LADIES NIGHT, coming up on November 28th from 6-9pm. We hope you can join us for an evening of fun, prizes, refreshments, a trunk show and a chance to fill out your wish list gift registry, just in time for the holidays. And the best part is that you get to leave the kids at home and come out and socialize with some great local women...
Also coming up on Saturday Dec 1st is Dickens Festival here on Main Street in Medford Village. Enjoy an evening of holiday cheer and come visit us for our annual artist trunk show, featuring 3 artists with additional selections for you to peruse, just in time for holiday shopping.
We are having issues with the Creative Genius website right now but hopefully they will be resolved soon. Don't worry if you can't access it properly...it isn't your computer, it is more stuff on the technical end.

INTRODUCING...

2007-11-07T16:07:00.000-05:00

This has been a week of introductions, some really great ones and some not so great. I am going to choose to skip any negatives and focus strictly on the positive, very cool happenings here at Creative Genius...so here goes...
We now carry the incredible work of two very talented wood artists who came to me through a customer recommendation (thank you!) and whose work is incredible. They are Andy DiPietro from Burlington, N J and Philip Hauser from Hainesport. These two gentlemen were not only generous with their showcase of incredible hollow forms as well as natural edge vessels but also with their time. Both were very forthcoming with information about their craft, which is always very exciting to me because I truly love to learn about how all these talented people I work with do what they do. Both are involved with the Delware Valley Turners and you can visit the website for that organization at www.del-val-turners.com. I think those of you who get a chance to visit and know your fine craft will be impressed by the superior quality work produced by these two men.

Also new on our agenda is a studio/gallery expansion...more information on this new and exciting event coming soon but we should have some new and exciting things to roll out to our clients around mid-January.

I would also like to formally introduce our newest addition to the Creative Genius fold: our new Painting and Drawing teacher, Andrew Pell. Andrew comes highly recommended and we are all excited that he has joined us. Look for him in Children's Drawing and Painting on Wednesdays from 6-7pm and in Adult Drawing & Painting on Wednesdays from 7-9pm. Welcome aboard, Andrew!

Lastly, all you ladies out there need to mark your calendars for what is sure to become a holidays tradition. On Wednesday, Nov 28th we're hosting a ladies night from 6-9pm. It's a great chance to complete your holiday wish list registries, enjoy complimentary refreshments, enter drawings to win prizes and enjoy a jewelry trunk show featuring Michele Grady. We'd love to see you there so get your friends together and plan to be here.

Well, that's all for now...stay tuned for more exciting happenings and at the very least, more blogging from me.

WISH LISTS...

2007-10-20T16:57:00.000-04:00

Just a friendly reminder from Creative Genius Art Gallery & Studio...now is the time to start creating your WISH LIST page for the holiday season...

The Creative Genius WISH LIST is a one page form that allows you to choose and document items here at Creative Genius that you like and would be happy to receive as gifts. It works like a wedding registry only you don't have to be a bride-to-be in order to take advantage of using it. Once you set up your page and document the items you like (and we'll show you how) we add your page to our wish list book under your last name. You then receive 6-8 Creative Genius business cards to provide to people who will be shopping for you during the holiday season (or for your birthday, housewarming or whatever occasion works!). All your gift buyer needs to do is pop in and we will guide that person through your wish list. It's the best way to guarantee you get something you really want this holiday season...and we're here to help!
Stop on by and we'll help you set up this year's wish list...

Talking About Our Exhibit-Again!

2007-10-19T10:56:00.000-04:00

Yes, once again I am going to write about our great upcoming exhibit of wearable art by jewelry artist, Michele Grady. I am going to talk about it because I really think it is something fine craft and jewelry collectors won't want to miss. Michele is a very talented silversmith with an assortment of jewelry creations that are feminine, contemporary and unique all at the same time. There will be a variety of choices in a variety of price points and the best part is that interest free layaway will be available for items priced over $150. We're trying to make it all accessible so that very special women (and men) can wear very special pieces as they should, without having to worry about affordability. Very exciting stuff, folks....
On another note, we'd love to encourage you to tap into your creative genius side some time soon. Our many class and workshop offerings make it simple...workshops happen on a rotating basis and classes happen weekly. There's a full service pottery studio here at Creative Genius as well as Painting and Drawing for kids and for adults and a host of workshop offerings in mediums like Stained Glass, Wire-Working Jewelry workshops, Clay for Kids, and more...Don't forget about our new Digital Photography for Beginners offering for Children (adults can pop into this class too if they want to learn some cool new techniques)...these classes are offered on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and we'll be working on product photography, portraits and more. Your child will have a ball learning how to be a better picture taker...
Hope to see you soon...

New at Creative Genius

2007-10-10T12:55:00.000-04:00

It is an exciting time of year here at Creative Genius. These days, I spend most of my time preparing for the holidays so that I can provide my clients with an exciting new assortment of fine art and fine craft in a fun and festive setting. Sounds simple but believe me, it is far from easy. There are days that I would prefer doing anything but climbing up and down a ladder, hanging lights/ornaments/art and anything else that requires suspension from the ceiling. And then there is the gift wrapping and packaging...I love to provide the service of gift wrapping to my clients but what I don't love is having to become a psychic and predict exactly how much of our special mirrored silver wrapping paper I am going to need to get us through Oct, Nov and Dec. Plus the rolls of tulle that we use in our signature wrapping are equally hard to predict. And yes, I know these thing will still get used even if we over-order and end up with extra. I understand that wrapping paper and tulle rolls are not like lettuce or tomatoes and that they don't go bad. And that leads right into my next frustration with preparations...there's a BUDGET I have to stick to as well...and it is a STRICT ONE...yikes!
Aside from all of the monstrous stress I normally encounter this time of year, I actually do love all that preparing the gallery for the holidays entails. This year, we've actually got our great exhibit running through the end of the year as well. Michele Grady's hand-crafted original jewelry designs are great for all kinds of people and will surely be a big hit for holiday gifts (or self-gifts) this year. Don't forget to join us on the 26th of Oct to kick off the opening of this great exhibit.

Now if I could just predict the future, I might get the preparations right...

Old friends, co-workers and art!

2007-10-02T20:51:00.000-04:00

October 2nd, 2007
Well, we had a good day for Medford's newest festival this past Sunday. No complaints on this end. Lots of great folks out walking around and enjoying the festival. And wine makes people pretty easy to deal with :)

Today, pretty much one of the first thing I did was spoke to an old friend/co-worker who I haven't spoken to in 4 years. That was actually kind of cool...his sister is an artist and hopefully some time soon, they'll make the drive down to Medford to check things out. I am glad he is doing well.

And speaking of 4 years, this month marks our 4th year in business. How time flies when you love your job and love what you do. This is easily the most difficult job I have ever had (and that includes working in restaurants for the better part of my twenties) but easily the best too. We are constantly building things up, meeting new artists and adding new creations to our space and it has truly been a blast. I think I am definitely one of the luckier people that does what I do.

It has been an interesting day...the past meets the present...days like today always makes me kind of introspective about the choices I have made. Happily, I think they were good ones...

Creative Genius Art Fair During Medford's Autumn Wine & Jazz Festival

2007-09-29T16:23:00.000-04:00

September 29th, 2007
Welcome to my first blog for Creative Genius Art Gallery & Studio, which is my fine art and fine craft gallery located in Medford, NJ. I have loved writing since I was a child so blogging was eventually going to be a natural progression for me.
Okay, let's talk about some great upcoming events...Coming up tomorrow is our fun afternoon mini art fair, located outside of Creative Genius at 32 North Main Street in Medford, NJ between 1pm and 4pm. This fair will take place during the Medford Autumn Wine and Jazz Festival, which features local NJ wineries, food, music, and shopping. Come join in the fun and scope out work from some of our visiting artists too.
We look forward to seeing you there...
Also coming up is our next exhibit which is a fabulous exhibit of original wearable art by jewelry artist, Michele Grady. It opens on October 26th with a Sweets and Treats reception from 7-10pm. If you miss this reception you will miss a fabulous spread of delicious desserts and libations plus the chance to own one (or more!) of Michele's wonderful pieces of wearable art. Layaway is available which makes it all oh so accessible...come check it out!