Artisans Loves...

...Linda's Seabreeze Cafe! Welcome to another installment of Artisans Loves. In this post, we will introduce you to one of our favorite breakfast and lunch spots in Santa Cruz. And if you've already been to the Seabreeze, then lucky you!
Top 5 reasons we love the Seabreeze cafe:

5. It's a great spot for kids.
The friendly staff will set your little one up with animal toys, a sippy cup, and lots of attention.

4. It's a great spot if you don't have kids.
Seriously--before any of us had kids, we never really noticed tables full of children. Even though it's a small spot, kids are so entertained that patrons without them won't be bothered.

3. The cinnamon rolls.
Yum! You might have to split a breakfast dish with a friend so that you have room for one of these tasty treats.

2. Turkey In The Garden sandwich.
Some folks don't know about the delicious lunch options. The Seabreeze says it's "Fresh roasted turkey breast on whole wheat bread in the company of sprouts, tomatoes, and thinly sliced cucumber. Spread with 1000-island dressing." We say it's delectable!

1. Coffee!
A word of advice: if you get to the Seabreeze after 9:00 on a Saturday or Sunday morning you will probably have to wait a bit. However, they have provided carafes of coffee to keep you fueled during your wait. Thanks Seabreeze! We'll be seeing you soon!

Petit Adorable!

We now carry adorable mobiles from Petit Collage. Each piece features super-cute themes like tree friends and jungle friends, but is clean and modern enough to hang up outside of baby's room!

Petit Collage states that their mobiles are hand-made in the United States. They are packaged in San Fransisco by a non-profit company that employs adults with disabilities. Additionally, they are made from sustainable, fast-growing bamboo.

They look good and you will feel good when you buy them!

Just Sayin'

Chocolate and Steel, one of our newest lines, is handmade by Christine Street in Pasadena, California.

Christine describes the birth of her hip and adorable line thusly, "One day a coworker told me about a bead store that was having a sale. I checked it out and so began my new passion of jewelry making. And I mean passion! I love making things - all things, but I also love wearing things. Jewelry making brought together my two biggest obsessions- creating and shopping. I am constantly trying new things.I have worked my way through a myriad of techniques all of which build upon the last. So brings us to Chocolate and Steel.."

We love the "Just Sayin" line, which features necklaces that proclaim She's Crafty or Ti Amo. A customer favorite has been the earrings, necklaces and rings with deer, whales, lovebirds, or flowers. Pay us a visit and decide which piece you love!

I'd Like to Buy a Vowel

Come on in and check out our new shipment of HomeStudio pendants and earrings! Handmade in Carlsbad, CA, HomeStudio uses Scrabble tiles as the backing for adorable pieces of jewelery. Snake chain and bail loop are made of sterling silver.

From birds and bicycles to Maneki Nekos and Dalahästs HomeStudio offers something to delight every woman on your list!

June

When we think of June at Artisans, we always think of "Dads and Grads." And, of course, Artisans is currently full of all sorts of great gifts and cards for the father or alumnus in your life.

But this year, June also has us thinking of...Weddings! (Could it be because two lovely Artisans ladies have been/will be wed in 2010? Perhaps, perhaps.) The next time you're invited to a wedding, break the habit of a predictable registry selection and consider a hand crafted gift, made in the United States. Consider a Treestump cutting board paired with a cook book from Bookshop Santa Cruz, or Rolf wine glasses and bottle of wine made with grapes grown in the Santa Cruz mountains from Vinocruz.

Finally, if you are getting married, check out our jewelery selection. We carry classic pearl sets from Violet Drury, as well as modern and fun earrings and necklaces for brides and bridesmaids. Ritch & Co. rings have also become very popular as wedding sets or wedding rings for men. We can order a ring to fit you, so don't be shy about trying them on!

Whether you're celebrating dads, grads, newly weds, or the sunshine, Artisans wishes you a happy June!

Community

By now, you have probably heard about the events that transpired in the wee hours of Sunday morning. In short, unknown people attacked downtown, throwing rocks and chairs through windows, throwing paint, setting fires, and spray painting. In all, they did an estimated $100,000.00 worth of damage.

Artisans was included in the 18 damaged businesses. One of our front windows was smashed, and most of the ceramics on display in the alcove were broken. Artisans owner, Linnaea Holgers James, and her family came down to the store at 11:30 till almost 2 in the morning to assess the damage and provide a temporary fix for the window.

The next day, Linnaea chose to not simply board up the window, but to create an installment in the window using the damaged ceramics, a newspaper account of what had occurred, and flowers. We at Artisans have a message for the perpetrators of this destruction: you failed. Since Sunday, we have had a stream of regular customers, old friends, tourists, and UCSC students and families pouring into the store to pledge their support and commitment to Artisans. People have offered their time, money, and construction skills to help us repair the damage. Instead of stopping our business, you reminded us that Santa Cruz is a close-knit community who cares deeply about downtown businesses.

And to those who are shocked, frightened, or angry about the events of last weekend, we have a message for you: downtown Santa Cruz belongs to you, too! Show your support by coming down and making your presence visible. Treat yourself to an ice cream sundae at Marini's, get ready for summer with a gardening guide from Bookshop Santa Cruz, sit and drink a cup of coffee on the outdoor patio at Cafe Delmarette, buy something for mom at Artisans (yes, Mother's Day is this Sunday). It's because of you that downtown is able to exist, and to you we are grateful.

Artisans Loves...The Farmers' Market!

Woe to the Artisans employee who works Wednesday afternoons, she who is unable to go to the downtown farmers' market! Luckily for her, the rest of our staff will drop by and bring her a treat from this weekly festivity.

Top five reasons Artisans loves the farmers' market:

1. Fresh fruit

Seems obvious doesn't it? But once you've bitten into just-picked strawberries, you'll know why it's so special to buy fruit from the farmers' market. (And don't you think we made the right choice when we put our strawberries in this bowl from Fire and Light? Lucky for you, this bowl and many other items from Fire and Light are for sale at Artisans!)

2. Locally grown vegetables

Sure, you can spend a small fortune in November buying asparagus grown in South America, but why notwait until this incredible vegetable is available for sale at the market? It's inexpensive, local, and absolutely delicious! And while you're at it, treat yourself right and bring a couple of artichokes home too.

3. Flowers

From sweet peas in the spring to marigolds in the autumn, the downtown farmers' market offers a tempting array of flowers all year long. You can also buy bulbs to plant at home so that you can enjoy growing daffodils and dahlias for years to come.

4. Lunch

The market offers more than raw fruits and vegetables begging to be taken home and cooked. Come hungry and you will be rewarded with an international array of lunch options, from samosas to crepes to tacos.

5. A bigger, better market

Starting this week, the downtown farmers' market is celebrating it's 20th anniversary by offering 20 more spots for vendors. This means more fruit, more vegetables, more flowers, and more lunch! We found ourselves tempted by a new stand offering free-range rotisserie chicken and roasted

potatoes--looks like we should add "dinner" to the list of our favorite things about the market!

The downtown farmers' market takes place on Wednesdays from 2:30 to 6:30 pm. For more information, go here.

Baby Corner

If you're like many of our customers, you probably come to Artisans when you're looking for a special birthday, graduation, or anniversary gift. Now, you can add a new baby to the list of people you shop for at Artisans. Stop in and check out "baby corner"! Here we have all kinds of adorable and fun gifts for the newest small person in your life.

Check out our collection of stuffed animals and hand puppets from Cate and Levi. Cate and Levi uses reclaimed material for their whimsical creations.

Looking for clothing? Consider outfitting your new addition in a onesie made by Jasper Hearts Wren. Their pieces feature gnomes, whales, rocket ships, owls and other sweet creatures; all crafted using 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.

In addition, baby corner has mobiles, wall hangings, and night lights to brighten baby's room (and perhaps the rooms of a few adults we know as well). Come in and see what other surprises are found in Baby Corner!

Artisans Loves...

Welcome to the first installment of Artisans Loves, in which we take a break from blogging about the wonders found in the shop in order to enlighten you about some of the things we love to eat, watch, dance to, etc. First in our series: Cafe Delmarette!

Top Five Reasons Artisans loves Cafe Delmarette:
5. It's located just down the street from us, at 1126 Pacific Ave, so it's easy for us to dash over on our breaks and grab a sandwich or a cookie.
4. They serve Verve coffee, brewed in a press pot or blended into gorgeous espresso drinks.
3. Outdoor seating means your eyes can be entertained by the people watching opportunities of Pacific Avenue while your mouth is entertained by a variety of tasty eats.
2. All of their treats, from mini chocolate cupcakes to organic apple pie to savory cheese and herb scones, are baked right there!

1. The Cheddar Gorge with bacon. Is it a sandwich or a small piece of heaven?

(Image borrowed from the Delmarette's facebook page)

If you love Artisans and Cafe Delmarette too, why not take a minute to let the world know by nominating us for a "Best of 2010" award from Good Times!

Who, Being Loved, Is Poor?

Wrote our friend Oscar Wilde.

Thoughtful sentiment aside, some of us might be feeling a bit of a pinch in our wallets as Valentine's Day approaches this year. Fortunately, Artisans offers a wide range of Valentine gifts, from the affordable to the extravagant.

Why not amuse your love with a card from Cara Scissoria? This long time Artisans card line features witty takes on politics and current events, with seasonal variations celebrating Christmas, Halloween, Hanukkah, and, of course, Valentine's Day.

We also offer valentines from Papaya!, Peculiar Pair Press, and You Send Me. And, if you know where to look, you might find some beautiful valentines hand-made by Artisans owner and artist in her own right Linnaea Holgers.

While you're searching for the perfect gift for your sweetheart, be sure to head to the back of the store and bid on one of the items offered in our Hearts for the Arts silent auction. This fundraiser features prints from David Fleming and Doug Ross, posters by Steve Hosmer, original paintings from Paul Fortis and Marie Gabrielle, and much more. Be sure to come in soon as bidding ends, you guessed it, February 14th!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Welcome To Our Blog!

So, Artisans has decided to hold our nose and jump into blogging! Here you will find updates about products, new artists we're carrying, art openings, and things we think are just exciting. Please check back again soon!