Friday, October 30, 2015

Fun Finds at Hallmarket

A few weeks ago, some of the creative people I work with came together for an art fair. They call it Hallmarket (ha!) and it's in its fifth year. Amy from Sebastian the Sensitive Soul and I went to browse and buy.

I knew I had some very talented coworkers, but was surprised at how many of them show their love for cats and dogs through the art they had for sale.

Amy & I both bought several things and drooled over lots of other things. I asked some of them if there were ways non Kansas Citians could buy some of their cool stuff, and they said yes. So here is just a small sampling of what we saw, with the links for you to browse if you're so inclined.

I recently shot a video with Flora Chang. She's so sweet and makes amazing kids cards (among other things) for Hallmark. On her own, she makes tons of cat stuff, including these adorable cat buttons. She loves cats. Can you tell? Here are her links - she has a few stores: RedBubble and HappyDoodleLand on Etsy.

A retired Hallmarker makes these amazing cat beds out of gourds, but they need to be ordered a year in advance so they can grow just the right size gourd. She auctions them off for shelter donations.
She also makes these really cute gourd ornaments.

I don't have her contact info, but the gourd ornaments were only $7! I'll try to hunt her down and update this post soon. (yeah, that was kind of mean, teasing you like that...sorry...)





And a really, really good friend and the person who sits right next to me at work, Kristin Smith, makes out of this world art prints.

No, I mean, literally out of this world. Check out Space Kitten, below.
You can check out all of her fun work at Kristin Smith Creative.


Yep, I have one of these hanging in my office!
And for all you kitties out there who love watching Squirrel TV, do your squirrels do this?

Finally, Donna Van Hooser, another retired Hallmark artist, was there with her amazing mosaic pet portraits. They're simply gorgeous! Not cheap, but wow. If you're looking for a beautiful keepsake, this is worth considering. I know I will be.

You can contact her through her web site or her Flickr page, seen below. Isn't that amazing stuff? The top photos were of her booth at Hallmarket. I came so close to buying a mosaic pendant and am mad I didn't. That way, though, I've saved more to go toward the pet portrait!


Happy shopping!
***






21 comments:

  1. Wow, these are awesome! But I'm not surprised - Hallmark has lots of really creative people on their staff.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh what a cheering thing for mine mommy to see this morning! xxoox

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love looking at adorable kitty crafts! You work with some incredibly talented people...I especially love those ornaments!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such talent. I really admire people who have that kind of creative skill. Thank you for bringing them to us

    ReplyDelete
  5. I bought some super cute art and I have one of the buttons made by Flora on the wall of my cubicle. I can't wait to go back next year!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I bought some super cute art and I have one of the buttons made by Flora on the wall of my cubicle. I can't wait to go back next year!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You have some very talented co-workers. Our favourite is the gourd ornaments. They are really cool!

    Purrs,
    The Chans

    ReplyDelete
  8. I bet that event was super fun to visit!

    ReplyDelete
  9. guys....we noe yur mom had an awesum time at de "market"....they have sum grate itemz for sure !!!! way kewl ~~~~~~~~hope her finded a little sum thin for each oh ewe while her waz ther !!

    heerz two a driftwood catfish kinda week oh end !! ♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dat's weally cool.

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Lexi

    ReplyDelete
  11. The mom wants to know where she can buy the ornaments. She loves them!

    ReplyDelete
  12. TBT here: The creativity is amazing! I am trying to think of a shirt or coat best suited for changing to those cat buttons. Every cat-lover should have some things that display the love of cats.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow! Hallmark really does have some super talented people. I guess that they have to be considering creativity is their jobs, but still... That mosaic tile work is incredible!

    ReplyDelete
  14. That must have been so much fun!
    Love those buttons, meowmy works with some kitty lovers, they would be fun gifts to give later...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for sharing with us. What a great event. Mom is going to check out the squirrel print as she has a squirrel-obsessed friend. We sure liked the kitty ornaments. Hope you can get that artist's info! XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow, we love everything you featured here, awesome stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  17. What great stuff! Thanks so much for sharing!!!!

    ReplyDelete

Coolio! A comment? For US?