redshoes news 2.6

Black & White

christy johnson — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:18:04 +0000

Studiopolis, located in the Northeast-Minneapolis-based Northrup King Building, is hosting one of its color shows next week. This year’s theme is Black and White, and takes place Feb. 2-4 at the studio (#423). The nine Studiopolis members show work, and they also open the show to outside artists as well. This year I will join the 25-plus guests artists by showing my mixed-media shadowbox piece, You Don’t Hurt Me Anymore.

You Don't Hurt Me Anymore, by redshoes26 design

These shows are fun because the studio members choose a color theme, and the artists are allowed to interpret the theme any way we wish.

First Viewing: 5-9 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2

Opening Reception: 7-10 p.m., Friday, Feb. 3

Come for the art, meet the artists, enjoy black-and-white food and beverages, and hear live music by Niki Becker at 8:30 on Feb. 3.

A Midwinter Night’s Dream

christy johnson — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:02:37 +0000

Winter is here, like it or not. The sky gets dark by 4 p.m., and some of us need a reason to get out of our pajamas and into our party clothes! Enter a new show hosted by AZ Gallery in St. Paul’s Lowertown in February.

The AZ Gallery Presents : A Midwinter Night’s Dream

A tribute to Minnesota’s female artists, surviving winter

http://theazgallery.org/2011/12/a-midwinter-nights-dream/

Exhibit Dates: Feb. 10-26 (3 weekends, Fri-Sun)

Artists Reception and Shopping Event: Feb. 11, 5-10 p.m.

Featuring a finely curated selection of locally made art, jewelry, home & beauty products, artisan chocolates, specialty baked goods, Vine Park Brewery’s nut-brown ale, and more! There will be music, food, wine, bubbles, gift ideas for your valentine and other surprises throughout the evening. Make it a date night with special coupon offers from our fabulous business sponsors (available at the event). Samples and special purchase opportunities will also be available on Feb. 11. Join us as we celebrate the talent, creativity and fortitude of Minnesota women!

Featuring art and jewelry by:

And handmade beauty & home products by :

The Elixery

Simple Scents

Aromi

Visit www.theazgallery.org for details.

The AZ Gallery, 308 Prince Street, St. Paul, Minnesota

Regular gallery hours : Friday 5-8 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Help me celebrate my 1-year anniversary!

christy johnson — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:13:51 +0000

One year ago today I set out on this full-time freelance adventure with redshoes26 design! I would like to celebrate and thank you for your support by giving away one of my Minnesota Icon illustrations. All you have to do is “like” my page on Facebook (if you haven’t already), and write a comment about which Icon you love the most and why.

If you don’t have a Facebook page, you can write your comment right here on my blog!

See my Etsy page for a full list of my Minnesota Icons.

Minneapolis City Hall - Minnesota Icon by redshoes26 design

I’ll enter your names into a drawing and randomly choose one on Friday–the winner’s Icon will then be popped in the mail (shipping will be free).

Thanks, everyone!

Tip back a pint to celebrate the New Year!

christy johnson — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:43:03 +0000

I suppose you *could* drink champagne from a pint glass. I wouldn’t judge you. I’m not fancy.

Have you seen the artist-designed pint glasses at the Walker Shop yet? Some of you know that my design was one of six chosen as part of the mnartists.marketplace competition earlier this summer. My Babe the Blue Ox illustration, one of my Minnesota Icons, was (I’m told) unanimously picked to grace the side of pint glasses sold in the shop, which made me all kinds of excited. They hit shelves in mid November.

I’ve sold cards in the Walker Shop for about two years, but to now be part of this is just extra special to me.

Babe the Blue Ox illustration by redshoes26 design

The sets are currently available in the shop for $50, and they’re high-quality pint glasses. I’m really impressed with how thick and substantial they are. I love using them.

Here’s an extra-added bonus: The six-glass sets come with a coupon for two free beers at Gather, the Walker’s bar/restaurant!

So this Saturday, when you ring in the New Year, maybe you will fill your Babe the Blue Ox glass with beer. Or maybe champagne. Or root beer. Whatever you fill it with, have a Happy New Year from your favorite place to go for Minneapolis graphic design, redshoes26 design!

What do you CRAVE?

christy johnson — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:42:38 +0000

I mentioned a few times a while back that redshoes26 design was going to be appearing in the CRAVE Minneapolis/St. Paul guide, and how excited I was about that (I still am–woo!). I got a copy of the book on Nov. 17 and so far there’s been great buzz about it!

If you’d like a copy or two, let me know and I’ll get ‘em in your hands. It would make a great holiday gift for the shopping diva in your life, or anyone who loves to support local businesses, especially those run by women.

In the meantime, check out this smiling face on page 186.

Thanks again to Kathy Hanson, Sewell Photography, Just Bloomed, and Allison AuBuchon for their help with my spread. Muah!

Have a great holiday, everyone!

CRAVE Minneapolis website: http://thecravecompany.com/minneapolis

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CRAVEminneapolis

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CRAVEmsp

Do you send holiday cards?

christy johnson — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:47:16 +0000

I usually create a new holiday card every year, and this year was no different. However, they don’t sell that well anymore. Not that they ever did sell like gangbusters.

Holiday Card with trees by redshoes26 design

I want to continue coming up with ideas for holiday cards every year, but it seems they don’t sell well at my art shows. And only one of my stores (out of six) chose to carry them this year. In the past, three stores have carried them.

So I’m wondering: Is it worth my time to create holiday cards? I sell a few packs each year, and a few gift tags, too (I make those, too…but haven’t made new designs for about two years).

Do you make holiday cards? Do they sell well for you?

Do you send holiday cards? If so, what kind? I feel like most people send those photo cards now. Is that why my holiday card sales are down? Or do people in general just not send them anymore? I get a few from friends and family each year, which makes me think people DO still send them. But yes, the majority are the photo cards. I don’t want to get into designing the photo cards.

Let’s discuss….

Your last chance(s)

christy johnson — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:21:21 +0000

I’m more than halfway through the busy holiday season of shows! There are just a few more chances to see my work. Here’s what’s remaining on my schedule for 2011:

Dec. 2, 2011 : Lowertown Art Show opening, AZ Gallery & Black Dog Cafe, St. Paul, 5-8 p.m.

Dec. 7, 2011 : Fifth Street Towers Holiday Shopping Sale, Minneapolis, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Dec. 10, 2011 : One-Off Yippee’s Glama Gala, Minneapolis, 7-10 p.m.

Dec. 10, 2011 : Lowertown Art Show award reception, AZ Gallery & Black Dog Cafe, St. Paul, 7-10 p.m.

I hope to see your smiling faces at one or many of these! You really make my business happen, and I appreciate you.

What shows would you like to see me do in 2012?

Contribute to St. Paul Art Collective

christy johnson — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:28:21 +0000

Hello! Today I’m simply passing along a note I received from the head of Springboard for the Arts about Give to the Max Day. Please consider donating to this wonderful organization.

***

Give to the Max Day is Nov. 16! Go to http://givemn.razoo.com/story/St-Paul-Art-Collective on that day to maximize your contribution. This season, thanks to a challenge from the Katherine B. Andersen fund of The St. Paul Foundation and the generosity of special donors, your gift to The St. Paul Art Collective will be matched up to $10,000. Here’s how:

- if you’re a new donor, your gift will be doubled.

- if you increase your gift over last year’s, the difference will be doubled.

- if you didn’t give last year, but you have in the past, your gift will be doubled.

NEW THIS YEAR! Prize grants of $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 will be awarded to the top three small nonprofit organizations–with budgets under $750,000–that receive the most dollars on Give to the Max Day.

We need YOUR help more than ever this year! If you can, please give. If you can’t, please forward this to your friends, family and others with a personal note.

Your gift will help us reach more artists, more performers, more students, more art enthusiasts and more under-represented communities. Your gift will help make opportunities available for artists and performers to participate in the Art Crawl, First Fridays, the SPAC Lowertown Gallery and our other programs. Your gift will help make St. Paul a viable and wonderful place for the arts and small businesses.

Thank you!! We appreciate your generosity and help!

***

Call me crazy…I just added another show

christy johnson — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:14:32 +0000

It’s a busy time of year for just about everyone. For small businesses, especially those of us who sell gift-y type items and artwork, it’s a CRAZY-busy time of year. And I love it. AND I am grateful for it!

If you read my last post you saw I have a bunch o’ shows coming up. And as of today–a day I actually already had a show–I added another. It’s a newer show, a small one, and I think it’ll be tons of fun. Here are the details!

The name alone basically made me say yes. Ha!

So on Nov. 25-26, wipe the sleep out of your eyes, the crumbs from your leftover-turkey sandwich off your face, and get your shop on at this low-key, no-doorbuster-sale-type show filled with lots of local artists!

Grateful for this full calendar

christy johnson — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:42:33 +0000

Apologies for being a blogging slacker. I was in North Carolina last week/end at my friend’s wedding. I had designed the wedding suite for it, and everything was absolutely stunning–just like the bride! Love that girl.

Anyway, I’ve also been busting to keep up to date on all the projects I’ve got rolling right now. LOTS! It’s good, but I’ve been a busy bee. I’m super humbled by all of the opportunities that have landed on my desk recently.

My workspace today--setting up for my shows!

I’m also filling an order for a store I’m soon to be joining, Honeyshine in Minneapolis!

I’m also working on updating my website, which is why the News page is out of date. The new site will hopefully debut next week! I can’t wait, and I’m so excited to share it with you.

I’m ALSO getting ready for the next few weeks of shows and events. I have a ton scheduled! Here they are, in order:

Nov. 12 – Nokomis Urban Craft Fair, 9-2, Nokomis Community Center, Minneapolis

Nov. 16 – CRAVE Guide launch and par-tay! I’m so thrilled to be in this year’s guide!

Nov. 17 – RAWards event, 8-midnight, Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis — Get your tickets now (prices increase next week), and come to the event to vote for me as Visual Artist of the Year for RAW: Minneapolis! I’d love your support!

Nov. 19 – Green Gifts Fair, 10-5, Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis — I’m sharing a booth with Larissa Loden Jewelry

Dec. 7 – Holiday Shopping Fair, 10-2, Fifth Street Towers in Minneapolis

Dec. 10 – One-Offs Yippee! Holiday Shopping Event, time TBA, Four Seasons Dance Studio in Minneapolis

Dec. 16 – I’m the Industry Speaker at graduation for The Art Institutes International Minnesota!

Whew….