{Sponsor Love} Clementine Art

I'm really excited to bring to you another 'Sponsor Love' interview, highlighting Clementine Art - a company that's been a wonderful supporter of The Parsley Thief. These Sponsor Love posts are a way to give my readers a more in depth look into some great companies who's products help beautify the world we live in. I hope you'll enjoy learning more about Diana, the founder of Clementine Art and what helped spark her desire to make a difference.

Company Name: Clementine Art
Owner: Diana Mercer
Company Location: Boulder, CO

I've been a fan of Clementine Art for a long time now. But for anyone reading that may not be familiar with your company, can you tell me more about it?

I'd be delighted! In 2003, I opened Clementine Studio, a mixed-media art studio for children in Boulder, Colorado. After a year or so of watching children smear themselves from head to toe with paint, glue, marker ink, and crayon rubbings as part of the creative process, nagging questions about the ingredients and long-term safety of these art supplies lingered. I started mixing up simple, wholesome art products in my kitchen with ingredients I could be sure of, like flour, salt and oil, and colors from spinach and turmeric. Clementine was born from the idea that we can do better for children when it comes to art products.

What is the significance behind the name "Clementine Art"?

I chose the name Clementine for my studio and our art products because it has a fresh and wholesome ring to it, and it reminds me of the old folk song "My Darlin' Clementine". It's sweet and simple without being contrived. That's also my philosophy for children's art.

How did you discover that there was a market and a need for eco-friendly, all natural art supplies?

The need for all natural art products became crystal clear to me after opening my studio. When a toddler would surprise us by putting a paintbrush in her mouth or somewhere unexpected, the parent would inevitably ask, "Is this ok?". I didn't feel comfortable with the status quo answer, "Yes, they're non-toxic" - since I didn't know what was in the products. I had questions about health issues related to the chemical preservatives and dyes I suspected were in there. Since natural products are available for children in almost every other category {organic clothing, organic and naturally dyed stuffed toys, natural wooden toys}, I realized that the world needed a natural alternative in art supplies as well.

What have some of your past occupations been? Anything in particular that lead you down the path to starting your own company?

Since 1992, I've been a teacher to small children. After teaching kindergarten for 10 years, I became very interested in the creative process, and opened Clementine Studio. That was a great leap for me into the world of owning a small business. I learned a lot, worked really hard, and finally sold the studio to a local non-profit to continue the mission, leaving me free to start Clementine Art with two incredible, and experienced partners.

How would you define your own personal aesthetic, and how does that translate into the products you create at Clementine Art?

I am drawn to things that are simple, fresh, lovely and unique. I also believe that, for children, getting back to the simple basics is developmentally best, as it allows them to do their own work inventing and innovating. When children's products are too complicated - with lots of bells and whistles - children aren't left with much to do. The focus of Clementine products is on the inspiration and creative opportunities that are made available with simple, beautiful and unique materials.

I know first hand that running a business can be stressful and time consuming work - What does your life outside Clementine Art look like?

I have more time on my hands than most, since I'm single. I've recently been working toward creating a wee family. I'm in the process of adopting a child right now!

What are some of your favorite hobbies or things to do in your free time?
Yoga, cooking, singing French Jazz with my band, hiking, painting, reading, and combing flea markets and yard sales for treasures.

Any suggestions on how parents can create an all-natural art supply collection for their kids? What are some of the products you'd recommend to get them started?
You don't need to toss everything you've got and go for it all at once. If you add a thing or two here and there, you'll be more natural before you know it.
Here's a list of basic supplies you can try in your transition to more natural art products:
Drawing | crayons, colored pencils, markers, charcoal pencils, oil or chalk pastels - {I love Clementine Art, Eco Kids, Lyra and Stockmar Brands}
Recycled Paper | assorted sizes, textures, and weights of watercolor paper, tempera paper, card stock, construction paper, cardboard, finger paint paper. Make sure to have some oversized paper available {18x24} or a large roll. I also save shirt cardboards, styrofoam trays {for printmaking}, aluminum foil, mat board, and newspaper.
Paint | tempera paint {at least 6 colors} and heavyweight chunky brushes to match. Clementine makes great natural tempera paint. Liquid watercolor paint and soft watercolor brushes to match {I love Colorations Liquid Watercolors even though they're not technically natural}.
Playdough | Clementine Art of Eco Kids
Collage Materials | Baskets or jars filled with any clean and interesting item from your personal recycle bin, community recycling/up-cycling area, or back yard. Here are some ideas for items to save/collect/recycle {in the photo below}

{project ideas: summer paintsicles | recycled bubble wrap prints}

What are some of Clementine Art's hottest selling items?

Definitely our all-natural play-dough colored with Turmeric, Spinach and Carmine and scented with natural fruity scents. Our paint is wildy popular, as are our crayons and crayons rocks.

To help get you started with creating an all-natural art supply collection at home, Diana is generously offering one of Clementine Art's Gift Sets {a $43 value} to one lucky winner! To enter for a chance to win simply leave a comment below. 

As usual, you can enter multiple times by sharing this giveaway on Twitter or Facebook. Leave an additional comment here {not on my Facebook or Twitter pages please!} letting me know how you shared it for a maximum of three entries per person. A winner will be selected at random on Friday May 4th @ noon.
To learn more about Diana and Clementine Art you can visit their website, follow Clementine Art on Facebook or Twitter, and be sure to check out her blog, Darling Clementine, for some great art project ideas and inspiration! Thank you Diana and Congrats on all the new and exciting things going on in your life!
For companies, blogs, or businesses interested in advertising on The Parsley Thief - my contact information can be found in the 'About Me' section above.
UPDATE: The winner of the Clementine Art Set is Comment #14 - Billy B. Congrats!!

{Sponsor Love} Orange & Pear

As a special Thank You to the lovely sponsors of The Parsley Thief - I will from time to time be spotlighting who they are and what their businesses' are all about - as a way of introducing them to you.  It felt only natural to feature the wonderful gift website Orange & Pear and the talented woman who operates it first. 

The owner, Jennifer Hassell and I have known each other since our kids were in Kindergarten together...in fact, her older daughter was my younger son's first "girlfriend" [whatever that is at age 6!].  But we didn't really have an opportunity to get to know each other until we worked our school's Bake Sale together a year later.  During that few hour shift we learned that we both ran a business out of our home while raising a family and that we both loved art, design and food.  I was super impressed when I learned that she owned Orange & Pear.  

I had a slight knowledge of the site from clicking around the Internet, a gift guide here or a inspiration board there lead me down the path to finding it.  But I had no idea that it was run by someone right in my own town - much less by a mom in my son's class!   It was a happy coincidence and since then I have grown to love her site more and more.  The layout and design are gorgeous and her taste in the products she chooses is superb.  I really appreciate Jennifer taking the time out of her busy life to answer a few questions for me and to do so with such candor and authenticity.  I hope you enjoy reading a bit more about her as much as I did!

Company Name: Orange & Pear
Location: Rowayton, CT

You know I love your site - but for those who are not familiar with your business can you tell us what Orange & Pear is all about?

We sell gifts in the categories of Home Decor, Bath and Body, Paper Goods, Handbags, Accessories and Jewlery.  We search for beautifully designed items that are not found everywhere, that you'd be proud to give.  We love items made in America, by artisans and items that "tell a story".

 

What's the significance or inspiration behind the name "Orange & Pear"? 

The name was inspired by a still life done by my Grandfather.  It's hanging in our hallway and features an orange and a pear in it.  We thought the colors were fun, the name - easy to remember and we like that it was in deference to my Grandfather who I loved dearly.

Where did the idea of starting an online gift store come from?  What inspired you to choose this market in particular?

I was lucky to be brought up by a family of artists!  My grandfather, my grandmother, my mom, my dad and my brother were and still are amazing artists.  Sadly, I never really was able to perfect any fine arts skills but I do have an appreciation for it!  I guess I've had "an eye" for beautifully designed gifty type things over the years.  I have a binder of magazine tears that I started 10 or so years ago.

What have some of your past occupations been?  Anything in particular that lead you down the path to starting your own company?

I started at Saks Fifth Avenue right out of college, in the merchandising/buying program and worked there for 7 years with a 1 year stint at J. Crew.  After Saks, I went to Ann Taylor and then to a semi large specialty store in CT, close to my home.  So, I've been in retail my whole career but never in e-commerce, so creating and managing this website has been a learning process [with the help of my husband who runs about a dozen websites].  I love the buying and creative aspect of the business but I've also really enjoyed learning a whole new industry.  It's been a ton of work but also a lot of fun and all in all very invigorating!

left to right: 1. |  jonathan adler hollywood plate  2. |  john derian porcupine tray  3. |  john derian peacock pencil tray  4. |  jonathan adler hollywood highball glass

How would you define your own personal style and how does that translate into the products you choose?

We live in a 90 year old home, so I've always loved antique, vintage and "romantic" decor but I also adore bright and bold colors, retro glam and modern clean lines.  I do believe that often these two aesthetics can live harmoniously together!  For instance I love the quirky, old world look of John Derian and the quirky, whimsical feeling of Jonathan Alder.  I feel very strongly about finding things that are beautifully designed [well-priced] that are beautifully presented.  I've really enjoyed getting to know my designers and artisans and learning the story behind their work.  I have met some amazingly talented people in the process of searching for great items and I do hope that my customers appreciate that. 

I know first hand that running a business while raising a family is no easy task.  What does your life outside of Orange & Pear look like and how do you manage to juggle it all?
I have two amazing little girls - a 7 year old and a [just turned] 6 year old.  I love the fact that I can work from home and still be there to pick them up from school, see their teachers, meet their friends and attend some field trips or school events.  I do have this terrible habit of trying to squeeze in work for the business all the time!  When you have a small business - it's very hard to get away from it like a corporate job that you can actually leave at the end of the day.  But I do my best and my girls are used to seeing me on the computer and coming with me to the UPS hub or Post Office.  The UPS man is almost a part of our family!  But I still do a lot with them and I've caught them telling friends or strangers about my business, so even though I'm not sitting on the floor playing Barbies with them every afternoon, they are pleasantly proud of what I do and that means a lot to me.  I'm about 90% off the business on the weekends.
I do love to cook and find it calming at the end of a stressful day [I listen to NPR at the same time].  I bought this Tivoli radio about 5 years ago and I can't live without it!  It's my connection to the world.  I don't have time to read the paper during the week so NPR is my daily news.  My girls are thankfully great eaters and good about trying new foods.  I do cook differently for them then I do for my husband because in the summer I do a lot of vegetable dishes and fish.  In the fall, I move to soups, stews and casseroles and they love to eat that so we have more dinners together in the fall.

above: tivoli audio model one radio

When you have some time to yourself, what's your favorite way to spend it?

I try very hard to work out 4 times a week but it's so difficult to fit it in especially since my kids school starts late [9:20].  I do exercise classes of all kinds, spinning and I do love yoga.  I also try to walk when I can with friends.  I don't watch a ton of television because I work almost every night.  But my favorites are Glee, Gossip Girl and Downton Abbey.  I'm really looking forward to seeing Downton Abbey's next season in January.  I borrowed the first season from the library and watched it in 3 days!  It was crazy - one night I watched 3 episodes back-to-back.  It's a great show- like a drug for me!  I've always loved period movies and the actors and costumes and sets in this show are incredible.  And Maggie Smith is laugh out loud funny!  I love to read and I read a book a month for my book club.  I just finished The Art of Racing in the Rain which is amazing and before that Ruth Riechl's Comfort Me with Apples - terrific.  I also read a ton of magazines [for inspiration]!  On Saturday's, we often do "movie night" or "game night" with the kids.

My final question to Jennifer was to ask her what gifts from her store she would like to give or receive this Holiday, or what in her determination were some "must have" products this year.  

In response, she shared with me some wonderful gift guides she's created for her Orange & Pear customers and her blog [which is a great read by the way!].  I thought I would share a few collections from her guides below to help inspire your gift giving this year! 

With the Holidays coming up shortly and Small Business Saturday coming up even sooner [November 26th] - I hope you'll patronize companies like Orange & Pear who not only have perfect gifts for just about anyone on your list - but who's success in turn helps support other small business owners, designers and artisans.  Personally - It's a cycle I desire to encourage.
As a special treat to my readers Orange & Pear is offering up a generous 15% off discount now through December 15th, 2011!  Simply enter the coupon code "parsley" when checking out.  Enjoy!

for Baby: 1. |  rikshaw design seahorse burp & bib set  2. |  egg by susan lazar cable hat & booties set  3. |  admiral road penguin blanket  4. |  thomas paul melamine bunny set  5. |  manny & simon push toy tow truck  6. | jonathan adler ceramic lion nightlight

for Her: 1. |  mz wallace allover double sided sequin angus  2. |  robindira unsworth gold blue quartz drop earrings  3. |  kate waltman smokey crystal faceted bracelet  4. |  love quotes linen eyelash scarf  5. |  nina nguyen birthstone necklace  6. |  mz wallace paige handbag
 

for Him: 1. |  brooklyn brew shop beer making kit  2. |  homart cast iron crab bottle opener  3. |  teroforma whiskey lover set  4. | tokens and icons mlb game bat bottle opener  5. |  bucky balls  6. |  tokens and icons yankee game used baseball cufflinks  7. |  maptote dopp kit

for friends, hostess, or teacher: 1. |  apple & bee bath salts  2. |  lollia wish shea butter handcreme  3. |  lucia sea watercress & chai tea soap  4. |  dabney lee at home everyday pad  5. |  snow & graham 2012 wall calendar  6. |  dabney lee at home cell phone case

holiday decor: 1. |  cody foster grey owl ornament  2. | roost natural bark filled votives  3. |  roost felt mistletoe  4. |  waylande gregory reindeer bullet bowl  5. |  yellow owl workshop gift tag stamp set  6. |  roost victorian snowflake ornaments  7. |  linnea's lights forest fir candle