Tag Archives: artisan moments

Individuality & Connection – Our Core Principles

07 Tuesday Oct 2014

Posted by in Letters from Terri, Stonycreek Brands

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Each handcrafted treasure pictured in the following pages is a unique expression of the artisan’s individuality, brought to life as much by his or her heart as hands.

Attesting to our artisans’ boundless creativity, nearly half of these pieces are being seen here for the first time ever…anywhere. You will see rich new textures, beautiful on-trend colorways, and handcrafted quality that never goes out of style

When a particular piece grabs your attention, I hope you’ll sense a connection with its artisan – the connection that forms between a work’s creator and caretaker. Although you will likely never meet, each of you is making a difference in the life of the other.

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Terri S. Alpert
Founder & CEO

T.alpert@unoallavolta.com

Upgrading YOUR Online UNO ALLA VOLTA Experience!

06 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by in Letters from Terri, Stonycreek Brands

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We have taken all of the feedback from all of our customers into account to create your all new experience of UNO ALLA VOLTA online.

My team has been hard at work for over a year. Tomorrow, we will be “flipping the switch!”

What does this mean for you?

Well…after what I hope will be a VERY brief inconvenience, while our website is down between approximately 5:00 am and 12:00 noon Eastern tomorrow, here is just some of what you will find:

–An awesome gift giving experience: You will be able to personalize the certificates of authenticity which accompany each handcrafted treasure. And, you may save your address book so that you may more easily “WOW!” your loved ones next time you need something special.

–Really see those handcrafted details: Our mouse over zoom and our alternate views are all going to bring the little things to life.

–Better navigation and organization!

We are testing, testing, and testing to ensure your experience is glitch free. But… as is the nature of these things, there may be a glitch or two. If there is, please let us know! Contact us at custserv@unoallavolta.com. We want one thing and one thing only – that your online UNO ALLA VOLTA experience be as good (or better) than your offline experience.

And what else? Well.. this will be our platform to bring you so much more of what you desire – a real chance to meet our artisans, hear their stories, and watch them work. Much of that will come over the next few months.

Please know that we are ever evolving. YOU are my partner in this endeavor as are my dedicated employees and artisans throughout the U.S. and around the world.

In gratitude,

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Terri S. Alpert, Founder & CEO
t.alpert@unoallavolta.com

Reserve Your 2015 & 2016 Polish Pottery Jack-O’-Lantern

24 Wednesday Sep 2014

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We worked for two years to design our Halloween Polish pottery collection with our friends in Boleslawiec, Poland. Our artisans have been making and preparing the collection since March, exclusively for Uno Alla Volta.

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Our exceptionally popular 2014 Polish pottery jack-O’- lantern has been selling beyond our wildest dreams. We are so sorry that we can no longer deliver any new orders of this 2014 edition Polish pottery jack-o’-lantern until well after Halloween. It is absolutely gorgeous and well worth the wait.

Because our jack-o’-lanterns are flying out of our door faster than they can come in, we have created a reservation list for our future polish pottery Jack O’ Lantern editions. You may wish to reserve your 2015 & 2016 edition now, risk free, you may cancel at any time.

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Click these links for “first dibs” on future editions:

2015 Jack-o’-lantern: http://bit.ly/1rnrTk6

2016 Jack-o’-lantern: http://bit.ly/1psAtso

Authentic Limited Edition Kitchen Witch

17 Wednesday Sep 2014

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In cities and small towns alike, Italy’s open-air markets are the place to go for everything from fruits and vegetables to vintage treasures and local crafts. Our artisan, Letizia, scours the markets in and around Florence for both inspiration and authentic materials to bring our charming kitchen witch to life.2013-03-19 18 47 11 (2)

After gathering her finds, Letizia then handcrafts each figure with traditional features and meticulously hand-trimmed and stitched clothing. According to a centuries-old legend, a kitchen witch will bring good luck and ward off bad spirits when hung within the home. Only 140 of our authentic kitchen witch, an Uno Alla Volta exclusive, will ever be made!

View our Florentine Kitchen witch here: http://bit.ly/1p0H1PJ

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Meet our Polish Pottery Artisans: Weronika and Jacek

15 Monday Sep 2014

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We worked with our friends, Weronika and Jacek, to develop our newest exclusive Halloween collection for 2014. Together,we found just the right color-pallet, stamps and ceramic shapes to bring together this year’s seasonal stoneware assortment.

In their buzzing workshop in the village of Boleslawiec, Poland, our Polish artisans brought our designs to life, creating these charming hand-painted collectibles of pottery. Each stoneware piece is meticulously hand-painted with whimsical Halloween motifs using hand-carved sea sponges and fine brushwork, showcasing the highest level of decorative artistry and skill. Each one is then fired at high temperatures for vessels of enormous durability and years of enjoyment.

Polish Pottery Halloween Collection

Remember, you can only find these Halloween Polish pottery pieces exclusively at Uno Alla Volta. Act fast as this spooky collection is going quickly!

Visit unoallavolta.com/polishpottery to see all of our stunning Polish stoneware pieces. Don’t forget to pre-order your 2015 & 2016 Jack-O’-Lanterns before they disappear.

Nothing inspires us more than hearing that what we do matters.

11 Thursday Sep 2014

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From one of our valued customers:

I have received UnaAllaVolta catalog for a number of years and thought it unique and interesting.

I wanted to get a special “Sweet Sixteen” Birthday gift for someone whose family heritage is from Italy although she has never visited there.   I happened to see the Rose Petal Murano glass necklace and earring set.  It was “Just the Perfect Thing” for her!  The perfect balance between delicate youthfulness and beauty and an artisan culture unique to her family heritage she could be proud to wear for the rest of her life!

I was impressed by the Murano glass fish. The fullness of the colors and the uniqueness of the idea make this item one of a kind!  A school of tropical fish now reside on the edge of my bath space!  And I picture the glass blower in his art creating each piece with his unique skill and imagination and feeling a pride in his work and I feel so good about supporting that.

I love your recent Sunflower Ceramic Bowl and Pitcher and Trivet!  The care taken in its hand painting makes these items so valuable and not to be had otherwise.

I am into BEES…my husband and I are beekeepers since 1972 and I do Honey Show Demos for stores that carry our honeys.  I wear a little “Queen Bee” outfit so when I saw your “Queen Bee Brass Bracelet”…well, I just had to have it!…in fact TWO…one for each arm!…and the earrings.  I also wear the Garden Flower necklace and Pin to complete the look!  It is just “TOO CUTE” and I have gotten so many GREAT COMPLIMENTS!

So many of the pieces have extra features that only an artisan would include, such as carvings on the backs of necklace pieces…color matching of stones…intricate designs…going beyond a simple item to create a unique piece beautified with detailing that embellishes it to be “special” and definitely noticed!

I especially love anything in which the technique is rooted in cultures and old “lost” techniques brought to new life by these people who understand how to do them!…and share them with a world accustomed to cookie cutter items made quickly but without personality behind them.

Contemplating these pieces, I always imagine the artisan in his/her work and the intensity and feeling that requires of them inspires me to value uniqueness in my own life.

I wish you much success and applaude you for YOUR uniqueness in appreciating these artisans and offering them a venue to make their wares available to people like me who truly appreciate them and are seeking items beyond the ordinary!

Thank You,

 

Neva J. Whetzel

Partners In Creation

28 Thursday Aug 2014

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We are so proud to bring you this issue – our strongest autumnal offering since our beginning in 2002.

And what a labor of love this has been for everyone involved. For our artisans who bring to life each individual work with their hearts as well as their hands. For our merchants who collaborate with our artisans to create products just for you. (The vast majority of the treasures you will see here are available no where else in the world!) For our creative team who bring our handcrafted treasures to life in the two dimensions of ink on paper (or pixels on a computer screen).

I have always considered myself to be a student of the creative process. Creativity is how many of us experience and express our own individuality. It is, I believe, one of the fi nest ways to fulfill the human potential.

Yet for all the wonders of individual creativity, I have recently discovered that when one can bring together people with very different gifts and meld their strengths and common vision, the result is often just shy of miraculous. So what is my labor of love? Bringing together
these incredibly talented creative forces and watching a whole evolve that is so much greater than the sum of its parts!

 

Terri S. Alpert
Founder & CEO
T.Alpert@unoallavolta.com

The Joy of Discovery

11 Monday Aug 2014

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Traveling for me brings the joy of discovery – the joy that comes from experiencing new cultures, and of meeting new people and learning of their stories. Right now, while you are reading this letter, I am on a trip of an entirely different kind.

Every August since 2004, my husband, my two kids and I travel to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where we join my sister, her husband, and her three children. There is a rhythm to our days and we follow the script set many years before.

The ritualistic sameness provides a high contrast background, making visible that none of us is quite the same person who was here ten summers ago – or even last summer! And, so it is that I delight in discovering each of my loved ones anew.

During long quiet walks in the sand, I reflect on the person that I’ve become over the last year. And, I make commitments to myself – necessary ones – so that when I return in one year’s time, I will be able to experience the joy of discovery when I encounter myself on the beach.

 

Terri

Individuality & Connectedness

14 Monday Jul 2014

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I’m so proud of my two daughters!

It is graduation time! In my home, we are celebrating two major milestones. Sarah, my older daughter, is completing college and, not without trepidation, entering the “real world.” Rachel, my baby, is graduating from high school and is off to college. “How do I feel?” is the question everyone keeps asking me. Of course, my first thoughts are like those of most every other parent. “Wow, that went quickly,” followed by “I am old.” But most of all, I am proud – immensely proud. Here are two pretty amazing human beings. I know each will leave her own indelible mark on this world. I marvel at how different each is from the other.  And, I marvel at how tight the two sisters are, forever bonded to one another and to my husband and me. Individuality and connection are common themes you’ve heard me speak about many times when describing our work here at Uno Alla Volta. In my own life, I am delighted to have instilled in each daughter the importance of connectedness, but always in a way that recognizes and perhaps enhances her own individuality.   Terri

In Celebration Of Liberty

04 Friday Jul 2014

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What is liberty if not the freedom to reach for the best within each of us? And, what greater blessing can there be in life than appreciating the privilege to assist in some small way in creating the opportunities for others to become the best they can be? We have such deep respect for each of the artisans with whom we collaborate. It is such an honor to facilitate their work.

What joy we had developing our new “Stars and Stripes” collection with Weronika, Jacek, and their son, Jacek Jr., in their buzzing workshop in Boleslawiec, Poland. To think, just a few decades ago, this family and their colleagues lived in a political regime that lacked even the most basic personal liberties, and now they are thriving as entrepreneurs, as artists, and as human beings. Here in America, Uno Alla Volta celebrates the “little guy” (or more often “little gal”) every day. So many of our artisans are Americans, in their second careers. Following exits from the corporate world, they are finding fulfillment and sustenance with the work of their hands.

Know that you, my friends, are bringing about these blessings, one purchase at a time.

 

Terri