Tag Archives: creativity

Limited Edition Russian-Inspired Collectible Dolls

10 Monday Nov 2014

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JOTZDOLLSFor all of you who love the whimsical lady ornaments created by sisters Judy and Lynn in Pennsylvania, we have a new treat for you. These talented, hilarious sisters have taken their designs one step further to create these figurines, Anastasia and Natasha, loaded with personality. Each has a hand-painted face on Polish blown glass, a faux fur astrakhan hat and a fabulous hand-stitched cloak bejeweled with faux gems.

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Sisters, Judy and Lynn, of Philadelphia grew up in a creative household where they were inspired by a mother whose creativity and sense of fun left an indelible mark. As children, they delighted in “re-purposing” household discards long before the trend became popular. And, now in “post-retirement,” they have formed a venture to bring fun and whimsy to others.

To see all of Judy and Lynn’s whimsical ornaments and décor, visit unoallavolta.com/judyandlynn.

Meet Our Artisans: Judy and Lynn

23 Thursday Oct 2014

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jotzartisanimageSisters, Judy and Lynn, of Philadelphia grew up in a creative household where they were inspired by a mother whose creativity and sense of fun left an indelible mark. As children, they delighted in “re-purposing” household discards long before the trend became popular. And, now in “post-retirement,” they have formed a venture to bring fun and whimsy to others.

Shes a "Stitch" OrnamentTheir newest work of art is this cheery seamstress, Stitch. She starts as a hand-blown Polish glass ball upon which our artisans bestow a unique personality. Each ornament is given just the right head full of fanciful trims, including ribbons, buttons, pins, even a mini pin cushion.

To see all of Judy and Lynn’s whimsical creations, visit: unoallavolta.com/judyandlynn.

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

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

Posted by in Letters from Terri

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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

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

Inspirations From Nature

12 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Letters from Terri, Stonycreek Brands

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AVPageView 8132014 54833 PM.bmpWhat does it mean to create? The dictionary definition is “to evolve from one’s own thought or imagination.” Yet, where does that first thought come from?

Every artist, every entrepreneur needs inspiration. I love to learn people’s stories. When I talk with our artisans my first question is most often “How did you think of this?” Each answer, like each artisan is unique – but the common thread is that we are all inspired by the world around us.

All around the U.S. and around the world, the sand and sea provide an inspirational spark for so many of our artisans’ designs. At times the inspiration is obvious, other times it is far more subtle and perhaps may be seen only in the choice of palette or texture.

But at all times, the fruits of creativity are a reminder that none of us is alone and we are all connected to something larger than ourselves.

 

Terri

Creativity & Collaboration | At the Heart of All We Do

18 Tuesday Feb 2014

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Our merchants, Minetta, Julia, Marina,and Lesley, model our latest handcrafted hats.

You have heard me speak many times about how I have built Uno Alla Volta to be a tribute to creativity of the individual artisan, and to the uniqueness of each handcrafted treasure. Yet, our company also pays tribute to the power of a team. There’s nothing like bringing all these creative individuals – our artisans, our merchants, our photographers, our designers – together and watching the collaborative process unfold. We devote this issue to the springtime celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Passover, Mother’s Day…and let’s not forget the Kentucky Derby! Just as each item has been touched by the spirit of the artisan who created it, so too has it been touched by the spirit of every individual involved in the creative process. Terri