A Special Limited Edition hand painted by George Carruth

It is amazing how color can transform an image.  Just for fun on Valentine’s Day, I brushed a splash of red paint on two of our smaller plaques.   By simply painting a couple of flowers red, the little animal images transition from cute to romantic.  That one drop of bright red paint connecting it to Valentine’s Day, has given the tiny sculptures a whole new energy.   Before, they were simply cute little creatures with human traits, sort of like dressing up the dog or cat for Halloween.  But now, with that tiny splash of color and a Valentine’s Day connection, these furry little creatures take on imaginative personalities with busy little romantic lives.
This reminds me of how children use color instinctively.  They’ll draw a house, stick figure family members, pets and trees but always add a big splash of yellow at the top.   Painting a big yellow sun up above is their way of telling us the family was happy on that particular day.

Limited Edition Handpainted by George for Valentine's Day

George Carruth discusses his newest piece, "Walking the Dogs"

George shares his newest piece.  He has  captured the mood of walking the dogs, and of how what can seem to be a chore can actually be one of the most delightful moments of the day.  We often find that walking in the rain, smelling the scent of the rain, the earth and the plants..especially in the night air..is particularly quieting and meditative in many ways.  An everyday moment that brings great pleasure.

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  Buzz Off A Favorite Plaque of George's Cast in Stone

Garden Smile Plaque cast in stone

Too Much Fun Cast Stone Plaque remains George's Favorite

This gargoyle whistles at people below from the National Cathedral

I’m probably overdue for a new face plaque. The very first face plaque was the Garden Smile. So far, it has remained the most popular of all the faces. After all, smiles and laughter are contagious.

From our variety of smiling plaques, my favorite is still Too Much Fun.  Not only does it make me smile, it has an architecturally historical feeling about it, reminiscent of something carved above the doorway on an old stone building.

Like most old buildings with multiple carvings on the exterior, there is usually one quirky carving hidden among the rest.
Usually these uncharacteristic images are placed around the side or discretely moved up to a higher position.  Historically, the carved images on a building were carefully thought out. Cathedrals, government buildings and libraries would all have sculptures that portrayed what might be going on inside. Occasionally the sculptors were given just a little bit of creative freedom on the less important areas. Anyone who has visited the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. has witnessed the creativity of the master sculptors.  Some of the gargoyles high on the Cathedral are ”unusual”, like Darth Vader, a stone camera, a young girl with braces on her teeth or the playful likeness of one of the stone carvers whistling and flirting with the young women passing below. You will also find two unflattering portraits of carvers ex-girlfriends.

Stone Camera high on the National Cathedral

Even on the most prominent commercial and religious structures, somewhere hidden among the carvings that portray power or spiritual enlightenment, you might find something a little less serious, like Too Much Fun.

(To see the gargoyles sculpted on the National Cathedral seek out Guide to Gargoyles & other grotesques by the Washington National Cathedral Guidebooks.)

Feedback for George on his flying gnome idea

I don’t always do little 3D sketches, but this flying Gnome idea grabbed my attention.  This is an exercise to explore how little flying Gnomes would look. OK, Gnomes have been around forever, but I wanted to make tiny flying Gnomes that were more part of the insect world.  So by giving them insect wings, they can flutter around from flower to flower.  This tiny sketch was originally a model for a full size cast stone plaque series, but as it came to life, the idea of turning it into a strong magnet for the fridge or file cabinet developed. So, what do you think? Do you even like the concept of tiny flying Gnomes? Do you picture them as full size cast stone plaques or a little fridge magnets?  Maybe both?  I’d love your input.  Good idea or too much time on my hands.  George

I’m mentioning all of this because I’m not sure you know that Carruth Studio has a fundraising program that can help you raise money easily. Our program provides a fundraiser catalog with 42 different Carruth designs, with pricing starting at just $15.95. Our products are completely weatherproof, have a 100% lifetime guarantee and are made in the USA. They are also gift boxed in beautiful eco-friendly packaging.

Carruth Studio's Eco Friendly Gift Packaging

What people tell us they love about the program is that they are able to raise a lot of money and the program makes it easy to do. They find that people enjoy having a chance to help support an organization and purchase a beautiful, quality item at the same time. With our fundraising program your organization can enjoy an immediate 40% profit, which can make a huge difference to its bottom line. See what Sandy Spang, of Toledo, Ohio, says about her experiences with the fundraising program in this short video below.

We started this program years ago when a school in Columbus, Ohio approached us with a request for a fundraiser. Their interest was the spark and the first go round with the concept.  It seemed to be a natural idea as our designs provide a higher return for the fundraiser and a great product, as opposed to the usual candy and pizzas. We all win, the fundraiser is not only raising funds, but also supporting and contributing to the strength of a company that manufactures and markets original designs that are made in the United States.

Today the program helps groups raise money all over the country and we’re so pleased that people enjoy it and find it so valuable. If you’d like more information about the fundraising program visit our website or call Lynda at 800-225-1178, ext. 22.

And special thanks to Sandy Spang for taking the time out of her busy schedule to talk about her experiences. We really appreciate it!

ABC World News "Made in America" Online Interactive Map Showing Carruth Studio in Ohio

In July we asked Carruth Studio customers and Facebook and Twitter friends and followers to contact ABC World News with Diane Sawyer and tell them about their experiences with Carruth products. Why? We wanted them to know about Carruth Studio and our American made products.

ABC World News has been running a series, “Made in America”, which focuses on U.S. manufacturing, job and what they mean for the nation’s economy. The series highlights the importance and value of buying American made products. According to ABC World News, more than 11 million Americans get their paychecks from working in factories, and if every American spent an extra $3.33 on U.S.-made goods every year, it would create nearly 10,000 new jobs. (source: Moody’s Economy.com)

As part of the Made in America series, ABC World News created an online interactive map to help their viewers easily find American made products. We were eager to be included on that map since our products and packaging are made in America–and we support buying American made products.

Carruth Studio's American Made Product and Gift Packaging

We were so pleased and honored by all of your enthusiastic responses. Thank you for every single one. We were also delighted to hear from ABC World News asking for more detailed information about my work and about Carruth Studio. After reviewing your comments, emails, and pictures, and then communicating with us, they added us to their online interactive map. We’d like to thank them as well.

We’re pleased and proud to be listed there. Thanks again for all of your help!

"Forest Stump" from Maria Hubard's garden

Over the years Deb and I have enjoyed the photographs and videos you send us showing the ways you use your Carrruth designs. We love seeing your garden decoration ideas and the creative things you do with them in your homes and offices.

Last year we launched a “Beautiful Gardens 2010” contest as a way of sharing these images with all of our customers, Facebook fans, and Twitter followers. We had a tremendous response.

This June we launched the “Beautiful Gardens 2011” contest and invited all of you to email us your images or post your pictures on our Facebook wall. Again, we have had so much fun as each of the pictures has come to us. Thank you all so much for sharing your beautiful gardens with us.

It was really hard to decide between all of the beautiful images but we have finally chosen a winner. Elizabeth Bohland’s picture of her tranquil water garden with William Turtle being serenaded by Turtle Musician won our hearts. You know what we say about William Turtle? He’s not your typical sculpture. He looks you straight in the eye and lets you know what he’s thinking. He looks best displayed near a pond or fountain, as this photo clearly shows. Turtle Musician is truly into his music and is happily playing by the side of the pond. Turtle Musician is a classic design brought back for a limited time…

Elizabeth Bohland's Winning Water Garden

Elizabeth will enjoy a $150 gift certificate for the Carruth designs of her choice. We hope she enjoys her new Carruth pieces and continues to share her pictures with the rest of us.

Have you had a chance to look at the photographs? Find them on our Facebook page or on our Flickr channel.

Next week, we’ll  be asking you to share your stories, photos and videos about your pets. Do you have any? Please share them with us by posting on Facebook, leaving a comment here on the blog or emailing us at info@CarruthStudio.com.

And please continue to share Carruth Studio with your family and friends. We appreciate your help!

GREETINGS CARRUTH STUDIO,

We wanted you to know we sent this to ABC World News. Hope to see you on air! Sending waves of support from Key West, Deborah and Tim

Too often a person goes on their way never really knowing the extent of their contribution to the world.

Today, I am compelled to submit this testimonial in honour of George Carruth, an American-made sculptor who brings joy, understanding and renewal to people he’s never even met. How do I know this?  Because Tim and I are two of those people.

We live in Key West, Florida and American-made Egbert has changed our lives.

Growing up as kids we recited, “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.  Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.  All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again.”

For the last few years, these words haunted Tim.  At 57, his career in the commercial real estate industry was in jeopardy.  The Florida market had fallen off its proverbial wall and lay shattered in a thousand pieces.  People were deeply frightened which perpetuated paralysis.  Florida banks were ice cubes melting into oblivion.

Yet, Tim did not give up.  Every day he took one step forward and then another.  He was determined to survive the nation’s financial crisis but, sometimes, I would hear him say, “I feel like Humpty Dumpty.”

One afternoon I discovered George Carruth’s online store: www.gardensmiles.com.  His art made me smile – spontaneously and wide!  I felt delight, happiness and joy.  George’s pieces captured the imagination and moved my thoughts away from negativity and fear.  As I scrolled through the many choices, I discovered Egbert.  There was Tim’s Humpty Dumpty!  Yet, he was not broken.  In fact, George Carruth’s Egbert H. Dumpty had the most amazing facial expression of happiness, hope and victory.  I thought, If Egbert can lift my spirits, I know he will do the same for Tim.

The day Egbert arrived was a particularly discouraging day in the office.  Two deals, requiring months of work, disintegrated.  The bank called to say a client’s check had bounced.  A computer crashed.  All in all, it was the kind of afternoon you wonder if the Universe is conspiring against you.

When the beautiful box from Carruth Studio arrived, I knocked on Tim’s office door.  He said, “Come in.”  I walked in to find a guy who looked like his dog had just died.  Let me explain: Almost nothing ever gets Tim down.  He is an authentic optimist with a passion for life. He takes nothing for granted. Tim is known for saying, “I love life and life loves me.  Smile because you can!”  On this afternoon, the business challenges had taken a white-shark bite out of his heart.  He looked defeated.

Without a word, I put the box on his desk and said, “It’s important you open this.  NOW.”  Tim took a deep, rather skeptical, breath and opened the package.  Egbert appeared.  Tim looked at him, long and hard.  Then, very precisely and gently, he set Egbert directly in front of him and whispered, “Humpty No More.”  Then, Tim looked at me with a passionate fire in his eyes and said, “HUMPTY NO MORE! Thank you for this gift.”

George Carruth’s little Egbert is a powerful talisman, representing an energetic motivational force.  Now, everyone in the office has fallen for Egbert.   We hear him speak in Winston Churchill’s voice, “Never. Never. Never give up!  HUMPTY NO MORE!”

Sculptor George Carruth, his muse Deborah and their American-made sculptures continue to change lives!

Imagination, inspiration, passion and dedication are infused into every piece. We have just ordered more Egberts and we’re going to ask Carruth Studio if it’s possible to reduce the size so we can put Egbert on our key rings and carry him with us for support, wherever we may go!

ABC World News, don’t be a HUMPTY.  Profile George and Deborah Carruth on your show.

Respectfully submitted,

Royce Addington

Our new showroom at AmericasMart Atlanta

Deb and I are in Atlanta right now starting the first day of the AmericasMart International Gift & Home Furnishings Market. We exhibit Carruth designs at AmericasMart during their trade shows and then have our showroom open year round here in Atlanta. The Carruth product line is sold by retail vendors across the United States and Canada and we are always eager to meet new vendors and to hear the feedback they offer.

"Chow Time" shown in the new Designer White patina

We’ve been working feverishly to move to a new showroom and prepare the displays. It’s exciting because we will be introducing my newest designs as well as the four new colored patinas. Adding the new colors really changes the traditional look of the Carruth line. We’re really interested to see how the gift buyers react to the new designs and to the new colors.

I’ve been wanting to add new colors for some time now. In the past we had to rely on directional lighting to help make the details stand out on each piece. Now, with the new finishes, the sculptures seem to come to life–in any environment. People are amazed to discover all of the tiny details I include in each piece. The new colors include “Aged Stone”, which is not too dissimilar from the traditional wash we have used on my work, but really enhances the look and gives each piece more depth and character.

"Silent Night Nativity" shown in new "Designer White" patina

“Designer White” was developed to fit in with the contemporary high design world. We’ve learned that so many of our customers purchase Carruth designs for use in interior decorating that we wanted to develop something that would contrast well with different wall colors and really stand out in interior settings. “Terra Cotta” and “Green” each add a subtle warmth to the designs and will work well both inside the home and outside in the garden.

We hope you’re enjoying your summer and finding plenty of time to rest and relax as the days unfold. Deb and I are about to greet our first customers of the day right now, so I’ll sign off and get to work meeting and greeting the visitors to the show. Wish us well…we can’t wait to hear the feedback.

"Too Much Fun" from Maria Hubbard's garden

By the way, the prize for the “Beautiful Gardens 2011” contest is a $150 gift certificate for Carruth products. We’ll be choosing a winner on July 22nd so you don’t have too much time left. Post your photos directly on our Facebook wall or email them to us at info@CarruthStudio.com. We look forward to seeing what you’ve done with your garden!