Posts Tagged ‘Carruth Studio’
« Older EntriesGeorge Looks for Feedback on Gnome Idea
Tuesday, August 30th, 2011
- 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
Tags: Carruth, Carruth Studio, garden art, George Carruth, Gnomes, hand cast stone, Made in America
Posted in George's Blog | 15 Comments »
Carruth Fundraising Program Helps You Raise Money Easily
Monday, August 29th, 2011
Autumn is approaching and as kids are heading back to school, parents all over the country are facing the prospect of school and organization fundraisers. Whether you’re someone whose child has brought home the request for help or someone who has bravely taken on the role of raising money for your group, it can feel overwhelming.
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!
Tags: American crafts, American made, Carruth, Carruth Studio, Fundraising, fundraising program, George Carruth, raise money easily
Posted in George's Blog | 1 Comment »
ABC”s World News “Made in the USA” Series Adds Carruth Studio!
Thursday, August 25th, 2011
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!
Tags: ABC World News, American crafts, Carruth, Carruth Studio, George Carruth, Made in America, Made in the USA
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The Winner of “Beautiful Gardens 2011″ Is Elizabeth Bohland!
Friday, July 29th, 2011
"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!
Tags: Beautiful Gardens 2011, Carruth Studio, Contest winner, George Carruth, Made in America
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New Showroom, New Designs and New Colors!
Wednesday, July 13th, 2011
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.
- It’s been a crazy and busy time for us. Introducing new designs always includes a lot of behind the scenes work for our staff at Carruth Studio. They do an excellent job and we’re proud of them.
A table full of colors and designs
We’ve made things even more hectic as I’ve worked on the development of the new colored patinas. The process of developing the proprietary new colors has been long and arduous. It has involved many hours of testing colors and combinations of colors on different designs. Each paint shows differently at different stages of the process and it has taken quite a bit of time to find just the right look for each new patina.
- 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.
- Back home the “Beautiful Gardens 2011” contest is taking place. We’ve asked customers and Facebook fans to share their photos of their beautiful gardens decorated with Carruth sculptures. We’re really pleased with the range of pictures coming in. Every day we receive email and Facebook posts with pictures from gardens all over the country.
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"Drinking the Rain" from Teresa Monares' garden
Each gardener has a different approach to decorating their gardens and we all enjoy seeing Carruth sculptures in different settings. Today someone posted a photo of their water garden with some of the sculpture appearing to float above the water (using a garden stake to insert the piece in the water garden itself). If you haven’t thought about using garden stakes to mount your sculptures, that picture will give you some ideas.
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!
Tags: American Artisan, AmericasMart International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, Carruth Studio, George Carruth, Made in America, new colored patinas
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History of Motorcycles
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011
I’ve been an avid motorcyclist since age 15, and currently own a gnarly Buell and refined BMW motorcycle.
As you know, these are complete opposites. Since every rider is in love with his or her particular motorcycle, there tends to be quite a rivalry between people with cruisers, crotch rockets, tourers, off road and everything in between. Throw in country or origin or manufacturer and there will be many emotional opinions about who makes the best bikes.
So, my goal was to capture something every rider could agree on-the pure thrill of charging down a road on two wheels, without offending anyone’s bike of choice. The ”History of Motorcycles” plaque is the essence of riding. To me it captures the spirit of the sport. Now there is something to finally agree on, we all share the same history of motorcycles and we love of riding!!!!
Tags: American made, art, Carruth Studio, George Carruth, gift idea, hand crafted, motorcyles, sculpture
Posted in George's Blog | 2 Comments »
The Tommy Tucker Veterans Memorial
Friday, May 27th, 2011
Close up of the sculpted clay boots
With Memorial Day only days away I thought I would share the story and images of the Tommy Tucker Veterans Memorial.
Our daughter Libby Krock worked as assistant sculptor to the artist, Rip Caswell, in the creation of the Tommy Tucker Veterans Memorial. The piece was sculpted in clay and cast in bronze. As Libby tells it, the inspiration for the piece was U.S. Army Pfc. Thomas “Tommy” Tucker, from Madras, Oregon.
Tucker was one of two U.S. soldiers who disappeared after an attack on a traffic control checkpoint just south of Baghdad on June 16th, 2006, launching a massive three-day search effort, and galvanizing citizens of the United States.
As described by the sculptor, Rip Caswell, The emotion-packed figure represents a U.S. soldier, reaching upward to aid an Iraqi girl – who is both fearful and hopeful at once, as she sits perched on the edge of a shelled building ledge.
The life-size bronze of this magnificent piece is installed at Friendship Park in Madras, Oregon.
Art has healing properties. Sculpture can bring comfort to bereaved family members and, as in the Tommy Tucker Veterans Memorial, to complete strangers as well. This piece will stand as tribute for years to come.
On Memorial day I will pause to think of the many who have died or been injured in service for our country and of the artists whose work helps us remember them.
If you like this post, please share it with your friends and family and ask them to like and share it too.
Tags: American Artisan, American made, Carruth Studio, George Carruth, Libby Krock, Rip Caswell, sculpture, stone carving, Tommy Tucker Veteran's Memorial
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Your Feedback Inspires Us
Thursday, May 12th, 2011
One of the things that inspires our work at Carruth Studio is the feedback you provide; the stories, the pictures and the suggestions we get from all of you. Last year, a little girl’s comment about the moon inspired me to sculpt “A Child’s View of the Moon”, which has become one of my favorite pieces.
Earlier in the month I asked you to post your stories about Mother’s Day on our Facebook page and we enjoyed reading each of them. I have shared a few of those stories below. We were so moved by Wendy Weldon’s story about holding her daughter on Mother’s Day, that we have chosen her as the recipient of a $30 gift certificate for a Carruth piece.
I’m always looking for sources of inspiration for new pieces and am particularly interested in finding new verses that resonate with you. I’m also interested in the way young children, like Megan, who provided the inspiration for the moon piece, describe the world around them. Especially their views of the natural world and family members.
Do you have any verses you’d like us to consider using? Any things your children have said that you think we would find inspiring? Post them here or on our Facebook wall and we will review them and may even decide to use them in the future.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to share your Mother’s Days story. We enjoyed your contributions.
Your Thoughts on Mother’s Day:
Here is my Mother’s Day story. On April 27, 1990 I went into early labor with our daughter. She was not only 5 weeks premature, but she was also born with Spina Bifida. We had no idea what Spina Bifida was until the doctor explained she had an opening at the bottom of her spine which was allowing her spinal cord to be exposed. They took her away for care immediately after she was born. Meanwhile the pediatrician was trying to locate a Neurosurgeon in Toledo as she had to have a surgery to close her back. He later told me the nearest one was at Children’s Hospital in Columbus.
When the ambulance came to get her in the middle of the night, that’s when I got to hold her for the first time for about 5 minutes. Then she was swept away to have surgery the next day all by herself. Three days later I finally was released from the hospital and traveled to Columbus. A few days later I was told she would need another surgery for a shunt because she had hydrocephelous or water on the brain. She made it through that ok and she was finally released from the hospital on……Mother’s Day. The day I finally got to bond with and hold my baby girl in my arms at home. I always cherish that day! Wendy Weldon
Okay, here’s one on how we surprised my Mom on Mother’s Day last year. My folks live halfway across the country from us, so we planned a little surprise. On the day before Mother’s Day, we called her from my cell, told her we had plans on Sunday so were calling a day early. All the while we’re parked in her driveway, and were trying to sneak past her kitchen window without her seeing us. We rang the doorbell, and I said, “I heard your doorbell ring, go ahead and answer, we can wait.” So she opens the door and there’s my husband with a big bouquet in front of his face like a delivery guy. Then he lowers it and I pop around the corner, and I think it was the first time in my life I saw my Mom speechless. She’d had a hard past couple of years with health issues and other things, and we just wanted to give her something to put all that aside. It worked! Carolyn Dreiling Hammerschmidt
What I have become, what my daughter has become, and what her daughters are becoming, has come down from one mother to another throughout time. I’m thankful that I came from a long line of strong , loving women. Paula Schrickel Renfro
I lost my mother to Cancer after a long, hard fought battle. She showed me what a True Hero is with her grace and love of life. Mothers day has been a particularly hard holiday for me since her passing. My heart aches to feel her comforting arms around me but I thank God for blessing me with a mother so loving and kind. Don’t ever miss an opportunity to hug your momma! Paula Stapleton Gossman
As my mom progresses in age I become a mom to her. So glad she taught me well. Do blessed to have a Godly example. Becky McIlroy Brown
One of the Carruth pieces I bought for my Mom was Hope. It is such a beautiful angel piece and makes a nice piece for Mom’s or anyone to have. My Mom was the one that told me about the Roots of a Family Tree piece (the older version one) when it came out and went with me to buy it The new design of it is beautiful as well. Deb Cameron
Mothers Day makes me think of my Momma. She passed away in 2008 and not a day goes by that I don’t think of her. She had Alzheimers and it was so hard to see what that terrible disease did to her. I am a Busia now, as she was to my kids and I feel she lives on through me and my children as well as her beautiful great granddaughter Emma. Mary Smigielski Toth
My mom was my best friend. I would tell her everything. She and I would laugh until we couldn’t breathe. She never said a bad word about anybody or gossiped. She read her Bible every night and helped me have a great faith in God. She was a wonderful mom. Ann Teatsorth Broughton
I don’t have a great story, but I do have many great memories and pictures from lots of mothers days gone by…and I appreciate so much that I am able to hold on to those we’ve lost with those memories and pictures! Emily Stover Barnes
Tags: American Artisan, American crafts, American made, Carruth Studio, children, George Carruth, gifts, Moon, sculpture
Posted in George's Blog | 1 Comment »
Bereavement and Gifts
Thursday, May 5th, 2011
As Mother’s Day approaches I find myself thinking of the many people whose loved ones have passed away. Bereavement can be hard to talk about and especially painful during holidays. My mother is no longer with us and and we miss her terribly. I think of her often and imagine her reaction to the new designs and new colors we’re introducing now.
Over the years my work has been used to commemorate and pay tribute. Every day, at Carruth Studio and at our store, Garden Smiles, we help our customers choose designs that will be given as sympathy gifts. Some are used at the grave site, some are added to floral arrangements and some are just given, with love.
I’ve come to understand that a bereavement gift can be more than a card or a floral arrangement. Some sympathy gifts are whimsical, some reflect an aspect of the loved one’s personality and some just resonate with the person who is giving the gift. It is different for each individual.
I feel very honored that someone would choose my work as a bereavement gift or memorial tribute. I hope that my designs offer comfort and perhaps even bring a smile or two.
Tags: bereavement, Carruth Studio, George Carruth, gifts, Mother's Day, sympathy gifts
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In Celebration of Mother’s Day
Wednesday, April 20th, 2011
Mother’s Day is in the wind. The day when families everywhere take their mothers to brunch to remind them of how special they are, offering gifts of baby handprints and homemade cards from school where the alphabet has been practiced and sweet little drawings of the family appear made in crayola by little hands.
In our case Mother’s Day spans three generations honoring both the living and the dead. It is a time to honor Deb’s Mom, who at 89 continues to embrace life with vigor and joy, and a time to honor George’s Mom who is no longer with us but whom we adore and miss dearly. Deb who mothered three beautiful children and our daughter Libby who is a magnificent mother to our beautiful grandson.
We wish you all a wonderful Mother’s Day everyday!
I put together this short video showcasing a few of the designs I think make special Mother’s day gifts.
Finally, we take so much pleasure in hearing your stories about how you enjoy and celebrate the special days and holidays so we are again launching a Mother’s day contest on Facebook. Post your thoughts, stories, images and videos related to Mother’s Day and we will pick on person at random to receive a free Carruth design as a Mother’s Day gift.
Questions? post them here or on Facebook or send them to us in an email. We appreciate your input and value your support.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Tags: American Artisan, American made, Carruth Studio, Facebook, George Carruth, Gift ideas, gifts, Mother's Day, Mother's Day gifts
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