Art glass nail files are back, including new Happy Paws files for dogs. How could we resist matching nail files for Fido? Happy Paws are a safe grooming tool with no risk of cutting tissue or damaging paws. Use it on dogs up to 200 lbs.; help puppies overcome foot shyness ($23).

For people, medium files ($18) are great for every day use while small files ($15) are perfect for pocket and purse. Files come in a black velvet sheath with a one-of-a-kind fused glass bead on the end for easier handling of the file. Handmade in USA.

 Based in Portland, Ellyn Ford and Jean Wilson lead Eye for the Find, a company of artists crafting distinctive products to brighten your every day. Ellyn (left) debuted her first product line, the original handcrafted art-glass nail files, in 2006 at small local arts-and-crafts shows. Today, her art-glass nail files are found in fine boutiques, spas and gift shops throughout the world. Jean (right) is a gifted glass artist who specializes in creating unique works from dichroic glass. As the lead artist, she creates the multi-dimensional cabochons that embellish each of the art-glass nail files.

For the ladies on your list, you’ll find Anju art jewelry with necklace and earring sets for only $25.  Cuff bracelets are only $20.  There’s a story behind this jewelry and it’s not mass produced in China!

From the Siam Women’s Co-op, you can enjoy the Twice Rice bags made from recycled rice or sugar bags – again – nothing mass produced here and your purchase helps support a wonderful cause.  Pick from one of many styles and designs featuring the great art found on these sugar and rice labels.  Prices start at $12.

High-quality photo albums featuring “flex pages” for 4″ x 6″ or 5″ x 7″ photos are a favorite for only $20.  And, as a bonus,they come with a gift certificate for custom framing.  So, it’s almost like getting the album for free!

You’ve just got to see the prints of Rob Smith, Jr. cartoon characters – Florida’s native beasties!    These fun, colorful prints are only $15!  The photos don’t do them justice!

Come visit us Friday, December 23rd from 10 am until 6 pm, and Saturday, Christmas Eve, from 10 am until at least Noon!  (Probably later depending on traffic!)

As Julie says, make sure your gifts say, “You are special;  not, Blue Light special!”

FastFrame

117 S Kentucky Avenue in Downtown Lakeland between Main & Lemon

863-688-5251

www.fastframelakeland.com

Vintage Toys & Sodas & Candies to Buy!

Books by Locals, Local Honey Bees at Work - 

Locals Supporting Locals – What a Perk!

Locally Created Stocking Stuffers and SO Much MORE -

All Available at Your GENERAL STORE !

http://on.fb.me/sh6AXE

Where else in Lakeland can you find: Books by LOCAL Authors, LOCALLY crafted candles & soaps, Honey from LOCAL bees, Metal Decor designed by a LOCAL artist, LOCALLY-Made jewelry, LOCALLY invented keyholders AND old-fashioned soda waters in GLASS BOTTLES? Throw in some toys from YOUR childhood and tin signs for fun and you’ve got it all in one stop shopping at THE GENERAL STORE!

When you support small businesses, they support you back – and are much more fun to patronize because they TRULY appreciate you! Please shop small (business) this year, the shop you help save may be ours!

Nedobeck’s Alphabet Book is a fantastical voyage through the ABCs. Where else but from the imagination of Don Nedobeck would you find “Herrietta Hen and her horrendous hairdo” or “Terri the tall tan thin tiger talking with three tiny toads by their toy truck”? All 3 books are currently in stock.

If there is one word to describe artist, storyteller, musician, husband and father Don Nedobeck, it would be expressionist. To listen to his name is to hear the sounds of basic keys on a clarinet, Ne-do-beck, and with practice it becomes more fluid. Talking with Nedobeck is like sitting in your most comfortable old worn out chair with a fat, furry feline nestled upon your chest. Besides his greatest talent of putting people at ease, he’s a man capable of anything. You see, ever since Nedobeck was a boy, he was encouraged by his parents, a Russian father, also a fine artist, and a Polish mother whose landscaped garden surpassed Boerner’s Botanical’s gardens, to use two very important gifts: his imagination and his creativity. It was his creativity that allowed him to draw life from a whimsical point of view during his “occupational development” period as Good Humor man, stock boy, grain inspector and meter reader for the gas company.

When Nedobeck’s not using his hands to create art or music, he has his hands in the soil — his real form of meditation. Perhaps that’s where Don Nedobeck’s imagination is planted, tilled, shaped and continues to grow, producing art for the child in all of us. -Carmen Alicia Marguia

porcelain version

2011 stoneware ornament

 Brooke Pottery’s 2011 Holiday Ornament was designed by Madison Kluegel, a sixth-grader at Millenium Middle School. We love her festive penguin surrounded by snowflakes. On November 4 we presented awards to the top three finalists of our summer Kids Art Ornament Contest. Madison Kleugel won a $100 savings bond for first place. The second place $75 bond was awarded to Sydney Tritschler of North Lakeland Elementary, while David Zamot, a third-grader at Scott Lake Elementary took home a $50 bond for third place. Congratulations to all the young artists!

Brooke Pottery’s ornament is for sale throughout the holidays, and 10% of sales are donated to the Needlework Guild of America. The NGA is a non- profit organization that provides clothing for local school children in need. Our stoneware ornament is $10; white porcelain ornament is $12.50.

Why not start at Arts on The Park, where the annual Artists Showcase and Holiday Market is open every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 12:00 until 8:00 for the season. Lots of really beautiful, locally-produced fine art, photography, and mixed media pieces in all price ranges.

Read all about this American-Express-inspired campaign here.

Warm your home this holiday season with rich and exotic fragrant wax centerpieces by Habersham Candle Company.

Christmas Gift, as you might guess, features the fragrance of the original gifts from the Three Wise Men. The rich and exotic scents of Frankincense and Myrrh are melded sweetly with gold foliage in Christmas Gift wax bowls and spheres, shown left. Another special design is Eco Aire. This product combines Habersham’s gorgeous botanics with DeoEssence® Fragrance Technology. Developed to bond with unpleasant odors and leave behind a powerful message of fresh outdoor air. Enticing scents of crisp frosted ozone infused with wild herbs and cool transparent musk. A powerful, yet pretty, weapon against strong household odors. Visit Brooke Pottery or shop online to see our new arrivals from Habersham Candle Company.