Why We Love Visiting Our Artists

When The Blue Umbrella first opened its doors in 2019, one of the big questions was: How are we going to keep the store stocked? Will artists bring their handcrafted items to us? Will they mail them, or should we go pick them up ourselves?

The truth is that all those methods have their place depending on the season, the demand, or the popularity of a particular item. Our goal has always been to make the handoff as simple as possible for both artists and community partners.

Store Manager Erin poses next to the Booneville HDC campus sign.

Sometimes, artists or partners bring new handcrafted items daily to the store, whether for an upcoming holiday, a special event, or just to replenish something that is selling fast. Every now and then, a friend of an artist traveling through Little Rock will drop off a box of goodies. Occasionally, a package shows up in the mail. And while we love when artists visit us in person, our favorite way of receiving handcrafted items will always be going out to visit them.

Visiting artists is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. Here’s why:

Austin strings beads in the Conway HDC art room.

We see them in action. Whether it’s a small, personalized workroom or classroom at a Human Development Center (HDC) or a comfortable home studio, we get a glimpse into their world. For example, Arkadelphia HDC has workrooms for painting, candle and soap making, and woodworking. Jeremiah Knight has his magnet-making supplies perfectly organized in his home studio. And Melanie Dickey’s farm animals often make surprise appearances in her brightly colored paintings.

We build stronger relationships. As Blue Umbrella Assistant Store Manager, Velma Gonzales, puts it, “It helps us to get to know them more personally and learn more details about their art or craft. I like to tell customers about the artist who made the handcrafted item they are purchasing. It’s also good for the artists to meet us and put a face to the people selling their work. Seeing us in person develops trust and a stronger connection.”

J. J. Palmer in her home candle-making studio.

We can take photos. These visits give us a chance to capture images for our social media pages and website. Customers love being able to get to know the people behind the handcrafted items they are buying, and artists enjoy being spotlighted in the process.

We sometimes get sneak peeks. Classroom visits or artist studios often reveal works in progress, and it is always exciting to see what is coming next (stay tuned for a new Booneville HDC creation debuting at the 9^th Annual Fall Food and Craft fair on October 1^st, 2025!).

At the end of the day, visiting artists is not just about stocking shelves. It’s about inspiration, enthusiasm, and connection. Every visit reminds us why The Blue Umbrella exists in the first place: to celebrate a truly unique community of people and their talents, and to share those talents with the world.

Erin Skrodenis

Blue Umbrella Store Manager