Winter 2014

Best Sellers in Philadelphia, PA By Reecy Pontiff

Art Star

Megan Brewster and Erin Waxman; Owners
www.artstarphilly.com

“We were looking for creative ways to make money,” says Megan Brewster, who owns the Art Star gift shop along with business partner Erin Waxman. The two met at Philadelphia’s Tyler School of Art, and in 2002 the then recent grads started the Art Star Craft Bazaar, a “trunk show” for local artists.

Through the bazaar Megan and Erin saw a demand for work by young, alternative artists. “The indie craft movement was emerging online and there was no brick-and-mortar shop in Philly that reflected that,” Brewster says. In 2004 they “decided to just take the risk and do it.”

The shop, located in the hip Northern Liberties neighborhood, was such a success that the Art Star proprietors have even started their own brand that generates T-shirts, onesies, jewelry and stationery in collaboration with artists.

Best Sellers

Overall Printed plaques by Kristin Tercek; HorribleAdorables mounted heads by Jordan Elise; “You Are Totes Amazeballs” letterpress notecards by Marisha Simons; Narwhal print by Paper Sparrow
Baby Booties by little pitterpat
Home Soy candles by melo studios
Jewelry Firefly necklaces by Kurt Halsey; Julianna Swaney necklaces by Art Star

Reecy Pontiff

Reecy Pontiff is a freelance gypsy journalist who roves the globe in search of the strange and unusual, writing for such illustrious publications as the Philipsburg Mail and Black Rock Beacon. Her blog is at reecypontiff.blogspot.com.