Nov 11, 2008

Trillium Artisans & SiShellSea take part in Portland semi-annual expo

(Portland, Oregon) — It really is true: ’tis better to give than to receive. Just ask the dedicated staff of two Pacific Northwest groups whose mission is to do well by doing good: Trillium Artisans and SiShellSea, LLC. From January 10-13, the Portland Gift & Accessories Show (www.portlandgift.com) is spearheading an effort to highlight some of the region’s businesses whose bottom line is about more than a buck.

“Pacific Northwest companies have long known that it’s good to give back and go green,” said Jenay Root, Manager for the first expo of the Gift Show industry calendar. “What’s good for humanity and the biosphereis good for the bank. And groups like SiShellSea and Trillium — both taking part in the Show this January — are leading the way in giving back to the community.”

Showing that there is an ‘art’ to doing the right thing, Portland’s renowned Trillium collective (www.trilliumartisans.org) will have six of their artists on-hand during the January show.

“Trillium Artisans’ business support services have been essential in preparing these six artisans to participate in a wholesale show,” said Christine Claringbold, one of the Trillium artists taking part in the initiative. “The artisans will be showcasing a variety of earth-friendly, handmade gifts, accessories, jewelry, and home décor items that reflect our passion for quality craftsmanship and environmental sustainability.”

Trillium Artisans is an innovative, green, nonprofit community economic development program that empowers artisans and actively connects them to markets. Trillium was founded on John McKnight’s principles of asset-based community development, which finds a way out of the tangled web of poverty by focusing on talents and capacities, rather than what is lacking.

“In 1994, we conducted an asset inventory of extremely low-income neighborhoods in Portland, Oregon,” said Claringbold. “We found talented residents wanting to sell their handmade goods and build their own businesses.”

Founded by two sisters, SiShellSea makes and markets one-of-a-kind shell pendants — each one a quality crafted item made locally and personally signed. The jewelry is made of shell pieces that are primarily collected on Northwest beaches with additional natural accents.

“Our goal is to design unique quality pendants that remind women of their inner beauty and individuality,” said Suzanne Marlatt-Stewart, co-founder of SiShellSea (www.sishellsea.com) along with her sister Cindy Kimball. “As a business by, for and about women, we feel it’s important to give back to women and the nonprofits that serve them.”

Since their founding, SiShellSea has provided examples of their unique and nature-based jewelry to nonprofits such the Bellevue Professional Womens Association, Alpha Delta Cappa and the Providence Point Senior Women’s Association for use as fundraising tools.

As is always the case, this year’s Portland Gift & Accessories Show will feature many emerging manufacturers and artisans unique to the venue. The six distinctive product divisions are Artisans Avenue, Fashion Accessories, FoodFocus, Gift & Collectibles, Jewelry Vault and Cash & Carry and The Vintage Collection.

The semi-annual Portland Gift & Accessories Show is managed by GLM, a dmg world media business and will take place January 10-13, 2009 at Portland’s Oregon Convention Center. Exhibitors seeking information should contact show manager Jenay Root at (213) 430-2311 or jroot@glmshows.com. Attendee information may be obtained by contacting GLM Customer Relations at (800) 272-SHOW (7469) or (603) 665-7524. Visitwww.portlandgift.com for more detailed information about the show.

Below is a list of Trillium Artists Taking place in this January’s Show.

Amanda Siska, Bread and Badger
Amanda used to sell shoes in Boston. Now she engraves glass with a dental drill and lives in Portland, which is a huge improvement! Bread and Badger is her way of bringing fun, iconic imagery into everyone’s home. She believes that your home decor should compliment your personality, and designs on glassware are a perfect way to express that.

Lacey Bronson, and Sometimes Y
After graduating from The Savannah College of Art and Design with a degree in Fibers, Lacey Bronson created the and sometimes Y line while living in her native Los Angeles and working at a string of “day jobs” – assistant this or that, waitress, housecleaner, petsitter – you name it, she’s done it!
In 2006, Lacey left L.A. for the greener pastures of Portland and couldn’t be happier. Now, she puts all her time and energy into crafting thoughtfully designed apparel and accessories for people and their homes.
Lacey spends her free time browsing thrift stores and collecting vintage everything. Like most Portlanders she enjoys bikes, hiking, microbrews, coffee, dogs, participating in weird local customs, and seeing local bands play.

Jacob Deatherage, Ex Libris Anonymous
Jacob Deatherage is guilty of the most profound enthusiasm for books, an enthusiasm bordering on the monomaniacal. His purpose is to scout out and repurpose, single-handedly, every unwanted, aesthetically pleasing book in the world. He is fond of the green world, triple cream cheeses and the ideal of love. Ex Libris Anonymous was founded in the year 2000 with the sole intention of lovingly creating journals from recycled hardcover books. This noble ambition has been pursued with vigor and perseverance, in turn. Each journal is made from a candidate book, carefully curated from a wide variety of sources. Said book is then deconstructed, selected pages saved there from and the whole book painstakingly rebound with recycled, acid free, archival paper. A product is then produced of unsurpassed excellence and lasting appeal. So sayeth the wise: “indubitably delicious.” Verily.

Christine Claringbold, Eye Pop Art
Christine Claringbold hopes to make your eyes pop with her vibrant, intricate mandala patterns on recycled vinyl records. She will also be showing her Roman Record Cuffs and the Mod Mandalas Coloring Book! Christine is also a mom, an art teacher, a muralist, and a back-up singer in the indie rock band Dartgun & The Vignettes. She has appeared on HGTV’s “That’s Clever!” and “Look What I Did!” and her work has been featured by Venus Zine, Great Green Goods, Wickedly Chic, Rare Bird Finds, and National Geographic Traveler. Her Mandala Record Bowls will be available in the Spring 2009 catalog by Viva Terra. Christine also works as the Program Coordinator for Trillium Artisans.

Kori Giuduci, Flipside Hats
The first Flipside hat Kori made was a birthday present for a dear friend. She received many compliments and inquiries about her new hat. So Kori made one for herself to see what would happen …and voila! Flipside Hats was born!

Emily Baker, Emily Baker Sustainable Jewelry
Emily Baker is a self-taught artist and designer. Jewelry design, landscape design, music, and painting are a few of the mediums she works in. Currently, her line, Emily Baker Sustainable Jewelry, is a hit among eco-savvy men and women everywhere. She creates earrings and necklaces out of used car parts and the result is tough and pretty at the same time. You can find the goods at SWORD + FERN, her new shop at 811 East Burnside in Portland, and hear her band, Love Menu, playing around Portland.