Kaleene from San Francisco, CA
Adaptive reuse gifts, crafts and jewelry from San Francisco, California are now available at Omro Gallery, among the first of a number of shipments from artisans across the nation. This collection has been hand-selected by Kaleene Kenning (www.victoriansanfrancisco.com), a University of Wisconsin - Stout graduate who has lived in San Francisco for the past 13 years. Kenning helped Omro Gallery’s owner, Jill Hennes, find the best green products that San Francisco artisans have to offer. An artisan herself, Kenning is active in architectural preservation in San Francisco, and her commitment to reuse arts and crafts follows the model of that field. "In the world of architecture," Kenning stated "preservationists are often left with the dilemma of what to do with Victorian era mansions which few single families can afford in today’s economy. Of course the ideal situation is to leave the house in its original condition, and used for its original purpose. But when the ideal situation is not possible, an alternative which allows one to appreciate the original structure is the second choice, and a far superior choice to tearing the house down and shredding the old growth redwood into sawdust. In San Francisco, there is a concerted effort to finding alternative uses for historic structures, many of which now serve as law offices, medical and dental offices, consulates, and even college dormitories." Unlike recycling, in which the products are generally ground, melted, crushed and/or remolded into entirely new products unrecognizable as their previous product, adaptive reuse products are altered and combined with other items, with less reprocessing, using less water and electricity. This is truly the ultimate in green, and it shows respect and appreciation toward vintage items, samples and/or overstocks which may otherwise be headed to the land fills. In her selection of merchandise, Kenning focused not only on adaptive re-use artworks, but also on affordable prices. "No matter how dedicated you are to ‘being green’, if you cannot afford the products, you won’t buy them." This collection consists of primarily gift items under $40, and many of the items are only a couple of dollars.
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San Francisco Victorian Girl (14)
From San Francisco Victorian Girl (www.sfvictoriangirl.etsy.com), Omro Gallery now has magnets, push pins, journals and photo albums. Unlikely materials such as tile samples and vintage jewelry have been used in the creation of magnets ranging from about $1 to $3 each and sets ranging from $10 to $30. Large photo albums made from hanging file folders are an extraordinary gift idea for the class of 2009. Small brag books complete with mailing envelopes are a fantastic gift for grandma, a college student, or any loved one that is not nearby. Photo albums range from about $2.50 to $15. -
Victorian San Francisco (15)
From Victorian San Francisco (www.smashingdarling.com/store/victorian-san-francisco), Omro Gallery now has bracelets made from vintage jewelry and other beads. The bracelets sell for $5 each or 5 for $20. -
Not Your Grandfather's Dog Tag (21)
From Not Your Grandfather’s Dog Tag (www.smashingdarling.com/store/not-your-grandfathers-dog-tag), Omro Gallery has received “dog tag” style necklaces, a hot fashion trend from California to New York. These reuse necklaces use such components as coins, skeleton keys, vintage earrings, beads, and chandelier crystals on ball chains, leather, ribbon or cords. The necklaces sell for $5 to $40. -
Fancy Footwork (36)
From Fancy Footwork (www.smashingdarling.com/store/fancy-footwork), Omro Gallery now has shoe clips, rings, and button covers made from vintage jewelry and buttons. Shoe clips sell for approximately $5 to $10. Adjustable rings made from vintage buttons range from $5 to $15. Button covers start at $1.50 each. Shoe clips were a fashion must in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and their revival is upon us, as evident by some of the recent press that Fancy Footwork, and other San Francisco artists, have received. On Friday, January 9th, 2009, The San Francisco Chronicle listed shoe clips as number one in "2009 Wedding Trends: Discover the Top 10 Trends in Wedding Fashion and Beauty." But shoe clips are not just for weddings. Shoe clips are a great way to make your shoe wardrobe look significantly more diverse. Placed on the front, side, or back, shoe clips will jazz up pumps, flip flops, or any shoes that need a little bit of bling. On the same day the, in the Smashing Darling Blog, Actress Brea Grant shared her editor’s picks (http://www.smashingdarling.com/blog/category/editors-picks/). "I love clothes and I love Smashing Darling. Picking just a few things was very hard so I chose one item and paired other items with it. This is often the way I create an outfit. I’ll have one handbag or one necklace and create the outfit based on an accessory instead of adding accessories to finish an outfit off. I feel like I’m playing dress up already. I started with the gorgeous Flowers in the Dark earrings by Fancy Footwork. I love dark earrings because they contrast with my hair and I feel like they go with anything. I am also a huge fan of vintage so these earrings caught my eye right away. These earrings really make a statement for me and I felt like I could match lots of stuff with them- so I did."