Reminder: Sticks Handmade pieces (excluding items found in Available Now, Roots and Clearance collections) take 4 to 6 weeks to make. Shop early!
Catherine Canino Big & Bold Necklace
"Loving Time" Heart Wall Clock
Handmade Wood Circle Mirror - Cultivate Collection
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Reminder: Sticks Handmade pieces (excluding items found in Available Now, Roots and Clearance collections) take 4 to 6 weeks to make. Shop early!
Bonus points: add a special picture of you and your bestie or a special memory!
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We wanted to introduce ourselves at Sticks to those who may be unfamiliar with our company and story. Rather than have you read another wordy write-up we decided to sum up the most important points so you could get to know us better! [We have Story of Sticks blog you can read here!]
9 Things You Should Know About Sticks
If you ever have any questions, please reach out to us at 877-678-4257 or email us at onlinesales@sticks.com. (And a real person from our office will answer you!)
We look forward to creating beautiful, unique art and furniture for your home in the future!
]]>Sticks is known for thinking outside the box with our handcrafted folk-art designs. We have had many opportunities to tell stories for clients and their families, creating custom art in all forms. We also work with many businesses and organizations to create artwork with their branding, Sticks-style. The beauty of our artists and our production facility is that we can create structures beyond a simple wall plaque to display your logo and the importance of your mission and story. We recently worked with Plantpeddler, a plant wholesale company located in Iowa, to create artwork that exceeded expectations. We were able to collaborate on a design that provided printable artwork, functionality and a commemorative token of their long, accomplished history.
Plantpeddler reached out to Sticks, looking to commission artwork for their annual catalog cover. Each year, they collaborate with a different artist, and their inspiration for the 2024 cover was sparked by one of our large art installations in Horticulture Hall on Iowa State University’s campus. (Both owners, Mike and Rachel Gooder, attended Iowa State University and graduated with horticulture degrees!) During one of our meetings, we learned that while they needed artwork for printing, they also value and collect the art created from each catalog cover. From there, the conversation opened to wider possibilities. Because the details of wood-burning create limited design space, smaller pieces can lack detail, and a larger design space can provide a more desirable canvas for telling stories.
There is a unique beauty in creating functional art that sparks conversation. That is what led Plantpeddler and our team to the final product. We started with a brainstorming session for the concept and structure, discussing possibilities and restrictions. The truth is, since we build all of our structures by hand, the possibilities are almost endless! Besides an oversized wall plaque, we pivoted towards a new idea—furniture. We discussed options for a bench or even a full dining table, knowing that if there were structures they liked, we could build it to their sizing specifications. With that flexibility in mind, Plantpeddler settled on a bar-height table with a tabletop proportionate to the size of the catalog cover. Their other request – make it easy to disassemble and pack for wholesale tradeshows. … Done! Our wood shop can handle that.
From there, it was time for our design team to work on the concept for imagery. We knew Plantpeddler wanted a high level of detail, similar to the installation at Horticulture Hall. They shared historical events, plenty of old and new photos of their family, team and buildings – and of course, the plants they wanted to feature. Michelle, one of our art directors, sorted through all of Plantpeddler’s material and sketched out a first-draft pencil drawing on the raw table. We reconvened for another call to discuss how she had come up with the drawing. With a few minor adjustments, the drawing was ready for wood-burning and, soon after that, painting!
Tanya, a classically trained painter, took on this project in the painting department. She used the provided logo and images to color-match as closely as possible; all of our colors are mixed by hand! Our painters have plenty of experience painting pieces that will be adapted as print collateral. They know the best ways to create contrast and depth to make sure the overall piece captures the viewers’ attention. We love when our clients put their trust in our artists to use their creative judgment to pick color palettes. By the end of the painting process, our artists had created a vibrant, interesting table. Plantpeddler was thrilled, and we were given the go-ahead to have the tabletop scanned for print!
The result of the artwork was eye-catching! The imagery depicts the evolving history of Plantpeddler’s team and greenhouses. They now have the printed version that tells their story to a wide range of their current and potential customers, but they also have the functional piece to gather around while they are on the road at conventions. This project certainly grew larger than expected; there were a lot of rich stories to tell through the piece. The early greenhouses, the passing of the keys, the introduction of robot automation ... Plantpeddler already has a long history, and there are many more accomplishments to be had; our pieces are meant to evoke conversations and create new memories for those who gather around.
The Plantpeddler team gathered around their handmade table at Cultivate, a national horticulture convention.
We encourage anyone who may be interested in Sticks artwork for their business or organization to reach out to learn more about larger opportunities. We take great honor in creating functional art that will move through time as you and your team’s story evolve. Call us at 877-678-4257 or email marketing@sticks.com.
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The process starts by creating an original, handmade piece - like a plaque, picture frame or lazy susan. It's drawn, wood-burned and painted by hand, so you can feel the texture of the lines and see every brush stroke. The handmade piece gets digitally scanned and the design is now able to be printed. This entire line is printed in-house, at our studio in Des Moines, Iowa. Each piece is sprayed with several coats of the same protective polyurethane that's used on our Sticks Handmade products to assure it's just as durable.
Our Sincerely, Sticks pieces are handcrafted with the same attention to detail, using high-quality techniques. We can create gorgeous, printed designs of your favorite styles of products at an affordable price point! This line is great for adding bright, unique décor to your home or gifting to anyone you’d love to share inspiring designs with!
For Sticks Handmade products:
For printed Sincerely, Sticks products:
Still have questions? Feel free to drop us a comment below and we'd be happy to answer them! Or give us a call at (877) 678-4257 or shoot us an email at onlinesales@sticks.com! We're happy to help however it's most convenient for you.
]]>In 1992, a unique opportunity knocked on Sarah's door when she was invited to craft an original wooden nativity piece for Better Homes and Gardens. Drawing inspiration from her background in engraving metal plates as an intaglio printmaker and her fascination with intricately designed wooden boxes from antique stores, Sarah eagerly embraced this chance to create a truly one-of-a-kind masterpiece that would narrate the nativity story.
The moment Sarah's friends and family laid eyes on her artwork, a fervent desire for their own pieces ignited. Word quickly spread about the captivating blend of hand-drawn artistry, wood-burning craftsmanship, and vibrant painting that characterized her work. It was an irresistible combination, and thus began the remarkable 30-year journey of Sticks.
In the early years, Sarah took on the dual role of artist and business leader, steering the company's growth with an unwavering dedication to storytelling, patriotism, and the celebration of history.
Sticks has garnered national acclaim for its distinctive range of furniture, accessories, and object art. Each of our meticulously crafted pieces is a testament to our artistry, handcrafted from locally sourced birch, poplar, and driftwood. They bear our signature hand-drawn designs, wood-burned contours, and vibrant paintwork.
What initially began as designing smaller items like nativity sets, ornaments, and candlestick holders has evolved into a diverse portfolio that includes larger pieces such as dining sets, beds, armoires, custom art installations, and murals. Our product lines have remained dynamic, thanks to the boundless creativity of our collaborative team of artists and the invaluable feedback from our cherished customers.
Our journey has been marked by numerous highs and lows, but our unwavering commitment to weaving stories, crafting memories for both our customers and ourselves, remains steadfastly at the core of our mission and purpose.
Today, Sticks stands to serve a diverse clientele nationwide and fosters a growing network of artisans who share our values of American craftsmanship and distinctive artistry. Under the leadership of Sarah's oldest daughter,, Rachel Eubank, our exceptional team remains the lifeblood of what we do, ensuring that the legacy of Sticks endures and flourishes.
]]>You may have seen lots of holiday sculptures joining the towards the end of summer, and thought… but the leaves just started changing colors! Well, the truth is, the holiday season starts very early for us at Sticks. By the middle of summer, we started production on the first holiday sculptures and they were ready for the website and our Sticks Gallery by August!
Many of the holiday sculptures in our Roots collection are made from driftwood found by local rivers in Des Moines, Iowa. These hand-carved Christmas sculptures take extra time and a touch of holiday spirit to be created, so we like to start early in the year to make sure we have plenty of handcrafted snowmen, Santas, reindeer and more for our Sticks fans.
Our handmade decorations are drawn, wood-burned and painted with one-of-a-kind designs. Every sculpture in your collection will be special, no two homes will have quite the same color palette or design on their sculpture.
As you, your family and friends prepare to celebrate your unique traditions this holiday season, consider adding a handmade sculpture to your Sticks collection, or share the holiday magic with someone you love – they make great gifts!
Our Roots and Holiday Sculptures are found exclusively at www.Sticks.com or Sticks Gallery in Des Moines, Iowa.
Wood grain and color of table base may vary. Design printed on the underside of glass insert. Not intended to be used as outdoor furniture.
Glass Top Tables | Cleaning Instructions:
1. Soap and water can be used to clean table frame.
2. Ammonia-free glass cleaner can be used to clean both sides of the glass top.
*Avoid using abrasive cleaners as they can scratch or remove print. Avoid high amounts of sun to prevent from fading.*
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We're here to tell your story and make your Sticks dreams come true!! We always pour all our love into every Sticks piece we make, but customs do get a little extra dash.❤️
Please call us at (515) 282-0844 or email EJ at efrye@sticks.com to reserve your appointment today, they go fast!
Dates: Monday, September 19th - Friday, September 23rd
Appointments open daily – spots available from 8am – 3pm CST. Openings start at 8am, last opening at 3pm, central time.
(*$100 deposit is required to hold your appointment time, which will be applied to your custom order total)
Whether you're living in the Wild West or the snowy Midwest, Sticks knows how to craft art and furniture that inspires your western heart. Find inspiration on how to style your western space with American-made products!
Your cowgirl chic home decorations should remind you of what is important in your life. Design your space around your cowgirl, free spirit mindset. Sticks offers two variations of our top-selling wall plaques. Sticks Handmade plaques show off the handcrafted pride of American-made art and Sincerely, Sticks plaques display vibrant imagery at a lower price-point (still made in the USA!). Pair this western wall decor with southwestern patterns and cherished photos and mementos. Life is a Two-Step and Follow Your Heart can be displayed on your walls as reminder to live and enjoy the western lifestyle.
Start ‘em young! Share the western lifestyle by creating a western design style in your kid’s bedroom. “I’m a Snake” Lazy Susan is an instant way to bring style and function into a children’s bedroom. This colorful snake design is great for a fun, youthful look and inspires curiosity of western wildlife! This tabletop lazy susan has endless uses in your kid’s western bedroom – display family photos, showcase their latest art creations, hold current favorite books or show off their newest ribbons!
Every cowboy needs somewhere to get their work done. Style an area that pulls together your southwestern roots, while channeling a polished finish to create a productive work environment. Our Sticks Handmade desk combines a whimsical, western landscape with dark-stained wood for the perfect balance of creativity and sophistication. This desk allows cowgirls and cowboys to keep their life organized in one spot with an attached shelf and a drawer for storage. A desk like this would fit well in your home office paired with rich, leather chairs for an inviting space for reading old-western novels!
Love your friends and support others! If you want to get your loved one a gift that matches their style – get them a western gift from our Supported Artisans collection. They'll be boot scootin' with excitement!
Pilgrim Imports is all about supporting their craftswomen and men by producing fair trade products. This western boot ornament is made from copper and turquoise stones – we love this color combo! Give this ornament at Christmas-time or just-because and your western lover can hang it somewhere special!
Give your whiskey-drinking buddy a gift they'll use for every occasion. Studio Vertu marble coasters are made in Newport, Kentucky and printed with Sticks, western inspired designs! These western coasters will make your special someone kick up their boots and relax. What a gift!?
Not matter what part of your home needs to be filled with some western decor, Sticks loves creating unique, handmade pieces! Shop for your western spirit at sticks.com!
]]>Here's to 30 years of Sticks and many, many more!
]]>Sticks is celebrating our 30-year anniversary next month! As we near this exciting milestone, we’re reflecting on our remarkable journey with a monthly video series that showcases our origin story and spotlights the people who have made it possible.
At Sticks, we believe in seeing a spark, letting it grow, and being open to the idea that it can take on many phases and forms.
What began from our founder Sarah Grant loading artwork into the back of her car to sell at art shows has grown into a wildly popular, reputable, and long-standing brand. The timeless fervor for Sticks products is a testimony to the human connection our artwork creates. That connection is a spark that has guided Sticks over the past three decades.
While we’ve seen many highs, there have been lows that prove there is nothing easy about making art. And even more difficult is creating and selling art at a large scale.
For many years, we were making the same things every day. While each piece was all new and one-of-a-kind, the products followed the same equation, reached the same customer base, and hit the same price point. In envisioning where we wanted to take Sticks in the future, we knew we needed to find an innovative way to reach a new segment of customers while also complementing our traditional handmade product lines.
We developed our Sincerely, Sticks printed line – which includes plaques, Lazy Susans, picture frames, ornaments, and more – to explore creative avenues that simply weren’t possible with our handmade products. Jumping into the printed marketplace has moved our business forward by growing our product lines and making our heartfelt artwork accessible to more people.
Through this new stage in our history, we’ve been able to hone in on our most beloved designs and invest in creating remarkable original artwork that can be reproduced through print production. Our retailers and galleries across the nation have welcomed the opportunity to offer their customers our iconic designs.
Each piece we create – whether handmade or printed – is authentic to our brand and our creative process. We firmly believe Sticks should and could never be a mass-made brand. Our core heritage, dedication to artistry, and heartfelt values remain steady throughout our portfolio.
Under the leadership and vision of our president Rachel Eubank along with new and long-tenured team members, we’ve created a culture that blends fresh ideas and historic roots. Through our company-wide commitment to growing and changing, we are certain that Sticks will remain relevant and meaningful for years to come.
Our journey would not be possible without the customers, retailers, artists, and team members who have shared their passion, appreciation, and creative vision with us. We have grown together and built something remarkable that can be cherished for the rest of our lives. And for that, we are eternally grateful. No matter how our journey continues to unfold, we know that Sticks will always be something special bottled up because it’s special people who love it and special people who make it.
We are celebrating our 30-year anniversary in January 2022! As we close in on this milestone, we’re reflecting on our remarkable journey with a monthly video series that showcases our origin story and spotlights the people who have made it possible.
We wanted to commemorate our 30-year anniversary milestone with something tangible. Because we so often create artwork that tells our customers’ stories, we envisioned partnering with another craftsman to create a product that told our story.
And what better way to tell our story than raising a glass filled with custom-blended whiskey.
Earlier this year, Sticks commissioned a private label barrel of Iowa bourbon with Foundry Distilling Company. We believe our story is much like the story of an American bourbon – from-the-earth American materials, handcrafted attention, creators with a passion, and an end-product that is rich and unique.
While we use drawing, carving, wood-burning, and painting to tell visual stories, distillers use raw ingredients and chemistry to tell stories through the sense of taste and smell. Both artforms are rooted in time-honored traditions that take careful craftsmanship to create one-of-a-kind final products.
Because of their entrepreneurial spirit and Iowa roots, we knew partnering with the team at Foundry Distilling Co. was a perfect fit. Founded in June 2018 by Scott Bush, who also founded Templeton Rye, the world-class distillery strives to innovate in the crowded craft spirits marketplace – offering a Private Barrel program, Brewer-Distiller Alliance, and of course, a range of top-notch spirits from vodka to whiskey available for purchase at the distillery and retailers across Iowa.
Prior to filling our whiskey barrel, the outside was adorned with drawings from our founder Sarah Grant and burned, painted, and finished with help from all of our talented artists in our studio. Around the four bands of wood and the top of the barrel, artwork includes original icons that embody universal values and life lessons. It also includes a timeline representing the events, achievements, and people who have made our 30-year journey possible.
The customized commemorative barrel is on display at the distillery near Historic Valley Junction in West Des Moines, Iowa. The striking barrel itself is a point of pride for both the Sticks and Foundry Distilling Co. team. It represents friendship, collaboration, and a vision for creating something special. It is also an example of the wide range of mediums and artistic vision – beyond the traditional Sticks style – that our artists can embody for custom projects and unique client visions.
Learn more about Foundry Distilling Co. and the unique Private Barrel program on their website.
The countdown is on! As we near our 30-year anniversary in January 2022, we’re reflecting on our remarkable journey with a monthly video series that showcases our origin story and spotlights the people who have made it possible. We hope you’ll join us in honoring on our heritage and celebrating where we’re headed!
The amount of talent inside our walls is incredible. From painting and customer service to art direction and inventory, Sticks is made possible by passionate, dedicated, and visionary people who love what they do.
Our team is committed to “getting it right” in all we do. Sticks artwork shines because it carefully and accurately tells the stories of histories, families, and communities. This level of storytelling is made possible by employees who go above and beyond in researching and asking questions to ensure our artwork honors those stories.
As we near our 30-year anniversary, our average employee tenure is 19 years. Many employees have stretched into new roles and worn different hats over the years to create beautiful work for our customers. Some started in the retail gallery and now work in our marketing department, or first became a wood burner and now paint.
This pipeline of talent is possible because our team members are encouraged to share their perspectives, expertise, and learnings with one another. Many of our employees develop their own creative and artistic skills in their personal lives and are eager to share what they learn or practice with the rest of the team. This wholehearted dedication to collaboration – no matter their tenure, titles, or backgrounds – has made a real difference in Sticks’ success through the decades.
One of the most important values our team brings is the willingness to speak up and contribute to change. They must be willing to go beyond doing things “the way they’ve always been done.” This approach has allowed Sticks to grow through the decades, creating products that better serve ourselves and our customers.
Across all roles and titles, our team is dedicated to carrying our heritage and artistry forward while offering individual visions for how the company can continue to push the envelope and forge new paths. This is modeled by our president Rachel Eubank, who is passionate about empowering our team of more than 40 employees to evolve our artwork, product offerings, and business decisions.
Our people have always been and will always be what makes Sticks special.
January 2022 marks Sticks’ 30-year anniversary! As we near this exciting milestone, we’re sharing a monthly video series that showcases our origin story and spotlights the people who have shaped our incredible journey. We hope you’ll join us in reflecting on our heritage and celebrating where we’re headed.
Our artwork exudes all-things Americana from sea to shining sea. We are proud to honor the histories and tell the stories of the places and faces across this beautiful nation.
In the late 1990s, we created our first piece of Americana artwork – the American flag. This iconic flag showcased a timeline of our country through wood-burned words and icons along each of its 13 red and white stripes.
There’s no doubt our customers have an allegiance for Americana artwork. We have created hundreds of flags, pieces of furniture, and patriotic décor, such as Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty, using a variety of mediums big and small to tell the stories of these United States.
Sticks artists take telling the truth of history seriously. They dedicate countless hours to researching events, timelines, and perspectives to ensure accuracy, never oversimplifying or cherry-picking facts. Each patriotic piece teaches our nation’s events, democracy, and civics in a visual way that is often more memorable than a traditional textbook lesson.
While affection for Americana style comes and goes over the decades, national tragedies, such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks, reignites a passion for patriotism and opportunities to reflect and unite as Americans. We will always strive to create pieces that honor and remember, so we all will never forget.
Because of our steadfast reputation for telling American histories, Sticks artists were asked to create a battleship museum on board the decommissioned USS Iowa BB-61. It was one of four battleships in the Iowa class – known for unmatched firepower, armor, and speed – that served in World War II and the Korean War.
Our team of talented artists spent years researching the battleship’s history. As they began to create, they went beyond the traditional Sticks style, harnessing and pushing their artistic skills to tell the ship’s story through realistic drawings and paintings on massive wooden panels.
The panels of artwork are now displayed inside the reconditioned ship which is in its permanent home at the Pacific Battleship Center in Los Angeles. Today, the ship is open as the only battleship museum on the West Coast, commemorating its service to the U.S.
Currently, our team is creating an Americana regional program that includes designing a one-of-a-kind Lazy Susan that celebrates each state. It’s an incredibly labor-intensive project because we ensure each is representative of the state’s parks, points of interests, phrases, national monuments, cities, and local pride. The commitment to creating an accurate portrayal of each state is meaningful to both our customers and our artists.
At Sticks, we love honoring our country’s history and our commitment to truth will remain steady. No matter how our America’s stories intertwine and evolve for decades to come, we will continue our unwavering pursuit of showcasing this great nation through our artwork. We believe it is our honor and responsibility.
It's that time of year again - the best time to create a custom with Sticks at our semi-annual trunk show! Customize your own Sticks furniture or home accent décor, adding personal imagery, words, and colors to tell a story that's uniquely you. We're continuing with our "new" tradition of virtual trunk shows to keep our valued guests and our own staff safe. Hopefully next year we'll be able to resume our in person events!!
Typically this is an in-person event where we'd ask you to come to our Sticks Gallery and meet with our artists in person - we'll get back there, we promise! But to keep everyone involved safe, we're going to do all of our appointments through phone calls and emails. Collaborate with our artists about your ideas on the phone and then watch them come to life when we scan you the completed drawing. We know it's a bummer you can't chat in person but we're glad this way the event is opened up to more of you!
This Trunk Show event is the perfect time to order a personalized treasure before the holiday season. We're here to tell you and your loved ones' stories and make your Sticks dreams come true!! Color, design, and theme combine to create heirloom art. Call us today to reserve your time!
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As we count down to our 30-year anniversary, we’ll be sharing a monthly video series that showcases our origin story and spotlights the people who have shaped our incredible journey. We hope you’ll join us in reflecting on our heritage and celebrating where we’re headed.
When Sarah Grant was asked to create an original wooden nativity for Better Homes and Gardens in 1992, she had never truly worked in wood. Inspired by her background in painting, drawing, and intaglio printmaking – an art form that involves engraving and etching metal plates – she created a unique and imaginative artistic combination.
This hand-drawn, wood-burned, colorfully painted craftsmanship has defined Sticks for the past three decades.
From the get-go, Sarah rooted the content of Sticks around a love for country, nature, and family. And most importantly, she wanted the artwork to express a commitment to doing the right thing every single day. Through a combination of icons and script, these universal values and lessons are brought to life in a magically personal and relatable way. Our meaningful storytelling is engrained in every product we make, leaving people feeling inspired, humbled, and uplifted.
With Sarah’s leadership and mentorship, Sticks has grown to include a team of incredibly talented artists. Our creators are passionate about “getting it right” in all we do. It takes a special skill set and intuition to join in our collaborative pursuit while carrying our artistry and story forward. Each team member has embodied our distinct style while contributing individual visions to collectively make Sticks what it is today.
Beyond our regular product lines, we have the honor of creating custom pieces that tell the unique stories of communities, organizations, and customers across the nation. Our artists take these projects to heart. Often, they are commissioned with an important story in mind – a family tree, a memorial for a loved one who has passed away, or a celebration of life’s everyday milestones. No matter if the product is a plaque, dining room table, or mural in the walls of a hospital, we work closely with clients to thoughtfully research and ask questions to ensure the artwork honors the story they want to tell.
Over the years, our craftsmanship has evolved from looser, rougher folk-art style on wood to our tighter, cleaner look on a variety of mediums today. We are always working to honor our heritage and foundational vision while keeping a pulse on new ways to make our artwork fresh for our customers and ourselves.
January 1, 2022, marks Sticks’ 30-year anniversary!
Sticks has built a rich heritage that's been carefully crafted over the past three decades. As we prepare for our 30-year anniversary in 2022, we'll be sharing a video series that showcases our origin story and spotlights the people who have shaped our journey. We hope you'll join us in reflecting on our roots and celebrating where we're headed.
Sarah Grant is a life-long artist. Raised in Ames, Iowa, she earned a Master of Arts in intaglio printmaking and Master of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Iowa.
In 1992, Sarah was asked to create an original wooden nativity for Better Homes and Gardens. Inspired by her experience engraving metal plates as an intaglio printmaker and wood-burned boxes found at antique stores, she embraced the opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind piece that told the nativity story.
Once Sarah’s friends and family saw the artwork, everyone wanted their own. Word spread of the distinctive hand-drawn, wood-burned, painted style and it was irresistible. It took off like a runaway train. And so began the 30-year journey of Sticks.
In the early years, Sarah led the company’s business development and creative direction beyond her career as an artist. She grew our strong roots, all wrapped around a love for storytelling, patriotism, and honoring histories.
Sticks has received national acclaim for our distinctive lines of furniture, accessories, and object art. All of our handmade pieces are artfully crafted from birch, poplar, and driftwood sourced from local rivers. They are designed with our hand-drawn imagery, etched contouring, and vibrantly blended paint.
What originally started with designing smaller items such as nativity sets, ornaments, and candlestick holders has evolved to include larger items such as dining sets, beds, armoires, custom art installations, and murals. Our product lines have constantly evolved thanks to the imagination and expertise of our collaborative team of artists and feedback from customers.
The ride has had many ups and downs, but our commitment to telling stories, creating memories for our customers and ourselves continues to be at the forefront of our mission and purpose.
Today, Sticks is home to 40 employees, serves retail and independent customers nationwide, and supports a growing network of artisans who share our values of American craftsmanship and distinct artistry. We have continued to grow and evolve under the leadership of Rachel Eubank, our current president, along with Sarah’s continued support and expertise, and our top-notch team who is truly the fabric of what we do.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for all of your support, kind wishes, simple & sweet notes, phone calls, and business this year. There were moments earlier this year when we didn’t know what would happen to American Craft businesses in a Covid world. We were scared for our staff and our stocking retailers, for our business, and our family & friends’ health and wellbeing. We held onto the idea that making beautiful and inspirational art always makes the world a bit brighter and we can only hope that on dark days, we made someone smile. In the day of Amazon instant-gratification, low-cost & low-quality goods, and missing the social capital of chatting with your local store owner over an in-person transaction, we are so appreciative that you have felt a connection to us through Sticks.com, our Des Moines, Iowa brick-and-mortar gallery, or a local store in your town that graciously carries Sticks products.
We have big plans for 2021 and hope that you continue along with us on this handmade journey. We will continue abiding by our mission of sourcing locally when available, buying American made materials and component parts, and supporting our friends, suppliers, retailers and wholesalers around this beautiful country.
Fair Wage and Fair Trade are about caring who makes the goods you purchase and standing apart from the big box stores. A purchase of Pilgrim Imports means you're looking for something beautiful with value and meaning behind it! We value handmade goods that support the craftspeople making them and we're sure you do as well.
Pilgrim Imports originated in 1992 (just like Sticks!) in a village outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand. There, craftspeople and their families gather for an annual celebration that has become known as Pilgrim Family Day. The day features food, friends, and fun. Spirits are high as sports jerseys and t-shirts for the Pilgrim-sponsored teams are distributed along with special gifts and announcements.
You would never know that three decades ago this was a chronically poor area; families accustomed to closeness were commonly forced to separate for survival as children went to work in Bangkok’s factories and tourist trades. Traditional village life deteriorated in the face of poverty. No longer do the villagers consider sending their kids away to the big city. Now, over 400 neighbors in this rural land work together to produce the art pieces Pilgrim Imports' buyers and customers love. They are able to remain in their homeland and utilize traditional metalworking skills.
Besides generally improving quality of life for hundreds, the work Pilgrim offers set other improvements in motion. For instance, the village’s local grade school received a paved road, computers, and clean drinking water. The Thai Department of Education has now cited this once destitute place of learning as a model for rural schooling.
There are many tasks that need to be completed on the Thai end to create Pilgrim Imports' beautiful ornaments, pins, and jewelry. Fortunately, all of these jobs are honest, clean, and economical. No one thinks of dumping trash in rivers or landfills because the villagers work right where they live. No lead or dangerous chemicals are used in the products nor in the process creating them.
More importantly, these Thai people are proud to preserve their village traditions and happy to be close to each other. They appreciate the work which sustains their way of life, and they are pleased to learn that others enjoy the projects they create. Look for the light of admirable people inside of every Pilgrim Imports product, and we will keep “working together for good” to bring it to you.
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Catherine Canino is the designer behind everything at CC & Co by Catherine Canino. She's been designing jewelry since her first gorgeous pasta and yarn necklace at a kitchen table in Connecticut, 1972. (And as made apparent by this bio she wrote, she's got sass.. and we are here for it).
She's always possessed an insatiable obsession with fashion and design which led to a fancy art school education. Once graduated, reality settled in followed by gritty jewelry factory work and industry design gigs. It wasn't her favorite. Her own brand began in a studio apartment on the Upper East Side of NYC with a slightly illegal torch, a tumbler, and many late nights of hand crafting each piece.
Catherine loves to pull inspiration from the darn beautiful world we live in. In particular, because we do all play favorites: antique jewelry, equestrian tack, nautical hardware, and vintage magazines. Her favorite stone dealer and leather tannery are the source of seasonal color palettes. Most inspiring to her though, are the stylish women of all ages that wear her pieces with personal adaptation.
Everything, and we mean everything, is handcrafted in NYC. After inspiration strikes, it is time to get her hands dirty. She models and molds all of her own hardware. Her factory is located in the heart of Manhattan’s jewelry district and the process could not happen without her team of 20 fabulous crafters.
The signature pebble pearls are a hand crafted composite: mother of pearl shell is crushed, formed into the pebble shape, then lacquered and polished 18 times (Catherine counted) to draw out the shell’s luster and hue. She wanted to deliver the look of pearl without the quick degradation.
Her post earrings feature surgical steel posts with hypoallergenic rubber ear stoppers - because she hates sore itchy ears and knows you ladies do too. She hand crafts the collection in three different, beautiful metals: Classic polished 14 karat gold over brass, warm artisinal matte finished 18 karat gold over brass, and 925 solid sterling liver with high polish finish. Please note the gold plating is to the industry standard of 5mils.
Studio Vertu’s success story began in 1995 when owner Mark Schmidt developed the concept of the Lightweight Fresco Tile. Promoting the product as an alternative to permanently mounted marble tiles or hand-painted mural, Mark captured the attention of The National Football League Headquarters in New York City. This project continues to be Studio Vertu’s single largest installation.
While the large jobs were great, they proved to be slow in the making. An idea to develop marble coasters soon came to the board as a means of creating sales. In the spring of 1995, Studio Vertu introduced 10 sets of Italian Marble Coasters, each consisting of four different images. Soon after an 8-inch marble trivet, an 8-inch marble clock and 2-inch marble magnets were introduced, voila, a product line was born!
Today Studio Vertu is now owned by Marlene Vaicius and under her leadership, the company is consistently working on NEW and different products to add to their line. Studio Vertu recently moved to Newport, Kentucky after spending over twenty years in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. The new studio is a working manufacturing facility. They are a small company and intend to stay small, nimble, and responsive - we LOVE that part of their story. Every single item is produced right there! We love it that way and we think you will too.
Studio Vertu works primarily with tumbled Botticino marble imported from Verona, Italy. This particular rock is chosen for its lack of veins and lines so the printed image is not distracted by what mother nature provides.
Each piece of rock is examined by their artisans before the printing process begins. That being said, you should still expect to see the imperfections that nature provides; small nicks, dings, and fissions are to be expected – these features build in unique character and assure that no two coasters or sets will ever be the same, just like Sticks!
The coasters do not absorb moisture - think about it, marble mountains don't absorb moisture so neither will Studio Vertu's coasters. Can you imagine the mess?? Their experience with coasters that do absorb moisture is the image begins to fade and mold. Plus who wants that red wine embedded in the image?! Not us!
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At the heart of catstudio are its founders: Carmel and Terrell Swan, creators of Swan Magic embroidered t-shirts. The first letters of their names - C and T - form the “CAT” of catstudio (get it?!) and their love for hand-craftsmanship, their passion for geography, and their sense of adventure and fun ring true in everything they create.
They started with just two designs - Atlanta and Georgia, to celebrate the 1996 Olympics - and now there's over 300 geographical locales and universities in their ever-growing line of geography products! They pride themselves on developing unique, innovative new products that make the everyday special and elevate the rich traditions of artisanship around the world.
All of the pillows that we carry by catstudio are EMBROIDERED by HAND on 100% organic cotton. Amazingly, it can take up to one week to embroider one pillow! It is also unique in nature since each artisan incorporates a certain flair to their work so no two will ever be the same. They're created on tea-colored background, accented with coordinating piping, and finished with a 3-button closure. The signature of each artist is even included on the tag. Purchase one and you'll be the proud owner of a one-of-a-kind piece of art that'll be an heirloom to be enjoyed for generations to come.. just like Sticks!❤️
The artwork is heartfelt and original every time! When adding a new pillow to the line, each design is first hand-drawn and created with this insider's perspective, taking even the smallest details to heart. Catstudio works with residents, mayors, friends, business owners, customers, and family - people just like you - to create a design that locals can proudly display in their home or office, and visitors will take with them as a tangible keepsake. We hope you find one you love to celebrate your favorite vacation spot, memorable trip, where you were married, where your loved ones live, where you dream of going, or simply the most precious place - home.
Want to go a step above when considering this as a gift?! Personalize it! Source out a local monogram shop and easily add a special touch to the back of the pillow - initials, wedding date, retirement date, graduation class year, personal note, your business or non-profit name or logo.. the possibilities are endless!
Terri Schuver graduated from South Dakota State University in 1981 as a Textiles and Clothing major with a business minor. She spent 8 years with a major department store chain before an 11 year stint with a commercial interiors firm. A desire for unique garden accessories in her own landscape then led her down a new path she hadn't planned on, but a wonderful path nonetheless... read on!
While on vacation with her husband and another couple, Terri and her friend were attracted to some metal sculptures fashioned from aged metal. The husbands, not relishing the idea of transporting the art home, responded "Well we can do that."
Terri took the men up on their claim and just to give them a little push, committed to a local arts festival a few months away. True to their word, the husbands were able to help craft the new designs, yet days before the Sidewalk Arts Festival in Sioux Falls, SD, Terri had nothing to sell. The experiments to age the metal had failed.
Then, two days before the festival, tired, hot, and frustrated, Terri applied a solution of vinegar and water to the sculptures lying on the garage floor and walked away. Overnight, a combination of elements imparted a patina more unique than Terri had ever seen. And it turns out others found it appealing, too! The arts festival opened at 9am, by noon she had sold out of several designs and Prairie Dance was on its way!
It took Terri months to figure out just what worked that night, but through trial and error she was able to replicate the process and in 1997 Prairie Dance was born. Today Prairie Dance is produced by Terri and her small but dedicated staff and they ship to over 400 galleries and gift stores across the country - including our own Sticks Gallery in Des Moines, Iowa!
Prairie Dance products are made from brushed or patina steel — perfect for indoor or outdoor use. If you are fortunate enough to enjoy winter, the signature rust-esque patina looks stunning against a fresh snow!
The signature rust we speak of is created through a simple eco-friendly process that produces unique rusting patterns. Each piece has different characteristics and therefore rusts in its own special way every time. No two pieces will ever be the same - just like Sticks!
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In 1970 Ray and Joyce Wichelt started Wichelt Imports, Inc. in the basement of their home in Stoddard, Wisconsin, by importing German gift items and Norwegian yarn for knitting and embroidery kits. Today Wichelt Imports is owned and run by their daughter Aimee in a 14,000 square foot warehouse with roughly 30 employees, a big upgrade from their humble beginnings! The company has been and continues to be a leading distributor of fine need art fabric and supplies.
Wichelt Imports offers more than 5,000 needlecraft products, including Sticks' licensed designs. Their product line includes over 700 colors and counts of premium quality fabrics, pre-finished table linens and towels, graphs and kits, threads, ribbons, stitchery accessories and hardware. These fine-quality products are sold in about 1,000 stores throughout the world.
As a needleworker, whatever your interest - cross stitch, needlepoint, or embroidery - Wichelt Imports can service you!
Each day we are offering a unique sale or special discount on a particular item or collection of items!
No coupon codes are necessary!! All discounts will be automatically applied at checkout.🎉
We can NO LONGER create Sticks Handmade to arrive in time for Christmas - this is anything that notes "ships in 3 to 6 weeks" in its product description. Anything Sticks Handmade purchased on December 3rd or later will be arriving after the holidays. So we invite you to shop our in stock merchandise at GREAT prices during our 12 Days of Sticksmas sale, see each day's special promotion below!!
Free 2020 Calendar* with the purchase of any In Stock Holiday Sculpture* art piece
*Be sure to add both to your cart! Discount will be reflected at checkout.
Clearance collection is an additional 20% off
Printed Lazy Susans available at 20% off
Printed Holiday Items available at 20% off
Printed Picture Frames available at 20% off
Buy One Get One Free Canvas Printed Stockings*
*Be sure to add both to your cart! Discount will be reflected at checkout.
Printed Stretched Canvases available at 20% off
Full Collection of Sincerely, Sticks printed items available at 20% off
Posters and Lithographs are available at 50% off
Love Letters collection available at 20% off
Buy One Get One Free Printed Ornaments
*Be sure to add both to your cart! Discount will be reflected at checkout.
10% off all Sticks Gift Cards
I don't know about you as consumers, but over here at Sticks we're a little frazzled over Thanksgiving being so late and therefore shortening the holiday shopping season.. Last year's Cyber Monday was November 26th and this year it's December 2nd.. so that means our timeline to make you brand new, handmade goods in time for Christmas is shorter by a whole week!! Eeeek!😨
Stay tuned here to Sticks.com for the most current availability of our products arriving in time for Christmas. We always let you know when we're no longer able to get you new Sticks Handmade in time for Christmas and we'll update you here on our blog as that cutoff date gets closer (likely end of day December the 2nd), and likewise for inventoried Sincerely, Sticks printed goods (likely December 16th).
We KNOW getting a deal on Cyber Monday is a tempting reason to hold off on your holiday shopping, but if having your Sticks in hand as soon as possible is more of a concern, we can't stress enough how you need to place your order BEFORE the madness of Cyber Monday. It's plausible orders placed that day could arrive on Christmas Eve when you'd like to be leaving town.
It's that time of year - kids are getting ready to go back to school and your home could use some organizational tools to help keep your little ducks in a row. We have just what you need! Be it an activity board to post invites and art on, a perpetual calendar to keep track of events and appointments, a desk for the kiddos to do homework at, a simple clock to help you keep a better tab on the time, or even a mirror just to perk up a blank wall - we've got it all!
All of these categories are 20% OFF here on Sticks.com and also with these participating retailers near you:
Earthenworks Galleries
702 Water St
Port Townsend, WA
Ph: (360) 385-0328
713 1st St
La Conner, WA
Ph: (360) 466-4422
Fairytales
28 W St. Charles Rd
Lombard, IL 60148
Ph: (630) 495-6909
Sticks Gallery
400 E Locust St
Des Moines, IA 50309
Ph: (515) 282-0844
Stowe Craft Gallery
55 Mountain Rd
Stowe, VT 05672
Ph: (802) 253-2305
Use code BACKTOSCHOOL19 here on Sticks.com to see the savings, shop the collection here!
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Remember our one-of-a-kind mirrors like this bad boy? We call this a fancy mirror. "Fancy Mirror" simply means it strayed from our typical mirror structures you know well now, however they are anything BUT simple. Each one is truly an original that can't be duplicated! Even if we recreate an existing design, it's likely the embellishments like the logs and other unique additions can't be replicated. They are created collaboratively and creatively as inspiration takes the artists on a journey while they work. They also feature logs from our local Des Moines, Iowa area waterways and what we call "found objects" that we get from estate sales, vintage stores, etc. It's all a fun, free flowing, and creative process!
This fancy mirror in particular was inspiration as we worked on our three new mirrors. It's dressed to the nines - it has logs, it has doors, and even pegs and sculptural birds that are hand-carved. Our artists looked at fabulous designs and top sellers from our early years such as this one when they worked on the new ones just released. We then "softened" those ideas and designs just a bit and used modern and beautiful color palettes to create the collection you see today!
Each item in the collection is truly one-of-a-kind, handmade, and sculptural. Our artists poured special attention into each item, letting their creativity lead the way and shape how each product was formed into its final composition. They're all unique from one and other and because they vary so widely, they're all individually priced based on the time and materials our artists used to create them. They're sold on a first come, first served basis so make sure to act fast before your favorite is gone!!
We do plan on continuing to create and add new items into the collection as this first offering sells, hopefully expanding it substantially. In a few months time we'll be working on jaw-dropping Santas and snowmen for the holiday season!! So make sure you keep checking in on this collection to discover more treasures being added!