Born and raised in Rome, Patrizio Fortuna is beginning a new life in Chicago. His predominantly mixed media works utilize found images and materials to convey the experience of immigrant assimilation.

His new line, called “The Natural Follies,” is a mixed media series that is perfect for springtime: featuring whimsical animals dancing, playing and posing against a backdrop of music, you can practically hear the songs floating through the air in the background.

In another one of his series, dominant cultural representations of Micky Mouse, Elvis, and Audrey Hepburn are informed by the childhood comics of American youth and classical European fine art is commoditized and relegated to newspaper want ads.

As a kid I was given a Moleskine as a present and was instantly in awe. I loved everything about this simple little book. The look, the feel, so empty, yet so full of potential. A blank beautiful canvas. It felt less like a journal, and more like an invitation, an invitation to create. I wasn’t sure if I would ever get another one, so for years I hesitated to use it. I eventually became brave enough to make the first mark on that ‘clean slate’. The thoughts, ideas, poems, and drawings poured out of me like water from a broken main. Ever since I’ve not only enjoyed filling up my journals, but I also have had a burning curiosity as to what others do between the covers of their journals; what poetry is written, what doodles are drawn, portraits sketched, problems solved. As I carefully package the Moleskines to send to my customers, I wonder…what will fill these pages?
To provide you with more background allow me to introduce myself; I’m Josh Mondie, entrepreneur, stagehand, investor and the creative soul behind Ink Bomb. As you might’ve guessed, the idea was sparked by a life long appreciation of art and creativity in its various and never-ending forms. I tend to express my creativity through graphic design and print-making, specifically screen prints on Moleskine journals. While I’m content working with the materials of the masters, ie., Van Gogh, Picasso, and Hemingway, in the future I intend to develop a more eco-friendly journal, using all recycled materials. My customers will tell you that my journals are special, they are shown the utmost care from the point of arrival in my hands, to arrival in theirs.  During the printing process, my 19th floor condo is transformed into a full fledged art studio, each room utilized for either graphic design, burning screens, color mixing, printing, cleaning screens, packaging, etc. I do all of the work myself, from concept to delivery. Each print is unique, and individually printed by hand, which means no two journals will ever be the same. Buy confidently, know that you’re getting a truly one-of-a-kind piece, soon to be filled with your unique thoughts, drawings and solutions. I hope you enjoy your end of the process as much as I’ve enjoyed my end of it!

Alexis Ellers under the name, True Partners In Craft acquires used bicycle inner tubes from friends and friendly bicycle shops across Chicago. She then cleans, cuts, hole punches, strings, twist and sews them into a variety of jewelry and accessories. Thanks to the many pot holes and broken glass strewn across Chicago bike lanes, True Partners In Craft is able to create beautiful recycled jewelry

Originally a Cincinnati native, Rebecca studied Art History & Geology at the University of Michigan. From there, she earned a degree in Fashion Design and Marketing in London, England.  Career highlights include having several pieces from her graduation collection featured in the fashion magazine i-D (UK, Feb. 2007), and working on men’s leather pouches for the movie Elizabeth: The Golden Age.  Her brand purpleandlime is a line of super-fun jewelry and accessories handmade in Chicago- specialties include laser-cut acrylic and faux fur winter pieces!

I’m Lisa, an artist and slave to my retired racing greyhounds, Roscoe and Sage. I love graphic art and have a passion for greyhound adoption. When I meld the 2 together, I get fun, colorful pop art that just begs to be framed! I’m super organized and neat, “a place for everything and everything in its place”. That’s me to a T. Nothing is ever black and white with me. There’s so many gray areas.. or blue or green or pink. The possibilities are endless….

Chicago based jewelry designer; Motor city born and bred. Inspired by the hunt for the
antique, Broad Street is a collection of one of a kind jewelry, created out of
items salvaged from the local Chicago thrift. All elements are stripped of
their original identity and woven into an assemblages of fine art.

Broad Street gathers inspiration from mythology, religion and folklore of lost civilizations
and past lives. The notion of the amulet, an object intended to protect and
bring good luck to the wearer, and the ways in which pharaohs, kings and queens
were  buried in jewelry fascinates the obsession of turning a simple charm into a shield of armour.
Broad Street’s maven, Sara Bradstreet, studied traditional metalsmithing and
textiles, weaving, dying and crocheting metals into fibers. Minoring in Art
History, her jewelry is a combination of her love from telling old stories,
traditional craftsmanship and unique self expression. Sara lives on the
northside of Chicago with her rescued Shar Pei named Glory.

My name is Jen, and I am the artist behind the The Little Illustrator.  I illustrate cutesy quirky illustrations for every age!  I am a stay at home mom to three babies under two, so  I have LOTS of inspiration daily   What makes me the most happy about illustrating is knowing that my illustrations put a smile on people’s faces.

We are so excited to announce that we’ve teamed up with Petals Farm to feature lovely & locally grown flower bouquets outside the shop.  Here at Sacred Art, we believe in supporting local community members in their craft, whether that’s in their art, their farming or any number of possibilities! Like artwork, these bouquets are a wonderful way to bring color into your home and support the local community at the same time!  Each bouquet is only $9 (cash only for these please). We will have them Thursdays-Saturdays, depending on the weather and while supplies last.  Flowers will change weekly depending on what’s in bloom.

We hope that you’ll enjoy this new Summer addition, stop in to pick up your own bouquet and see all the brand new artwork in the shop too! It’s always changing!

xo,

sacred art

Lover of all dogs, mozzarella sticks and of course – sewing machines, Rachel first began seriously sewing after enrolling in the fashion design program at Columbia College Chicago in 2001.  While there she found her passion for fabrics, patternmaking and design.  Prior to starting Stitch, Rachel worked with Cynthia Rowley in New York and as a design assistant for HGTV’s Design on a Dime.  She likes to think her talent was inherited from her Nana – who is arguably the best seamstress around.

Help us save lives through art.  With each purchase of a heart painting, 100% goes directly to the American Heart Association.  Each of the canvases is $50 and we need your help to raise as much as possible for the #1 cause of death within the nation- heart disease. Local artist, Christine Olson was commissioned to create these heart paintings and they are darling.  :] We can ship anywhere too!  Give the gift of life and love all month long.  Check out our events page for our heart healthy party at the end of the month too!  Thanks!!

Katie Bordignon, owner of Tuscanycreative  lives in the ‘burbs of Chicago and loves to spend her days creating handmadegoodies – both whimsical and practical – for children of all ages.

She’s oh so creative and always open tonew ideas –  But most of all Katie treasures simply making little ones feel special and loved through her original designs.

And Katie knows kids!  After being a public school teacher in the northwest suburbs for about ten years Katie decided to stay at home so she could raise her two children – Tuscany (now 6) and Agostino (now 3).  With lots of creative energy she picked up her
needle and thread and started making adorable things for her own children and
her nieces in NYC.

Soon Tuscanycreative was born. After being in business now for two years Katie has made children feel special in over 40 states and in more than four countries around  the world.

Miranda Rowe is an artist and graphic designer currently living in “Famously Hot” Columbia, South Carolina, A great departure from her small hometown in western New York State. With an excitement for art and design, she studied at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh graduating with a bachelors degree in graphic design. Miranda has used her talent as a designer to create several products including a line of paint-by-number murals for kids rooms and one-of-a-kind handmade flasks.

Lisa Chow is a Houston, Texas based artist, illustrator, make believer and story teller. Armed with an overly active imagination, a healthy dose of creativity and self-taught skills learned through trial and error, her work is whimsical, delicate, surreal and strange. Drawing inspiration from crowded cities, fairy tales and bygone years, Lisa strives to transport viewers to foreign lands that still feel oddly like home.

Paonia, Colorado: the place where Amie was introduced to a variety of artisans who’s creative passions were their life’s work.

paeonia, the name that represents the creative part of Amie’s life. The artist has an background in Interior Design but an interest in a variety of mediums. Her current focus is metalwork. Metals fit Amie’s appreciation for artwork that serves a dual purpose, to be both functional and beautiful. The material is at once sturdy and malleable, therefore offering a range of design possibilities.
Amie received her BFA in Interior Design from The University of Georgia. She grew up in the southeast and currently resides in Chicago, IL with her husband and two cats.

Saturday morning was my favorite time of the week. I would wake up as early as I could, and have 8 hours of cartoons injected into my brain. But, if I wasn’t watching cartoons, I was definitely drawing them. My Mom would always buy me sketchbooks for me to fill up with Disney characters, Animaniacs, or whatever my imagination unraveled. I’m Randy by the way These days, I find myself right where it all began, drawing cartoon-like monsters in a character series called RADisRAD.

iamhome, is Chicago-based artists and designers (and married couple) Sarah Belknap and Joseph Belknap. The Belknaps are heavily influenced by color theory, home, children’s books, landscape, science and architecture. They love camping, cooking obnoxiously pretentious meals and their magic escaping cat, Hawkeye.

Write something and be sure it will be seen- these awesome chalkboard skulls add a fun touch to any quirky home. These  skulls are cast from plastic and layered with coats of porcelain enamel chalkboard paint to make a flawless and easy to doodle on chalkboard.

Kevin Lucius is a graphic designer from Chicago. His work is done digitally using old textures, animal photos, and vintage design elements.

All of the wood block prints are are mounted sealed and stained by the artist within the confines of his tiny Chicago apartment. In other words… these are truly about as handmade as you can get!

Kevin has been featured in Advanced Photoshop Magazine, Smashing Magazine, Decor8, and numerous other design blogs. When he is not working he enjoys hanging out with his wife and cat and enjoying a craft beer.

Mandy creates digital black and white photography collages which are sublimated onto canvas fabric.  She is a self-taught digital artist and uses her own photographic images as a base before manipulating them into an abstract, layered design.  Her pieces focus on the well-known landmarks of the city and the architectural aspects within. The process of sublimation turns the inks from a solid directly into a gas when they are heat pressed onto the canvas, where the ink essentially becomes a part of the fabric and allows the texture of the canvas to remain untouched.

Mandy has exhibited her work in art festivals, small galleries and coffee shops throughout Chicago and the suburbs and continues to look for new locations for her next piece.  She has recently expanded to landmarks across the Midwest and recently took a trip to California to take photographs for future designs. She also enjoys working with personal photos to create a one of a kind design that makes for an unforgettable gift.

Mandy graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Computer Engineering in 2003.  After moving to a new condo the West Loop in 2008, Mandy was faced with the task of decorating a large blank wall in her living room.  Her husband and she decided that they wanted artwork that represented Chicago and their new neighborhood but was not the standard, big box store version of the Chicago Theater sign.  Mandy ventured out to take pictures of landmarks around the West Loop and upon realizing that many of her photos weren’t the type to blow up for large format printing, she decided to try collaging four or five of the pictures together to digitally create one image and her style was born.

greenie bean recycle is for the wild at heart, the kindred spirits, wanderlusters, modern day hippies. together, we are radical, in our notions of practicality, reusability, and save the world-isms. change can happen.greenie bean is for you who is fascinated by folksy, organic faith in humanity rooted in ever-evolving lust for life. you long to stitch a space for yourself in every growing tradition and grass roots community. for you who holds the dirt of the earth in your tiny palms and feels the beat of your heart whisper, “today is mine yet this is ours to share.”

Kelli grew up in the sprawling cornfields of Cuba, Illinois, a town of 1,400 and no stop lights. She began sewing tiny quilts at her grandmother’s side before the age of five and like her mom, became a thrift store pro, possessing no shame for her habit of digging through alleys. After graduating from Monmouth College, Kelli migrated to Chicago to pursue bigger dreams and her red-headed husband, Jimmy.

Being fascinated with all things “old”, greenie bean recycle began in July 2007 and soon became Kelli’s mark, her political statement, and her attempt to further the beauty of recycling and reusing. Her craft is her activism - an opportunity to educate others about all things political, beautiful, and life affirming.

Aside from being a crafter, Kelli is a Social Justice and Community Development graduate student at Loyola University and is co-founder of the Urban Folk Circuit. She enjoys exploring every neighborhood of Chicago, cooking without recipes, frequenting local theater, and cuddling with her kittens, Killer Queen and Jubilee. Her obsessions include peppermint mochas, vintage housewares, avocado green, and protest music. Her life goals include learning to can vegetables from her frontyard homestead and running a craft and sewing shop