Welcome to our fourth Christmas at Anthology!
We feel strongly about making the world a more creative place and we hope that you will stop in and be inspired. If you haven't been in for a while, there are lots of new things to delight the eyes and mind. We are looking forward to sharing our collection with you. We've added many new artists this year: charming stamped pottery from Milwaukee, vintage book page prints and other artist prints from around the country and Canada.
It is not just because we are in retail that Christmas is one of our favorite holidays. Christmas music, visits with old friends, cookies, holiday parties, first fluffy snowfalls, homemade gifts, brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of our favorite things!
Here's a pic of Sachi and Laura on Santa's lap at Crestwood School here in Madison, circa 1976. Laura is the sweet tooth with her eye on something sugary.
We have fond childhood memories of decorating packages -- after my mom had the presents wrapped, she would let us go crazy with ribbons and tape, making all sorts of fabulous bows and decorations. We're looking forward to starting similar traditions here at Anthology. Stop in to our craft table during the month of December and make stamped & painted gift tags, yarn-covered wreaths, or garlands. The schedule of activites is here. There isn't room for everything at once so please call ahead if you have a particular activity in mind.
Look how we've grown! This is Lily from her first Christmas. And now she is four years old!
Anthology has also grown since we opened in March 2008. We've filled the space with new products, new fixtures, and we've been busy creating and finding things to inspire your creativity.
Our aim has always been to gather a collection of art-full and inspiring goodies and what better season to share the joy & creativity? We have a great selection of creative gifts: button bracelets and frames, art books, Japanese stickers, craft kits, washi papers, mosaic tiles and more. In addition to Komai creations, we now have about 60 local & regional artists plus another 40 independent artists from around the country.
We are happy to have added necklaces with great details like sweet little birds and stylish octopi, alphabet key necklaces, silk screen t-shirts from New York, hand-dyed yarns and ribbons, onesies with the state of Wisconsin, sweaters embellished with yo-yos, sweet flower and bird prints and camping letterpress prints, lots of great how-to and inspiration books, great kids kits and books, and so much more.
We've also added to our collection of Christmas ornaments. New this year are more Madison ornaments, as well as some protest sign ornaments to commemorate the year. In addition, we have ceramic botanicals, ceramic "origami" cranes, mosaics, cupcakes, sweet little mushrooms and embroidered fairy houses, donut ornaments (doesn't every tree need one of those?), and bottlecap ornaments.
Sachi and Ann and Alison have been busy this season so we also have more felt Wisconsin ornaments, our best-seller of last year.
For your holiday preparations, we've got great papers for gift-wrapping, and card-making supplies as well. For the crafters on your list, we have expanded our selection of crafty books and collage paper packs, and the sparkling watercolors will make great stocking presents. The square punch is a great tool to get pictures out of envelopes and boxes and onto the walls.
Get inspiration for your own crafty projects - check out our craft party menu and consider making some Christmas presents this year. Bring in your own pictures to make a photo collage; or bring in photocopies of pictures to make buttons, button bracelets or picture frames. Stamp your own charms to add to bracelets or incorporate with enamel pieces in a charming necklace.
We are pleased to be able to offer creative inspiration, to celebrate the crafty accomplishments of so many, to support local artists, to reduce and recycle through our own endeavors and through those of other artists, and to share it all with you. We are thankful for the honor and the pleasure and hope you'll give us the opportunity to inspire, celebrate, and create this holiday season and beyond.
Anthology
218 State Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53703
608-204-2644
Anthology@tds.net
Monday - Saturday 11 am - 7 pm; Sunday noon - 4 pm
"The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something." Kurt Vonnegut
I have just moved to Madison a few months ago, but have taken everybody who came to visit over the last few weeks to Anthology. I just love your cute little shop!!! Happy holidays and happy crafting to you too!
Posted by: Anna | December 07, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Thank you! I'm glad you are enjoying our shop! Hope your holidays are warm and merry and full of crafting goodness!
Posted by: Laura Komai | December 08, 2009 at 10:27 AM
More than a few of my favorite things! Can't wait to stop in next time I visit my friend in Madison.
Posted by: Anna | December 11, 2009 at 09:09 PM
Oh, how I wish I lived closer. You two and your store are just amazing. Lucky Madisonians!
Posted by: Kelli | December 06, 2011 at 08:46 AM
This seems like a such a quaint place. If I ever make it to Madison, I will have to stop in.
Posted by: knit tops | December 16, 2011 at 07:19 AM
I can't wait to pay you a visit - the things you have in store look amazing! In my opinion there is nothing better then a great inspiring present for the holidays!
Posted by: gift for her | May 17, 2012 at 11:35 AM