ZouZou's Basement :: Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature!

You will no problem stocking up on your handmade cards and paper goods at Handmade Holiday! ZouZou's Basement makes colorful cards, notecards and paintings too.

Here's a bit more about ZouZou's Basement...

Describe your studio.
even though i am called zouzou's basement my studio is actually in my attic. it is a big walkup space covering the top floor of our house, covered in paint, paper, and misc supplies -- always a mess. i make paintings and collages, and greeting cards and paper products, teach adult and child classes up there, and prep for classes i teach at Westminster Canterbury to early dementia residents, and it also serves as a sort of gallery for anyone who wants to come look at paintings -- it's all up there. It was featured in the spring 2011 edition of Richmond Bride (I do paintings for brides and grooms)! I drink lots of coffee, always have candy on hand, and listen to music loud -- dave matthews, wilco, lauren hill, glen hansard, etc.

What is your favorite thing about the Holidays?
getting caught up in the rush of shopping, and all of the parties and get togethers with friends and family. What's your newest crafty creation? i have been making animal collages by painting an animal in acrylic on canvas and applying various papers in whimsical colors that have been selling like crazy.

Is there specific item you'd like to feature for the show?
my newest collages are an ostrich and a porcupine.

Is there a story behind your shop name?
my grandmother's name was ZouZou (short for Missouri). She had "come of age" during the Depression and never threw anything away that might possibly have another use. When she passed away my mother was charged with cleaning out her house and in the basement she found a hundred or so aluminum pie plates and dozens and dozens of terracotta flower pots. My mom begged me to take some of the pots, so I took a bunch, cleaned them up, painted some stuff on them and gave them away as gifts. Immediately people began asking to buy some and have some made for them.
What's your soundtrack while you're working?
Dave Matthews "Live At" (and others) Wilco's "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" (and others), Swell Season "Once" (and others), Philip Glass, Soundtrack from "The Hours", Lauren Hill "Miseducation"

What are your influences?
Colorists -- Janet Fish, Matisse, local Laura Loe, Tricia Guild. Gardens, topiaries, flowers. Animals and the sense of whimsy.