I have worked with the following companies and have awarded them "The GAFC Blue Iris Seal of Respect." They all are honorable, law-abiding citizens who perform high quality work and stand by their products.
Rather than have pop up advertising, we have listed these quality businesses below and think you will enjoy working with them.
Margery Sinclair, Etiquette Consultant and Co-Author of "A Year of Good Manners" "Good Manners are Good Business"
On February 16, 2004, Margery and I became fast friends and agreed to work together to promote the message of respect. Margery is from Milwaukee, WI. and is a world-renowned etiquette consultant. She has a delightful way of presenting etiquette and manners in such a way that you will easily understand and then will want to use them.
If you would like to hire Margery as a consultant for corporate etiquette and/or children's classes, please visit her personal website for additional information and dates available:
GAFC "Respect and Manners" Etiquette Tip of the Day by Margery Sinclair is a public service brought to you by www.janpolk.com and www.margerysinclair.com. Social graces are our common bonds. You will find fifteen weeks of free daily GAFC Tips at GAFC Etiquette Tips by MS which is hosted by www.janpolk.com.
Margery will also answer your etiquette questions by completing the form on this page: AskMargerySinclairAnswers
In 2008, Margery and I co-published our first joint venture together: "A Year of Good Manners" is a perpetual, daily calendar to gather autographs of your loved ones, record birthdays, anniversaries, and remind you to use good manners everyday all year long, year after year. It is destined to become a treasured family heirloom passed down from generation to generation. "A Year of Good Manners" features Jan Polk's Great American Flower Collection "respect series" of watercolor paintings which remind you to treat yourself with respect and Margery Sinclair's words tell you how and why you would want to treat others with respect. This is the book that should come with every newborn. Respect and Manners are our common bonds. "A Year of Good Manners" is a way to pass on your values to future generations. The GAFC images which appear in "A Year of Good Manners" are the Blue Iris, Black Rose, Yellow Daffodil, Sunflower, Purple Peony and Pink Gladiolus. This book may be purchased for $27.95 at www.ayearofgoodmanners.com
(above painting) "A Day at the Beach (c)2008 Barbara grey Plein air, oil on canvas, 16 x 20
"Dunes" (c)2008 Barbara Grey alla prima plein air, knife, oil on panel, 11 x 14
Barbara Grey, Joanne B. Hall, and Jan Polk are the "Three Impressionists of L.A." (lower Alabama). We have been painting together since 2004 and held our first group show in 2008 at the Foley, Al, Performing Art Center.
Barbara hails from Pecham, Vermont and winters in Gulf Shores, AL. I think her forte is the way she captures the sky. One can almost feel the atmosphere when viewing her paintings. Barb is a dear friend and fun to paint with. No matter what the day is, she sees a "glorious sky." Barb has works on display at the Foley AL Performing Art Center and the Orange Beach Art Center in Orange Beach, AL.
Joanne is the third member of the "Three Impressionists of L.A." (lower Alabama). Joanne hails from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Joanne exhibits her work year round at The Prosperous Pelican-Gallery II in Orange Beach, Al; Orange Beach Art Center, Foley Performing Art Center in Foley, AL, and her home gallery Highland Studio & Gallery in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Joanne B. Hall winters in Gulf Shores, AL. We have been painting together since 2004.
Her beautiful paintings are recognizable places where we would all like to be. They carry you off to a quiet recess from the here and now. Joanne B. Hall is a Signature Member of Artists of Northwest Arkansas. She exhibits and has won awards in regional and local Arkansas competitions.
Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.
(513) 639-2995 for general information (513) 721-ARTS (2787) for ticket line 1 (877) 472-4CAM toll free
The Art Museum is open six days a week, making greater Cincinnati’s most treasured cultural asset accessible to everyone. There is always something exciting happening. at the CAM. Plan to have lunch at the delightful Terrace Cafe. The CAM Gift Shop features unique gifts, cards, and books. Since 2009, the CAM has carried the popular “A Year of Good Manners” by Margery Sinclair and Jan Polk.
Located in scenic Eden Park, the Cincinnati Art Museum features an unparalleled art collection of more than 60,000 works spanning 6,000 years. In addition to displaying its own broad collection, the Art Museum also hosts several national and international traveling exhibitions each year.
Visitors can enjoy the exhibitions or participate in the Art Museum’s wide range of art-related programs, activities and special events. Your general admission to the Cincinnati Art Museum is free every day, made possible by a generous gift from The Richard and Lois Rosenthal Foundation. plus Art Museum members receive additional benefits.There is a nominal charge for parking. You will want to visit often.
Family Nurturing Center® is a non-profit social service agency located in Northern Kentucky dedicated to ending the cycle of child abuse by promoting individual well-being and healthy family relationships. Our services and programs focus on the education, prevention, intervention, and treatment of all forms of child abuse.
FNC is one of my favorite charities. Our children are our future.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month The blue ribbon is the national symbol of Child Abuse Prevention.
Child abuse is preventable. Awareness is only the first step. Stop the abuse before it starts.
For information about Blue Ribbon activities throughout the month of April go to www.familynurture.org.
Family Nurturing Center, 8275 Ewing Boulevard, Florence, KY, 41042 Phone: 859-525-3200 Website: www.familynurture.org
I highly recommend this financial newspaper. Not only do they have the latest stock quotes and statistics, they have great training tools on how to make your money work as hard as you do. IBD also includes inspirational stories of leaders in all fields of business, sports, arts, education, etc. These stories tell how real people overcame hardships and still rose to the top of their professions. Another bonus for seniors, the type is large!
Printing Zone 3817 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Unit #3, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 Phone: 251-968-7901
"We don't Just Make Copies - We Make Friends" We will turn your visions into reality quickly, affordably, and professionally.
The Printing Zone in Gulf Shores, AL, is a local family owned and operated business by Matt Drouillard and family.
I have been working with Matt since 2004. All my note cards, other than the GAFC collection, are printed by Matt. Matt and crew have the latest state of the art digital equipment for all your printing needs and they ship where ever requested.
Please tell Matt you discovered him on my website. You will thank me and you will thank Matt. It is wonderful to work with someone who wants to do and who does do a great job.
For my artist friends who would like to have giclee prints made from their original art, I highly recommend Howard Bell. He produces beautiful giclee prints, reproductions on paper or canvas, photo restoration and photo to canvas.
His prices are very competitive. Howard Bell and and brother Steve Bell together with partner Dave Magella produce the highest quality and exceptionally beautiful giclees. Giclee printing is an art itself. Steve and Howard both have an artist's eye for just the perfect reproduction of original artwork. I am looking forward to many years of working with these gentlemen. I think you will love these giclees as much as I do
I have been working with Howard since 2004. Please tell Howard that you discovered him via my website. Thanks, Jan
Depot Square, 3320 Creek Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241 (Sharonville).
Phone: 513-769-1139 Fax: 513-769-1135 Email Howard Bell at: hbell@cinci.rr.com
Office Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM Tues - Fri. and 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM Saturday Eastern Std. Time
I met Carol and Ken in 2006. Carol and Ken are a husband and wife team who make the most adorable stuffed teddy bears from any kind of fabric including that fur stole from grandmother. Carol designs the bears and Ken stuffs them. The bears are truly keepsakes and a way to remember past generations; or a way to start a new family legacy. The bears are works of art; the head, arms, and legs are moveable. The eyes are hand blown glass. They are elegant and well worth the expense. Please tell Carol and Ken that I highly recommend them. Their waiting list is usually a nine to twelve month wait. Contact them at:
Carol and Ken Himes, 48 Edwards Court, Ft. Thomas, KY 41075. Email: spbears@fuse.net; Phone: 859-441-1958 (Please call between 8 - 5 PM EST.)
PS: Their company name is also Ken's nickname for Carol.
Congratulations to my sister-in-law, Jan Polk (Mrs. John) from Hattiesburg, MS. Her website http://www.jubileekeepsakes.com/ came on line December 16, 2009. She offers “special gifts for special occasions.”
Jubilee Keepsakes offers gifts for children including jewelry. Her specialty item is the First Birthday Cake Knife.
Jan invites you to begin a tradition by giving this Keepsake First Birthday Cake Knife to be used on the baby’s First Birthday and every year there after. Then, on another special occasion, use the Birthday Knife to cut their wedding cake.
Jan has been my sister-in-law since 1980. Our husbands are brothers and we both had a mother-in-law named Myrt! Jan (Mrs. John) also is an artist and designs beautiful jewelry for children and adults.
Please tell her that her sister-in-law, Jan Polk (Mrs. Jim), sent you. You don’t want to miss this website.
I highly recommend Polk’s Meat Products. They have the best ham and sausage. Polk’s Meat Products is owned by my brother-in-law John Polk.
They ship on Tuesdays, from McGee, MS, to anywhere in the United States, from one ham to a truckload. Polk’s Meat Products is a family owned business now run by its third generation of family members.
"Polk's Hickory Smoked flavor keeps customers coming back for more. You'll love the taste and convenience of Polk's products. The Polk's Brand offers a full line of quality meats sure to please even your pickiest customers. We also have the ability to pack and private label any smoked meat product for any size business. Browse through our products to find the best quality meats, or take a look at our recipes for ideas on preparing our products."
I highly recommend owner David Smith for all your framing needs. Tell Dave you heard about him from my website and he will give you a nice discount. I met Dave in October 2007 when he generously donated a frame to the Pink Ribbon Cancer Awareness Luncheon.
If you are near Orange Beach, Alabama, and are looking for a great hair salon, I highly recommend Anthony Jones. He is a British Hair Designer and he knows hair; especially, hair styles for the beach! Wash and wear. Nothing worse than bad hair at the beach (or anywhere else). I met Anthony in 2007, and look forward to his magic.
Anthony Jones Perdido Beach Blvd. Orange Beach, AL 36561. Phone: 251-974-1514
Look for his big blue sign. He is located on the beach just across from all the beautiful, multi-colored houses on the beach.
In December, 2007, I became a juried member of the Performing Arts Association in Foley, Alabama. As a member of the "Three Impressionists of L. A. (Lower Alabama)" plein air painting group, my dear friends Barbara Grey, Joanne B. Hall, and I held our first exhibition at the PAA Foley Art Gallery in March, 2008. We held our second show at PAA in Feb. 2010.
The Performing Arts Association members includes over 300 artists, photographers, crafters, and jewelery makers.
Performing Arts Association Fine Art and Craft Sales Gallery 116 W. Laurel Avenue Foley, AL 36535
I have been painting at the Natorp Garden Stores since 2007. They are the nicest people and experts in gardening.
In the summer, their stores, in Mason, OH, and Florence, KY, are now open 7 days a week!
Sunday 9:30am - 5:00pm
Monday-Friday 9:30am - 8:00pm
Saturday 9:30am - 6:00pm
Please visit their website www.natorp.com They do it all. Their experts will design your gardens and landscapes for you or they have “At Home” Garden Coaches who will come to your home for the do-it-yourself gardeners.
I met Steve Temple, Director, and Elaine Campbell, Exhibit Coordinator, at their first Southeastern Plein Air Painting Festival Exhibit & Auctions held May 1, 2009 to June 5, 2009. I was honored to be included as one of 15 Featured Artists at this event. Gadsden, AL, is a beautiful area including Noccalula Falls State Park. The Southern Hospitality is the warmest ever. If you are in Northern Alabama, be sure to stop at the GMA.
It was my pleasure to paint with the following artists: Ronald Bayens - Auburn, Alabama; Donna Chieves - Birmingham, Alabama; Greg Little - Oakland Park, Florida; Deborah Pellock - Suwanee, Georgia; Brenda Plunkett - Cave Springs, Georgia; Jan Polk - Southgate, Kentucky; Rick Reinert - Charleston, South Carolina; Craig Reynolds - Gadsden, Alabama; Robin Roberts - Decatur, Alabama; Dmitriy Proshkin – Tennessee; Linda Steed - Huntsville, Alabama; Anne Stickney - Northport, Alabama; Tommy Thompson - Florence, Alabama; and V.Vaughan - Roundrock, Texas
I invite you to visit Cincinnati Art Galleries, one of my favorite art galleries in Cincinnati, OH. You will find owners Randy and Michele Sandler charming and very knowledgeable. I met Randy and Michele in 2005, when exhibiting in an art show held for the Cincinnati Art Club. I think you will enjoy looking through their website for fine art paintings, art glass, and Rookwood pottery among many other beautiful items: www.cincyart.com
Cincinnati Art Galleries specializes in mid-19th to mid-20th Century American and European paintings as well as American and European Art Pottery and Art Glass from the same period. We have many excellent reference books available on American Art Pottery and The American Arts and Crafts Movement in addition to catalogs of our own auctions and exhibitions, past and current. Their gallery also handles works by several contemporary Cincinnati Artists.
Cincinnati Art Galleries buys and sell paintings, pottery, art glass, and contemporary arts & crafts furnishings at our gallery location in downtown Cincinnati, by phone, mail or fax, and through our web site. They also seek the above listed items as consignments for auction or retail sale. Books and catalogs are available to both retail and wholesale customers. They also provide appraisal services, both informal and written (for insurance and estate purposes).
