(For those impossible loved ones.  Impossible to shop for of course)

When it comes to the gift giving department, nearly all of my nearest and dearest are hard to buy for.  I'm sure you have a few of those in your life.  Or perhaps you are in a gift rut and need some inspiration.  Mo's Gallery & Fine Framing is coming to the rescue!  Below are several great gift ideas from simple to extravagant.

 
1. Photo Frames
Each photo frame is hand crafted right here in our store.  They are unique, beautiful and affordable.  We have a huge selection of 4 x6, 5 x 7, and 8 x 10 frames in a variety of styles and finishes. 
Price range: $9.99 - $30.99
For my birthday, my mother-in-law bought one of our photo frames (my choice) and put a beautiful black & white photo of my husband in it.  The photo was taken at our wedding some months earlier and I had never seen it before.  How special! 

2. A Date Certificate
A plain old gift certificate can be boring so make it a date!  We will create a certificate (on fancy paper with an authentic gallery signature) to your specifications.  Some examples might be "This certificate entitles the bearer to one design session with Mo for the the framing of..." or "This certificate good for one date to Mo's for the purchase of..."  The certificate is a creative way to give a gift and spend time together.  We have done a few of these already and no two date certificates are done the same.  Want to come in after hours for a private design session?  No problem.  Want to have some wine and cheese? Sure, we can arrange that too.  Let us help you surprise your loved one with more than a gift - give them an experience.

3. Hand Made Cards
I make cards using a technique called iris folding and have over 50 different designs for all occasions.  Each card is unique and I can make them to order.  Every year I give "Corinne card variety packs" as gifts at Christmas.  They have become so popular that I now make cards for my mother, two grandmothers, mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law, and my great aunt.  The cards, with envelopes, are $5 each.  I would love to add you to my card making list!  Send me an email at corinne@mosgallery.com if you are interested and I will tell you what patterns you can choose from. 

4. Framing & Art
Art is always a wonderful gift and it does not have to cost an arm and a leg.  Take Willard Clark woodblock prints for example.
These prints are small, charming and have a real flavor for the southwest.  The prints range in price from $50 - $170.  If you want to make a larger art purchase we do have layaway plans so you can have the art paid in full before Christmas.  Framing is another great gift.  We have already finished a few pieces intended as Christmas gifts for some of our customers.  (Are those people on top of things or what?)  We can frame just about anything and preserving precious memories or creating a beautiful display of sentimental items is sure to be a big hit.

I hope this gives you some good ideas.  We would love to help you give unique and creative gifts this holiday season.

 Alice came to the Tucson area in 1977.  She left enjoyable work in New York as a textile print designer to "paint the mountains Out West while they are still there."  Her training is a mix from growing up with two parent artists, attending Rochester Institute of Technology (B.F.A.), and work in the textile world.  The apprenticeship and early career in textile print design honed an appreciation for research and craftsmanship.

A pleasure in drawing and design tends to rule the pictures, with a love for beauty and goodness in created nature.



Alice has worked as an illustrator for both periodical issues and for children's books. (From Arapesh to Zuni, From Akebu to Zapotec, and I Wish it Would Rain.) She has also painted some large murals for office and home settings in Tucson.

For the last ten years, Alice has been showing her work at our gallery.  She is also a member of the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild (SAWG).

Check out Alice's work, and the work of other SAWG members, November 5th at the Tucson Desert Museum. Her work is also always showing in our gallery and on our website.  Click here to see more of her work.

Our business strives to provide excellent service and valuable information.  We are interested in holding a series of free seminars and classes.  Topics will include design, art, framing and hanging hardware.  For our first class, Mo would like to walk you through the different kinds of hanging hardware and their appropriate applications.  After this class you will be able to hang your art with confidence.  This class will also help you recognize potential hanging hazards already in your home and will give you the tools to fix them before something falls off the wall.

If  you are interested in this class or future classes please contact us.  We are trying to set up class sizes of 10 - 20 people.  These class will be an hour to an hour and a half in length with time for Q & A.  Refreshments will be served.  For this first class we are trying to determine if a weekday evening or a Saturday morning would work best so please state your preference by sending us an email with your name to mo@mosgallery.com

We will notify those interested in the class by email with the date and time.