Collage artist opens The Beat of My Art gift shop in Naperville
When artist Debbie Egizio opened an art gallery and gift shop in Naperville, her goal was to make it comfortable and inviting.
"People sometimes feel intimidated by galleries. I created a place that's warm and friendly," Egizio said.
The Beat of My Art opened at 329 N. Center St. earlier this summer. The bright shop is filled with artwork created by 15 new and emerging artists, including Egizio's own work. The shop features an array of unique gift ideas that range in price from $1.25 to $950. "It's one of a kind things," Egizio said.
In addition to paintings, shoppers will find varying art forms. Baby bibs, hand-painted napkins and handbags made out of vintage material with canvas artwork sewn on are included in the mix.
Halloween artwork is popular at the shop right now. "It's cute, one-of-a-kind items," Egizio said. Holiday art is often lower in price than many of the other items.
The shop offers classes in collage, altered books, textured art and creative journaling. One-day workshops are also planned.
"The location is so convenient for classes, just steps away from the train station," she said.
Egizio teaches classes as well and sells her work at the shop. Her own pieces feature elements of collage and painted work.
The entrepreneur has held a longtime passion for art. "I was always drawing," she said. Egizio didn't think it was practical to pursue a career in art, so she earned a degree in psychology and practiced in that field for a few years. She continued to take art classes and then followed her real passion.
She worked as a designer for several national decorating magazines and did set designing for two seasons of HGTV's Country Style.
Her art has been influenced by trips to Italy and its rich art as well as the whimsical children's books she adored as a child.
Her work can be seen in several galleries and shops in the Chicago area and she will be showcased on HGTV's "That's Clever" show in 2008.
Egizio, 40, lives in Bolingbrook with her husband, Rocco, who works as a buyer for a recycling company.
The shop is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Mondays. For more information, call (630) 848-1128.
Way to fly: John Haskins, co-owner of Viking Travel Service in Westmont and Naperville, was honored by the American Society of Travel Agents as the 2007 Travel Agent of the Year.
The prestigious award recognizes an active travel agent member who has made a contribution to the travel industry and whose influence and professional activity have advanced the status of travel agents.
John and his wife, Peg, have owned the agency since 1976, growing it from a staff of three to nearly 50.