Eye for the Find was created by artists who are committed to creating high-quality, handcrafted works of functional and decorative art for personal use, for the home, and for your pets, and to bring this work to market.
Handcrafted functional artwork has become increasingly scarce as technology streamlines mass-production and pushes more cheap factory knockoffs into the marketplace. We knew there must be a better way.
Eye for the Find is a company of artists who craft distinctive products to brighten your every day. Eye for the Find has created a supportive environment that encourages artists and enables them to follow their visions: creating unique handcrafted items. We support fair trade practices globally and provide a way for U.S. and international artists to be fairly compensated for their work.
THE ARTISTS & THEIR ART
Portland, Oregon glass artists Ellyn Ford and Jean Wilson joined forces at Eye for the Find and are expanding the company's lines in exciting new ways.
Ellyn Ford, the CEO. President and founder of Eye for the Find has been crafting art for most of her life. Her range of work includes textile art and reconfiguring vintage jewelry. Like most artists, she found it difficult to support herself, so she established a successful career in marketing for the high-tech industry. Eventually, she came to believe that she could use her marketing skills to realize a workable dream: Create a business that brings her work to the marketplace, while creating a supportive environment for working artists.
The original handcrafted art-glass nail file: Ellyn's initial product line would be the phenomenally successful handcrafted art-glass nail file, which she created and introduced in 2006. Since then, others have attempted to emulate the product--and its success in the marketplace--but none has matched the beauty or style that customers have come to recognize as the Eye for the Find original handcrafted art-glass nail file. Building on that initial success, she is developing new product lines that are being introduced this fall.
Fabulous beadwork: This year Eye for the Find is launching two product lines featuring handcrafted beadwork: Quality handcrafted handbeaded dog collars and three stunning caterpillar bracelets. Nisa Donnelly, a Northern California-based bead designer and artisan created Fido Finds to work with Eye for the Find in providing unique products for dogs and the women who love them. She works closely with Ellyn in designing and producing the delightful caterpillar bracelets, which are available in our Jewelry Shop. In addition to the beaded dog collars, Eye for the Find also creates the new Happy Paws! art-glass nail files for dog grooming and for women who love dogs, featuring our exclusive doggy paw print design in dichroic glass--an Eye for the Find exclusive.
Unique Paper Products: Also being launched this year is our new line of original note cards created by the Memphis, Tennessee-based designer Paula Kovarik of the Shades of Gray studio. The Ooodles of Doodles notecard line is available in our Paper Goods Shop.
Today, Ellyn divides her time between creating new works in art glass and designing beaded jewelry in the Portland studio, and serving as the Eye for the Find representative at fine arts-and-crafts shows on the East and West coasts. She also works closely with artists who share her vision. (Read more about Ellyn Ford and Eye for the Find.)
Jean Wilson, the Vice President, has been a glass artist for a dozen years. Coming from a rich family tradition of functional art--her father was a sign painter--Jean's background includes extensive experience in the screen-printing industry. She also makes paper and cards. Her glass art includes designing and creating many of the embellishments used on the glass nail files and zipper pulls, as well as larger decorative pieces for the home. Her latest work, a set of art-glass coasters, is available in our Glass Shop. She also is exploring new directions in multi-layered art-glass collage works of art. She is married to the Portland-based architectural photographer Gary Wilson. In addition to creating a range of new glass art, she also works closely with other artists. (Read more about Jean Wilson and Eye for the Find.)
Together, Ellyn, Jean and the artists with whom they work are creating exciting new trends for 21st century style and sensibilities.
