Artistic Visions Crafted by Skilled Hands DEMDACO is an artist-driven brand, which means that we partner with creative, passionate people who express themselves through a wide-range of styles and mediums. We work with more than 100 artists and designers — each gifted in their own, imaginative way. We’re also proud that our artisan gifts are 100% handcrafted by skilled hands overseas, in factories run by carefully selected manufacturing partners. Paying extra close attention to details, these masterful craftspeople take great care in bringing an artists’ visions to life — from each hand sewn thread on a Giving Bears’ nose to the tiniest paint stroke on a Willow Tree® figure. This is nothing new for DEMDACO. We’ve developed lasting and meaningful relationships with artists that span years — some dating back to when the company was founded more than 20 years ago — and we continue to discover new talent. Our thoughtfully designed, specially crafted products focus on life’s extraordinary — and everyday — moments. Learn more about the artists whose visions and expressions make the items included here so unique. Visit us at www.demdaco.com/artists.
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Susan Lordi artist Artist Susan Lordi created Willow Tree®, her line of figurative sculpture, as a way to communicate beyond words. Her intricate carved and hand painted pieces indeed say a lot with subtle details and a soothing color palette. The simplicity of form and absence of facial features signify Willow Tree. Through beautiful, gestural expression, Willow Tree figures reflect our personal relationships, and remind us of the emotions that bring us together. This connection has never been truer than with the loss of a loved one. In Susan’s latest offering, featured here, her Ever Remember sculpture is a beautiful work filled with peace and purity. Susan believes that when someone passes away they live on in others. This piece honors and celebrates a life not lost but held dear as her sculpture cradles a flame that continues to glow, safe within. Her hope, that Ever Remember serves as a peaceful reminder that positive energy and good things will continue to radiate from the spirit of the one you love.
Ever Remember
“With Willow Tree, I’m pulling from my life experiences. I don’t think I could have done Willow Tree without the memories of being a daughter, and the experience of raising children to adulthood, and now, what it’s like to be a grandmother… Willow Tree is so much about relationships and family and feeling happiness and pain and healing that you experience just through living life.”
myself to create figures “ I challenge that express emotion through
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Sanctuary, Wishing, Everyday Blessings
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gesture and body language.
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lost that child-like curiosity. “ I never It is in my DNA. I cannot resist
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a creative challenge.
Lori Siebert artist Working in a mix of media that includes everything from acrylics and watercolors to torn paper and clay, Lori Siebert constantly experiments with new ways to create her signature artwork. Finding inspiration from her kids’ drawings, an old quilt, or an offbeat piece of folk art, her insatiable curiosity, a whimsical design sense and fresh approach to color and sentiment, give each collection its own unique personality. In the Noah’s Ark collection featured here, Lori brings the Biblical story of Noah and the Ark to life through unique animal designs on pieces such as plush animal figures, a soft book, blankies and nursery keepsakes such as our Noah’s Ark Lion bank. Like the honored Poetic Threads collection, this collection also provides a special delivery of hand lettered messaging of prayers and promises to a new little one. Here, a darling bear is the messenger of a warm and welcoming sentiment Lori crafted for her own grandson. “Whenever I design for a baby collection, my grandchildren are top of mind. I always look for that emotional tie whenever I design for DEMDACO. It is part of their brand to touch the heart. Plus, I love to hand letter. I am proud of the writing on the plush animals. I think about my own grandchildren when I write those emotional messages.”
Poetic Threads Bear
Noah’s Ark Lion Bank, Noah’s Ark Brave Little Lion & Enjoy the Little Things Swaddle 4 |
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Sharon Nowlan artist Sharon Nowlan grew up drawing, painting and creating in a variety of media in Pictou, a charming, old seaside town in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is home to people who fish, farm, sing, dance and hang their clothes outside to dry. It’s a friendly place centered around community and family. It’s also the inspiration for many of Sharon’s creations. The spirit of Pictou’s diverse landscapes and welcoming residents flows through her serene artwork—a mix of items found in nature and other materials carefully arranged into uplifting designs that celebrate meaningful relationships and special places. Sharon’s collection showcased here was recently expanded to include frames and framed artwork inspired by her son putting pebbles in her pocket at the beach. Soft, inviting hues of blue and green sea glass add to the serenity. Now you can personalize Sharon’s comforting scenes by adding a favorite photo, coupling your own heartfelt moments with loved ones to cherish or to gift. “I try to look at life from afar and scrub away the clutter to create a quiet, peaceful and minimal reflection of life and nature. I strive to achieve warmth and lightness from cold, hard pebbles and sea glass.”
main objective is to say “ asMymuch as possible with as little as possible.
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From this Moment Frame Dog Love Frame
Couple in the Garden Wall Art
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to capture a subject in a manner “ I hope that has never been seen before.
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“ Dean Crouser artist Dean Crouser’s distinctively vibrant watercolor artwork adds the beauty of nature to a wide variety of DEMDACO accent décor, brightening homes and gatherings for nearly any occasion.
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When it comes to painting, Dean strives to say the most with the least, keeping his watercolor work fast and spontaneous. His goal is to capture the relatable beauty of whatever catches his eye in nature. Items featured here represent Dean’s most recent collection and vision. He and DEMDACO have curated a home collection that includes unique art pieces, keepsakes and serving ware. Each work features lively natural scenes, wildlife, floral and songbird motifs. “There is a natural beauty to watercolor that has always intrigued me. It relates to the way that watercolor comes alive on the paper — it mixes, it bleeds, it interacts with other colors and has a life of its own. It must take place before the water and pigments dry which is just a minute or two. The results can be beautiful patterns and textures within a painting that you simply could not control, no matter how hard you tried. It’s magic.”
Stargazer Lily Mug
Redhead Cardinal Lidded Vanity Box
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LOVED Bear, Jumbo LOVED Bear & LOVED Blanket
Kate Dittman designer Kate Dittmann’s interest in art began with her grandfather, a World War II veteran who painted peaceful landscapes as a way to deal with post-war health issues and stress. Sometimes, he’d sketch something, and they’d paint it together. As a DEMDACO baby product designer, Kate’s inspiration for her gifts are still firmly rooted in family. Her work features warm, neutral colors, huggable, lush textiles and heartfelt messaging that inspires deep emotional connections between young children and loved ones. Her soft goods, in feel-good fabrics, are uniquely endearing with “perfectly imperfect” touches. Kate’s LOVED baby collection is just that – loved by many. Kate wanted little ones and their parents to a have a forever friend so she created the classic and a bit raggedy LOVED Bear. This little friend inspires kindness, reinforces the belief that everyone should be accepted and loved for who they are, and teaches little ones the joy of giving and receiving love.
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“I have the coolest job in the world. I get to draw elephants and monkeys for a living, and hugging stuffed animals is literally part of my job. Designing for kids and babies helps me stay in a young and creative mindset. Kids are honest. If they aren’t into something, they’ll let you know. It’s really exciting to see pictures online of kids I don’t know connecting with something I made. It’s special and I’m very lucky.”
Natural Baby - Giraffe Musical & Giraffe Bank
Designing for kids and babies “ helps me stay in a young and
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creative mindset.
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pretty amazing to receive “ It’s hand-written post cards with
stories of how the Giving Shawl has touched somebody’s life.
“ Esther Yi designer Esther Yi knew she wanted to be a designer from a very early age. Growing up in Korea, Esther would throw away the clothes that came on her dolls so she could design and make new ones. As a DEMDACO fashion designer, she strives to create things with a message of love the recipient can see and feel. She brings her passion and creative vision to life in our popular offerings including the Giving collection, Comfort collection, Your Journey collection and others. Esther’s talents and aesthetics grace one of our most popular and best-selling lines known to fans as the Giving collection. It’s a heart-felt yet functional collection of fashions and accessories designed to comfort and show support and reassurance in times of need. That’s why only the most huggable fabrics and meaningful materials are even considered for the Giving collection’s shawl, bear and new Warming Hearts. Esther created the Giving Bracelet, a beautiful piece where each heart charm represents how you are being thought of and loved. Recently, Esther applied her aesthetics and principals to our Men’s Giving collection that includes Giving Socks and Blankets, to show even the mightiest of men they are supported. “I want people to feel loved and confident when they wear our products. DEMDACO’s mission is to ‘Lift the Spirit’, and I hope that my work helps to bring love, joy and comfort to people. Everything I create, I try to think of the person who will receive the item. Hopefully my work has special meaning for people receiving them as well as special meaning for self-purchase.
The Heart Giving Bracelet
The Giving Shawl Cream, Sauge & Taupe 12 |
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Mommy & Me Activity Scarf - Jungle
Jennifer Heynen artist
Jennifer Heynen’s passion for creating started early with crayon drawings and a self-mastery of sewing at age four on a toy sewing machine. Now inspired by patterns and artwork on childhood objects, Jennifer also feeds her creative spirit in nature, particularly found in botanical gardens and aquariums. Rattle! Crinkle! Squeak! In her sensory Mommy & Me Activity collection, Jennifer taps her own motherly instincts to create an engaging, interactive and high-touch offering that brings generations closer together through play and shared experiences. Like a baby’s curiosity, Jennifer let her imagination and creativity know no boundaries. She knew from raising her own boys that babies (and their mommies) need and demand stimulation and tactile experiences fostering healthy brain development and mother-child bonding. Happy, colorful and textured, the line is full of entertaining pieces like our new Activity Buddies with fun, new characters packed with even more sensory features, wearable interactive scarf, cuddly toys, like our stroller activity ring, playful bath mitts and towels, and our reimagined teethers and soft books. Mommy & Me Activity products make the perfect shower or new baby gift that will ignite anyone’s sense of curiosity. “I‘ve always made toys and painted children’s art, so Mommy & Me came easily. There weren’t any boundaries, so I designed a children’s collection that was a reflection of my style. I love thinking of and adding all of the details that I know babies would notice and play with. It’s such a special and important time of discovery for both baby and mama.”
Mommy & Me Activity Bath Mitts 14
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Through my creations I try to “create something that feels a
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little magical or special.
Angela Evans designer Artist Angela Evans grew up in a household that was constantly creating something new. Her mother and grandmother exposed her to a wide-range of mediums and combining them became a passion early on. Angela’s art is eclectic, fresh and full of experimentation with sewing, sculpting and painting. Her approach to creating holiday décor items invokes warm, heartfelt feelings of joy that help to create many wonderful holiday memories. Angela’s perky and fun style is brewing in her new Cozy Time holiday collection featuring mugs, a decorative and functional coffee pod holiday countdown display, warm cuddle time blankets and a variety of thoughtful gifts and ornaments. They are perfect for special friends and family who know the best gift is the gift of time spent together. High-quality materials, simple design, witty sentiments and the art of chilling together make Cozy Time the most wonderful time of the year. “I am inspired by the creative process in general! I love to play with materials and try new things. Finding a new technique or material is like finding gold. Through my creations I try to create something that feels a little magical or special. Something that will bring a smile to someone’s face when they look at it. Hopefully it becomes a piece that they own and treasure for years.”
Coffee Pod Mug Ornaments
Cuddle Soup Bowls & Cuddle Mugs 16 |
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Stephanie Farley designer Stephanie Farley’s designs are eclectic and reflect a love of the treasure hunting adventures she pursued as a young girl growing up around her grandparent’s farms. This experience kindled a respect and passion for flea market finds, especially vintage utilitarian pieces, materials and hardware. As a designer, Stephanie goes beyond the physical piece, searching for the deeper stories behind those cherished items. Her vision is to bring those stories to life through her own creative expression. Stephanie displays that vision in her reimaging of a simple vase with a powerful gesture. Her collection of hand-sculpted, dipped and painted Just Because stoneware vases are an extension of the popular Gatherings collection. She believes Just Because giving is just as important as special occasion giving. Each vases minimal design and sentiment invites us to live and give kindness without reason. “Why another vase? I wondered that, too. As I do with all my design explorations, I look deeper. I want to find a connection and meaningful purpose. That’s the beauty of the Just Because line, that was the heart of it. I explored the idea of not needing a reason to be kind. I found connection and inspiration in the general spirit of giving and our mission at DEMDACO, lift the spirit and improve someone’s day. You don’t need a reason to be kind. If you can share the gift of kindness, you’re making the world a better place.”
“ I look for sentimental meaning in everyday objects. Something that sparks emotion or memories.
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Just Because Small Vases
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