Inspired Functional Art
Suzanne and Jack Healy believe a home should be more than a house. This concept is evident to anyone who explores their recently opened store in Langley, Artisan Crafted Home on First Street. As you explore the surroundings, there is an amazing array of kitchen and household items made from glass, ceramics, wood, copper, bronze and concrete. Even the potholders are works of art. The store projects their theme that having artisan products in the home allows an individual to express his or her personality and individuality.
Suzanne started her career in graphic design and as an artist. She built up her inventory of blown glass and attended trade shows to market her work. Jack supported Suzanne’s glassworks with his marketing skills and together they created Functional Art Gallery in 2002, and formulated the first online resource for interior designers, builders, architects and discerning homeowners.
Over the years, they established working partnerships with dozens of artisans from all over the world and created an online resource for artistic functional art. The company grew to include Sinks Gallery, Copper Sinks Online, Artisan Crafted Lighting, Artisan Crafted Body Care, and now Artisan Crafted Home. Their corporate name today is ArtisanCrafted.com, LLC.
The Healys were operating their business living in Seattle Area, but as they began to look at their hectic lifestyle, they decided they wanted to move to a more rural location and find a new way of doing business.
A good friend asked them to come for a visit to Whidbey and to speak to the Whidbey Island Woodworker’s Guild. After the talk, they were approached by Kevin Fristad, who said he would like to work for them if they established a business on the island. Just three months later, they found the right property, purchased the building and hired Fristad.
After investing 14 months remodeling the building, Artisan Crafted Home opened in Langley on September 15, 2016. An increasing number of locals and tourists are visiting the store and discovering the array of items that become great gifts and/or personal treasures.
The Healys are enthusiastic about what they are selling. Suzanne says, “We wanted to bring our passion for the work of independent functional artists to the world through on on-line retail, and now we are thrilled to have this beautiful retail store on Whidbey to expand our brand to a whole home concept.”
Jack describes the vision for their company: “The world can be a very generic place, if you let it. We believe you can express your personality through creativity and individuality. We bring together the passionate artist’s work with the functionality needed in life and your home.“
Suzanne adds that another special element about their products is that the artists who provide the products can often create “Whatever someone’s imagination can dream.”
Winter hours at Artisan Crafted Home, 211 First Street, Langley are Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 11am to 5pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 6pm. Call the store at 360.221-1201 or their offices at 360-321-2131 if you any questions.
They still offer an excellent selection of items on line: www.ArtisanCraftedHome.com
Article originally published on WhidbeyLocal.com.
