Yellow Dot Shop has been on the move! I am a new vendor at Alexandria's West End Farmer's Market on Sunday mornings. This Market is in Brenman Park in the Carlyle neighborhood off of Duke Street. A small creek is nearby and you can hear the birds sing. Lots of families, kids, dogs and seniors come by and it is very lively!
This Thursday afternoon in May was my first time at Alexandria's Old Town North Market. From 3pm to 7pm, this market is on the corner of North Royal and Montgomery streets, in a parking lot next to the tennis courts. This is an interesting neighborhood because new apartment buildings, a new theater and new townhouses are being built to replace the old bus depot and the aging Crown Plaza Hotel. I've enjoyed watching these project grow. Some might worry about new development, but hopefully the changes from industrial use and empty lots will be an improvement.
New Logo for Upholstery Business
In the Yellow Dot Designs studio I have been working on a new logo for a long-time Alexandria upholstery business called EC Robinson Upholstery. EC Robinson had been on Mt. Vernon Avenue in my neighborhood for years before I arrived. Several years ago EC had to leave his long-time store front, so he moved to industrial space on Colvin Street. This Spring the business moved again, to a great location on North Washington Street in Old Town Alexandria. A new logo, website updates and a new sign were needed!
EC Robinson Upholstery has been in this area since 1938 and is now at 311 N. Washington Street in Alexandria. For the new logo E.C. wanted a traditional Old Town feel and he wanted some kind of a border around the logo. The challenge was to make the border work so that it would be visible when the logo is reduced to a small size. The main typeface that I chose for this logo is Caslon, because it is a classic font which goes back to the 1700's! It is a serif typeface and was designed by William Caslon in London, England. You will see this logo on his new sign at 311 North Washington Street in the near future!
New Products at Yellow Dot Shop
Purses
Hand-printed purses with inner and outer pockets are my latest additions to my Hangbags Collection!
Birthday Cards
Birthday cards are printed both by hand and machine and sometimes both! Design and illustration are mine. Insides are blank and on the back it says, "Designed and Printed in Alexandria, VA."
Art Prints
Matted prints in white and colored mats show Alexandria and prominent people. Screen printed images are added to with block printing and hand painted water color.
Scottish Project Update
Writing the Scottish Migration Story of William Gregory
The photo above shows Alexandria's 400 block across from City Hall. The farthest, lower buildings in the front block are William's first building project. He bought the existing wooden structure with a partner and built these in preparation for his brother arriving from Scotland. Eventually William bought the partner out.
On the right is a listing placed by William's employer Robert McCrea in the Alexandria Gazette, advertising his "dry goods." Dry goods does not mean spaghetti, as some seem to think. It means fabrics, blankets, clothing and carpets. Notice the "CARPETING" in the last sentence. That was arriving from Scotland, from William's family carpet weaving factory in Kilmarnock!
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