Velvet Elephant Art Center & Fair Trade Emporium

07/15/2026

Velvet Elephant will be closed Saturday to Monday July 18-20, so we can attend an out-of-town family memorial. The shop will re-open to its regular hours on Tuesday the 21st. Thanks for your patience and continuing support.

06/30/2026

03/30/2026

20 YEARS OF VELVET ELEPHANT. 48 YEARS OF THE ART CENTER. At a time when funding for Arts & Education has been gutted and B1ick has wiped out indie art shops around the country, we’re still kickin’... thanks to YOU.

To show our gratitude, WE’RE GIVING STUFF AWAY DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL. Everyone who enters the shop starting today can enter to win select quality merch - art supplies, books, games, puzzles and Fair Trade artisan handcrafts. We’ll hold 3 drawings per week to select random winners. Also, any purchase totaling $120+ from now through April will include a complimentary Fair Trade organic cotton “Create Your World” t-shirt (available in 12 different sizes, while supplies last). Free stickers too!

*No AI was used for the creation of this graphic. Imagery consists of original photos and a royalty-free image, composited and “painted” using Photoshop. Each letter was hand-drawn (no fonts) as were the line drawings, then vectorized with Illustrator. The animation was built frame-by-frame, stitched together using AfterEffects. It was human-made with the assistance of Adobe digital tools. VE IS COMMITTED TO REMAINING (as much as is humanly possible) AN AI-FREE ZONE.

12/22/2025

These brass, glass & acacia wood ⭐️COMPASSES, SUNDIAL, MINI-TELESCOPE, CHESS SET & MAGNIFIERS⭐️ are precision-crafted by artisans in Moradabad, India, whose workshop is part of the Fair Trade network Noah’s Ark International. NAI provides benefits such as education and medical treatment for artisans and their families. As artisan workshops become more self-sufficient, NAI takes on new families. Since the company’s inception, about 20 artisan workshops have become independent.

12/20/2025

In our world of digital screens, ⭐️KITSVILLE⭐️ brings creativity to life with hands-on kits that turn learning & play into adventure. Based in Maryland, Kitsville is a team of makers, engineers, and scientists passionate about crafting do-it-yourself STEAM (Science / Tech / Engineering / Art / Math) project kits and creativity-in-a-box experiences for all ages. Build your own solar-powered, battery-powered or remote-controlled vehicles, animals, robots, holograms, walkie-talkies, music boxes and more! All kits are made in the USA, priced at only $14-30, and are NOT available on Amaz0n 😊

12/19/2025

These colorful and functional totes are skillfully handmade using natural raffia grass and palm leaves. Each bag features a coordinating cloth drawstring closure and sewn-in interior pocket for added convenience. Whether you’re heading to the farmer’s market, need a knitting caddy, or stylish everyday bag, this multipurpose tote delivers charm, utility and durability. Ethically made, sustainably sourced from Kenya and brought to us via Gitzell Fairtrade International