Arts Education: The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Art plays so many important roles in our lives. It can act as a means of self-expression, create a beautiful and inspirational space, act as a reflection of culture, and even be given as a meaningful gift to those we love.

At Mishkalo, we believe in the power of art to transform lives and communities. We are the only wedding registry for original art and our mission is to provide the most unique and meaningful options for a wedding gift while supporting artists and the art communities around us.

It all starts in the classroom, where the love for art is born. Experiencing and enjoying art has scientifically proven benefits, and as research has proven, so does studying art in the classroom.

benefits of art education

When kids experience art education, their world opens to new ideas and new skills. The art classroom is a place to get inspired, engage in healthy and productive teamwork, and absorb new perspectives and concepts. It’s the best possible time to celebrate all arts education offers kids, as September 13-19 marks National Arts in Education Week in the United States.

This special time encourages students, teachers, and their families to engage in both virtual and in-person events nationwide with art as a central focus. It also prompts adults to take notice of the ways that arts education improves kids’ lives, using them as talking points and fuel to advocate for this important portion of academia.

Wondering what art education has on offer?

Kids who take art classes may find feelings of relaxation and well-being easier to come by, and may also be more positive. They’re also more likely to be civically engaged, accountable, socially tolerant, and able to regulate their emotions.
The ability to concentrate in class, use critical thinking to solve problems, use spatial, temporal, and visual reasoning and the general use of cognitive ability are all associated with arts education.
Kids who fall behind socially may find art class to be an equalizer; it can encourage collaboration and participation, help them accept new people and new ideas, and increase their ability to use empathy.

Believe it or not, this is only the beginning. Take a look at this infographic from We The Parents to learn more about the benefits of arts education, and check out the Americans for the Arts website to get involved.

Autumn Barn | Artistic wedding gift idea | Wedding Registry for Art

Autumn Barn by Mishkalo Artist Barry Coombs.

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People often ask ‘What is a good wedding gift for a couple who has everything’. We believe that a wedding is one of the most momentous occasions in a couple’s life, and their wedding gift should be as unique as their marriage. We invite couples to celebrate it by creating a Mishkalo Wedding Registry. You can rest assured your wedding gifts will be unique, showcasing your personality.

Mishkalo carries a vast collection of unique artwork by highly esteemed artisans from around the world.

Build Your Registry

Read more about wedding planning ideas and tips at Mishkalo

11 incredibly useful wedding planning tips from experts

4 Reasons to get original art as a wedding gift

If you already live together, do you need a registry?

Wedding Registry Hacks

15 best paces to register

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5 Incredibly Unique Wedding Gifts For Couples Who Have Everything

5 Incredibly Unique Wedding Gifts For Couples Who Have Everything.

As an engaged couple who already has everything for your home, have you ever wondered what unique wedding gifts to put in your registry? Couples today are getting married later in life and have all the household items they need for their home. In fact, some of them have been living together for years and may also own two sets of things. What kind of wedding gifts would appeal to couples who already have everything they would need?

Here are top 5 unique wedding gifts, that couples who have everything can consider.

These gifts will be special and meaningful, and add value and pizzazz to their lives.

Custom Portrait Of Wedding Couple -2 | Original Art second marriage portrait | Bridal Registry for Art

Custom Portrait

Let an artist capture your best wedding or engagement photograph on canvas. An artist created painting of your favorite photo will be a great way to remind you of all the love you have for each other. A photograph is good but custom portrait is special. When someone is painting a portrait for you, it adds depth that is not easily achieved in a photo. Perhaps that is because the act of painting is generally more meaningful than someone taking a photo on their phone, but with a blank canvas you can truly capture a fresh-faced couple fully in love: maybe a rosy cheeked glow, or eyes that sparkle. It is certainly a unique way to let the world know that this is the person with whom you’ve fallen in love! Such a unique wedding gift idea! Check out Artist Amro Ashry’s stunning portraits HERE.

Modern Art Thirty-Six | Wedding Anniversary gift idea | Mishkalo Wedding Registry for Art

Original Artwork

Created by an artist. This is a gift that your guests will feel good gifting. It is truly a one-of-a-kind piece that will last a lifetime. You will be supporting an artist instead of a big retail establishment, and at the same time receive a gift that will be a valuable heirloom piece to be passed on to your children. Check out some striking paintings HERE.

Wine Decanter | Unique Wedding Gifts For Couples Who Have Everything | Mishkalo

Artistic Wine Decanter

If you want to add some oomph to your living room table, get this revolving wine decanter and glasses on walnut wood by Swoon Living. This is an artisan-made custom blown glass and wood. Swoon Revolving Wine Glasses are hand-blown in Chicago. The wine glasses are sure to make your wine-loving friends jealous. Pour yourself a little wine and sip and spin your evening away.As you play, your wine becomes greater with every turn as more oxygen is brought into the wine. The concept is all about form and function without forgetting to have fun. This item is available via Swoon Living.

Handmade Glass Clock

An artist made clock will add charm to your foyer or dining room. “Art meets function” in this contemporary fused glass pendulum clock. A lovely compliment to any contemporary home! Opaque and translucent glass is individually cut, arranged and fused at 1480 degrees Fahrenheit to achieve the desired look. Every clock is signed on the front and arrives with protective hand covers and the required AA battery. Artist Nina Cambron is the leader in handcrafted fused glass clocks in the Unites States. Nina’s sense of design, beautiful color combinations and contemporary style is a gift to cherish. Get this custom made clock HERE

Vow Books| Wedding Guest Books | Mishkalo

Vow Books

Vow Books are another unique wedding trend that couples have been adopting over the last several years. You will utter the most important words of commitment of your life on your wedding day. Wedding Story Writer vow books are made-to-order specifically for a couple. Your book will be made to match your wedding style, with the option of a custom cover design. Order a custom or signature vow book or keepsake box at The Wedding Story Writer.

Mishkalo carries a vast collection of unique artwork by highly esteemed artisans from around the world.

Build Your Registry

Read more about wedding planning ideas and tips at Mishkalo

4 Reasons to get original art as a wedding gift

If you already live together, do you need a registry?

Wedding Registry Hacks

15 best paces to register

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A Wedding Gift of Art and Charity

Using Art to make a difference.

Thinking of what to register for your wedding or anniversary and doing a whole lot of good for the society? Think Art, which is a powerful and meaningful way to bring harmony and peace in our lives.

Mishkalo is a registry for art that allows you to do some good, and beautiful art for you and your soon-to-be spouse to decorate your newlywed home.

Mishkalo is grateful and proud to partner with Kids & Art Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization that provides Arts workshops to children with cancer and their care circles to improve their well-being during treatment, as survivors, and in bereavement.

Kids & Art and Mishkalo have partnered to help bring healing and joy to kids coping with cancer as part of their treatment plan.

The creative process of art making has been known to reduce stress and anxiety and to help us focus and achieve balance in our daily life. Art therapy is a medium which is being adopted by the scientific community as a way of coping with difficult and stressful situations. One such use of art, that has been a big success is where children with cancer benefit from participation in the arts as part of the regular treatment plan.

The Kids & Art Foundation team up professional artists with families facing pediatric cancer for free art workshops at treatment centers and unique destinations for creativity. Together they use art as healing to empower, encourage, and create memorable experiences.

Kids & Art workshop

“Art making can be soothing and stress-reducing; it is also a source of relaxation, gratification, and self-expression” Says Robie Benve who is an artist. Here is her article that highlights the 7 ways that art can improve the quality of life.

How does it work?

1) Register for free on Mishkalo.

2) Select art in your registry.

3) Collect funds.

4) Get art for your home

5) Contribute remaining funds to Kids & Art Foundation.

Your contribution will actually make a difference in a kid’s life by bringing moments of joy and hope in their times of distress. After all “Giving is not just about making a donation. It is about making a difference.” Kathy Calvin.

Wildflower Meadow 05 | Marriage registry | Mishkalo Bridal Registry

Wildflower Meadow 05 by Mishkalo Artist Lynne Carney.

Want to help a child with your wedding registry? Check out Mishkalo

Mishkalo carries a vast collection of amazing artwork from around the world for you to choose from.

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The Galimore Twins: Bridal Makeup Artist and a Wedding Photographer

What do a Bridal Makeup Artist and a Wedding Photographer have in common?

Being twins firstly and so much more...

Meet the Galimore twins, Amber and Amy who are making a mark in the wedding and fashion industry with their inspirational and trendy wedding photography and bridal makeup. Amber is a well-known and established bridal makeup artist who transforms brides and models into sensational beauties. Amy is a photographer who captures the most precious moments in a wedding or event with her exceptionally detailed photography.

Amber and Amy Galimore Galimore Twins | Bridal Makeup Artist | Wedding Photographer[/caption]

Get some great Bridal makeup and wedding photography tips and advice.

A bride needs makeup and a makeup artist to make her look beautiful on her wedding day and she needs a Photographer to capture her beauty as a Bride and those special moments from her wedding. So Amber and Amy are the perfect duo for a bride to have so that her wedding will be memorable.

Mishkalo had the pleasure of chatting with the Galimore twins, Amber and Amy recently and here are some fun things that they shared with us:

Our Vision:

We want to be known as the Galimore twins who can make your event extra special. To be known for a duo that can be counted on. We give more than we take and we are completely reliable and excel in our craft. We want to be known to deliver more than the expectation whether it is for a wedding, an event or a fashion runway. That’s our goal and vision. To be the go-to bridal makeup artist and the wedding photographer sisters.

Sage advice and tips for Brides:

“Do a trial makeup run with a bridal makeup artist. Make sure you hire a makeup artist who is cheerful and friendly and good at what she does. Your wedding day is special and when someone enters your bridal chamber that morning, you want someone who is pleasant and positive and a team player, someone who will make your wedding morning experience a fun and positive one”. – Amber
“Become your photographer’s best friend. Open the lines of communication and really get to know him/her well and communicate what’s on your mind in terms of how you want the photos to be captured”. – Amy
“Focus on one special thing about your wedding that you really want and work towards getting that done and be flexible about the rest of the process and planning because things can change during the planning process”. – Amber and Amy

Amber and Amy Galimore

Some weird moments that you have encountered:

“I had a wedding guest fall on me while I was photographing a wedding. While capturing some silly moments from the wedding, I had to move around and suddenly I have this tall guy trip and fall on me” – Amy.

Tell us about a Heartwarming experience:

“I had a bride who had hired me and a couple years later wanted me to do her maternity shoot as she was expanding her family. She wanted Amber to do her maternity makeup and me (Amy) to photograph the entire shoot. It was really heartwarming to be a part of her journey right from the engagement shoot, the wedding and now the maternity phase in her life”. – Amy.

A recent bride who had her makeup done by Amber could not contain herself when she looked at herself in the mirror once the makeup was done. She cried and declared “I look perfect”. – That was a very emotional and gratifying moment for Amber because she could see the tears of joy on her bride’s face. “To have a bride feel perfect on her wedding day and to exclaim it to the whole world, it felt heartwarming to know that I had made a bride feel special for the best day of her life”. – Amber.

One thing Brides forget about their bridal makeup.

Brides tend to forget about prepping their skin a few days before their wedding day. Amber says, her advice is for brides to go easy on their makeup a few days prior to their wedding and clean and moisturize their face before their rehearsal dinner and the wedding.

One thing Brides forget to prepare for the photographer.

Brides forget to layout their wedding attire and other details out for the photographer to capture. Amy’s advice is for the bride to have all the stuff that she wants to capture out on the bed or a table. Things that she may otherwise forget such as the hair accessary, jewelry or the shoes.

Bridal Makeup | Wedding Makeup | Amber Galimore

What do brides fear the most on their wedding day?

Amber: “OMG! My eyelashes are going to fall out. I have heard many brides express that fear”.

Amy: “I am afraid I will fall or trip-over my dress and it will be captured on camera. I tell my brides to be careful and watch their step”.

About Mishkalo:

What I love about Mishkalo is that friends and family can come together to get the couple one or more pieces of art for their home. I would have loved to pick out some art with my fiancé and have fun doing that. We had our household items and if this registry was around, we would have loved it. It would have enabled us to get our first artwork as husband and wife.

Even as a guest, I would have so much fun contributing to an art registry wondering what the couple has picked out and how I can help them get something unique. – Amber Galimore.

Morning Light | Unusual bridal gift | Wedding Registry for Art

Looking for a unique registry idea? Check out Mishkalo

Mishkalo carries a vast collection of amazing artwork from around the world for you to choose from.

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Monte Durham Says Yes to Art

Photo via Homeanddesign.com

Want to know how Monte Durham has made his home special and meaningful with Art?

For Monte Durham from the famous TLC Atlanta’s ‘Say Yes to The Dress’, his home truly reflects his style and personality. Monte says he loves and appreciates art and strongly believes in adding personal touches with family heirlooms and artwork throughout his home.

His 70-year-old house which he shares with his partner Jakob Evans is a graceful, welcoming center-hall Colonial, and perfectly reflects Durham’s personality. It’s traditional, full of 19th-century antiques yet has some personal touches. It’s also a labor of love since Monte himself has put in a lot of work in renovating his house. We would love to show you some of Monte Durham’s décor and hope that it will inspire engaged couples to consider bringing art into their newlywed home.

Photo via Homeanddesign.com

As couples get engaged later in life than their predecessors who about 40 years ago got engaged at 22, they no longer need many of the household items such as pots and pans and want to look for other alternatives for registering for their wedding. Decorating a newlywed home with art is a great option to consider. Engaged couples spend so much time and money planning their wedding and want to personalize and brand their big day. Thinking about their life together after the big day and building their future is also exciting and art enables them to truly bring their own unique personality into their marriage and home.

Photo via Homeanddesign.com

Here are some great reasons to bring art into your home.

Art will be there all your life long after your blender is replaced, to remind you of your wedding day and the fun times you shared picking the wedding gift to reflect who you are as a couple.
Buying art supports artists and builds communities.
Art enhances and enriches your life with its beauty, good vibes and vibrant colors. It is a reflection of someone’s dream and vision brought to life.
Art is good Feng Shui. Vibrant colors and visuals bring good cheer and luck to a home.

Photo via Homeanddesign.com

A wedding is an event but a marriage is a lifelong journey and to have a wedding gift that will remind you of your vows and the love that you have for each other will enrich and enhance your marriage. So be curious and think beyond the traditional wedding gifts and get a gift that is as unique as your marriage.

Mishkalo Wedding Registry for Art | Unique Wedding Gift | Unique Wedding Registry[/caption]

Looking for a unique registry idea? Check out Mishkalo

Mishkalo carries a vast collection of amazing artwork from around the world for you to choose from.