Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Art and Writing

Cheap art supplies from the Orient.

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Oriental Trading Company, that grand purveyor of cheap junk used by educators and Sunday Schools and camps everywhere, has begun selling art supplies. I have weird feelings about Oriental Trading Company, generally tied up in the "great, more cheap stuff made in China -- should I be supporting that trend even further?" Still, for those of you interested, you might want to take a look and compare prices. They seem to have a blog where they offer art ideas, projects, and tips. So that's something.

I still prefer to buy my paper (BFK Rives is my favorite) from Daniel Smith. I use Dick Blick for a lot of stuff, especially when I'm teaching a class. They have supplies that range from fine art to educator quality, as well as items not typically thought of as an "art supply" but useful in crafts or other projects. I get some items pertaining to shipping from Uline. I get my clear bags that I package cards, prints, and all other items that I ship from ClearBags. I get my frames from Westfall Framing (usually the cheaper poplar wood, which I order unfinished and unassembled to save myself money -- they're easy to assemble and stain or paint).

If you have a supplier that you'd recommend, be sure to list them in the comments section.