>> gift guide

•

Handcrafted Bellaboxes make
beautiful holiday packaging
or special gifts themselves.

ABOVE Itty Bitty

Suzanne Chessler

Contributing Writer

R

uth Heginbottom has no problem
feeling boxed in. In fact, she thrives
on it.
Boxes — in various sizes, of different
materials and with all kinds of designs
— fill her home as she applies artistic tal-
ents to create Bellaboxes in a one-person
enterprise. Thousands of boxes, which she
builds from scratch and decorates, pass
through her Troy home every year.
"I like interacting with art:' says
Heginbottom, recently retired from a
35-year retailing career with Millers Artist
Supplies in Farmington Hills. "I'm thrilled
about design and making something that
is to be cherished. The creative process of
envisioning a final product stimulates me:'
Heginbottom hopes that Jewish custom-
ers will cherish the Itty Bitty Bellas (two

56 November 19 2015

inches long, wide and deep) designed
with six-pointed stars and colored in blue
and silver. They can be Chanukah gifts in
themselves or serve as gift boxes holding
holiday gelt and later repurposed to con-
tain keys, coins or other small items.
The artist has had individual customers
who have bought eight Itty Bitty Bellas,
each packaging a different gift to be given
to one child on each night of the holiday.
"There are so many uses for the boxes:'
says Heginbottom, whose largest box
has been 18-by-10-by-10 inches. "They
are made of lightweight materials, but I
weight them to be substantial and sturdy
with treated play sand that has been
sealed off:'
Heginbottom started experimenting
with boxes as a little girl and the youngest
of four sisters. When the older three went
out to special activities, she would fmd
materials around the house to use as play-
things. Pieces of cardboard helped launch
her lifelong interest.
Boxes are formed from wood, foam
core, illustration board and railroad
board. She adheres pieces together with
acid-free glue, also used to affix fabrics,
decorative papers and beads as embel-
lishments. Customers have ordered them
to hold jewelry, photos, collectibles,
potpourri and many kinds of mementos.
She believes her boxes have endless pos-
sibilities.

Bellas start at $15

(look for them at

the Birmingham

Bloomfield Art

Center Holiday

Show, Dec. 3-19).

This Allium

Jewelry Box is cov-

ered in black silk.

Silk

flowers bloom on

the front of this box.

"The boxes can take any shape or size
she says. "I also can use any color, but
right now, purple seems to be the most
popular. The wood boxes can look very
natural, and the others can be very con-
temporary:'
Heginbottom, who was a music-perfor-
mance major at Oakland University, still
plays the viola in respites from making
boxes. Although the artist is not Jewish,
she has learned about the Jewish tradi-
tions celebrated with her designs from
friends and colleagues.
The artist, who has been selling her
work since 1995, is represented at art
stores and fairs and synagogue boutique
shows as well as her website. She enjoys
custom orders to celebrate milestones or
recognize special interests, and estimates

50 percent of her work is made to order.
Heginbottom can put drawers and
doors into larger boxes. When smaller
containers are used as pillboxes, she can
fit locks into the structures to prevent chil-
dren from getting into them.
"While boxes can be very functional,
they also are made to be enjoyed; she
says. "I want each customer to have some-
thing very beautiful to look at:'
"When I started selling the boxes,
I set aside a bedroom as a workroom,
Heginbottom says. "They have since taken
over the house:' *

details

For information and to order Bellaboxes,
visit bellaboxes.com .

