 DECEMBER 12 • 2019 | 37

CUSTOM PAINTINGS 
Looking for a gift that stands 
out? Imagine your sister’
s face 
when she unwraps a painting 
of her all-time favorite Beatles 
album. Or perhaps your kids 
would love a pop art version of 
their graduation photo. 
Using acrylic paints on can-
vas, Olivia “Vee” Rose creates 
original wall art in a variety of 
shapes, sizes and themes that 
include movies, books, music, 
pets, yoga, sports, love and 
friendship. She can work from 
a photograph, illustration, book 
or album cover, or any visual or 
verbal inspiration.
“Just give me a concept, and 
I’
ll roll with it,
” she says.
Her canvases generally range 
in size from 8 x 8 to 18 x 36, but 
she will make smaller or larg-
er paintings to accommodate 
wall space or subject matter. 
Prices start at $15-$20 and vary 
according to the size and intri-
cacy of the piece. 
Contact her at Oliviagrose96@
gmail.com or through the Vee 
Rose Art Facebook page.

COP A NEW “HATTITUDE”
After 30 years as an art 
teacher in the Detroit school 
system, Elayne 
Astrein was ready 
for a new endeavor. 
Determined to find 
something she was 
passionate about, 
hat-making was 
a natural choice. 
Several years ago, 
Astrein had begun 

making hats for herself using 
a variety of techniques that 
included crocheting, weaving, 
felting and embellishing. 
“Whenever I wore one of my 
hats, people would stop and 
ask me where I got it,
” she says. 
“I finally realized this is what I 
should be doing.
”
Astrein, whose hats can be 
found at local craft and art 
shows, credits her late mother, 
Faye Katz, for inspiring her 
creations.
“My mom always wore hats; 
she told me they were elegant,
” 
Astrein says. “She taught me 
about fabric and the importance 
of quality materials.
”
Today, Astrein has more than 
250 different hats in her inven-
tory; no two are alike. 
Styles range from fedoras to 
floppy sun hats to embellished 
baseball caps in a variety of 
fabrics that include suede and 
leather. Some reflect current 
fashion trends, such as animal 
prints, while others have a vin-
tage look.
“I use good fabrics and but-
tons and trims — no chintzy 
lace,
” says Astrein, who also 
welcomes custom orders. 
Prices range from $30-$180, 
depending on the fabric and 
complexity of the design.
Contact Astrein at
AHat4me@yahoo.com for 
purchase information and a
list of her upcoming shows. 

se information and a
er upcoming shows.

roit school

r.
d
s

COURTESY OF VEE ROSE ART

C

O

U

R

T

E

S

Y

 

O

F

 

E

L

A

Y

NE

 A

S

T

R

E

I

N

