The Blue Giraffe has a Heart of Gold

Debbie Taylor and Christi Sheffield are the dynamic mother-daughter duo behind the scenes at The Blue Giraffe, and they want to give you the warm and fuzzies. For the past 6 years they have carefully selected the art, gifts and books that cover their gallery’s colorful walls, making The Blue Giraffe one of the more unique places to support the local arts scene.

The Blue Giraffe represents a balanced mix of exclusive artists that you won’t find in other galleries, as well as a few sought after ones that are popular along the beach. The gallery has a huge following of loyal customers, and it’s not uncommon for longtime locals to pop in and discover their new happy place.

“It’s all about being happy and inspiring and colorful,” says Debbie.

In addition to colorful artwork in every nook and cranny, The Blue Giraffe has a book closet with gift books, adult coloring books, children’s books from local authors, journals and more. You’ll also find beautiful artisan jewelry, delicious smelling handmade soaps, yard art, unique greeting cards, hand painted coasters, and glass night lights.  

Christi always wanted to be an artist, and running a gallery is really an art in itself. Through her work at The Blue Giraffe she’s created the perfect place to help other artists make a living. In her spare time she paints, but mostly she focuses on merchandising, displays, and commission orders. That’s right-if you want something customized by your favorite artist, Christi can make that happen for you.  

Christi and Debbie love to create relationships with their artists, making it easy and fun to collect work from your favorites. One thing you’ll notice is that prices on original art at The Blue Giraffe are really accessible. That’s because they like to keep things moving so artists get paid more, and you don’t see the same art on the wall each time you visit. It’s a win-win situation.

“We have a reciprocal relationship with our artists. We wouldn’t be here without them and vice versa,” says Christi.

The Blue Giraffe posts artist pages and bios on their website, so collectors can get to know them, too. That way each piece of art you collect takes on a special meaning…a life of its own. Recently, the gallery rolled out online shopping and updates the e-store with about a dozen new products each month. But there’s a catch. If you love it, buy it, because it’s one of a kind!

One of the special things about The Blue Giraffe, besides the loving family behind it all, are the workshops and classes hosted at the gallery. Budding artists of all kinds, from creative writers to abstract painters, are welcome to hone their crafts surrounded by all the colorful inspiration at the gallery. Sign up online and bring a friend and a bottle of wine for the best night ever.

The Blue Giraffe is located on Scenic 30A in WaterColor near The Wine Bar. Stop by the gallery any day of the week for inspiration. Shop online and sign up for classes at www.bluegiraffe30a.com. For more information, please call 850.231.5112. Follow The Blue Giraffe on Facebook to see photos of the gallery and to stay up to date on the latest. 

Join The Blue Giraffe on November 12 from 2-4pm as they celebrate their 6th anniversary! They’re launching local bakery Sweet Henrietta’s first cookbook, titled It’s All Good. Written by Rick Stanfield, he includes a few of his and Tina’s favorite pastry recipes, and their amazing, inspirational story. This is a book you will want to own and gift to others. Enjoy free cupcakes & champagne and get your cookbook autographed. To pre-order a signed copy call 850-231-5112 and they will happily ship you some books.