William Thomas’ journey to entrepreneurship started three years ago at a yard sale. William’s mother was selling cupcakes when he asked if he could put a few of his paintings out on the table. To his surprise, they sold. Encouraged by the success, William tried again at a school art sale, and then at an arts and crafts fair in Maumelle. Each time, his paintings found homes. Fast forward to today: he now runs his own business, William’s Colorful Creations , where he sells his

If you’ve spent any time in the art room at the Conway Human Development Center (CHDC), you know who brings the warmth: Carol Cornett. Whether she’s stringing beads, helping decorate for events, or offering quiet encouragement, Carol’s creativity is woven into everything she does. Carol’s favorite artistic outlet is jewelry making. She loves creating bracelets and earrings, often in her signature colors pink and purple. She doesn’t have a preferred type of bead or charm; her

Our Artist Profile this month features Zach Gibbs, a talented creator whose love for mixed media Showing off one of his more recent...

When The Blue Umbrella first opened its doors in 2019, one of the big questions was: How are we going to keep the store stocked? Will...

If you’ve ever walked into The Blue Umbrella and been greeted with a big smile and a friendly invitation to buy a candle, chances are...

Our Artist Profile this month features Rosie Sparks, a talented creator whose passion for art and Rosie Sparks history has led her on an...

Our Artist Profile for December features Darnell Paul, a gifted musician whose talent and passion bring joy to everyone who listens to...

For this month’s Artist Spotlight, we are excited to introduce Brian Dale! Brian is an accomplished knitter whose creativity and...

Meet our Artist Profile for July: Al Hunt. Al’s handcrafted beard oil has quickly become a customer favorite, “Blend #7: Causin’ a...

Our Artist Profile for April is Kristy Lester with Above and Beyond Care! Born and raised in Malvern, Kristy has always possessed a...

Our Artist Profile to kick off the New Year is none other than Mamie Allen! Mamie attends First Step Arkansas, an Adult Developmental Day...

School is back in session, so we are featuring one of our very own teachers for our Blue Umbrella artists: Rodrick Williams. Rodrick...

Our Artist Profile for June features Robyn Moore, a beneficiary of Opportunities, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing...

The Blue Umbrella is a unique gift shop that embraces inclusion for all by selling items that are handmade by artists with developmental...

If you have spent any time in The Blue Umbrella over the past six months, you’ve met Gabe and Johnny as they have worked in the store....

Our Artist Profile for February features Jana Palmer out of Pulaski County. Jana crafts candles and wax melts in the shape of puzzle...

During our interview with her, it was evident that Christy is a very gracious individual who is eager to share her passion for creating.

Our friend Cathy at the Jonesboro Human Development Center (JHDC) isn’t just a lover of music, supreme pizza, and puppies – she’s also a...

Our friend James is a video gamer, history buff, and a lover of all things food. Now, he can add one more to the list – a Blue Umbrella...