The town of Rupert lies about 8 miles south of here: west of the Taconics, nestled between the Vermont hills and the New York border. image courtesy of Jane DaviesWith less than a thousand residents, just about anyone would call it one of the smallest towns you’re likely to find — unless, of course, you [...]

The M.I. Hummel brand has been a staple in the world of collectibles and artwork since the early 1930s, when the illustrations of Berta Hummel (aka Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel) were reproduced as “art cards” by a German publisher to astounding commercial success. The original illustrations were soon licensed to a porcelain company which began [...]

So here’s a brand whose message is fun, funny, a little edgy, at times almost dark — and still somehow uplifting. Life Is Crap offers an unusual take on the mostly little mishaps that grace everyone’s existence at one point or another. There’s a light-hearted quality to the simple illustrations that highlight a wide range [...]

Among the slew of analysts looking back to the 2008 holiday season, comScore has estimated that online sales from November 1 through December 23 were actually down 3% from the year before. Apparel was one of the bright spots, with an online increase of 4%, compared to a 19-21% decrease in the category overall sales. [...]