It seems like sharks are as popular as ever. They're in the movies. They're in the news. They even have their own week. They're everywhere! With all the success we've had selling our shark inspired wooden wall art, we, at Haven America wondered why? To help answer that question we went in search of America's fascination and fear of these popular aquatic predators.

The beginning of America's shark fascination seems to have started with some infamous shark attacks that happened in New Jersey exactly a hundred years ago this month. "The country's fear and fascination with sharks has often been credited to a series of shark attacks in 1916 in New Jersey that saw four people killed and one injured during a two-week period. The attacks led to widespread panic over sharks and a wave of shark hunts,".

That led us to dive a little deeper into just what exactly happened during two frightening weeks in July 1916. Found a bit from a National Geographic article that details the horrific events.

"In the twilight of July 1, 1916, 25-year-old Charles Vansant died in a beachfront hotel in New Jersey. Several men had pulled his maimed body from the water. Five days later, bellhop Charles Bruder, 27, was killed during an afternoon swim along the Jersey Shore, beachgoers gathered around his remains in disbelief  The following week, 10-year-old Lester Stilwell was swimming in Matawan Creek (also in New Jersey) with his friends when he was eaten alive. Then ...the terrified boys ran down Main Street screaming that there was a shark in the water,". What's interesting here is that this would become the first, modern-day shark attack story in American history.

That had us thinking, "Well surely there had been other attacks, right?" Nowadays you hear about a least one shark attack each year. Not the case. According to the National Geographic article, there was a different sentiment towards sharks: they don't bite people.



One of the lighter topics in this NG article is about a seemingly eccentric American millionaire, and athlete, named Hermann Oelrichs who felt like many: "Sharks Didn't Bite People". "He was so sure that in 1891," the article indicates, "Oelrichs offered $500 ($12,000 in today’s dollars) to anyone who could prove him wrong. He was so sure that once, when he hosted a party at his seaside home, he jumped in the water with a shark to settle a $250 bet with his guests, according to an 1891 Pittsburg Dispatch article. Some partygoers screamed and covered their eyes. Others called for help. But the fish swam away, possibly frightened by the splash. Oelrichs later repeated this stunt on his yacht." That was that. Like Oelrichs, the general public didn't realize what they were swimming around with until these 1916 attacks.

Anyway, what makes these shark attacks so relevant to the fascination and fear question we had was that they were the basis for the 1974 bestseller novel about a small east coast island town that's attacked by a killer great white shark. The following year, Hollywood got involved and made a film about the book with a young Steven Spielberg directing and kept the original title "Jaws." The movie was big summer blockbuster and kept everybody second-guessing themselves when it came to swimming at the beach just the way its inspiration had in real life.

For us, too, the fact that the "monster is real" is another reason why we feel everybody is still so shark-obsessed. They're out there. Just like a hidden undercurrent, they can get you. That fascinates people. Sharks are so mysterious and still so little is known about them.

Continuing on with this rough timeline of shark events that has captured American attention, most people will tell you that "Shark Week" only kept the fascination and fear of these multi-toothed fish up. We found another great 2012 article, this time from the online side of the Atlantic about the birth and rise of this fantastic shark programming on The Discovery Channel. One of the main sections in the article is about how some executive producers were grabbing drinks after work and discussing what would be something entertaining Discovery Channel could do. Gotta say, we do that here, too when we're concepting new pieces and talking about show booths. We totally get where they're coming from with that. We've learned major business meetings are best done over dinner!


"It had been a decade since Steven Spielberg's Jaws gave moviegoers the collective creeps about open-water swimming, and the fledgling network (Discovery Channel) had noticed a spike in ratings whenever shark-related programming was aired... So the three amigos (the first executive producers of Sharkweek) got to work back at the studio, and in the late summer of 1988, Shark Week hit the airwaves...The first Shark Week opened on July 17, 1988, with Caged in Fear, a science-history special...Ratings that week surged to twice what the network usually garnered in primetime. Bunting (one of the Discovery Channel executive producers) told the State News he wished he could say he'd had some inkling at the time that he'd created a pop-culture titan—but frankly, he said, he was 'as surprised as anyone else' to see it take off so explosively. Its success spawned a sequel in 1989, and its ascent from there, remarkably, never faltered. 'Everybody was always fairly surprised that it kept working,' Runnette (another one of the Discovery Channel execs) says. 'It kind of taught us what it wanted to be, in a way.'"

After that, the rest of the shark craze is anything you can make of it. Whether it's the most recent attack in North Carolina involving an 11-year-old surfing to Sharknado 3 coming to SyFy July 31st, 2016, we thought it'd be (insert pun adjective here) to take a look back at it.

Going back to the executive producers of Shark Week and how it came to be. Honestly, that's kind of how it begins for us, too when we started doing shark pieces. At the time, we were doing all kinds of word signs, Southern-themed pieces, and just starting to wade into the beach and coastal. We went experimenting like the young Discovery Channel with what would be fun to make. Our Mako Shark was made in 2012 when our studio was a renovated barn in North Carolina.

It was just a simple Mako cut out of pine and engraved with gills. We featured it in a few different blues and from there we knew sharks were popular. So, we did a Great White and it took off, too. People also began asking us to customize the size. We issued a standard three sizes: 23", 36", and 48" long, only furthering shark love. In New Orleans 2014, I remember we made a length sheet for our shipping employees to reference because there were so many orders and people didn't know what size went to whom. Since then, we've created a Shark Trophy Head, Shark Bite Towel Hook, and the really unique piece which was our feature photo, Sharks Swim Below, all kinds of other pieces that really punctuate any shark lover's living quarters.

Not only do we believe the shark phenomenon is part of our success with these creatures, but also the handcrafted feel we put in them, like everything we do. You can't find these in big box stores and we think that people find something special in that. The teeth are sharp, the fins are smooth, and the edges are tight.

The only thing missing about our sharks, and sharks, in general, is "why can't we get some friggin' sharks with laser beams attached to their heads?"

If you enjoyed this post, check out our wonderful products and would be grateful if you’d help it spread by sharing it on Twitter and/or Facebook.

Thank you!
—Greyson Havens-Morris | Partner and Master Craftsman, Haven America

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In today's cities, an apartment building being “dog-friendly” is about as important for most as having a washer and dryer in your unit and private garage parking. From what I’ve heard back in the 80s and 90s, this wasn’t the case. “Sure there were some buildings that were ‘K-9 kool’,” my mother and father point out. They had lived in the city from 1984 to 1998. “Thirty years later, you’re hard-pressed not to see someone’s ‘four-legged child’ panting down the street, or riding stroller style looking for the perfect fire hydrant.”



Moving back to Chicago from New Orleans, where I lived from 2012-15, I've noticed this “Dog-Friendly” trend between both cities. And, because the pooch is in the penthouse now there are all sorts of ways dogs are enjoying their newfound acceptance aside from apartment buildings. I’ve seen Dachshunds and greyhounds grabbing coffee with their owners in the morning. Pugs and poodles acting as service dogs. Talking with friends who live in New York and Los Angeles, I’m even heard of terriers taking taxis and Frenchies eating French toast at brunch!

With all these dogs doing this and that, I’m lead to believe most American cities, are seeing exponential growth in "pooch-related purchases”. I’m not just talking about the rise of all-natural dog food, harness over a leash, or "doggy daycare services” but dog-related wall decor for owners' homes, too! Whether it’s items for your dog or concerning him/her, there’s no denying the "dog friendly-ness" has created an amazing home decor market.

For us, it all started out with creating silhouettes of popular dog varieties based on the American Kennel Club "Top Ten Breeds of 2011" Ranking in the top five that year were: 1. Retriever (Labrador), 2. German Shepard, 3. Beagle, 4. Golden Retriever, and 5. Yorkshire "Yorkie” Terrier. So, we began doing the Labrador shape first, naturally. As they began to sell, we also were contacted by customers about doing a breed that wasn't in the top five but made the top ten, the English Bulldog. Dachshunds and German Shepard owners were also eager to mount wall decor in their homes based on their breed.

Another specific item we offer, that's a result of this trend, is our Labrador Leash Hook. It's become a super popular best-seller on Etsy over the last few years. Essentially, it's a silhouette of a lab standing atop a bar with three small hooks. Dog owners hang the piece next to or near their entryway doors. On a side note, this was one of the first pieces where the art also became functional, adding a whole new dimension of value. Customers enjoy color customization based on their Lab's coat or any one of our 27 unique, fun colors.



Another leash hook we offer is the shape of a Bone where we will custom paint on your dog's name. We also will paint the French Flag on Large French "Frenchie” Bull Dogs or the Union Jack Flag on large English Bull Dogs which customers also get a kick out of.

So popular are the dog silhouettes where you enjoy them alone or as a hook, we have now added four more breeds, Golden Retriever, Beagle, English Bulldog, and of course a Pug. 

"Dog Talk” is our fun new line of doggy words leash hooks. Some examples include ruff, growl, bark, whoof, and snort. We do wish we had a little Dr. Doolittle in us to know what they were saying. It's funny to think, depending on your breed, what their words would sound like with all their K-9 accents. We, being Pug owners, hear a lot of snorts and sniffles as oppose to a Lab per say. Y'all might hear a lot more serious barks and ruffs, and maybe the occasional growl. The idea behind "Dog Talk" is you pick what you hear the most from one of our fun new leash hooks. 

One particular order I remember we all had a lot of fun making at the Haven Studios was a combination of nine different dog breeds, all in our Barnwood Red color for a Veterinarians office. It was a lot of fun because we actually scaled them to the dog's true life-size.


I'd like to sign off this blog with one adorable face of my K-9 companion in and around the streets of downtown Chicago, IL. 

Woof!--Greyson Havens-Morris

Special thanks to my neighbors for letting me take snaps of them and the pooches. 

Far out into the ocean there dwell the Sea King and his subjects...

The romance and folklore of mermaids are what is so appealing to us all. Mermaids are depicted as beautiful creatures with the upper body of a woman and the lower half of a fish complete with scales and tail fins. Mermaids have been a folklore legend that has been a part of many cultures worldwide since men sailed the seas. Many have concluded that Mermaid sightings were actually sightings of Sea Manatees since manatees' faces and arms resemble humans.

Today Mermaids are in our everyday life...

American culture is the Starbucks mermaid, she is a two-tailed Mermaid and Walt Disney Studios struck gold twice with the Mermaid theme. First with live-action in Ron Howard's "Splash" (1983) with Tom Hanks and Darell Hanna and in animation with "The Little Mermaid" (1989) adopted from the 1836 tale by Hans Christian Anderson. The image of the Mermaid still is a powerful symbol that still captures our imagination today.

Haven America Love for Mermaids

We offer three Mermaids to adorn your living space to date in our collection. All of these creations are our original art and we posses U.S. copyrights on all three. 

Haven America has sold hundreds of mermaids to date. We've also created larger versions of our Mermaids for outside of customers boathouses, and beach houses, some up to 8 feet long, and she was is Passion Pink!

We would be happy to make one of our Mermaids just for you! Please order from our links above or, if you are interested in a larger one just email us at office@HavenAmerica.com for a custom quote. 

Ahoy!

MERCHANDISE MART CHICAGO —The show is over now but in case you missed it, here is a recap of our exhibit space at the One of a Kind Spring Show which ran from April 27-29.

This Spring, Haven America's theme was Food & Kitchen and featured over 50 new handcrafted items including cutting and serving boards, kitchen and cooking wall art, and a new industrial table. We designed the booth with your home in mind. We painted the booth a deep blue and gray to model the outside evening as a dinner party would sit on the patio at dusk enjoying the evening air as they eat. We truly are foodies at heart and we want your kitchen to look as colorful and lush as the food be created in it is.

We even take lighting into account. Have you ever been to a restaurant and you feel like you are eating under a bright spotlight? We don't enjoy that either. So we strung up the old fashion bulb lights that brought that warmth and glow to the artwork. It creates a cozy space to bounce light, but bring a sense of intimacy that you try for at a garden party. 

We are slowly putting up these new items in our Etsy Shop and here at HavenAmerica.com.

Also, on a side note, when you stand at a trade show for several days, you meet new and interesting vendors. This show was no exception. Check out these exhibitors (who are now practically family). 

To our left was Trace Mayer who makes what he calls Museum Bees. A collection of miniature wall art pieces comprised of remnants from antique picture frames. Each is crowned with a tiny item, usually a Bee, but it is also sprinkled with other surprising animals like foxes, hounds, and deer.

To our right was String A Strand on Wells. A local shop, right here in Chicago that offers the experience of stringing your own neckless creation with their collection of thousands of beads, trinkets, and treasures. What we learned from watching both of our booth neighbors do their thing is that customers at a show love to engage in "the hunt" for finding the perfect combination of their product to make their own personal creations. Something that we may want to try at a future show?

Sring A Strand on Wells actually purchased a Custom Sign from us for the front of their Wells Street Store based on our BOURBON WHISKEY sign, which I'll try to get up shortly. We oftentimes receive requests from customers to make a sign based on one that we already make.

Across the aisle, we met Regina who was selling art made by Chicago high school Teens in her booth called After School Matters. A local charity that offers high school teens the opportunity to make art and sell it through local channels like corporate sponsors.

Anyway, back to our new items... We offered 50 new pieces at the show. 

Here is a recap of the top 7

#1 Butcher Deer Rustic Wall Art

Part of our series of "Butcher Cut" animals, these cut out butcher-cut shapes are great decor for the kitchen or dining area. The Rustic wood background is made from actually salvaged timber that is over 100 years old. The Deer is shown in Cast Iron Black with Oyster White lettering. This item is also available as a Cow, Pig, and Hen.

#2 A Man Walks into a Bar Wall Art

This was probably the most talked about the piece at the show—everyone giggled and tried to finish the sentence. This is a great conversation piece for your bar! The wording "A MAN WALKS INTO A BAR..." is engraved into pine wood. It is shown in Cast Iron Black lettering and frame with an Oyster White background.

#3 Bon Appétit Framed Wall Art

38" W x 12" H x 1" D — I remember the customers mimicking Julia Child's famous "Bon Appétit" catchphrase as they passed by. This engraved/hand-painted sign is derived from a French kitchen towel design and uses classic red and white colors. It's is finished with a blonde pine frame. It's the perfect sign for your French bistro! 

#4 Coffee+Tea Cyber Cafe Sign

This Coffee + Tea Cyber Cafe Sign is perfect for your breakfast nook. Inspired by vintage New York subway tiles, it reminds you of how much you love your first cup of coffee in the morning. Finished in Cast Iron Black and Oyster White.

#5 Kitchen Mixer

Coming online soon, this piece from a new Kitchen line that we have designed originally was designed to have lighting installed in the back so it is lit. It is not sold with the lighting at this time but is still very cute and sold well at the show. It is finished with a buttery yellow background color and framed in vintage blond pine wood. The opaque white plexiglass is attached to the back of the board.

#6 Black Walnut Triangle Cutting Board

Part of a stunning new Black Walnut serving boards featuring a custom ceramic condiment and garnish bowl, perfect for cheeses and charcuterie. At the show, people loved how gift-able it was. It's crafted to fit in with any kitchen decor and add that "wow" factor to your presentation. 

#7 Oval Maple Cutting Board

This new line of Maple Cutting Boards features a dozen designs that are inspired by antique French breadboards from the turn of the century. All are about 3/4" thick and vary in size. No listings for this item are up yet, email us for more details. 

Special pricing is available for buyers who are purchasing large commercial or wholesale orders for the cutting and serving boards. Just email us and tell us what you are looking for at office@havenamerica.com 

To see more, visit us online at either HavenAmerica.com or etsy.com/shop/HavenAmerica. 

WE LOVE OUR CUSTOMERS—And we love it when they tell us how much they are satisfied with their order. But what we really love is when they send us a picture of their item proudly hung in their home! And our absolute favorites are when there are people in the photos.... it really brings our wall art to life!

This year, Haven America celebrates 6 years in business--That's an accomplishment that we are very proud of. We also have a 5-Star customer rating in our Etsy shop which alone has sold over 11,250 sales. You can read our complete review section to see just how happy our customers are. Some of them go the extra mile and post appreciation photos of their experience too. Below are a few of our favorite customer photos along with their kudos in their own words. We also give you the name of the item and the colors it is shown in.

Want to see more Haven America pictures? Follow us on Instagram where we try to post one picture a day. Sometimes it is a new product, other times it’s just something really cool we have found as we go through our day.

You can also find our products in over 200 small retail shops across the U.S. and on-line at One King’s Lane, Joss & Main, and Etsy.com along with our official web site SlippinSouthernShop.com.

Enjoy the pictures y'all!

Above: Custom 36" Ampersand/Sweetheart Pink

Letter Shield Family Crest with Custom Flanking Greyhounds/Driftwood Grey, Cast Iron Black

Ampersand (&) Sign/Oyster White

Hen with Custom Lettering/Barnwood Red, Oyster White
Amazing product!! Bought this hen with the personalization for my best friend's wedding gift. When I opened the package to look it over I was taken aback with how great it looked. I literally could not have been happier with the outcome! I will definitely be a returning customer! — Kelsey

Humpback Whale/Atlantic Navy, Oyster White
"This gentle whale looks great in my sons' nautical themed bathroom.
Being able to choose custom colors was an added bonus for this great piece.
I love it, thanks! — Sarah 

Brachiosaurs, T-Rex & Stegosaurs/Key Lime Green, Florida Orange & Front Porch Blue
These are just adorable! This is my favorite one. 
They are great quality and turned out exactly how I expected! — Stephanie

Octopus/Front Porch Blue
Just look at this gorgeous octopus! He fits right into our family!
Great craftsmanship, beautiful color, and tons of personality! — Sara

French Bulldog/Swamp Green

Beach Girl & Nautical Man Framed Swimsuit Set/Oyster White, Driftwood Grey, Front Porch Blue

Folk Whale/Cast Iron Black

Custom Pallet Whale/Driftwood Grey, Oyster White, Front Porch Blue, Biscuit Cream
Looks fantastic, thank you! — Allyson

Moon Face/Distressed Silver

Moby Whale/Oyster White

Brachiosaurs, Stegosaurus & T-Rex/Swamp Green, Front Porch Blue, Cast Iron Black
The perfect fit for our Dino nursery!! Love them!! — Meggobite

Trophy Heads (Left to right)
Alligator/Sunflower Yellow, Moose/Chimney Brick Orange, Elephant/Driftwood Grey, Rhino/Coastal Blue, Buffalo/Barnwood Red

Custom Elephants/Driftwood Grey, Coastal Blue, Papa Suit Navy & Swamp Green
Love our elephants!! They look amazing in the nursery. Had a great experience with the owner of this site.
I had no problems with timing - they arrived when promised - and the quality was exactly what I expected.
They are lighter weight which is perfect for hanging on your walls! — Kate

DIY Wedding Banner/Biscuit Cream

Folk Whale/Cast Iron Black

Horse Trot with Custom Lettering/Oyster White, Driftwood Grey Lettering

Moon Face with Stars/Historic Yellow Moon, Silver Stars

Moon Face Tree Topper/Historic Yellow

Custom Pallets Peace Sign with matching Custom Word Signs
Color clockwise: Wisteria Purple, Florida Orange, Sunflower Yellow, Passion Pink, Oyster White, Keylime Green

Sock Monkey Props for Nordstrom's Children's Department/Pony Brown, Biscuit Cream, Barnwood Red

T-Rex Medium Prop for Nordstrom's Children's Department/Barnwood Red

Moby Whale on Custom Pallets Background/Oyster White, Cast Iron Black

Swimming Mermaid/Distressed Silver
We are totally in love with this mermaid which is hanging over our daughter's bed.
Great craftsmanship and the best customer service from SlippinSouthern!!!
Highly recommend — Kristine

Bunkhouse Hooks (Set of Three)/Barnwood Red, Historic Yellow, Gulf Blue

I Heart California State Map/Oyster White with Rustic Heart

Custom Egg Sign/Barnwood Red, Oyster White
For years we've said this silly phrase to each other in our family.
It's so fun to have a personalized decoration.
It's exactly as promised. We love it! — Laurie

Letter Shield/Cast Iron Black, Driftwood Grey
Just what I needed. Thank you so much. — Jana

Pallets Bicycle/Sunflower Yellow, Driftwood Grey, Gulf Blue, BBQ Red, Passion Pink, Oyster White
Looks perfect. Exactly as described. Thank you! — Vamsiaval

Barrel of Monkeys Sculpture/Barnwood Red
So cute on my porch! Thank you! — Heather