If you've ever stopped in ArtSpring community art store downtown, you may have met artist Annette Florin, who volunteers there every week.  What you may not know is that she's also one of the self-described "crazy creative chicks," who founded the store.

Florin calls herself  a New York City transplant, born and raised in Brooklyn, and the mother of two "amazingly fantastic" teenage boys.  The family moved to Silver Spring in 2003 when her husband, a doctor of entomology with the Navy, was transferred to the area.  It was the latest of many such moves around the country, but once landing in Silver Spring, the family knew they'd found a place they wanted to stay.

"We settled here.  I love it! There couldn't be a better place to live," she said.

ArtSpring was born in the spring of 2008, after Florin and a group of Silver Spring women who all did arts and craftwork at home decided to put together a neighborhood show and sale.  The show was called "Local Color," with a portion of the proceeds going to a local non-profit. The event was such a success that five of the women, organized by group member Chris DerDerian, banded together to create a store, she said.  With the support of Pyramid Atlantic and Downtown Silver Spring/Peterson, they opened ArtSpring. 

"We were in awe of ourselves -- we actually had a store," Florin said.

The store is located directly across from Whole Foods Market (where it moved to last fall from its former location on Georgia Avenue).  It's sponsored by Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center, and parts of all sales go to support the non-profit's mission of promoting art in the community.  While the store is completely staffed by volunteers, Florin said Pyramid Atlantic Executive Director Jose Dominguez "helps to pull everything together." 

Silver Spring "is a perfect fit" for the arts store.  "It's diverse, it's open-minded and funky.  People here appreciate creativity and things that are one-of-a-kind. That's ArtSpring,"she added.

Florin is just one of many artists who work weekly to run the store.  Volunteers work four-hour shifts, doing everything from running the register and taking sales to talking with customers about the artists.  "It's about customer service," she said. "We're very personable at ArtSpring."

While the store's artists all receive commission on sales of their works, those who volunteer time working there receive a higher percentage. The higher commission is "an incentive," said Florin.

"We love it when artists can volunteer any of their time.  We are all volunteers, with kids and jobs. We're a family-- it's their store and our store. ArtSpring would not exist without volunteers."

As an artist, Florin creates one-of-a-kind leather handbags under her brand (and alter ego), FrouFrou a GoGo.  She learned to sew at a young age, but picked it up again while a stay-at-home mom when her children were younger. She began by "making sachets and pillows," which were "all girly, over-the-top and frou-frou."  But one day she got the idea try handbags, and knew she'd hit on something.

"I made a bag that morning, then wore it when I went out. A woman walked up to me that same day and said she wanted to buy it! I had never sold anything before." 

Florin's bags are all made from recycled leather, which she calls "upcycled." 

"They were once leather jackets," she explained, that she tracks down thrift stores.  She then gives them a new life, as handbags.  She describes the bags as "all different--simple but well made, and one-of-a-kind."  She also recycles old furniture, which she artistically paints and sells.

As for Silver Spring, she can't imagine living anywhere else.  Her wishes for it's future:  "I'd like to see the community continue to stand behind the arts. As Silver Spring progresses, we need to remain committed to promoting the arts," she said.

All artists are welcome to submit their work to ArtSpring.  Artwork must be approved before displayed for sale. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit www.artspringsilverspring.com.