New Mug Inspired By George Harrison Song "Give Me Love"

"Give Me Love" by Kathryn Milillo

If you're a member of VPR, there's a good chance that you have at least one of our artist mugs in your cupboard. For more than 20 years, we've offered a specially-designed mug by a Vermont artist during our membership drives.

The VPR Artist Mug series is an institution in and of itself. There's an entire wall dedicated to the collection here at VPR HQ. Heck, we've even sent the entire gallery of mugs around the state for display. Each mug has its own personality thanks to great Vermont artists like Ed Koren, Sabra Field, Harry Bliss, Stephen Huneck, and many, many more. You can peruse the entire collection on our website.

For the 2013 winter membership drive, we are lucky enough to have a great new mug thanks to Proctor artist Kathryn Milillo. Kathy finds inspiration for her work in music. The art that she contributed to our new mug is titled, "Give Me Love," inspired by the George Harrison song of the same name. Check out more of Kathy's work on her website.

We offer these special mugs as an incentive for listeners to support VPR during membership drives. It's not unusual for us to receive 1,600 or more requests for a mug during a drive. With a pledge of $90 or more, you can request a mug and we'll pop it in the mail to you as soon as possible. 

Here's a short video clip containing some of my favorite VPR artist mug designs:

What do you think of the new mug? What's your favorite mug from the collection? As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts...

Step Right Up, Get Your VPR Here!

The new VPR Artist Mug is one of those designs that looks just like it sounds when we describe it on the air. Designed by Toni-Lee Sangastiano to look like an old-time carnival poster, it entices people to check out the "AMAZING Vermont Public Radio, informing and entertaining our listeners, LIVE!" It's a neat departure from some of our other designs (which you can see at our Artist Mug Gallery), and takes our mug series into yet another artistic direction. Here's what Toni-Lee had to say about her design:


"Amazing" not only describes VPR, but also my experience designing the VPR Artist Mug! From Click and Clack as the Siamese Twins to Steve Maleski as the Mind Reader or Coney Island's Astroland Park, this final idea was the clear winner. My inspiration was based on a historical circus/sideshow banner. VPR entertains and informs and this mug is the perfect combination of my art and my tribute to my favorite radio station. Thanks, VPR! It is an honor!

Make Chocolate Cake in your VPR Artist Mug

Most of my mornings at VPR begin routinely enough: pour coffee, put lunch in refrigerator, check email, make to-do list. But this morning I had a much more exciting mission: chocolate cake! One morning during our current membership drive, long-time volunteer Thea Platt told us how she uses her VPR artist mugs to make a quick and easy chocolate cake in her microwave.

I don't really need another vice or temptation, particularly not one this quick and easy, but I just had to see this for myself. I was all set to try it out last night as I had all the ingredients at home, but ironically I couldn't find a VPR mug in my cupboard (I keep them on a shelf near my desk)! So, I measured out the ingredients and brought them to the office this morning.

You can find a printable version of the recipe here, or read on for a photographic tutorial!

1. In VPR Artist Mug, combine dry ingredients - 4 Tbsp. cake flour, 4 Tbsp. sugar, and 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder. Mix well.

2. Add one egg, stir to combine.

3. Add 3 Tbsp. milk and 3 Tbsp. oil, and mix well.

4. Add 3 (or more!) Tbsp. chocolate chips and a splash of vanilla extract. Mix again.




The batter will look something like this (depending on mug, of course).

5. Place mug in microwave and zap on high for three minutes.












6. Do not panic if the cake puffs up over the mug. This is normal.












7. Instead, wait in anticipation with your friends or family (left to right: me, VPR's Peter Biello, volunteers Sarah and Kelly King).











8. Let cool slightly and remove from microwave. Tip cake out onto a plate and enjoy. If you're very virtuous, share it with a friend, colleague, or loved one.










Just another great reason to support VPR! Thank you so much for your support! Thanks also to Thea for sharing this recipe with us, and thanks to volunteer Eugenia Saganich for bringing it to our attention!

Warm Hearts, Warm Homes

Our latest VPR Artist Mug is called “Warm Hearts, Warm Homes” by Jayne Shoup of Middlesex. Depicting warm light flooding from a cozy home on a snowy night, it’s in honor of our partnership with Chittenden Bank and the CVPS Shareheat and Warmth programs.

Jayne wrote about the process of coming up with the art for this mug at her blog. You can read about it here.

And of course, to get your own mug - sure to warm your heart and home - visit our website and pledge $80. Thanks!

Check out VPR's Artist Mug Gallery

Volunteer Shelagh Shapiro is a VPR member and artist mug collector. She had this to share about VPR's newest mug and Artist Mug Gallery:

Like so many listeners, one of my favorite parts of VPR’s membership drive is mug anticipation. I collect VPR’s artist mugs, and as a long-time member I have an impressive collection, if I do say so myself. In fact, it’s always something of a shock to go to a friend’s house and see a mug I not only don’t have, but one that I’ve never seen before.

That situation is unlikely to happen again, now that VPR's Artist Mug Gallery is up and running. There you can browse and admire all of VPR’s artist mugs, past and present.

VPR began commissioning mug designs from Vermont artists in 1992. Since then, more than 50 mugs have been created to celebrate VPR and its community. While mugs from past drives highlighted in the gallery are not presently for sale, a new mug, “Wabanaki Creation,” by Rick Hunt, is VPR’s latest addition to the gallery.

The really cool thing about Rick Hunt’s mug is that it tells the Wabanaki creation story as told by Hunt's wife, Carolyn Black. You can listen to the story here. Rick and Carolyn perform throughout the northeast as the Laughing Couple. Carolyn tells the Wabanaki creation story while Rick illustrates a mural depicting that narrative. Their performance describes the seven levels of creation; the birth of Glooscomba, the first man; the land of red soil and that of ice and snow; the significance of Gipboo, the bald eagle; and Glooscomba’s education into a leader who respects the teachings of his elders as well as the vision and strength of young people.

Artist mugs are a great way to show your support for VPR. Pledge $80 to VPR to support the programming and you’ll receive this beautiful new mug by Rick Hunt. Or, join the Artist Mug Collector’s Club for a pledge of $200 – VPR will send you the current mug and the next two, so you're guaranteed never to miss a mug. Thank you for listening, thanks for pledging, and thank you for the respect and support that you show Vermont Public Radio during our membership drives and throughout the year.