Rick and I like that our art can make a difference. When you support us, a part of your purchase goes to: the care of our pristine Great Lakes and water equality, creating access to hiking trails and nature sanctuaries, providing access to fine art, & now grant funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion for small business owners. We know having a diverse area helps everyone feel at home.
Each tile we make donates to a cause. Every purchase you make is supporting small business and making everyone’s world a better place.
Frog Floral 4x4
Sustainability
At Whistling Frog Tile, we understand the importance of preserving our resources. With our Earth's materials depleting, we aim to minimize our impact through the mindful practices we use in our business.
All of our clay and glazes are hand crafted by us using sustainable practices. LED lighting for the studio, water recycling, scrap clay and scrap glaze materials are captured and reprocessed.
We up-cycle packing supplies, office stationary and transport bins.
The carbon produced by commute to the studio? None. Live/Work spaces are instrumental in reducing a carbon footprint.
Our gallery and studio are housed in an existing structure, instead of building anew. Located at Torch Lake, named so by the Native Americans that fished by torchlight and stewarded this area, we’re careful about our production process. Keeping contaminates out of the watershed area is a priority.
Additionally, we love our natural world and spread awareness and appreciation through motifs including Michigan wildflowers, endangered species, and treasured freshwater lakes. Find them featured on individual tiles and the in the landscapes of the Destination series.
Paying attention and being mindful of business practices is what the world needs. We thank you for your support.
Cat fence moon 4x4
The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Grant Fund
A diverse business community lifts all. We’re glad to be a part of making that inclusion happen.
Preserving the Great Lakes is important to everyone in America. Each quarter, a portion of our sales are donated to Circle of Blue and The Grass River Natural Area, helping preserve our waters big and small, for the good of all.
To provide continued care and education about the preservation of beautiful Torch Lake, we’ve partnered with Torch Conservation Center. Our 3x6 tile and hanging ornament are available here in store and at True Blue Gallery in Alden,MI. A portion of the profits benefit TCC. They even made this handy lake access map to help you grab your kayak or canoe and experience the lake. Find it here. For you who ask ‘where’s the beach?’ your map is here.
Each quarter, a portion of our sales are donated to P.A.D.'s for Parkinson's. This research group trains detection dogs. We know that our furry friends love to help. Now they're on their way to helping save lives.
Each quarter, a portion of our sales are donated to The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. We love their mission: Provide access, so all can enjoy our area. Educate, so all can recreate responsibly. Preserve, so all can enjoy beautiful Northwest Michigan for generations. Come explore.
To celebrate artists from every era, we donate to the DIA.
The Detroit Institute of the Arts features free admission to all residents of the tri-county area. Preservation and access. That’s huge. Thanks DIA! Each quarter, a portion of our sales are donated to enriching everyone's lives.
Commemorating a courageous stand by women against tyranny.
Commemoration and Restoration
Through our art, we are able to continue the traditions and techniques of the ceramic arts.
We create a variety of tile designs depicting historical locations, native species and traditional sculpting styles. .
Tile restoration projects include the historic Spanish Court in the Detroit Institute of Arts, storefront Art Deco tile restoration in Eastern Market, Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts, and the Albert Khan designed Franklin Hills Country Club.
If your organization would like a custom commemorative tile, we’re available for commission projects and would enjoy speaking with you.
The Tile Heritage Foundation has added us to their monumental hand-print wall project. View their workshop video here. We appreciate their preservation of ceramic history.