CRAFT FIX - Sunday, November 30th, Kittery, Maine!

Join me and 19 other local artists and craftspeople at Buoy Gallery in Kittery for the amazing annual Craft Fix!

10am - 5pm 

2 Government Street

(gallery space attached to The Black Birch)

More info & RSVP

**SAME DAY BONUS: Art on the Hill's open studios, Folk (darling little shop around the corner) anniversary celebration and Doo salon (across the street) Wrong Brain craft fair are all at the same time! 

**WEATHER BONUS: the forecast is 50°!

BDN Maine Food and Gift Fair - A Recap

The BDN Maine Holiday Food and Gift Fair was held in Portland, Maine, yesterday – Saturday, November 30th – and I was very excited to take part. I do love food, and was sandwiched between Dean's Sweets and the Super Stick Food Flipper booth for the day.

Here's a look at my very official looking booth – it's the first show I've ever done where they put up pipe and drape! And my very own sign! This made it feel much more legit than the fairs I typically do.

The foot traffic was a bit light, and I'm not exactly sure why. Most people I talked to thought the event was well-advertised in local papers and online, but for whatever reason – possibly location – there just weren't too many people making their way out the Portland Company Complex. It does take a little extra effort to get there and parking can be an issue in Portland.

But no matter. I can ALWAYS find the silver lining. I had a great day getting to know my neighbors and admiring their work. I also made some excellent trades...

I traded with Eliza of Morris & Essex for a gorgeous box of letterpress holiday cards.

I satisfied my sweet tooth by bartering with Kristen and Dean of Dean's Sweets

Lucy from Lucy's Granola proposed a very tasty trade.

This one wasn't a trade, but was totally worth it! Peanut butter chocolate chip from Stone Fox Farm Creamery. The creamiest ice cream I have ever tasted.

The biggest highlight of the day for me was when a couple of gentlemen purchased a pair of my rubber chicken earrings for none other than Sally Struthers! They are friends of hers and when they saw these earrings they instantly thought of her. Hope she loves them!

Holiday Food and Gift Fair - Portland, Maine 11/30

When and Where:

November 30th, 2013

11am - 6pm

FREE admission!

58 Fore Street, Portland, ME

I'll be bringing along a new assortment of Lofted Designs necklaces and earrings (seaglass, beach stones, sterling silver, vintage buttons and more!), plus new bracelet designs, new ring designs, and a great assortment of pet tags. If you haven't seen me in person in awhile, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

I actually plan to get most of my holiday shopping done at this show...it shouldn't be difficult. I'll be in great company with these incredible Maine-based food and gift vendors (this is just a small sampling of the booths I'm looking forward to checking out – there will be many more):

Casco Bay Butter Co. – All-natural artisan butters made from local dairy farm cream.

'Cue Culture – Small batched barbecue sauces

Dean's Sweets – Amazing hand-dipped truffles. Enough said.

Flowfold – Durable wallets & bags handmade from sailcloth

Jared DiSimio Maker – Bags & accessories made from vintage, antique and salvaged materials, each with a story to tell. 

Vena's Fizz House - Mixology Shop and Natural Soda Bar

Morris & Essex – The most stunningly designed & silkscreened, letterpressed and block-printed goods I have ever laid eyes on. Shirts, cards, scarves, bags and more. I want everything Eliza makes. All of the things.

Maine Blanket – 100% grass-fed sheep's wool blankets, solar hand-dyed in seawater and woven on antique looms. How cool is that? 

Baobab Organics – Sustainable, organic cotton clothing for kids

Fiber and Water – Natural burlap wall art featuring hand-pressed designs.

You can find more info and RSVP on their Facebook event page. Hope to see you there!

You're Invited This Sunday – Local Shopping at its Best

Greetings, early holiday shoppers! If you are ready to get a jump start on your gifting, I've got the perfect event for you. This Sunday, I am honored to be participating in an Open House event in York, Maine. Local artist Laurie Wallace is once again opening her home for this wonderful event and I hope to see YOU there!

Sunday, November 3rd

1:00 - 4:30 pm

31 Avon Avenue (off Long Sands Rd.)

York, Maine

(click for directions)

Lofted Designs will be there with gifts for everyone on your list: a new assortment of handmade necklaces, earrings, tie bars, sterling silver rings in many sizes, pet tags and handcrafted collars. Enjoy complimentary refreshments and wine! 

---

OTHER PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

Laurie Wallace -- Hand-Spun Knits by Laurie
Gorgeous and soft hobo gloves, alpaca cowl neck scarves, alpaca hats and more! So much care goes into these lovely pieces.

Amy Clark -- Ocean Fire Pottery

One of my favorite local artists, Amy makes beautiful handcrafted wheelthrown stoneware. Preview items on her website or Facebook page. 

Erin Donovan -- Twig Naturals
Handmade candles, coasters and cards — they're all gorgeous and make wonderful gifts!

Janice & Pam -- Gingerloo Cookies 

All-natural cookies baked in small batches locally. Visit their website or Facebook page to learn more (and to drool over gorgeous cookie photos).

***Please note:

This is my only planned show for the holiday season (so far). More may be added, but this is the only one that's been confirmed. Don't miss your chance to shop Lofted Designs in person for the holidays!

Buy Local Open House – Sunday, December 2nd

This coming Sunday, December 2nd from 12 - 5 pm, I am honored to be participating in an Open House Holiday Extravaganza event at Ocean Fire Pottery in York, Maine.

Each year, Amy Clark of Ocean Fire Pottery invites her favorite artisans to display their goods at her studio and this year Lofted Designs is invited! I'll be ready with a table full of necklaces, earrings, tie bars for men, sterling silver rings, pet tags and leather dog collars (made by my husband Patrick). There will also be refreshments, pottery mini-lessons, wool spinning demos, and kids art activities throughout the day!

A sampling of Lofted Designs jewelry

Other participants include:

Amy Clark – Ocean Fire Pottery (our gracious hostess)
One of my favorite local artists, Amy makes incredible handcrafted wheelthrown stoneware and combines elements of the earth to create functional art that evokes joy every day. I am the proud owner of several Ocean Fire Pottery pieces. You can preview her creations on her website or check out her Facebook page.

Laurie Wallace – Hand-Spun Knits by Laurie
Handspun items including hobo gloves, soft alpaca cowl neck scarves and hats, handwoven belts and dog leashes.

Erin Donovan – Twig Naturals
All-natural, hand poured soy candles scented with essential oils that smell amazing! Erin also makes beautiful lightboxes, collaged original art, coasters, and gorgeous pocket mirrors that would make perfect stocking stuffers. 

The Details:

Sunday, 12/2/12

12:00 - 5:00 pm

23 Woodbridge Road, York, Maine

Click here for directions

Click here to RSVP

* Plenty of parking is available at Kennebunk Savings Bank, diagonally across the street from the studio

Bazaar Bizarre Boston Features Lofted Designs

What an honor! What an exciting time! The Bazaar Bizarre Boston has featured Lofted Designs on their blog!! (And yes, I am blogging about a blog.)

I haven’t even announced my participation in this event yet because I am still pinching myself, but I am very pleased to tell you that I’ll be a vendor at Bazaar Bizarre Boston this December 16th! Read the full interview here and learn everything you need to know about shopping at this fantastic event on their Shopper Info page.

This show will be HUGE and I can't even believe I will be there with all these other amazing vendors. Until then, I'm signing off because I've got a LOT of things to make. :)

Craft Fix - Sunday, 11/25 - Kittery, Maine

Greetings, holiday shoppers near southern Maine & Portsmouth! If you are sick of maddening big box doorbusters, crazy check-out lines, and crowded parking lots, I've got the perfect event for you. Come hang out at Craft Fix on Sunday! 

Lofted Designs will be there with a table full of sterling silver necklaces, rings, tie bars for men, sterling & vintage button earrings, NEW Jamaican beach stone earrings, pet tags, leather dog collars from P.D. Barkington, and more! 

The Details:

Buoy Gallery (next to the Black Birch)

2 Government St., Kittery, ME

10am - 5pm*

*Come early to avoid the crowds and get the best selection!

I'll be part of a truly great (and diverse) group of vendors this year. From jewelry, greeting cards and handbags to fresh caramels, knits, yoga mat bags and paper cut creations, you'll be able to shop for handcrafted and vintage items for everyone on your holiday list! Artists include (click the links for a sneak peek):

• Megan Stelzer (organizer extraordinaire)
• Annika Wisswaesser
• Danica Carlson
• Byrdy Dilando
• Jennifer Richmond
• Amy Jane Larkin
• Amanda Telford
• Amelia Davis
• Liz Battle
• Dylan Metrano
• Elizabeth Doherty
• Glenn Dilando
• Dan Blakeslee
• Margaret Dilando
• Erin Molloy
• Virginia Davis
• Lauren and Josh of Green Foundry
• Sophia Selden
• Tracy Mastro
• Frostline

BONUS: While you're in town, check out the incredibly beautiful exhibit at Drift Gallery around the corner and also the open artists studios down the road at Art on the Hill!

The Big Thaw - Saturday, May 12th

If you live in the Portland, Maine area and you forgot to buy Mom a gift, you're in luck! The Big Thaw is this Saturday. As in tomorrow. As in the day before Mother's Day. And it's the perfect place to find something unique and awesome that will rock her world and show her how thoughtful you are.

Here are a few ideas to get you started – there will be more than 30 incredibly talented vendors there besides me though, so come see for yourself.

What mom wouldn't love these super sparkly "diamond" earrings. OK, so they're CZ's in sterling silver settings, but hey, for a mere $18 you'll still have enough cash left over to get her some flowers to go with her sparkles.

Some new necklace designs will be premiering at The Big Thaw. These are a combination of my always-popular bubble necklaces and my one-of-a-kind beach stone necklaces. Bubbles meet the beach. The bubbles are drilled through the stone, and they swing and move in a fun way.

Need an adorable Mother's Day gift from the dog? How about one of these handmade heavy-duty aluminum dog tags?

And, just in case you have already covered your Mother's Day bases and are already shopping for Father's Day next month...well, I've just started making sterling silver tie bars for savvy, stylish gentlemen. Something for everyone!

Here's the nitty gritty: 

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012 

Time: 10am - 4pm 

Place: Mayo Street Arts Center, Portland, Maine 

Directions 

Check out the complete list of vendors.
RSVP on Facebook here.
Amazing organizer Audrey of Little Eye Designs has been posting daily vendor spotlights here.

I'll be downstairs (in the basement), so come find me and say hello! Hope to see you there.

2011 Close Buy Catalog

Lofted Designs was honored to participate in the 2011 Close Buy Catalog. What a cool concept! 

In case you're not familiar with Close Buy, this is a school fundraising initiative started in Maine by Masey Kaplan who was fed up with feeling compelled to order from boring wrapping paper catalogs every year to support her child's school. She came up with a much better way to fundraise while supporting local businesses and the Close Buy Catalog was born.

Two of my items were included in the catalog:

• The silver squiggle necklace found here

• The silver teardrop earrings found here

I was really pleased with the number of orders I received – plenty to make it worth my while and keep me busy, but not enough to cause a nervous breakdown. This was my first large wholesale order, and I really enjoyed the whole process, from coming up with designs and pricing all the way through to packaging. 

Here is Sandy (super beagle!) helping me package earrings.

And here are my shipments, ready to go to 23 schools!

My jewelry was in amazing company, side by side with products from Angela Adams, Ferdinand, annie|catherine, Sea Bags, Morris & Essex, Casco Bay Soap Co., Haven's Candies and tons more. So, basically, I somehow ended up in the mix with all the coolest companies in Maine. Not sure how that happened, but I'm sure glad it did!!

If you are affiliated with education in Maine, please consider bringing the Close Buy Catalog into your school in 2012. It's good clean fundraising. No more wrapping paper catalogs! Keep it local. Learn more here.

Craft Fix - Kittery, Maine - This Sunday!

Buoy Gallery — 2 Government St., Kittery, Maine

Sunday, November 27th, 2011

11 AM - 6 PM

Craft Fix is back for another year! So happy to be participating in this creative event. 

After you support Buy Nothing Day on Friday and Small Business Saturday, come over to Buoy in Kittery for CRAFT FIX, where you'll find locally handcrafted gifts for everyone on your list! Some of the seacoast's most talented artists and craftspeople will be there, so skip the outlets and malls and head downtown.

Sneak Peek at some Lofted Designs goodies for Sunday!

All types of handmade crafts will be represented including handcrafted jewelry, tote bags and purses, greeting cards, sculptures, pottery, photography and more. RSVP here or just show up! I'd love to see your face supporting handmade businesses this season!

***Note: If we are very, very lucky, the brand new Black Birch restaurant may be open in time for this event. It is right next door and looks very promising. Like them on Facebook to learn when they open.

Artsy Affair - This Thursday, Nov. 10th, 5-9pm

Well, the outdoor shows are over for the season and the tent has been stashed away until next summer. This Thursday marks the official start of my holiday craft fair season! I am excited to be trying out a new fair in Maine — Artsy Affair.

Thursday, November 10

5:00 - 9:00 pm

The Inn at Brunswick Station

Brunswick, Maine

visit this page for directions

Artsy Affair is the self-proclaimed "indie style craft and artisan fair" featuring craftspeople from Maine's mid-coast region and a few of us from beyond (like me from York). They are doing a great job of highlighting participating artists on their blog each day leading up to the event, so be sure to check it out for a sneak peek.  Several of my products were featured on the "7th day of Artsy" post!


Artsy Affair is juried (i.e. not cluttered with junk...only the best handmade goods around) and offers a unique holiday shopping experience for the community where shoppers can meet an amazing group of artisans and enjoy the start of the holiday season with delicious food, live music and local art.


Get a jump start on holiday shopping and keep it local.
Hope to see you there!


P.S. Like their Facebook page for updates leading up to the event.

Portsmouth Open Market

 

This Sunday - July 3rd (10am - 4pm)
Portsmouth Open Market at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is a juried outdoor independent art and Farmers Market. This town has needed a great ongoing event like this for so long! Approximately 70 local and regional artists and farmers set up shop nearly every Sunday all summer long.

There are different vendors weekly so you'll never see the same market twice! You'll find lots of great items including house wares, paper goods, handbags, jewelry, ceramics, clothing, accessories, paintings/drawings and many other one-of-a-kind curiosities.

I'll be there this Sunday, July 3rd. Visit the Lofted Designs booth to say hello! If you can't make it this Sunday, I'll also be there on August 7th and October 2nd.

You can also keep up with the Open Market on Facebook and Twitter.

Picnic Portland Holiday Sale - This Weekend

Maine Irish Heritage Center — 34 Gray St. & State St., Portland, Maine

Saturday, December 11th, 12pm - 8pm
Sunday, December 12th, 12pm - 5pm
FREE admission!

Shop like a rock-star and celebrate the local handmade movement. Find one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your list at this vibrantly out-of-the-ordinary event! The 2nd Annual Picnic Holiday Sale is TWO days this year and will feature more than 60 creative vendors selling clothing, jewelry, prints, accessories, bags, plush, stationery, photography, housewares, fine art, vintage goods and much more.
 more info

Shop-A-Do Craftastic Art Sale

SPACE Gallery — 538 Congress St., Portland, Maine

Friday, December 3rd, 5 PM - 9 PM

Saturday, December 4th, 10 AM - 6 PM

I am excited beyond words about this show. I will be sharing the floor with some of my very favorite crafters and artists and will probably get most of my holiday shopping done in this one room! I encourage you to do the same. You'll find something for each person on your list at this funky and fabulous art sale! more info

There is lots of other cool stuff happening Friday night as well during Portland's First Friday Artwalk. Check out all of the galleries downtown, then make your way over to the State Theater for 1930s Night! Enjoy live music in the vaudeville style from Over A Cardboard Sea at 5:30pm, followed by a showing of The Wizard of Oz on the big screen at 7pm. Or show up later at 10pm for a screening of the movie with Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon as the soundtrack. Tickets to each screening are only $5! more info