Maybe it’s the holiday display in the window (including the wonderful snowman apron and old sewing machine). Maybe it’s the riot of color from row after row of practical, fanciful bags. Maybe it’s the giant paintings. Or maybe it’s the fact that all this is a reflection of the bubbly personality of Kim herself. Whatever [...]
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Last night I had a wonderful time strolling around the Society for East End Arts’ 2012 Holiday ‘Art on the Hill’ show. Over 70 vendors — many of whom were not, I was totally pleased to note, the ‘usual suspects’ that I’ve seen at every vaguely craft-fair like show I go to. Admission is free, [...]
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Count me in a someone who was happy to have an entire extra week between Thanksgiving and the first of December. I heard on the radio recently that this year has the largest possible number of days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Count me in as pleased. Here’s a few things coming up I wanted to [...]
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So, how was your summer? Here are a few images from Saturday’s annual Picnic Music + Arts Festival, probably the premiere showcase for independent artisans and craftspeople in the city. Enjoy! Please visit the Picnic website (www.picnicportland.com) to learn more about the vendors whose work is featured here. You can also follow them on [...]
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This morning we spent some time visiting the opening day of the new Portland Flea For All craft and vintage market. Judging by what we saw today, they’ve managed to strike a balance right between Elmer’s Barn and Picnic Arts Festival. Here are a few photos; if you like what you see here, they’re open [...]
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I think there is a misconception about the iconic Portland business Artist & Craftsman supply, and it’s this: that you need to be a “serious artist” or art student to enjoy the bounty that they have to offer. It’s simply not true. For nearly 30 years, A&C has been selling not only top-notch fine art [...]
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A blue, brick wall. A white door. An understated sign. Although they are on Fore Street, in a prime location, it would be easy just to walk right past. Don’t do it. Open the white door and go inside: stepping into Lovely Things was the best surprise I’ve had in some time. You should open [...]
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Tiny shops filled with artisan-made goods, while now trendy, are not a new idea in Portland. For more than 30 years, Portmanteau has been quietly making beautiful, high-quality goods in their combination workshop and showroom. Whether you are a visitor looking for a unique handmade item as a remembrance of your trip, or a local [...]
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I have a confession to make. I’ve walked or driven past Ember Grove probably ten dozen times, and have always been laboring under the misconception that it’s some kind of new age gift shop. I could not have been more wrong. Ember Grove is, instead, one of the most interesting and well-curated galleries of handmade [...]
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Long before Etsy, before the kitchen-craft explosion, before, in fact, the Old Port was cool, there was Abacus Gallery. The Portland location is the second of four locations statewide (it opened in 1984) and has, for all that time, been one of the premier venues for artisans and craftspeople from around the country to sell [...]
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