Posted in Vendor Spotlight, tagged 2011, allsey, antique, april 16, art, calendar, center, community, craft, destash, east bayside, east end, etsy, event, fair, jewelry, maine, maine team, mayo, mayo street, munjoy hill, portland, sale, street, The BIG THAW, to do, upcycle, vintage on April 14, 2011 |
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Oh. My. God. Allsey has the best stuff, ever!
The BIG THAW: What vintage goodies and repurposed jewelry are you stocking up on for The BIG THAW?
Allsey: I once managed an antique shop and collected some unique items through that experience and also caught a serious vintage collecting bug, which continues to this day. At the show, I’ll be bringing vintage handbags, all kinds of jewelry with repurposed vintage findings/charms and lots of kitschy goodies collected over the years.
It's the simple things in life, according to Jen from Allsey
TBT: What inspires the creation of your work? A lot of it seems funny, sweet, nostalgic. Where do you get your inspiration?
A: I grew up in the DC area, but my dad is originally from Westbrook and we always came to visit my grandparents in the summer here in Maine. My favorite memory is visiting the Lobster Shack at Two Lights with my family, which I still do as often as I can. My biggest inspiration is the wonderful circle of quirky family and friends that loves to just laugh and have fun, thus my obsession with all things that elicit a smile. Life is too darn short not to surround yourself with goofiness, giggles and not taking things so seriously. I was also lucky to be a child of the 70s and let’s face it, there was some really kitschy stuff developed from that decade, but wonderful simple pleasures. I remember watching Romper Room, digging through my cereal box for that latest plastic toy and watching my mom buy Avon. With everything going so fast these days, often we forget the experience of just experiencing things. Collecting vintage is such a reminder of slowing it down a bit and remembering that playing Parcheesi and listening to an old radio is way more fun than that latest digital application.
Kitsch from Allsey
TBT: What do you do in the spring time to celebrate the yearly thaw?
A: I am fortunate to have some space to garden in but unfortunately lack the green thumb. However, I still try my best and try to look like I know what I’m doing by digging holes, planting seeds and throwing mulch down. Sometimes, things actually do grow; it’s always a surprise, especially since I usually can’t remember what I planted where. Also, last spring, I started an archaeology dig so to speak down by the banks of the Saco River where there once was an old farm (where I live), so now that the snow cover is receding I’m back down there carefully unearthing interesting treasures. Some I’ll be bringing to the show, you’ll have to come and see what I found!
Excellent Machinery from Allsey
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Buried treasure by the Saco River?? Yes, we will be there to see what you’ve found. Once I had a friend whose mother worked at a place that had an old carriage house out back and we would always find utensils, medicine bottles, etc. in the sand. So cool! You, too, can come see what Allsey found by the banks of the Saco River, and get an up-close look at all these awesome wares (mostly the little kid at the top of this article) at The BIG THAW Arts, Crafts and Vintage Sale on Saturday, April 16th, 10am-4pm at 10 Mayo Street (Mayo Street Arts Center) in Portland. Hurrah!
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