Vendor Spotlight: Smart Alex Jams

Smart Alex, samples some berries!

Introducing “Smart” Alex, the creator and concocter behind Smart Alex Jams.  We all know that great handmade businesses often come from a passionate, creative person doing something that very labor intensive and very delicious for years and years.  And all those years they hear people telling them “This is so good, you should sell it!”  That’s exactly the story behind the Jams at Smart Alex, and we are really looking forward to picking up a jar of our own at The Big Chill on Sunday, December 2nd!

Blueberry Spice Jam by Smart Alex Jams

With flavors like Ginger Peach, Crabapple  Jelly, Blueberry Spice, Raspberry Mango, Cranberry Orange Zest, Christmas Jam and more available there’s gonna be a little something for everyone.  We hope she brings tasters!

Smart Alex!

Please join us, Smart Alex and all the other wonderful vendors at The Big Chill arts, crafts and vintage sale on Sunday, December 2nd from 10am to 4pm at Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo Street, Portland, Maine.

Big Chill Poster!

That’s right, y’all.  This poster will soon be gracing the halls and walls of coffee shops, community centers and libraries everywhere.  This screen printed, limited edition of 100 will be for sale for $10 at the bar at The Big Chill on Sunday, December 2nd.  Yay to our local artists, Kris Johnsen and Meagan Anderson for putting it together!

Vendor Spotlight: Wunder Budder

Calendula Oil by Wunder Budder

Today’s Vendor Spotlight features Lisa Dolloff of Wunder Budder.  A bevy of product good for the skin, soul and home!  Above you see a 1 oz dose of calendula oil, you know that super soft and special smell baby products have?  That’s calendula, and it’s my favorite.  A spritz of this and your skin (and smeller) will love you!

Drawer Sachets by Wunder Budder

Wunder Budder was founded in 2002 in Lisa’s mother’s kitchen, and later truly realized in 2010.  In addition to a terrific website where you can purchase her wares (although we know you’ll see her at The Chill!) she keeps a journal to chronicle wellness and natural cleaning/treatments in her life.  There’s a great recipe for a good, clean time for you and your shower when you visit the blog!

Who wouldn’t love a tin of Garden Grease in their stocking?  Wunder Budder

Take a minute to browse the shop, get excited, and keep counting the days til The Big Chill!  It’s Saturday, December 2nd, 2012 from 10am to 4pm at Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo Street, Portland.  Oh!  And stay tuned, because our beautiful poster will be ready for unveiling really soon!

Vendor Spotlight: Amalia Moon

Necklace of Sugar and Brass by Amalia Moon

The fog of election season clears!  We celebrate this morning with a picture show from Amalia Moon.  Amalia Guettinger is a metalsmith who has a studio at Mayo Street Arts and will be opening her doors to share the day with us!  From fine art and high concept (re: the sugar-and-brass necklace above, check out more pictures at her website!) to perfectly formed jewelry accents for sale in her Etsy shop, there’s definitely something for everyone!  Sit back and enjoy (all pictures are clickable links):

Visit Amalia Moon along with a whole slew of artists and crafters at The Big Chill on Sunday, December 2nd at Mayo Street Arts!  10 Mayo St, Portland, 10am-4pm.

Vendor Spotlight: T.S. Mastro Enamel Jewelry

Good morning!  Chilly one out there…

Reversible Enamel Pendant by T.S. Mastro Enamel Jewelry

Today we feature Tracy of T.S. Mastro Enamel Jewelry.  This December will be her second time selling with The Big Thaw/Chill and we’re happy to have her!  Last May, Tracy called me before the event to say her car had lost one of its wheels on her way there.  What?!  So naturally I just figured we were down one person… but then a couple hours later who shows up?  Tracy!  Steadfast commitment to handcrafted arts, love that.

Enamel Pendant by T.S. Mastro Enamel Jewelry

T.S. Mastro’s work offers brightly colored patterns in color to suit all wardrobes and tastes – in fact, many of the pendants are reversible so they’re doing double duty.  Perfectly placed geometric accents and negative space make her pieces truly unique.

Green Donut Pendants and Earrings by T.S. Mastro Enamel Jewelry

Tracy has a busy schedule this holiday seasoned, and we’re honored to be on it!  Come check out her work and two floors of other fantastic vendors at The Big Chill arts, crafts and vintage sale on Sunday, December 2nd at Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo Street in Portland!

Vendor Spotlight: k. smith

It begins!!  And just in time.  We have more than 25 vendor spotlights to share with you throughout the month of November to get you salivating about all the great, locally handmade and sourced items that our vendors will be selling!

Reclaimed Pot Holders by k. smith

We’re starting with a Big Thaw veteran, Kate Smith of k. smith, who joined us for last May’s Big Thaw event at Mayo Street Arts.  Her utilitarian work is made of reclaimed wool and natural fibers is just as aesthetic as it is handy around the house.

Potholder Detail – k.smith

k. smith also offers a variety of pint-sized earrings and decorations made from brightly colored felted wool.  Have a look see!:

Earrings by k.smith

Felted acorns in their element by k.smith

Annnd, there’s nothing quite like soft, cozy fibers and natural aromatherapy scents to relax you and the little one at the end of the day.  For snuggling, try a bunny foo-foo:

bunny foo-foos by k.smith

And for a good ol’ home spa treatment fire up the bathtub, pour yourself a glass of whiskey (whatever, wine if that’s your thing) and choose one from the rainbow of k. smith’s super soft and herbal scented eye pillows:

so so many eye pillows from k. smith

So excited that it’s this time of year again!  You can be excited, too, by spreading the word about The Big Chill arts, crafts and vintage sale that will happen on Sunday, December 2nd, from 10am to 4pm at Mayo Street Arts (10 Mayo Street) in Portland.  Yayyy!

Holiday Sale Vendors Announced!

Barn Owl on reclaimed Maine barnwood by Mermaid Meadow, a Big Chill vendor!

As promised, the December 2012 Big Chill vendors are posted here!  And we couldn’t be happier.  We saw a lot of familiar names coming in the mail along with a host of fresh, new applicants to The Big Chill.  We’re so psyched to bring you all this good art just in time for the gift-giving-season!

Applications Due this Wednesday!

David Jacobson of David Jacobson Glass

Ok, fabulous artists and crafters!  Our deadline for applications in our hands is Wednesday, October 31st so make sure you send in your applications ASAP!  Also, please feel free to leave your application in our mailbox if you’re local.  We’ll have our vendors announced on November 1st so you don’t want to be late!

One More Week to Apply!

 

 

Opening our mail gets better and better by the day!  Here are some pictures from our inaugural sale to get you all excited about the holiday season:

little foxes by meagan and kris

 

ashley from a new heirloom setting up shop

mark from merchants row exchanging goods for currency

 

Hello!

Oh my gosh, look at the calendar!!  It’s October 22nd already and The Big Chill applications close on October 31st!  That means it’s gotta be mailed to 10 Mayo St., Portland, ME 04101 by Wednesday, October 31st and not a second later!

If you’d like to download an application, please visit the link at the tab above that says “Apply!”  Then it will say “Click Here for the Big Chill Application!” and then you will and then you will say “Oh score, I’m just steps away from sending my application in!”

So all you handmade, vintage and local people – cover us in a landslide of your creativity!  Sounds awesome, right?