December 2013 Applications are Open!

Good morning, internutz!!  Big Chill December 2013 applications are now open!  They will run from October 1st through 31st.  Please click the ‘apply’ tab at the top of the page, or here, to find the link to download.

This year, The Big Chill will be on Saturday, December 14th and will feature Mayo Street Arts’ main floor filled with local artists, crafters and vendors.  Snacks, beer, wine and soft beverages will be available at our bar for shoppers while they do their thing.  Additionally, we are transforming the artist studio space downstairs in to Santa’s Workshop where kids and kids-at-heart can make their own holiday gifts for $5.  Mom + Dad can leave the kiddos downstairs while they do their shopping, or stay and make crafts if they’d like!

Please direct any questions to audrey [at] mayostreetarts.org

 

Thanks!

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Vendor Spotlight: dappermonkey

Salvaged Material Canvas Backpack by Dappermonkey

We’ve already brought you the great finds from Monkivintage, today we introduce another Big Chill monkey, the creations of Jared Desimio at Dappermonkey.  High school teacher by day, sewing master by night and vintage-awesomeness seeker on the weekends.  Or, at least we’re presuming from the rustic, rugged and functional finds in his Etsy shop.

MASH Tee - Our favorite was Hunnicutt!

We know you’ll find something you love if you even have the remotest inkling of how badass lumberjacks, woodsmen and Mainers are.  We suggest stuffing a couple extra $20s in your wallet before you come to The Chill, just for this greatness alone.

Canvas Tote, Small, Made of Recycled Materials by dappermonkey

And just in case those photographs and descriptions weren’t enough to entice you, when we asked Jared what his favorite winter comfort food was he responded:  “Buttery grilled cheese with chunky tomato soup and a bold, red wine.”  Yes, Jared, me too!

Come visit dappermonkey and all the other great vendors at The Big Chill Arts, Crafts and Vintage Holiday Sale on Saturday, December 3rd from 10am to 4pm at Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo Street, in Portland, Maine.  Yahoo!

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Vendor Spotlight: Herbal Revolution + Three Roasted Beets

"Eat Your Weeds" say the good folks at Herbal Revolution!

Sunday, Sunday!  And less than a week to go before The Big Chill!  Yay!  Today we’re learning about Kathi Langelier and her two ventures, Herbal Revolution and Three Roasted Beets.  I can say with personal experience that the homegrown + foraged personal wellness products from Herbal Revolution are amazing.  Plus, while you’re dropping them in your tea, rubbing them on your face, sore muscles, or whatever you can think of her wandering the woods outside of Lincolnville looking for just the perfect twigs and roots to help your skin, aches and pains, attitude and more.

The Big Chill:  What is the first sign of winter, in your opinion?

Herbal Revolution:  When the tip of my nose is cold all the time.  When the ground is hard to dig in to.  When I am ready for bed by 7:30.  And my favorite first sign of winter is the first real blizzard of the season.

Don't pretend like you don't need stress relief this time of year. Herbal Revolution's tinctures can be added to water or tea to provide support where you need it!

TBC:  What items from your business will keep customers happy + warm all winter long?

Herbal Revolution:  There are plenty of herbal products to keep everyone in the family happy throughout the winter months.  We have tinctures, elixirs and teas that will keep the immune system boosted, the nervous system uplifted and cheery and the respiratory system supported.

We have some great lotions, cream and oils to keep the skin moisturized and nourished during these drier months.

Lastly, we also have some great knit and felted wear.  Arm warmers, cowls, scarves, shrugs and wraps.  Plenty of warm wool to keep everyone warm and cozy throughout the chilly months!

Better than Botox by Herbal Revolution - From personal experience, I can say this freshens and tightens skin without leaving you looking like a cat in a wind tunnel! Definitely better than botox. 🙂

TBC:  What’s your favorite comfort food in the dark of winter?

Herbal Revolution:  Roasted tomato and red pepper soup with a fresh mozzarella, red onion and kale sandwich.  Warm gingerbread or ginger snap cookies with fresh whip cream  And I am a serious sucker for smart puffs cheese puffs as a snack, … oh, and how could I forget a Rogue Chocolate Stout beer to top it all off!?

Wow!  Thank you, Kathi, for your thorough replies.  We’re excited Herbal Revolution and Three Roasted Beets will be joining us on Saturday, December 3rd at Mayo Street Arts Center (10 Mayo St., Portland) from 10am to 4pm.  WoohoO!

Herbal Icy Hot from Herbal Revolution - Amazing muscle relief tested here at the Big Chill labs!

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Vendor Spotlight: Highwire Handmade

Hey, hey, Tuesday!  Thanksgiving is upon us and birds are on everyone’s brains (or tofurkies, or if you’re like my clan you’re thinking of a delicious brunch menu) but one person in particular, Sophia Sarno of Highwire Handmade, has birds on the brain all the time.  Hand painted, delicate little earrings, pendants, rings and more feature birds on wires, an iconic image familiar to everyone, everywhere… as long as the power lines are above ground.  Here are some goodies:

Birds on Wires Ring, $24 from Highwire Handmade

Hand Painted Stud Earrings, $35 from Highwire Handmade

Chevron Pendant, $32 from Highwire Handmade

Highwire Handmade will be sharing a space with IDILLARD, who makes painted home accessories with animals.  Stay tuned for a Vendor Spotlight on IDILLARD and start making your wish list now!

The Big Chill Arts, Crafts + Vintage Sale will take place on Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 at the Mayo Street Arts Center at 10 Mayo Street from 10am-4pm.  We look forward to seeing you there!

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Vendor Spotlight: MonkiVintage

Tomtes!

Happy Friday, everyone!  Today we bring you MonkiVintage, an amazing selection of vintage Scandinavian and letterpress goodies and all kinds of great home decor.  We interviewed MonkiVintage and you can see their lovely responses below!

The Big Chill:  What’s the first sign of Winter, in your opinion?

MonkiVintage:  Snow!!  And leafless trees (and water views!)

TBC:  What items from your business will keep customers happy throughout O’, this dark and endless season?

MV:  All our items are vintage, most are one of a kind and our stock is continually changing.  Many of the items in the shop are selected for their happiness-inducing qualities!  At any given time we’ll have brightly colored Scandinavian enamelware like Cathrineholm and Finel, mid century ceramics like Bennington Potters and Glidden, or teak or brightly colored and whimsical “toys” and objets like Kay Bojesen monkeys, Hans Bolling ducks or Scandinavian style blocks.  We also carry a large inventory of vintage letterpress type that we sell in sets of cheery words and phrases like “be happy,” “you & me” or “I love you.”  We also offer custom type sets, so the winter weary can create a typographic reminder of whatever makes them happy, like the beach or sun or Bowser or wine or bacon art…

TBC:  What’s your favorite comfort food during those “Oh my Gosh, it’s 7 degrees out, I have to let the faucets drip all night and wear two pairs of socks in bed!!” days?

MV:  Gravy Danger from Silly’s in the East End.  70,000 calories of cheesy, salty, bacon-y comfort in a takeout tin.

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Oh, yes!  Living down the street from Silly’s is big trouble (and pretty awesome) in the middle of the winter – we totally know what you mean!  Come see MonkiVintage’s letterpress art, vintage home wares and mid-century goodness (and stop at Silly’s for lunch afterwards!) at The Big Chill arts, crafts and vintage sale on Saturday, December 3rd from 10am to 4pm.  Mayo Street Arts Center, 10 Mayo St., Portland, Maine.  Yeah!

Yngve Tjader Horse - Gorgeous!

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Vendor Spotlight: My Tattered Whimsies

It’s pretty cold out right now – and dark.  Very dark very early.  It’s a good thing our next vendor spotlight is on My Tattered Whimsies, owned and operated by Andra Johnson, who also happens to make the warmest + cutest ‘glittens’ this side of the North Pole.  (Yes, I know that that covers a lot of ground:  …they’re that good!)

See the happy pin cushion man? That could be you.

We met Andra for the first time as a vendor at The Big Thaw last April, and her selection of crocheted items, handmade jewelry and hair accessories has grown tenfold since then!  We’re loving the crackled, turquoise beads, rustic gingham fabrics and brassy chains she’s included in her work.

Likes: the color red, bobby pins, and anything that reminds me of going on a picnic.

So sweet!!  We asked Andra when she thought winter started, and when a shopper might be in need of some fingerless gloves for cold nights full of knitting, crafting, or just when you need a little extra warmth:

Well, it used to be that the first signs of winter were when the stores started putting out the fake plastic evergreens and bright, sparkly ornaments.  However, that seems to be starting before the tourists start heading home and the beaches are still packed.  So, I would say that winter officially starts in Maine when you have to dig the ice scrapers out of storage because defrosting the car just won’t cut it anymore.

I’ll say!  Although we know Mainers will stay at the beach well through September when they can, we couldn’t agree more about the obnoxious ‘early birding’ the big stores have been indulging in in past years.  That’s why we’re psyched The Chill is happen in December – when it’s officially O-K to think about ice scrapers, sparkly ornaments, the holidays, indulging yourself and your loved ones, and buying local and handmade!

Buy this gorgeous necklace in December!

In addition to My Tattered Whimsies, Andra is also a talented illustrator and painter and has items available from her shop, Andra’s Whimsies, which we will feature in the coming weeks.  Busy busy busy!

Come visit Andra at The Big Chill arts, crafts and vintage sale on Saturday, December 3rd, 10am to 4pm at Mayo Street Arts Center, 10 Mayo Street in Portland, Maine.  Wahoo!

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Vendor Spotlight: Mosey Handmade

Upcycled Vest from Mosey, $15, click to view listing!

Finally!  Something for the kiddos!  Mosey Handmade will be joining our vendors at The Big Chill with the upcycled clothes, felted hats, and Waldorf-inspired playthings that are the creations of Jes Anthonis, lady behind the magic.  Sometimes pictures speak more for these great items than my rambling can.  I’m feeling a little speechless at all this kiddie goodness, so let’s have a picture show:

Upcycled Felted Snails, $10 each

These funny little snails are so sweet, and a really creative use of extra sweater bits!

Learn to Count with Toadstools! $20 from Mosey Handmade

Learn to Count with Toadstools! $20 from Mosey Handmade

The bright colors and tactility of these natural counting mushrooms will make it fun for any little guy or lady to learn how to count!

Keeping Wee Ones Warm with Mosey Handmade!

We’re so excited that Jes will be joining us with the goods from Mosey Handmade, and she’ll be sharing a table with Elizabeth Miller of timblebee!  Mm!  2 for 1!  Click on the pictures to get links to the listings shown above so you can start picking out some supreme Santa gifts for little ones now!

Discovering Color

You can see the sweet, colorful goods from Mosey Handmade in person at The Big Chill arts, crafts and vintage sale on Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 at The Mayo Street Arts Center at 10 Mayo St. in Portland, Maine.  The sale will run from 10am to 4pm and features 30+ incredible local vendors!

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Vendor Spotlight: {dwinal} vintage!

1950s Japanese Toy Car with Coffee Logo, $9.95, from {dwinal} on Etsy. Click to view listing!

Rise and shine, shoppers, and smell the (1950s Japanese, car-shaped) coffee!

Today’s vendor spotlight features the careful collection of Jennifer Collins of allsey and {dwinal}.  They’re actually two different things, so today we’re featuring {dwinal} and all it’s vintage glory.

JC’s got an extensive collection of house-shaped purses that are just about the sweetest things you can hope to find at a holiday sale.  I saw a Big Thaw customer walking away with a darling one last April, but no worries – there are still some left!  Here is a Big Chill favorite:

Click to view {dwinal} on Etsy: Wood Farm Purse, $52.

Jennifer knows it’s time to get ready for the Big Chill when there’s a layer of snow covering everything, which I’m personally hoping waits until Christmas Eve or thereabouts… but wouldn’t it be romantic if the snow was falling outside Mayo Street on December 3rd?  Mmm… pretty winter craft fair!

Just so that we’re not ending on a ‘thinking about layers of snow’ note, check out this vintage, tooled leather bag from {dwinal} that could totally be the feature on our next poster:

Tooled Leather Bag from {dwinal}, $95 on Etsy. Click to view listing!

Come meet Jennifer of {dwinal} on Saturday, December 3rd at the Mayo Street Arts Center, 10 Mayo Street, in Portland, Maine.  You won’t be disappointed!

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Art Fer Yer Walls, plus Facebook is Awesome

Speechless! I’ve literally never written a check for anything so cool as 100, limited edition, four-color screen prints of a fox, a bunny rabbit and two birds.  All of them signed and numbered, ready to share with the local universe (and beyond!)

 

so so so so so so nice!

I’ve made an Etsy listing for local people, click here if you’d like to purchase and pick up somewhere on the peninsula (I’m flexible and mobile).

Annnd here is a listing for those who can’t make it to the Portland, Maine peninsula or for those who are insanely busy like me (I hear ya, we’re nuts!) who would like me to ship it to you.  Really fantastic Spring colors, one of these is promised to a frame to hang in the hallway at my place!

 

look at the fox pop! bright, citrus orange against blues and greens!

The poster, which is printed in four colors on gorgeous, heavy-weight paper, will be for sale at the very reasonable price of $10 the day of the fair.  If you purchase in advance, however, the Etsy listings are 20% off at $8.  Coupon clipping be damned, here is a better way to make some savings!

We’ll be using proceeds from the sales of the posters to printing flyers, making proper sign-age the day of the event, populating Mayo Street with candy dishes full of delicious candy and so much more.

Oh!  Did I mention Emblem Studio was available for custom screen printing work?  Such excellent craftsmanship, we are so, so pleased here at The Big Thaw.

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Did you know The BIG THAW is on Facebook?

Well, it is.

Here is the group page:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_121923504545596

Here is the event listing:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=104897699588395&ref=ts

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Beginning tomorrow, The BIG THAW website will be shining the spotlight on our vendors so that all you shoppers can start making your wish lists and saving those pennies (quarters, dollars, benjamins) effectively!

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