Vendor Spotlight: Lillianka

Stuffed Owls by Lillianka

Today’s Vendor Spotlight features Lillianka, with creator Lillian Harris at the helm.  If you’re interested in ordering Lillianka items you can visit her Etsy shop or view her wares at The Merchant Company on Congress St. downtown.  But if you’re patient we’re sure she’ll be bringing the cream of the crop to share at The Big Chill on Sunday, December 2nd!

Red Wool Button Tote by Lillianka

While Lillian is a tinkerer in all things creative and crafty, she finds her place at home most easily sitting at the sewing machine stitching together functional, stylish art.

Scented Sachet by Lillianka

Looking for a sweet, special gift for the holidays?  Our money’s on the scented sachets you see above.  Perched in the guest room, tossed in the sweater drawer or anywhere else the scented sachet adds that warm, spicy scent for the season.

The Big Chill holiday arts, crafts and vintage sale is on Sunday, December 2nd from 10am to 4pm.  10 Mayo Street, Mayo Street Arts, Portland, Maine!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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The Big Chill is December 2nd!

Hey-yo!  Hope you’ve all had an amazing summer at the beach, eating ice cream, going on vacation, visiting friends and family, yadda yadda yadda.  But get to work, little elves!  Because this year’s Big Chill will be Sunday, December 2nd at Mayo Street Arts Center in Portland, ME.

Applications are open on Monday, October 1st and will run through October 31st.  We’ll announce our vendors on November 1st!  More information about vendor fees, specific times, location and more will be available on the 1st with the applications.

Stay tuned, silly balloons!

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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: Louisiana 1966

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  We are stuffed!  But not quite in the same way the goodies from Louisiana 1966 are… Julie Bailey brings us lots of funky, plushy goods at The Big Thaw on Saturday, December 3rd!  Take a peek:

Shirley the Sock Doll from Louisiana 1966

Bright colors and warm, handmade stitches are sure to warm up any winter night for your wee ones!  At $18, it’s quite a deal for a handmade plushy!

George the Sock Doll from Louisiana 1966

Polka dots and black for the kidzzz.

Messenger Bag in Brown by Louisiana 1966

Louisiana 1966 makes bags, too!

Ophelia the Sock Doll from Louisiana 1966

This one’s my favorite.  🙂

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