Beads, Baubles & Fleece Downeast

Beads, Baubles & Fleece Downeast:Fall Bead, Jewelry & Fiber show
3rd Annual Show. Newly Expanded!
Friday October 14, noon-7pm
Saturday October 15, 9am-4pm
Ramada Inn (Tennis Court area)
215 High Street, Ellsworth, Maine

Doorprize of over $150 of beads and goodies.
$2 Admission Adults, children 12 and under free. Admission will be donated to The Ginger Manna Scholarship Fund, in loving memory of the show's co-founder, Ginger Manna, who passed away on June 21, 2011.

45+ Vendors will be participating at the show, including Bead Shops, area jewelers and fiber artists.
Something for everyone:
Featuring both supplies and finished work.
BEADS: Czech glass, gemstones, vintage, porcelain, crystal, pearls, lampwork, findings, and more.
JEWELRY: Handcrafted by talented artisans.
NEW! FIBER SUPPLIES: Handspun and hand dyed Yarn, Roving, Buttons and more.
NEW! FINISHED FIBER ART: Knit, woven and felted clothing, accessories and more.

Snacks + light meals available at the show from Cleonice Bistro.
FMI: www.giftedhandshow.com/events.htm or call Christina at 664-2404

Bring your ticket from the Beads, Baubles & Fleece Show to The Grand Box office on October 14th or 15th, and receive $2 off admission to see the movie Handmade Nation, playing at The Grand Theatre in Ellsworth Fri. Oct. 14 at 7:30pm and Sat. Oct. 15 at 7:00pm

July Gifted Hand Shop is Opening For Biz

I will be opening a Gifted Hand Pop-Up Shop for the month of July in downtown Ellsworth. This fabulous shop will feature work by 20 Maine artisans. We'll have something for everyone, and it's a great shopping destination for your summer guests. We'll also feature a bead shop downstairs. The shop is located at Gallery Grand, 169 Main Street, downtown Ellsworth (between the Sugar 'n Spice Bake Shop and The Grand Theater). We are open six days a week: Monday - Thursday 10am - 5pm, Friday and Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday by appointment. Shop phone number is: 460-1243. (the earrings above are by Emily Delfin.)

You can find work by the following talented artisans at the shop:

Barbara Fleming (Silverdust) • Beaded Jewelry
Jodi Clayton (One Lupine Fiber Arts) • Felted Accessories and Clothing
Jim Crampton (JHC Wood & Glass) • Woodwork
Emily Delfin (Reflections Jewelry) • Jewelry
Kendra Haskell (Whimsy) • Adult & Children's Clothing
Christina Heiniger (Fern House Studio) • Fine Art, Puppets and Cards
Sihaya Hopkins (Blossom Studio) • Lampwork Glass Jewelry
Leslie Jones (Tangled Web Designs) • Beaded Jewelry
Jenny King • Jewelry and Beads
Christine Leith (Eggemoggin Textile Studio) • Handwovens and Shibori Dyed Scarves
Kaitlyn Metcalf (Moss Keep Studio) • Acrylic Paintings on Maps
Jennifer Miller (Undercover Concepts) • Quilts, Doll Clothes and Other Sewn Goods
Linden O'Ryan (Linden O'Ryan Studio) • Watercolors and Lampshades
Lindsay Pinchbeck (Pinch Me Cards) • Handmade Cards & Upcycled Kids T-shirts
Rebekah Raye • Fine Art Cards and Prints
Jane Story (Good Impressions Pottery) • Pottery
Betsy Thompson (Betsy Thompson Studio) • Fine Art: Mixed Media Collage
Anna Woolf (Wild Card Pottery) • Pottery
Kirsten Hardy (Anabelfuzz) • Children's clothing and other sewn goods
Ken Carpenter (Maine Hooked Rugs) • Hand-hooked Rugs, Housewares & Furnishings

New Logo for The Fall Bead, Jewelry & Fiber Show

I'm choosing a logo for our exciting expanded Bead, Jewelry & Fiber show in Ellsworth on October 14 and 15. Help me choose by leaving a comment about which logo you prefer, and you may win a 4pack of Fern House Studio cards. One person who posts their opinion will be randomly chosen as the winner, so please leave your feedback. We'll call the first one the ball of yarn and beads and we'll call the second one the rectangular logo. Thanks for your help.

Spring Bead and Jewelry Show

There’s no two ways about it: beads are hot! Beading and jewelry making have exploded in recent years as both a hobby and vocation. Keeping on trend, Ellsworth has it’s own Spring bead & jewelry event. The Third Annual Beads & Baubles Downeast Bead & Jewelry Show is taking place at The Ramada Inn on April 8 + 9 this year. The show will feature about 25 vendors showing and selling beads, gems, buttons & beading supplies as well as lovely finished jewelry by local artisans. The most popular types of beads will be well represented: Czech glass, freshwater pearls, Swarovski Crystal, lampwork glass, and gemstone beads.

There will be a large selection of locally created lampwork glass by Sihaya Hopkins of Brooklin, Ray Cooper of Blue Hill, Beverly Lamoureux of Franklin, Kathleen Henderson of Penobscot, and Debrae Bishop of Sargentville. Lampwork glass is a traditional form of glasswork with roots in Murano, Italy. Beads are formed from colorful glass rods that are melted over the open flame of a torch into beads and buttons with sparkling color and texture. Lampwork beads can also be formed into shapes such as animals, and there will be many fine examples of lampwork glass beads in all shapes and colors at the show.

The Bead Show will also feature artisan created polymer clay beads and buttons, created using a millefiori caning technique. The variously colored polymer clay is mixed to create various patterns and sliced to show the cross section of the design. Both Priscilla Wentworth of Searsport and Suzanne Anderson of Yikes! Studio in Lucerne will offer their polymer clay beads, buttons, and jewelry at the show.

Several bead shops will be on hand to offer advice as well as offer a large selection of new and vintage beads and buttons. Bennett’s Gems of Belfast will display an impressive selection of gems and gemstone beads. The Beaded Moose of Bangor, which specializes in Czech glass, will bring a selection of beads for sale. Downeast Sticks 'n Stones of Brewer and Butterfly Beads of Old Town will also be on hand with a large selection of beads from their shops.

For those who prefer to purchase finished jewelry, several local artisans will be on hand with their beaded bracelets, necklaces, earrings and stash beads. Emily Delfin of Holden specializes in pieces created with Swarovski Crystal and gemstone, while Lisa Salsbury of Ellsworth works in precious metal clay (PMC) and a variety of beading techniques. Janelle Delicata of Prospect works in PMC as well. Diane Allen of Blue Hill has won National awards for her intricately beaded pearl and crystal jewelry. Leslie Jones of Tangled Web Designs in Southwest Harbor will display her beaded jewelry featuring cabochons.

This year folks attending the show can also purchase snacks and light meals right at the show. Sassafrass Catering of Bar Harbor will be onsite selling sandwiches, baked goods, coffee, and more to fortify shoppers.

Also at the show: artisan created dichroic glass by Nancy Tang of Glass Orchids, porcelain beads, felt beads, focal beads and pendants and findings. This will be the largest selection of beads and buttons available in the area until the Fall Bead Show returns in October. This will be a fun event and I hope you all can join us.

March News

• Great News! The Gifted Hand Artisan Shop will be open for an extended run through March. I originally popped up the shop just for February, but I had an opportunity to continue on in the space for another month, so...The shop will be open until March 30th. Our fabulous downstairs BEAD SHOP will be open through March as well. All this located at Gallery Grand, 169 Main Street, Downtown Ellsworth.

• I'm currently also making preparations for our 3rd Annual SPRING BEAD & JEWELRY SHOW, which will take place on April 8 & 9 @ the Ellsworth Ramada . I've ordered new beads for this event, and I'm putting them out at the downstairs BEAD SHOP at Gallery Grand as they arrive, so stop in for a "first look and grab." Arriving March 1st -3rd: real freshwater pearls in lots of shapes and colors (and my usual excellent prices!), unique freshwater cluster pearl beads (very limited supply!), gorgeous vintage-style Czech glass buttons, delicate silver plate filagree beads and so much more.

• If you visit the Spring Bead & Jewelry Show on April 8 & 9, you'll find lots of Maine artisan created beads in lampworked glass, polymer clay and and dichronic glass, as well as a large selection of Czech glass, gemstones, porcelain beads, seed beads, and the most beautiful array of artisan created beaded jewelry in the area. It's truly a treat to visit this fun event. This year the Spring Show will be happening at the Ramada Inn (in the Schoodic Room - off the lobby) 215 High St., Ellsworth. There will be about 25 vendors - a real "kid in a candy store" selection. We have some new vendors this year. I hope you can join us. If not, stop by the BEAD SHOP for a small taste of what you'll see at the show, and upstairs at The Gifted Hand Shop we have incredible jewelry by Maine artisans.

• I'll also be offering my Art + Craft Marketing Basics Class thru Ellsworth Adult Education. The class will meet on Wednesday 6-8pm for 4 weeks, starting March 9th (ending March 30th). This is a really useful series of presentations and discussions to help artisans, artists and craftspeople in marketing their work. Topics include: working with digital images, photographing your work, writing press releases, direct mail campaigns (postcards, mailing lists and graphic design options) and working with The Press. To sign up for this class contact RSU#24 (Ellsworth) Adult Ed at 422.4794. The class costs $45 for all 4 weeks and will meet at Ellsworth High School.

Studio Clean-out Sale Coming Up!

Join us for our 4th Annual studio clean-out sale of fine crafts by local artisans at deep discounts (up to 75% off).

We have an awesome NEW LOCATION: Gallery Grand, 169 Main Street, Downtown Ellsworth (between The Grand Theatre and Sugar & Spice Bakeshop).
Days and Times:
Friday February 4th, 3-8pm.
Saturday February 5th, 10am-4pm.
Featuring Work by Linden O'Ryan, Christina Heiniger, Heather Murray, Beverly Lamoureux, Jennifer Miller and Jodi Clayton.
Snowdate: Sunday February 6th, noon-5pm & Monday February 7th, 11am-5pm (same location). Please call Christina Heiniger at 664-2404 for more information.

My shadowboxes, like the one above, will be 50% off. Also great discounts on my cards, puppets and paintings.