Modish Guest Blog

a super handmade collection - portland's edith and edna

i'm wrapping my guest blogging stint up today with a final post about one of my favorite places in portland to find handmade goodies.

edith and edna on exchange street in the old port is a bright and cheerful space full of local and web-favorite handmade items.

local favorites include bobbin bags and clothing by betsy scheintaub, milo in maine adult + kids shirts, lulubeans yarns, buttons by pixiegenne, handmade baby clothes + bags by soulemama, pinecone + chickadee shirts and papergoods, sewn goodies and mixed media collage by betsy thompson, and much more.

they also carry  dovetail ceramics (a personal favorite of mine - i love the square mugs,) collages and owls by leya at curious bird, nikki mcclure prints and calendars, walter and veronica scarves (i got one for christmas and haven't taken it off since. really) and cd cases, lovely stuff from alena hennessy, wonderful books from if'n books + marks, a wide selection of craft books, and tons more.

my pictures are a bit dark because it was a rainy day when i visited, but i bet you can get a sense of how wonderful the shop is. most definitely worth a visit next time you're in portland!  thanks to shop owners brandie and julie for letting me come by and snap some pictures.

i've had a great time guest blogging this week, and i hope i've given you all a good sense of what a great town the east coast portland is. i didn't come close to covering everything here, but i've tried to show you a good smattering!
thanks so much to jena for inviting me to make these posts this week.
cheers, jen

port2port press's maria vettese

photo by maria vettese

i've been thinking a lot lately about what draws so many of us to read the blogs we read. i think it is safe to say i'm not alone in enjoying the glimpses i get into other artist's every day lives. you can get such a strong sense of an artist's inspirations + influences, and when you then have the chance to acquire that person's art and have it in your own home, you feel a much stronger, more intimate connection to it that you would to a stranger's. that's how i see it, anyway.

photo by maria vettese

maria vettese of port2port press is another portland artist i admire a whole lot, and it is for exactly these reasons. she does a wonderful job of documenting her inspirations and her every day life at her blog, port2port, and on the collaborative photo blog she shares with stephanie congdon barnes at 3191: a year of evenings.

photos by maria vettese (l) and stephanie congdon barnes (r)

now in its second year, 3191 started as a collaborative photo project where maria and stephanie would each post a photo of their morning in 3191:in a year of mornings (which will soon be published as a book by princeton architectural press.)

photos by maria vettese (l) and stephanie congdon barnes (r)

maria's letterpress and photographs draw much inspiration for her daily surroundings and are simple and beautiful. she sells limited editions of letterpressed cards and photographs, and also works with other artists from time to time on collaborations, such as this lovely winter prints set called frost with brooklyn based artist lena corwin.

i asked maria to share a few of her local favorite spots (+ i will add for her the portland farmer's market, which she took some amazing pictures of last year and i got so much inspiration from!)  here's what she said:

favorite portland food: 158, Fore Street, Bresca, Blue Spoon
favorite little grocer: Rosemont Market
favorite bakeries: Standard Baking, Two Fat Cats, 158

thanks so much for sharing the lovely glimpes of your life + your art with us, maria!

ferdinand ::: portland maine

when jena asked me to guest blog this week, i immediately started thinking about all of the local portland talent that i wanted to share here. perhaps one of the best-known local indie/handmade pioneers (plus an all-around excellent gal,) diane toepfer of ferdinand is one of my favorite people and a wonderful artist and craftsperson to boot. at her storefront on munjoy hill in portland's east end, she makes a wide range of fun and eclectic handmade goodies - pretty much anything that strikes her fancy.

she carries a terrific selection of new + refashioned vintage items, such as these fabulous feather barrettes:

and vintage clothing and shoes, too.

many of you may recognize her famous drum-playing squirrel, which adorns adult and childrens tees.

she also makes a wide selection of gocco and screenprinted cards, totebags, notebooks and journals, jewelery, patches, potholders and accessories,   and features many other local and nationally known crafters as well.

here are some diane's own hot-off-the-press screenprinted valentines - aren't they great?

some of diane's favorite art-y/crafty peeps:
local maine stuff:
pinecone and chickadee
(here are some p+c valentine cards i spied at ferdinand today):

morris + essex
strong arm bindery

and goodies from elsewhere:
dog and pony show
lisa jones cards
nineteen seventy three
motel deluxe

ferdinand is located at 243 congress street, portland, me 04101, and is a must-visit next time you're in town.

this week's guest blogger :: jennifer judd-mcgee from swallowfield

good morning, modish readers! i was really excited + flattered when jena asked me to be this week's guest blogger - my name is jennifer judd-mcgee, and i am an artist and mother of two children living and working in portland, maine. i have a blog called swallowfield and an etsy shop too - and i 'met' the lovely jena last year when i started selling prints with her on modishoppe.
here are a few of my recent pieces - one a drawing and one a mixed media collage on panel:


i've only been writing my blog for a year and running my etsy shop for less than that, after leaving the womens health work world in 2007 to pursue my secret wish to make more art. this past year has been one of the best of my life, and i am so happy i took the chance.  there is so much great inspiration available on the internet, between blogs, etsy, flickr and all of the other places you can get lost tripping around.  i am looking forward to showing you some of my favorites this week.
stay tuned this week for interviews, home and studio and shop peeks, and other goodies - i'll have another post for you this afternoon. thanks for reading!

Small Stump

Ha, I had no idea snakes love diamonds, but apparently I'm wrong and there's a Small Stump print to prove it. I like the artist's description of the print:

This fanciness is about lace, gold, diamonds, and a small snake. he's like "oh, fanssssy" in his little high pitched eccentric snake voice.

I just love the mental image that conjures up. Oh and I love the silkscrened print too.

Gigposters

Strawberry Luna and Eleanor Grosch have both submitted posters to Gigposters.com. Gigposters is a site where artists can share posters they have created to promote concerts and events. The creativity evident in the posters on this site is insane and many different styles are represented, you're sure to find a poster that suits your style; when you do, you can often purchase it right from the site. Here are a few that caught my eye, click on the pics to purchase.

Gigposters has very active forums and the Screenprinting forum is a must-read for anyone interested in printing at home. I check it out on an almost-daily basis. What I like about the forums is that many poster artists are D-I-Y types printing from their home studios. They don't have the money or space to invest in professional grade equipment so there are lots of tutorials about how to build your own equipment in addition to lots of general advice about printing, inks, screens, etc. It's great information and it's all free, you'd be crazy not to consult the forums before buying screenprinting gear.

Strawberry Luna

Allison, aka Strawberry Luna, is a screenprinter who specializes in limited edition band posters. If you see something in her shop that you like, scoop it up asap because once they're sold out, they're gone. The good thing about this is that new work is listed often. Two of my current faves in her shop are below.

Push Me Pull You

Push Me Pull You is the business belonging to Eleanor Grosch, a Philadelphia-based graphic designer and screenprinter. Maybe you've seen her work for high profile clients like Keds and Urban Outfitters? I am drawn to her simple and colorful screenprinted posters, which often feature animal motifs. I think it's amazing that, given her success, she still screenprints in her basement (you can see a video interview featuring a few shots of her workspace here).

Baz Biz Part 2

My third stop at Baz Biz was at the table of Big Dead Gerbil.

I was immediately drawn to William's silkscreened prints, especially the tree of life print pictured above, to the left. See the step by step process of how the print was created here. William ages the paper himself using various homemade concoctions discovered through trial and error. I love how the white ink looks on the dark-colored paper. The prints range from $20 - $40, totally reasonable for an original, handmade work of art.

4th Stop: Foxy and Winston

Foxy and Winston is a line of screenprinted art prints, cards and baby gear. Their aesthetic is bold, colorful, and graphic; it caught my eye in between the hordes of people crowding the table.

The bold graphic images are sophisticated and sweet at the same time. I picked up this deer card and I wish I had gotten more because the colors are so lush and saturated. Jane and I talked a little bit about the difficulties of working from the spare bedroom of her Brooklyn apartment. If you ever have the chance to go to a big craft fair like Bazarre Bizaar or Renegade Craft Fair, I highly encourage it. It's incredibly inspiring to talk to small business owners producing such amazing work from their homes.

Final stop: Two Trick Pony

My final stop was at the table of local company, Two Trick Pony. Owned by two friends, Laurie and Carrie, they produce vibrantly colored cards, art prints and journals. Last year, shortly after starting the company, they exhibited at the National Stationery Show in NY, where their line was picked up by over 20 stores! I'm a fan of their Holiday cards which are sweet and festive, without being saccharine.

So that's it for my Baz Biz recaps but I'll see you back here tomorrow for more screenprinted goodness.

Avant Garde Now!

La Superette is perhaps the most exciting art show of the year. That's a pretty bold statement, especially because there are some fantastic artists making work right now, and it's easier and easier to find them, thanks to the internet. But this event is a multidisciplinary mecca of creativity and fun, dispelling consumerism and the status quo in one colorful swoop.  Just read the blurb below, taken from their site:

"Merchandise has been a part of the music world for years as evidenced particularly by micro labels and zine culture. Today, when interdisciplinary artists and art groups have become more prominent in the art world, visual artists are producing merchandise too. Many of these artists act as cultural hackers, reappropriating history, media, science, and other elements of contemporary life into their work."

If you think of art in terms of the collective conscience, there is no better venue than an art market, a creative imitation of today's supermarket convenience.  What La Superette adds to that experience is a collection of goods gathered from artists throughout the world, with fun and intellect combined, but finished off with the punk rock edge that keeps the DIY mentality vibrant and alive.  Just browsing the site, I found a trove of items that double in function and aesthetic, for example the Stomp on Bush socks, but could just as easily be framed as the newest, most daring addition to your fine art collection. 

They're open this weekend from 12 - 7 PM on both Saturday and Sunday. 

Five under Ten

Tis the season for holiday parties, a little too much imbibing and the need for quick and easy gifts, no?  So here you go: My top 5 under $10.  The best part about all of these?  Their affordable enough you can buy one for them and one for you!

Jaime Zollars is a-okay in my book, her silkscreens are amazing in person and her subjects are a smidgen of fantasy and a hefty emphasis on beauty.  Ask for Underwater Circus for yourself, and load up on the Sampler's collaborative print, perfect for a hostess gifts on the fly.  A mere $7!!

The Small Object's Mighty Tin Can comes in right at $10, but I don't think you could find a cuter way to package up an assortment of holiday sweets.  Much cuter than a paper plate, this tin is a sure fire holiday keeper.

 

Heyday Fashion paired up with Crafters for Critters to make a DIY knitting needle kit. $10! And, even better, you support handmade, while the proceeds go to a variety of organizations that help animals in need!  After you buy, you're more than welcome to pat yourself on the back for a long long time with all the good you'll be doing by supporting this shop!

Paula Weigel of Plays With Mud (NC Crafty ladies represent!!) makes affordable ceramics intended for everyday use.  The pictures on her site are beautiful, but let me tell you, you can't appreciate her work until you hold it.  Delicate in appearance but durable, she offers Wee Bowls individually or as a set ($8 for 1, $22 for 4) BUT the Hand stamped Wee Tray just might be the best bargain you'll find this year for a mere $6!

There is nothing hotter on the design scene right now with typography.  A little something for the designer on your list?  $5 CAD, this little notepad is made up of print job offcuts and found sign pieces and absolutely eco-awesome! Available from Uppercase Gallery. 

Remember those perfume commercials. . .

the ones where they say, "If you like _____, then you'll love. . ."
In support of buying handmade, i thought it might be fun to do some of these throughout the holiday season.
Let's play, shall we?

If you like Anthropologie, then you'll love Sew Bliss Sew (left: a view of Bliss's table at the Handmade Market; right image: Anthropologie)

If you like Room Service Home's Holiday beauties (below left), how about Maggie Kern's cute creations over on Makool Loves you? (below, right)

If you love Jonathan Adler (image below, right)  then you'll adore George Ryan (below, left)!

If you like a bright and cheery desk (see left, 3-M brand post it notes) then you'll (REALLY) love boygirlparty's notepads (see right).

If you like Tord Boontje's work (remember the special guest Target designer everyone loooooved last year around the holiday season?; black and white image on right) then fall in love with Rob Ryan's (red and white image on left) work, then clickity click through his etsy shop an swoon!

And, finally, for this installment, if you like Crate and Barrel's birch bark candles, perhaps you'll love the longer lasting birch bark picture frames from Annemarie Sandstrom's etsy shop!

What have you seen in the great big world of shopping that reminds you of a mass produced Indie Crafter's work.  Anyone out there have any "If you like _____ then you'll love _____?"  I'd love to see what you've come up with, and what better way to draw a bit of attention to those out there working so hard to make quality handmade goods? Post a comment and please share!