2016 in review....

2017 is almost here! In just a few short days, we will celebrate the winter solstice and several Holidays, and then buckle down for the eminent snow and cold. During this time we rest, rejuvenate, and create. 

Here is a quick look back at our year: 

August: Fantastic Manchester show at Longfellow's Greenhouses - authors, books, crafts, soap and personal care, music, emerging artists, flowers and more! This show is always wonderfully well attended and a lovely kick-off to our show season. 

Alley Cat Studio

November: Bangor show at Husson University Center for Family Business - a lively show that never disappoints and continues to be a beautiful way to usher in the coming busy Holiday season. 

Page Eastman Photography

December: Incredible Holiday show in Portland at the Ocean Avenue Elementary School. Over 40 exhibitors with holiday gifts galore: ornaments, jewelry, weaving, painting, pottery, personal care, clothing, etc. This show was very well attended and always has a festive and giving atmosphere. 

Bright Bird Studio

After a long year, now is the time to reflect, heal, create, love and cherish our lives. May winter's quiet solitude bring you peace and joy! We look forward to seeing you in 2017!

The Potter's House

Welcoming Spring!

Although this winter has not been as bitterly cold as last year's, it is still wonderful to see bits and pieces of spring popping up. As we welcome spring, designing women also proudly welcomes new guest members to the fold. We are delighted to introduce them to you and to share their amazing talents with you in this post. Be sure to find these wonderful ladies at one of our shows this fall!


Toni Truesdale
www.tonitruesdale.com

Toni Truesdale

Think Greene by Sabrina Thiemke-Greene
www.thinkgreene.net

Think Greene

Gergana Rupchina

CWP Pet Portraits by Christine Prosser
www.facebook.com/cwpdesigns

Linda Mahoney Color Woodblock Prints
lmahoneyprints.com

Silver and Stone by Cullen Concannon
http://www.silverandstone.info/silverandstone/Welcome.html

Earth Angel Arts by Julie Bernier
www.facebook.com/earthangelartsmaine

Shows! Shows! Shows!

Welcome autumn! We are excitedly gearing up for a fantastic fall season of celebrating, giving, warmth, and laughter with our line-up of annual shows and Holiday showcases. Be sure to join us at one or several of our remaining shows for 2015:

Our only northern Maine show is always and fantastic event with pieces and prices to fit all budgets! 

A lively event with local musicians, incredible handmade-made and donated bakery items, soups, sandwiches, and pies. This is a wonderful space and great showcase of the artists and community we help support! 

Always the Saturday after Thanksgiving, our Portsmouth show draws from

surrounding towns as well as Boston, Maine, and VT. Being our only show outside of ME, it is a wonderful way to share the amazing talent of our designing women members and guests. 

Our grand finale! This show has grown in size over the past few years. Be sure to visit and peruse the amazing variety and creativity! This is the perfect event to finish you Holiday shopping! 

Early Summer Perfection

The joy and hope that comes with early summer is almost palatable: The sun and birds are up early and the days last longer; the world is green, fresh, and bursting with colors missed after such a long, cold winter. We have the whole, entire summer just waiting to be enjoyed - spread before us like an enormous water slide. I, for one, am ready!

Mermaid Race by Evelyn Dean
www.evelyndeanarts.com

So, live to the fullest and pack your days and nights with family, friends, laughter, and warmth! We will be waiting for you in late August at our annual Manchester show. Until then, cheers to a wonderful summer from all of us at Designing Women! 

Autumn shows!

One cannot help being inspired by the amazing autumn colors this fall! We are blessed to live in such a wonderful place, surrounded by constant change and beauty. 

This year we have changed our show line-up a bit. We will continue with our Bangor, Freeport, Portsmouth and Portland shows, but will re-evaluate our Camden and Kennebunkport shows for the coming years. 

Upcoming shows to watch for:

Bangor 11/1 at Husson University's Center for Family Business

Freeport 11/22 at the Merriconeag Waldorf School on Desert Rd.

Portsmouth 11/29 at the Frank Jones Center

Portland 12/13 at Ocean Ave. School

Bernice Nadler

Throughout this wonderful year our members have worked hard to create unique and memorable pieces you will cherish and enthusiastically share with your loved ones. Being an artist is a unique way of life that pays homage to the earth, our connections, and the joy of living. We invite you to join us at one or all of our remaining four shows for a most wonderful and joyous holiday season of warmth and giving, and to help us celebrate love and life. 

Shipyard Point Glassworks

Cheers to a most wonderful Holiday season filled with laughter, love, warmth, and friends and family!

Janice Jones

Feels Like Summer!

What a blessing this spring weather is after a long, cold winter! We have been enjoying the sun and enthusiastically creating new artwork. Here is a sampling of what we have been up to:

Mary Kay Spencer of The Potter's House has been experimenting with decals - using pine needles, drawings, momentos, etc. to create some really fun, meaningful, and beautiful pieces. 

Wendilee Heath O'Brien of Whopaints completed a new piece entitled Hanging On, which is inspired by her view from a road in Schoodic. 

Anita Roelz of Circle Stone Designs recently shared this beautiful necklace with us.  

We look forward to seeing you soon! Our show schedule is listed below, on our website and in event format on our Facebook page. 

Thank you for supporting Designing Women!

Upcoming Show Schedule:

August 23rd - Manchester, ME

November 1st - Bangor, ME

November 22nd - Freeport, ME

November 29th - Portsmouth, NH

December 13th - Portland, ME

We've Got You Covered!

Many of my friends prefer fall to any other season and look forward to the cool, crisp air, gorgeous colors, and crunchy leaves underfoot. As a summer-lover myself, I get through the second half (the cold half) of fall by anticipating the warmth and laughter the Holidays always bring. That and my wood stove. As tradition in my family, we do a gift swap with the recipient drawn ahead of time. Although it is only one gift, there is a certain amount of pressure to get the perfect gift for your chosen person. Designing Women has bailed me out of embarrassment for several years. My search for the impossible person year after year always seems to end at a Designing Women Show. With the age of online shopping and far-reaching ad campaigns for the greatest new thing, it is great fun to be surprised by the ingenuity of a local artist/craftperson who created the perfect gift with their hands.

To aid your Holiday Shopping expedition, here is a list of our remaining shows:

Nov. 16, 2013 from 9am-4pm
Freeport
Merriconeag Waldorf School
57 Desert Rd.
*Benefiting non-profit: Partners for Rural Health in the Dominican Republic

Nov. 30, 2013 from 9am-4pm
Portsmouth
The Frank Jones Center
400 Rte. 1 Bypass
*Benefiting A Safe Place

December 14, 2013 from 9am-4pm
Portland
Ocean Avenue Elementary School
150 Ocean Avenue
*Benefiting the Ocean Avenue Elementary School PTO