September 2009

By Carol McCracken

The Maine Crafts Guild invites the public  to attend its 2nd annual Juried Crafts Show at the East End Community School on the Hill.  It’s a two day event that begins on Saturday, September 19 and runs from 10: am to 5:00 p.m ;   Sunday, September 20 it runs from 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m.  This is a wonderful opportunity to meet Maine’s finest professional craft designers who create gold & silver jewelry, natural fiber clothing and shoes, pottery, sculpture, and baskets, wood turned bowls, designer furniture and so much more.

Please visit www.mainecraftsguild.com  Admission $5.00.  Children free.

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Organizers Ron Harrity, Diane Topher, Noah DeFilippis and Sean Wilkinson. Amy Teah Was Not Available.

Nabil Sibouih of Moth Written

Tracy Sunday Mastro With Some Of Her Jewelry

By Carol McCracken

Even though the rain was heavy at times and interrupted the annual Summer Picnic (Music+Arts Festival) at Lincoln Park on Saturday,   it did little to dampen the enthusiasm for the event by its organizers and vendors.  In fact, before the end of the day at 6:00 p.m., organizers had already announced that there will be a Winter (Indoor) Picnic on December 13th.  Most vendors were interested in participating.

One of the five organizers, Noah DeFilippis, said that this craft show was different from most that he and his wife, Amy Teah, have attended around the country.  “Most of them are directed toward seniors or tourists,” he said.  “We planned this one to appeal to a younger crowd and not to tourists.  That’s why we planned it for after Labor Day,” he said.  Last year there were 60 vendors in the show and this year the number of vendors jumped to 100. 

As to the Winter (Indoor) Picnic planned for December 13th at the Maine Irish Heritage Center, formerly St. Dom’s Roman Catholic Church), a lot of these vendors asked us to do it.  “It would fill in a real gap,” said DeFilipppis.  “There are those who aren’t members of SEA who have their holiday crafts show at the East End Community School and others who have no affiliation with Maine College of Art and so can’t participate in their annual holiday sale,” he said.  These folks now have a holiday venue in which to sell their crafts.

The quality of the products of the vendors was impressive.  MHN has chosen to highlight two of her favorite vendors in the show.  Tracy Sunday Mastro makes lovely enamel jewelry.  It is “powdered glass applied to copper and fused in a kiln at 1500 degrees,” she said.  Her email is pitchford@concast.net and her delicate and feminine  earring and necklace sets can be purchased from her mother’s studio – Hole In The Wall Studioworks at (207) 655-4952 or jimpasto@maine.rr.com.    The other favorites were  the original  T-shirts and cotton bags made by Mary E. Robbins in stunning colors on very soft cotton.  Standing in for her at the Summer Picnic was her husband Nabil Silbouih.  The name of Mary’s company is “Moth Written.”  Part of the company’s purpose is “encouraging positive dialogue about the arabic speaking world.” Mary studied Art at N.Y.U. as well as overseas.  Please visit www.mothwritten.com for more information.

Sean Wilkinson, another organizer, said at the end of the Summer Picnic that:  “Despite the rain, the day had been very successful.  He thanked all the amazing vendors for staying until the very end – through the rain.”

The five organizers are:  Diane Topher, Noah DeFilippis, Sean Wilkinson, Amy Teah and Ron Harrity.  Please visit picnicportland.wordpress.com for more.

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Hilltop Coffee Shop at 90 Congress Street For Sale

By Carol McCracken

A popular business on the Hill is for sale for $450,000.  The Hilltop Coffee Shop is located at 90 Congress Street and comprises the other half of the newer Rosemont Market & Bakery.  The store sells coffee, soda and some baked goods.  There are several small tables, a booth and couch near the front window which has made it a comfortable place to hang out and meet friends.

The original co-owners opened the business about 1 1/2 years ago after a major renovation of the entire buiding.  Luke MacFayden and his business partner, Jeremy House, purchased the property from artist Don Ogier.  (House is in the construction business.)  Although the property was always considered a prime location on the Hill, it was known for its undistinguished facade — a cinder-block slab with peepholes.  At the time one neighbor called it a “foundation with no first floor.”  According to Ogier, it was built in 1970 and became the Rainbow Beauty Saleon.  Ogier bought the property in 1984.  He moved to California, but later returned to the Hill.  The co-owners bought the building from Ogier in the winter of 2007.

About a month ago, employees started handing out cards advertising its availability and its attributes.  It is currently zoned for restaurant use and is to be sold “as-is” with furnishings and equipment included. Its a commercial condominium so there is a low $150/month association fee.

In an informal survey that MHN conducted earlier today, the majority of customers there hoped the Coffee Shop would remain exactly as it is with no changes at all.  However, several customers offered up some different ideas.   One man was interested in opening a tea shop with space where he could teach T’Ai Chi.  Betty T. suggested keeping it much as it is, but adding to the menu items such as hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream and make it into an affordable lunch shop.  Dennis hopes that it remains as a public space and a gathering place for the neighborhood – much as it is now.  A couple visiting from Floriday, Bart & Robyn said they thought it would make a popular pizza place.  If they didn’t already own property in Florida, they’d be interested in it.

For more details, please call Tom Landry of Benchmark at (207) 939-0185.  Please visit BenchmarkMaine.com

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Meredith Alex, (right center) With Visitors To Her Mad Girl World Studio at 275 Commercial Street

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 284)

Last week nationally known fashion designer Meredith Alex opened her funky studio at 275 Commercial Street;  it’s called Mad Girl World.   It was the culmination of years of hard work for this energetic 41 year old woman who compares herself to Pippy Long Stockings.

This week the impish bit of a woman was refocused on her next big project.  Meredith has been commissisoned by the upcoming, Harvest on the Harbor, food festival to design and install haute couture installations that promote  the theme of delicious  Maine food and wine.

Displayed on the right wall in the back of her new studio are pencil sketches of those installations.  They are now her  focus.  Meredith has been occupied with collecting material to make this gallery of gowns come alive.  Committed to the greening of our environment, Meredith says that at least 80% of the material used in her installations are recycled material.  Soon she’ll be assembling these installations which will be part of the Harvest on the Harbor extravaganza.

Her gallery of gowns will be displayed at the Grand Tasting on Thursday, October 22 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Ocean Gateway Pier and the Food & Wine Marketplace on Saurday, October 24 from noon to 4:00 p.m. also at the Ocean Gateway Pier as well.   (A Harvest on the Harbor insert in the October issue of “Down East” magazine features a drawing of one her  “themed gowns.”)  Meredith welcomes the public  to come to her  studio and watch her assemble the installations.

She’s been informed that two of her installations will be used prior to the October event in public venues  to promote the Harvest prior to its happening.

A Maine native, Meredith grew up on a farm where creativity was very much a part of her life.  She graduated the California Institute of the Arts where her interest was on costume and set design.  She designed costumes and sets for dance performances in the Los Angeles area.  She even did a stint for ABC television.  Meredith returned to rural Maine and lived on a farm again.  Just this past January, she moved to the Hill.  She wants to expand her business and be closer to the Portland Jetport as well.

Meanwhile, Meredith has  participated in events in New York  City, Philadelphia and Boston. In Maine,  she participated in the 60th anniversary of the Farnsworth Museum and in an International Conferece in Climate Change, Orono.  On February 9, she participated in the Governor’s Ball on Tourism.  That’s where a rep of the Harvest on the Harbor saw her work and later asked her to be a part of it.

Meredith has three children who currently live in Belfast  where they  attend school. 

Meredith loves living on Washington Avenue.  She says that a “fun, whimsical outlook on life energizes me.  I’m passionate about inspiring and making a difference.”

For more information, please visit HarvestOnTheHarbor.com and madgirlworld.com  (Attendees must be at least 21 years + to attend Harvest on the Harbor.) You may call Meredith at (207) 322-3900.

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