Great time had at Andy's Pub

I feel so lucky to have been invited to join the Andy's holiday sale in their 4th year! It was such a great event, with so many talented and varied vendors there selling their wares. The back portion of the pub was transformed into a holiday shopping venue for the evening. It was so festive, full of people shopping, drinking, eating, chatting, the whole evening (3:30ish-8:30ish). The weather was quite chilly, but not cold enough to stop folks from coming in for some last minute shopping!

I had a sweet location, a nice big table right at the entrance to the "show room". Sold and signed lots of books (sold out of My Maine, wow!) and some prints, too. 

My table :) I even had ANDIES Mints in honor of Andy's...I know...I couldn't resist.

I met lots of wonderful, creative people at this show. A few whose work I had seen at other events and was happy to finally put a face to the name/product, and many others with new, unique things I had never seen. I didn't get a photo (because there was always a crowd around his table!) but these repurposed vintage and antique door knobs, assembled onto corks to make wine stoppers, were so fabulous, a great gift idea, and super clever! And they're called "Dorks" (get it?) and are made by A Pane in Maine. 

Another hot seller were lobsterman/artist Eric Pray's "E Tails",  real lobster tails hand painted to perfection. 

Proud to be the owner of this spotted little guy right here ^, and Eric got one of my crab prints; Little lobster buddy is hanging on my tree right now!

Awesome, right?!

And so much more! 

Handmade candles that smelled amazing and fresh by Erin Donovan of Watermark Designs.

and more from Watermark.  I really loved her packaging and displays, don't you?

Reversible headbands, adorable clutches, plus tee shirts and scarves by Beth Webber, who assembled this whole shindig (thanks, Beth, job well done!)

Handmade soaps, chapstick, jewelry and more

I love love loved these hand sewn skirts, I wish I had grabbed her card so I could tell you her name! Sweetest woman, and so talented. These are all hand stitched and uuber soft materials. I especially loved this gray/yellow combo.

I think she called these "Rag-a-mittens" and I was in love with them. Beyond soft and comfy! By Jeanie McAleney

Local artist Andrew Cook's  "Island Lobster" and "Christmas Lobster".   So many lobster options! 

Thanks so everyone who came out. It was a fun time and a very successful sale, can't wait to do it again next year :)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

For you last minute shoppers out there...

I'll be there selling my prints, My Maine books and Down East in the Ocean books! Come by and do some shopping, there will be lots of great choices! I hope to see you there! I'll also be donating a signed My Maine book for the auction, be sure to enter!

Fabulous Friends Friday (Belated!)

OOPS! I've been so buried under my current book project that I totally spaced on Fabulous Friends Friday last week! So here it is, one Friday later!

This month I'd like you to meet my oh so very sweet friend, Toni Walton!

Toni and I sat side by side, or rather, back to back, in our senior illustration studio at the University of Hartford. She's one of the most genuinely nicest and happiest people I have ever known, and I'm so excited for her right now because she just opened up her very own BAKERY! We would often chat during our long days and late nights in the studio about our admiration for cake decorating, and love of shows like Ace of Cakes, and how fun it would be to apply design and illustration talents to cake design. Luckily for Toni, not only can she draw and paint and has an amazing eye for design, but she can cook and bake like a maniac!! Shortly after graduation, she was hired at Carlo's Bakery in NJ, where she worked as a cake decorator and could be seen on their reality tv show, Cake Boss. It was so fun to see her creations, and now she and her sister have opened Sweet T's Bakeshop in NJ. I wish it wasn't an eight hour drive, or I'd be there in a heartbeat devouring scones and muffins and cupcakes and pies and....yikes, drooling, better stop. If you're in the area, be sure to check it out!

Is that breathtaking or what? 

There's those illustration skillz!

Visit her website here to see more of her specialty cakes and full menu: http://www.http://www.sweettbakes.com

or click here to find Toni's bakery on Facebook.

And be sure to "Like" my Facebook page for the full list of posts!

Bon Appetit!!