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Summer 2018 Craft Fair Schedule

Summer 2018 Craft Fair Schedule

I am feeling SO very spring-sunshine-y this week, it's glorious! And that's got me thinking about this coming summer craft fair season... yay! I've cut back on my craft fair commitments now that we've got TWO little running, climbing, wild, mischievous and delightful assistants on our little team. It was always a lot of work to pull off a big craft fair when it was just me, but now that we've got two little kids to look after, it's a HUGE undertaking! Someday the kids will be older and they'll be thrilled to spend the occasional weekend away from us and we'll get back to doing more fairs then, but for now, they're only little once and it's hard to do too many big weekend commitments. So, just a few great events lined up for this summer:

Yarmouth Clam Festival, crafts area: July 20 - 22, Yarmouth, Maine

Ossipee Valley Music Festival: July 26 - 29, Hiram, Maine

Common Ground Country Fair: September 21 - 23, Unity, Maine

Come out and see us - these are all FANTASTIC events filled with amazing handmade goods, and I'm looking forward to each of them!

Also, check out Picnic Craft Fair on August 4th in Portland - we LOVE this one and always participate, but have to miss it this year for a very special wedding in New York. And if you're in Portland, absolutely go check out the Portland Fine Craft Show on August 25th. We'll be out of town for this one too, but it was awesome last year and I'm sure it will be a great showing again this time around!

Common Ground Fair rainbow

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Framed Prints

Framed Prints

I can't believe it's been almost 10 years since I started making hand-printed greeting cards to sell! Since the very beginning, I've gotten the same wonderful compliment so many times: "Your cards are so beautiful, I can't send them! I just buy them to hang them up on my wall!" And the same question again and again: "Can you make a bigger print to hang on my wall?" (The answer to that question has always been "Sorry, no!" The nature of old-fashioned analog printmaking means that I create a relief plate to print the cards and they all come out just the same size.)

SO... by popular demand, I am finally offering FRAMED PRINTS to hang on your wall! Yay! These are high-quality digital reproduction prints, which means they can be larger than the greeting card sizes. The frames are simple and beautiful, sustainable hardwood with a rich walnut veneer. These look soooo lovely hanging in your living room or make a gorgeous and thoughtful gift for any occasion - housewarming gift, Mother's Day gift or birthday gift, for starters. 

I'm so happy with the quality of these, I'm adding more and more designs to the collection. I started with the Hooray Rooster design, which is always one of my most popular card designs, and the one that has most often been requested in a large-size print. It's such a perky addition to your kitchen's breakfast nook, or a sweet housewarming gift for someone who's bought their first home. Then I added the Green Gardens print, which is another of my most beloved card designs (and which I originally designed as an illustration to hang on my living room wall, so it's kind of come full circle now). I've also created a framed print of the new "Dream" design - so perfect for a bedroom wall, right? Or any place in the house where you might like to sit and daydream. I'm working on more prints every day, so I will be adding more designs to the gallery day by day! I'm also feeling inspired and starting to work on some original watercolor and collage designs to add to the gallery, and I will definitely share more about those as I complete them!

The Conservation Series frame is made from solid wood claimed from socially and environmentally responsible forests. It has a clean and contemporary 0.75" wide x 1.25" deep profile with a smooth veneer finish. Premium shatterproof acrylic protects the face of the art print, while an acid free dust cover on the back provides a custom finish. Includes wall hanging hardware. Framed fine art print on natural white, matte, ultra smooth, 100% cotton rag, acid and lignin free archival paper using an advanced digital dry ink method to ensure vibrant image quality.

Framed reproduction prints are not made in my studio, they are professionally printed and framed in the USA and will be shipped separately from other items. 

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ENAMEL MUGS ARE HERE! and you could win one for free!

ENAMEL MUGS ARE HERE! and you could win one for free!

You guys, I am SO EXCITED to announce that the enamel mug design I did this summer is FINALLY here and they are up in the shop! These came all the way from Poland, where they were manufactured by Emalco, a family business and high-quality enamelware maker. They use traditional methods with some modern innovations to create gorgeous, durable enamelware. Designs are fired on to the enamelware with high heat, so they won't scratch off! 

I'm celebrating with a giveaway! Head over to my Facebook page and leave a comment before Thursday, 1/11/18 to be entered to win a free mug! Let me know what you'd like to drink out of this mug and I'll send a spiffy new mug to one lucky winner! Comment on my Facebook page to be entered in the drawing. https://www.facebook.com/Morris.Essex/posts/10157027586214972

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Introducing our brand-new Natural Birch Wood Ornaments!

Introducing our brand-new Natural Birch Wood Ornaments!

Natural Birch Wood Christmas Ornaments

I'm so excited to share these brand-new ornaments! They're just finished this week and I think they came out beautifully! We already have them hanging up in our windows at home. They're made in Maine from natural, unfinished birch plywood, custom engraved with my original designs. The light, unfinished wood looks just right against the dark boughs of the pine tree. You can check them out on my website!

We also have lots of other beautiful goodies to keep in mind for the coming holiday season (gorgeous hand-printed scarves are so perfect for this time of year!), and will be adding more special new products soon... Stay tuned for some more new items on the way in the next few weeks!

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