Ah, it must be spring. The weather is offering only the slightest clue, given recent flurries and chilly temperatures. The real indication for me is the advent of happy chaos. More activity in town, with visitors to the town strolling the streets, and lots of packages coming our way as we gear up for the season. Most happily, new art by two artists who live right here on MDI.

Jennifer Judd-McGee came by with some of her new work, including a few papercuts. Here are two of them with one of her collages. Simple designs executed intricately, they are so pretty. She also brought some of her pen and ink drawings, highly detailed scenes with splashes of color. We're so happy to have Jen's work here at Spruce & Gussy. We're looking forward to carrying some of her new work that is the result of her collaboration with local woodworker Bill Sanborn. 

Linda Rowell-Kelley also stopped by with new work for us, gorgeous paintings of island scenes. Here are two of them; they are full of the blues of sea and sky with warmly lit cottages and trees. These new pieces are very different than the garden paintings we had last year, but just as beautiful. Linda's subjects vary widely, and it is always exciting to see her interpretation of another subject. We also carry painted clothespins by Linda, a very practical and economical way to acquire a piece of art. 

Also new for us is the Mermaid's Bra. Designed by an ovarian cancer survivor, it is a traveling exhibit designed to raise awareness and funds for combating ovarian cancer. The bra and accompanying poem will be at various locations along the Maine coast this spring and summer, and all funds raised will be donated to the 2011 Ovarian Cancer Retreat and to a scholarship fund in memory of Kristen Klint, who lost her life to the disease at age 46. 

We're also preparing for our Wishful Thinking Open House tomorrow night from 4 to 7 here at Spruce & Gussy. We'll be toasting hopefully to spring with sparkly beverages both alcoholic and non. It's a great chance to see some of the fun new things we have coming in every day, and to jot down a few of the things that you really adore. So when your partner/husband/friend or child wants to buy you a gift (which of course they will!), we can make it easy on them and a happy occasion for you. We both love parties, and hope you can come by to enjoy it, too. 

–Patti

Last Monday morning bright and early Michelle and I headed out on a mini fiber tour. Well, it wasn't very bright, actually. It was kinda dark and raining ropes. But we didn't let that dampen our enthusiasm. Our first stop was Starcroft in Monroe, where we found Jani Estell behind mountains of beautiful fleeces in her workshop. This is the front room; quite a greeting!

All of the wool that Jani uses for Starcroft yarns comes from a flock of sheep that lives on Nash Island, off the Downeast coast. Jani herself helps shear the rams, ewes and lambs every spring. Fog-washed, this is the quintessential Maine fiber.

Jani very kindly took us on a full tour of her shop, explaining each step of the process that begins with raw wool and ends with her gorgeous yarns. She showed us the sorting, cleaning, picking, carding, spinning, and dyeing, some done by hand and some on machines. The machines were remarkably small given how much fiber she processes. I'd go so far as to call them cute, at least as cute as industrial machinery can be. 

We've carried Jani's yarn as well as her felting and spinning fibers at Spruce & Gussy since we opened last year. We were very excited to pick up some bright new colors to round out our selection for the season.

It was wonderful to see Jani at work. It is clear that she brings a huge amount of energy, creativity and love to her work, and you can feel it in the yarn. 

After an hour or so with Jani, we drove down Rt. 7 to Belfast, where we met Jim and Amy Grant, the owners of Good Karma Farm. Jim and Amy raise alpacas and make Carrabasset soap and spin and dye some gorgeous multi-colored and variegated yarns.

They showed us around their shop, where we saw this luscious pile of fiber. We met the alpacas, who were curious and friendly. What sweet faces!

This is a bit of the yarn we picked up to bring back to Spruce & Gussy.

Gorgeous, right? They're going to be sending along a couple more colors once they get a little more spun up. It's a wonderful blend of alpaca and wool, and incredibly well-priced for a such a quality hand-made yarn. We're thrilled to offer it, adding some more thoroughly Maine yarn to our collection. 

After lunch at Delvino's in downtown Belfast, and a stop at Heavenly Socks to see Helen (and buy some yarn, of course), we headed back to Bar Harbor, our sacks of fiber booty in hand. Stop by the shop and see it for yourself!

–Patti

It started snowing today, again. Living on this island has been like living in a snow globe this winter. Just when it settles, we get shaken up again. Not that I'm complaining. It looks absolutely magical out there.

I spent the lovely little storm inside Spruce & Gussy today, working at the jewelry bench. A quote from Annie Dillard kept coming back to me. "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." A thought that made me feel deeply content today, as I worked on a number of custom pieces. Forging new settings for the special stones and tokens of family history that have been entrusted to me this winter, I felt so blessed.

For me, this is creative work at its best. Reworking the drab and worn to bring new life to ancient connections, I can almost feel how much love lives in these diamonds, rubies and coins. While I do enjoy making pieces from scratch (which is what the opals are for), the most satisfying work is this. 

Later this week Michelle and I head off the to big New York trade show, which will be both exhilarating and exhausting. We're really looking forward to finding new artists to work with, and fun new things to bring home to Maine. We'll keep you posted. 

–Patti

For today's advent pick, we've chosen three of the talented jewelers who will be at the Bizarre Bazaar this weekend. We feature the work of these particular artists in our shop every day, so they were a natural choice for us. We are very lucky, because there are many exceptional jewelers who live and work right here on MDI or nearby, and you'll find a few more of them at the Bizarre Bazaar, in addition to those we're focusing on today. 

This is the work of Carrie Cross of Red Hammer Metalworks. She works primarily with sterling silver and semi-precious gemstones; her bubbly pearl drop earrings have been particularly popular here at Spruce & Gussy. She offers a full range of pieces, from necklaces with unique clasps, to hair combs, cuff links, and of course, rings and earrings. Her work has lovely detail with welcome simplicity. 

This is an assortment of Tegan Curry's work. Tegan is a well-known local designer, with a constantly evolving style that is instantly recognizable. She works with gold and silver, generally hammered or otherwise textured, with oxidized and gemstone accents. Her jewelry is at once glamorous and accessible, perfect for a day at work or a night on the town. I've heard that she's got some fun new work to show off this weekend; I can hardly wait to see it over at Macey's this weekend!

Cara Romano has a number of lines; here at Spruce & Gussy we carry her sterling and felt work. Cara is an accomplished designer, with nationwide recognition. I've been coveting these stunning five drop earrings for a long while now. 

This particular line is colorful and playful, two attributes that we love. The combination of sterling and wool felt is unexpected and engaging, even more so here with leather. Cara will be showing a wide variety of her work right here at Spruce & Gussy. 

Tomorrow is the first day of the Bizarre Bazaar, and we hope you can stop by for a visit. We'll have snacks and coffee and wine and sparkly cider, so pop in and stay a while. Tomorrow we'll feature work by Leah Estell, so you can take a look here or come by and see it in person, any time between 11 am and 7 pm.

The loveliest light snow is falling. I'm not sure anything fills me with more holiday cheer than the sight of powdery snow on fir trees. That and the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas. Today I have both, so I'm positively brimming with good will. I've been looking forward to our upcoming weekend, when Spruce & Gussy and Macey's will be filled with some of my favorite artists and their holiday wares, but with this added dose of yuletide gaiety, I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. 

One of the artists that you will find this weekend at Spruce & Gussy is Jennifer Judd-McGee. Jen is well-known for her paintings, drawings, and collage, and all the fabulous things she does with them. Her blog, Swallowfield, is one of my all-time favorites. Come to think of it, she's one of my all-time favorites.

Here is an array of her work: originals, prints and cards.  The fanciful drawings capture Maine at its best, I think, and the bold colors and images in her collages are engaging and joyful. 

This is a closeup of one of her original collages. I think that the burst of color is immediately cheering, and then the drawings and shapes give the piece complexity and depth. Jen will have an array of items for a wide range of prices, so you can pick up some unique holiday cards, or a very special gift. It's going to be a very merry weekend!

–Patti

I find myself falling behind on these advent entries, and I hope you can excuse me. This time of year is so fabulously crazy that some days I just can't get to everything on my list.

This week we'll be showcasing a few of the very talented artisans that you will find at Macey's and at Spruce & Gussy this weekend. Today's advent pick is a collection of Julie Havener's bags and hats.

Julie lives and works in Northeast Harbor, right here on MDI, and is well known for her gorgeous bags and fiber work. Her funky hats are easy to spot on the winter streets of town (Michelle and I each have two!)  She dyes the fiber, spins the yarn, and crochets them herself. Her color and design choices are amazing and unique, and her combinations are striking. In addition to bags made of tapestry fabrics, as pictured here, she also takes sailcloth to a new level, combining it with bold fabrics to produce noteworthy totes and wallets. Julie is also a talented metalsmith, and will likely have some of her jewelry with her this weekend, too. Her latest line of rings with hammered silver and gold and rose cut gemstones is truly stunning.

Julie will be at Macey's this weekend. The Bizarre Bazaar is Friday, the 10th, from 11 to 7, and Saturday from 10 to 6. Check back for the next featured artist, and be sure to drop by.

–Patti

The Midnight Madness sale was just that for us; madness up to and including at midnight. It was really, really fun. We got to see lots of our friends and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Perhaps a bit too much; I didn't quite have the energy to offer up an advent entry yesterday after my four hours of sleep. 

But we've recovered now, and this week we'll spend finalizing plans for the Bizarre Bazaar. This is a great event that Danielle down at Macey's has been hosting for years now. She has graciously invited us to share the good time with her, so both stores will host a number of artisans who will be selling their own work. Additionally, both stores will be having sales and there will be snacks and beverages, both alcoholic and non. It's a great chance to shop locally,  and to directly support artists who live right here in Maine. We'll have more details later this week, but keep it in mind as you plan your December weekends. It'll be Friday, the 10th,  from 11 to 7 and Saturday from 10 to 6.

Amanda of Sassafrass Catering came by on Friday and dropped off our advent pick for the 4th; her fabulous hand-made truffles. They are made with organic and fair trade ingredients, and come in exciting flavors like hot curry, cinnamon & ancho chile, lavender, sea salt, and ginger. And to top it all off, her packaging is just gorgeous. I've found these little treasures to be a great gift for teachers, bus drivers, grandparents, yourself. You name it. We'll have Sassafrass truffles through the end of the year. And Amanda will be here for the Bizarre Bazaar next weekend, so you can buy some directly from her if you come in then.

Our advent pick for today is a combo pack of handknit holiday amusements. Michelle makes the tiny stockings, which are perfect for your tree. She also makes some into pins, which come in these sweet little packages. Very sweet and a fun addition to your holiday decorating, whether it is your home or yourself. 

And when it comes time to decorate that bottle that you're about to bring as a gift to your next holiday party, try one of these handknit accessory sets on. A wee hat and scarf that I've knit to fit your bottle perfectly. A little silly, pretty cute, and definitely fun. 

We'll be closed Monday as usual, but we're here every other day 10-6. Stop by and say hello.

–Patti

Day 3 of the Advent, and today we're featuring these adorable ornaments. 

Some are from Africa and some from South America, and all are fair trade, which really warms the heart. The little handknit guys have the cutest expressions, and the gnomes are just unbelievably adorable, if you ask me.

The ceramic animals are all bells as well as ornaments, so they'll tinkle cheerfully when your cat attacks your tree. I like to get each of my kids a new ornament each year, and this year Claire is getting a pink hippo and Jacob a gnome. They make great hostess gifts, too.

We've carried the little gourds all summer, and think they make a great decoration no matter the time of year. If you come down tonight, you can pick them up for 30% off! Which makes all the ornaments less than $10 each. That's a great deal. 

We're gearing up for that Midnight Madness, slicing cheese and chilling wine and arranging all the lovely sale items for your shopping pleasure. We hope you can join us.

–Patti

Our holiday table, featuring cards by Jennifer Judd-McGee and a felted vase by Michelle Souza.

Whoa. How did it get to be December already? But there's no doubt, judging by the look of my list today: take a Christmas card photo, post info about the Midnight Madness sale, work on some custom posy studio pieces to be delivered in time for holiday giving. I love this time of year, but sometimes wonder why it has to be SO chock full of fun things to do. Wouldn't it be nice to spread it out a little? 

Not an option, so let me tell you about this weekend. This Friday, it's the annual village-wide Midnight Madness sale from 8 pm til midnight. Like the early bird sale, many of the town's shops are open and offering deep discounts. Unlike the early bird sale, they're also offering savory snacks and wine; much more our style than coffee and donuts at 6 am! In addition, there's a celebration on the Village Green starting at 4:30 pm, with carolers and Santa arriving by fire truck at 5 to light the tree in the gazebo. Lots of kid-friendly activities and hot cocoa at the YMCA from 5:30 until 7, so it's a great night for children and adults alike. Here at Spruce & Gussy we'll be offering 30% off storewide, with the exception of a few items (some less, some more!). And we'll have tasty snacks and wine, so come by and relax on our sofa. We'd love to see you!

In the near future we'll tell you all about the Bizarre Bazaar, which happens December 10 & 11 this year. In the meantime, we're starting a Spruce & Gussy style advent calendar today, highlighting a fun and festive item each day from now until Christmas. Today it's these adorable wee houses by The Little Red Door.

Each house is ceramic, handmade and glazed by a Canadian artisan. They come in all sorts of colors and a few different styles, and are just so dear. Perfect for tucking in amongst the candles on your dinner table for holiday decorating, or for the stocking of a little girl who adores teeny, tiny things. Like me. 

Happy holiday season, let the merry making begin!

-Patti

There's the Village Green on a rainy day in late October, as seen through our front window. We knew business would ebb this fall, but it was only this past Monday that we really noticed it being quieter. But, boy, is it ever quiet now.

It's a little bit difficult to switch gears and begin to focus on the long list of administrative and artistic projects that we haven't been able to get to in the flurry of opening a new store and running it through a busy Bar Harbor season. Both Michelle and I have many plans, both for the store and for our own work, but it's hard to switch focus so abruptly. So we'll take a couple of days to stare out the window and fret about the encroaching darkness and impending winter, and then we'll get back to work. 

Just a few things on our list include working on our website, getting our mailing list in action, and getting ready for the holidays. Spruce & Gussy will be open until the end of the year, and we're looking forward to the season.

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Here's a bit of our Halloween display, featuring that awesome skull pinata by Valerie Wallace. After All Soul's Day, we'll start bringing out some fun little things for Christmas, including some fantastic cards, a few new books, and some yummy smelling candles. And Michelle and I are working on handmade ornaments, mostly of the felted variety. We're also getting our bags and jewelry ready to send to a couple of other shops, including Christina Heiniger's Gifted Hand Shop that will be open in Ellsworth after Thanksgiving. We'll be open for both the big holiday sales in town, the Pajama Sale and Midnight Madness. We are also working on a small Holiday Craft show right here at Spruce & Gussy. We'll be sure to give you all the details on all this as soon as we know more.

We'll be here more often now, with updates on the stores, and other interesting tidbits about crafting, our friends, and the off-season life in Bar Harbor. Thanks for coming by. –Patti