New Work for Designing Women, this Saturday in Bangor

New Linked Necklace with Beading

It's time again (already!) for the Designing Women show at Husson University in Bangor. The show is this Saturday from 9-4.

Come out and meet the artisans at this great little relaxed and friendly show. Get some early holiday shopping done and support small business women!

The end of the month brings me to the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Designing Women show. This is the first time for me doing this show and I am looking forward to the adventure.

You can also find my work this holiday season at Aarhus Gallery in Belfast for their annual  "Extravaganza!" More info on their website www.aarhusgallery.com  about this fun event.

For all YIKES! earring junkies, I am continuing my earring punch cards. They are good anytime at Seven Arts Gallery as well as at my shows. If you don't have a card yet, ask for one when you purchase your next pair of earrings!

And you can always shop online 24/7 at my exclusive online store and my YIKES! Etsy shop!

Here is some new work you might find at my booth in the Designing Women show:

Wedge earrings with dangles!

Bangles, bangles, and more bangles-- something
for everyone.

Fall Bird Bangle

YIKES! Jewelry at Designing Women Craft Show in Bangor, Maine

This upcoming weekend I'll be part of a great show that I look forward to each year, the Designing Women show at Husson College in Bangor. Taking place on November 2 from 9 am to 4 pm, the show is held in the Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business located on-campus. (See a map here.)

This show supports women and their families in two ways: first, by giving the door proceeds ($2 admission) and proceeds from food sales to organizations that benefit women, and secondly by providing an event that puts the spotlight on women artisans and their work.

The Designing Women show is not just one event, but nine premier events held throughout New England. I'll be participating in the Bangor show on November 2 but also the Portsmouth, New Hampshire show on November 30 and the Portland, Maine show on Dec 14.

I hope to see you one of these fantastic shows!

September 5 is Fashion Night Out in Bar Harbor, Maine

Haus of Paradigm, who will perform at
D'Alessio Gallery for Fashion Night Out at 8:30 pm.

Would you like to get inspired by unique fashion, exciting bellydancing performances, and seeing a whole town come out in their fashionable best? Then the summer event for you is coming right up. It's Bar Harbor's Fashion Night Out, this Thursday, September 5 from 6 pm to 10 pm.

The whole of downtown Bar Harbor will be participating in this once-yearly fashion night, inspired by similar events in New York City and elsewhere.

Bar Harbor's interpretation of Fashion Night Out includes fashion shows on the village green, performance art, and many participating galleries, shops, restaurants and bars.

D'Alessio Gallery will be one hub of activity during the evening. I'm delighted to be showing my jewelry at the gallery throughout the evening.This is my third year showcasing my jewelry at this awesome gallery during Fashion Night Out. Stop by and say hello!

The night will also feature a performance by the fabulous Haus of Paradigm! This six member crew based in Bangor, Maine is comprised of performers and instructors.  They hail from an extensive background of different languages of bellydance from Egyptian, Turkish, American Cabaret, Tribal Fusion, and Pirate Invasions.

Performances include many traditional and contemporary props like Isis wings, swords, canes, zills,  silk veils, silk fans, fire torches, fire fans and so much more.Catch their performance at 8:30 pm at D'Alessio Gallery-- they are spectacular!

YIKES Maine-Made Custom Cuff Bracelet... A Spring-Green Sendoff to Summer

Maybe it's because summer's almost ready to segue into fall, but it feels like the perfect time to embrace summery colors. Lately I've been craving sweet spring green. Something about this fresh, delicate color is so full of vitality! So, lucky me, I got to make this unique custom-order cuff bracelet this week.

This bracelet combines some of the adornments and "bling" of my bangles with the wider style of a cuff bracelet. It's always exciting to create custom pieces because they lead to interesting new combinations and keep the creative juices flowing. Fun!


As well as working in the studio, I've been looking forward to Bar Harbor's Fashion Night Out coming up on Thursday, September 5. Join YIKES! at the D'Alessio Gallery from 6-10 pm and see the fabulous bellydance troupe Haus of Paradigm at the gallery at 8:30 pm.

Fashion Night Out features runway shows, trunk shows, performances and more, all across downtown Bar Harbor, Maine. Past years have been tons of fun and this year's Fashion Night Out promises to be the best yet. ❉

Blues, Zydeco and the Peking Opera at Bangor, Maine's American Folk Festival

Photo credit: americanfolkfestival.com

One of central Maine's most exciting cultural events, The American Folk Festival, is happening this weekend-- August 23 through 25 on the Bangor waterfront. This huge festival is a colorful whirlwind of performances hailing from all over the country, with cultural roots all over the globe.

In years past, I have participated in the fest as a vendor. This year I decided to enjoy the festival in a different way-- Sadly, I won't have a booth in the artists' and vendors' area this year, but I'm excited to instead take the time to enjoy the festivities and performances with my husband, Anthony.

To plan your weekend at the American Folk Festival, grab a schedule and check out the performers! Here are a few that will pique your interest:

Rosie Ledet, the "sweetheart of zydeco," is an American Zydeco accordion player and singer, and is among the few zydeco artists who still sing and write some of their own material in Creole French. She will perform on Saturday, August 24 at 2:15pm on the Bangor Daily News Railroad Stage.



The Qi Shu Fang Beijing Peking Opera Company, shown here performing in Wuhan City, capital of central China's Hubei Province, will be showcasing their talent at the 2013 American Folk Festival. They will be on the LL Bean Penobscot Stage at 1:30 pm on Saturday, August 24.




International festival favorite Sista Monica Parker, shown performing at Cisco Blues Festival in 2009. She will perform on the Bangor Daily News Railroad Stage on Friday, August 23 at 9:30 pm.

A Sanctuary for Art (and Wildlife): Maine's Gilsland Farm Audubon Show

YIKES! Studio necklace

This year I'll be wrapping up my summer craft shows with the Gilsland Farm Audubon Show in Falmouth, Maine. I'll be showing the best of my summer collection, and I'm excited to share these pieces-- from earrings and bangles to showpiece necklaces with loads of beautiful detailed patterns and colors.

The show itself takes place this upcoming weekend, Aug 17 & 18, at the Maine Audubon headquarters, a sixty-five acre wildlife sanctuary on the Presumpscot River, near Maine's most populous city, Portland.  

The sanctuary is a hub of education and environmental advocacy, with programs to help protect and preserve a number of animal species in Maine. (You can find out more about getting involved with their very interesting tracking programs here!)

The sanctuary is not only a beautiful setting for a craft show, the Gilsland Farm Audubon Show is also raises money for the Maine Audubon. The small admission fee ($3/members, $4/nonmembers) benefits the Audubon's programs.

If you want to check out the rest of the sanctuary, you'll find that Gilsland Farm’s 2.5 miles of trails wind through meadows, in and out of woods, and along the shore of the Presumpscot River estuary. All of the trails are gentle with no steep grades.

Along the way, you might see meadowlarks, warblers, frogs, and red fox. It's the perfect chance to see some wildlife and some lush greenery before summer starts to slip away!

A print from 2013 Gilsland Farm Show artist Kathleen Buchanan of Grey Seal Press	A YIKES! Studio necklace headed for the show!

This juried show is in it's 17th year and presents only handmade items from over 70 craftspeople. The show will be open from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, August 17 and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday, August 18 at 20 Gilsland Farm Road, near Rt. 1 in Falmouth (see a map here) Catered food will be available and the walking trails will be open, so come by and make a day of it! ❉