Belfast Arts in the Park

Looking for something do to this weekend? Maybe a visit to Belfast, Maine, is just what the potter ordered! On any given weekend, Belfast is a nice day trip - it's a working and recreational port, with lots of great shopping, not to mention eating & drinking. This weekend, though: this weekend is Belfast Arts in the Park! Over 100 makers of craft and fine art will be showing in the waterfront park, with live music daily and unique food offerings.

Make sure you visit Booth 111! That's me, Fine Mess Pottery! This will be my first time at this event & I am so excited to be there! Some other faves:

Lori Austill Encaustic Paintings
Lacey Goodrich
Jody Johnstone

Check out the map here. See you in Belfast!

Where the Road Took Me: Tandem Glass Gallery & Studio

Yesterday was a glorious day in Maine - sunny and dry, mid-70s. It was a fine day for a little road trip, and I happened to have one on my list: I needed to deliver pots to a new shop in Wiscasset, Mid-Coast Craft. More about them later! Today I want to tell you about my unexpected find.

It being said glorious day, and me in no hurry, I planned to stop at the numerous yard sales one always finds on Route 27 between Augusta and Wiscasset on a fine summer Saturday. The first sign I saw pointed the way down 127, which runs between Dresden and Woolwich (pronounced wool-itch, which always makes me laugh, as wool usually does itch.)

I was surprised to discover the advertised sale was at this amazing glass blowing studio, Tandem Glass. The upper floors arr living space, the lower is studio and gallery. I was immediately hit with a pang of jealousy. Look, there's even a outbuilding which would make a stellar kiln shed! I wouldn't want to mow all that lawn, though.

Inside was even more amazing: a sunlit gallery space glittering with beautiful handblown glass:

And the studio! I admit I am a sucker for a tidy studio - I should probably keep my own cleaner. The furnaces were cool the day I was there. And look at the enticing rack of canes! Materials are inspirational, all on their own.

It's maybe a mile - no more than that - off 27 in Dresden. Worth a trip! 

Outbuilding, Vassalboro Water Compnay

Outbuilding, Vassalboro Water Company
Douglas Watts

The Maine Pottery Tour is just around the corner!

Possibly my favorite sign of spring! This year the pottery tour has 37 studios, from Kittery to Swanville to Phillips. The Maine Pottery Tour offers demonstrations and giveaways, a chance to meet the artists, shop for handmade pottery, and get a glimpse into life as a potter in Maine. You can even try the wheel yourself at some locations or paint a plate of your own.

What: The Maine Pottery Tour, a celebration of ceramic arts in Maine
When: Saturday May 4th, 10-5
            Sunday May 5th, 11 -4
Where: 37 Locations in Maine! 

In Central Maine, there are 13 tour destinations:

Fine Mess Pottery 131 Cony St, Augusta

Red Door Pottery, 14 North Pearl St, Augusta

Hallowell Clay Works 157 Water St, Hallowell

The Potters House 82 Stevenstown Rd, Litchfield

The Potter’s Shed 605 Hallowell-Litchfield Rd West Gardiner

d harwood Pottery 196D Main St, Winthrop

Maple Lane Pottery, 36 Greeley Rd, Windsor

Loken Pottery 26 Bowman St, Farmingdale

Whitefield Pottery 442 Howe Rd, Whitefield

Rob Sieminski Bog Pond Rd, Phillips

Martha Grover & Josh Rysted 630 West Bethel Rd, Bethel

Tim Fischer Pottery 394 Ridge Rd Lisbon

Barbara Walch Pottery 33 Knox Station Rd, Thorndike

On the Coastal leg of the Tour, there are 11 stops:

Chouinard Ceramics, 75 Main St, Wiscasset

Al Scovern/West Third Ceramics, 108 Congress St, Belfast

Van Der Ven Studios 257 Main St, Lincolnville

Fireside Pottery 1478 Camden Rd, Warren

Neighborhood Clay & Liz Proffetty Ceramics 590 Maine St, Damariscotta

Jody Johnstone Pottery, 135 Webster Rd, Swanville

Barbara Walch Pottery, 33 Knox Station Rd, Thorndike

Good Land Pottery, 487 Morese Rd, Montville

Pottery Farm 943 Belfast Rd, Knox

Everyday Pottery 103 Northport Rd, Belmont

Prescott Hill Pottery 261 Prescott Hill Rd, Liberty 

In Southern Maine, 13 studios are participating:

Zwellyn Pottery 20 Spencer Ln, Limington

Wendy Twitchell Porcelain 232 Beachwood Ave, Kennebunkport

Pottery Girl 1104 Pequawket Tr, Standish

Portland Pottery 118 Washington Ave, Portland

Homeport Pottery 131 Beachwood Ave, Kennebunkport

Peeper Pond Studios, 18 Mast Rd, Scarborough

Chris Davis Pottery 81 Seabury Rd, York

Shannon Wong Pottery 59 St George St, Portland

Delany Arts, 20 Center St, Yarmouth

Southern Maine Clay Guild, 22 Government Ave, Kittery

Ash Cove Pottery, 75 Ash Cove Rd, Harpswell

Ocean Fire Pottery, 23 Woodbridge Rd, York

Chase’s Garage, 16 Main St, York

Check Out Quench!!

Belfast, Maine is an adorable little town. Many unusual stores, restaurants, and pubs, and right on the water. It's a great destination for a day trip, and it just got a tiny bit better. Jeweler Jennifer Lisa, of Quench Metalworks, has opened a retail space of fine and unusual handmade wares. Let's check it out!

We found it! Quench is at 9 Beaver Street, in Belfast.

Peeking in the window...

...And lots more! Worth a visit to see for yourself.