
Kris Johnson, is a Part-time Employee at Pinecone & Chickadee and is a Vendor at Picnic. He is a Hill Resident Who is a Screen Printer. Kris Makes Posters that he Sells on-Line as well as at P&C.
“We are looking forward to having much more space this year than previously,” said Amy Teh recently. She was referring to the relocation of the wildly popular “Picnic” – a holiday craft show that used to be at the former Portland Company, 58 Fore Street. The new location of the show is the Brick South building at Thompson’s Point. The date is Sunday, December 10th from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm. Admission is Free.
The show is so popular with holiday shoppers that the aisles between vendors are traditionally jammed – making it slow going from vendor to vendor.
Following the show last year at 58 Fore Street, Amy was informed that the site would not be available for rental this season because of the development of the property by Jim Brady and his business partners.
Because of the size of Brick South at Thompsons Point, there will be much more space to exhibit the crafts of far more artists than could be shown at the former location. The huge space will permit the number of juried vendors to almost double from previous years said Amy. This year there will be 130 vendors in contrast to 88 in past years. There were almost three times that number of artists applying to exhibit at Thompsons Point, but not all of them could be accommodated.
“Originally there were not many craft shows in general. So my husband and I decided to give it a try. There are more opportunities for artists now because there are more craft shows,” said Amy, earlier this week. The summer Picnic normally held at Lincoln Park in August could not be held there this year because of the renovation work that occurred there this summer. The renovation was “spearheaded” by Sharon and Frank E. Reilly. The renovation of the Park took much longer than was originally anticipated.
Amy and her husband Noah DeFilippis are self-taught silk screen artists with many of their creative designs for sale on Free Street at Pinecone & Chickodee where this blogger spoke with Amy this week. Before the couple rented the space on Free Street, Amy traveled across the country attending craft shows selling their product. When the couple’s first son was born he traveled with them to shows. That was up until he was ready to go to school. That happened when their second son was born as well. Attending craft shows became impossible under the circumstances. It was time to stay home and raise our two children as well as pursue our creative interest said Amy.
Admission to the “Picnic” is free. On-site parking is free with overflow parking costing $5.00. Please visit picnicportland.com for more details.