Five crafty and artistic friends have formed Artful Goods, a community craft cooperative, to sell their handmade wares during the holiday season this year. Artful Goods is located at 10 Mills Rd. in Newcastle, next to Postal Center USA.
Brady Nickerson, Lindy Gifford, Tasneem Zaidi, Lori Cash, and Erin Mitchell came up with the idea for a craft cooperative last year. This year their idea really took off and in a matter of weeks they had the shop up and running.
They opened for their first day Nov. 1. According to Cash, they are committed to staying open throughout November and December, maybe longer if the reaction is good.
Gifford explained these types of artists’ co-ops exist in other communities, such as Belfast. “This is a true co-op, no entity makes a profit beyond us individually,” Gifford said. “It’s a great opportunity to buy local with all profits going to the artisans.”
The interior of the shop is full of color and texture, with clothing, home décor, and art. Each woman chose her own products to display, and the mix compliments one another.
“We wanted to create a place that was vibrant in color, welcoming, positive and fun,” said Cash. “I want people to feel like they can come in and chat, just hang out.”
The women wanted to be sure that they carried something for every budget. They explained they try to keep their prices affordable compared to other galleries. Each woman has her own business, and kind of products she creates.
Cash and Mitchell own Elegant Funk, designing one of a kind sweaters and bags out of recycled fabrics and materials.
The pair reuses wool, angora, and cashmere pieces, felting each piece before it is complete. Cash explained they design, cut and embellish each piece by hand.
“The sweater tells us what it wants done,” Cash said. “No two sweaters are alike, they’re all one of a kind. We have something for everyone, from teens to more mature women.”
Nickerson owns Painting with Spirit. She transforms antique wooden bowls into colorful hand painted decorative works of art. She also hand paints glassware, note cards, and watercolor landscapes of the Maine coast.
She explained each bowl is a very labor-intensive process. Nickerson estimates each one takes between six and eight hours to complete.
“Each one must be hand sanded to remove the patina,” she said. “Then it must be primed, painted, decorated and covered with three coats of marine based polyurethane before it is finished.”
Gifford owns Unorthodox Icons, using photographs as art, or art objects around the home. She explains she makes fine art prints of her nature photographs on paper and canvas, and some images she manipulates or combines for greater effect.
A picture of a flower wreath, she explains, actually came from 50 different images. Even the frame and velvet background are part of the stretched canvas photo.
Her newest items are smaller canvases of nature themes, such as raspberries, for grouping, she explained. She also used some of her photographs to create lampshades.
“In my work, I combine the textures and colors of nature to create a tapestry effect,” Gifford said.
Zaidi is the only one of the women who does not make the goods she sells herself. Her business is called Traditions, and she imports goods made by Pakistani women. Ninety percent of her sales are going to a medical relief fund to set up a private hospital in Pakistan
She imports pashmina scarves, and home goods, such as table runners, cushion covers, and quilts made from hundred year old garments of cotton and silk.
“The Pakistani women are being paid better than market value for their products, and all profits are reinvested in the area,” Zaidi said.
Zaidi is holding a discussion and slideshow presentation about the culture of Pakistan on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Co-op.
Additionally, the women are holding an opening with refreshments the weekend of Nov. 28-30.
Artful Goods is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Friday evenings until 8 p.m., and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.
