If you’ve been wondering where I’ve disappeared to, I’ve taken the next step in separating myself from Clarabella and have created a new blog, Just Plain Lovely. I’ll leave this site up for the rest of this year, after which point, you may even be able to buy your very own Clarabella keepsake;). We’ll see about that one. For now, visit my new site. Enjoy. Send suggestions. Send love. And be well!

I’m typically horrible with new planners. I will say that I always buy them with the best of intentions. They’re pretty and functional and always make me feel as though I’m ready to accomplish something big. The big problem, however, is that I’m usually only diligent about using one for about a month before I start to forget and end up writing all of my ideas and things down on little pieces of paper. The pretty planner then falls by the wayside only to be rediscovered 3 weeks before the end of December, rendering the once useful collection of pages useless.

Enter Little Otsu. I popped into Eli Phant yesterday to say hello to owners Peter and Sally and laid eyes on this little gem:

Pretty, isn’t it? Here’s why I think that I’ll be more successful with my planner usage this year. This planner doesn’t have printed dates! You heard me right. Each week has a place for you to pick a month up top and a place to fill in the dates for each day of the week. If I do end up taking a ‘break’ from this planner, I get to pick right back up where I left off. It’s like it was made for me!!

I would highly recommend going to Little Otsu’s website to check out some of the other treats they’ve got for sale. They work with different artists, so there is a little something for everyone. Interestingly enough, I first learned about them while shopping around for online store platforms. I came across Shopify and Little Otsu was one of the examples. The site immediately caught my eye and has been bookmarked ever since. Just another reason why Eli Phant is becoming one of my favorite shops here in Portland. They’ve got excellent taste;).

Happy Saturday all!

If you were a Clarabella follower, you already know about the lovely Jené. We were first introduced by Honey in the Rough’s Ashley Hanosh. They’d been friends out in San Francisco. At that time, Jené was still living out West. We got to know each other over the phone and from our very first call, I knew we’d be friends. We started out with a few orders and even did a special Valentine’s Day offer. Earlier this year, Jené moved from SF to NY, settling not far from me in Brooklyn. Sadly, because of tough timing, her getting settled and my shop closing efforts, we didn’t get much time to hang out. I did, however, always look forward to the days that she’d pop in to say hello. Jené is a true burst of sunshine. She’s always smiling, knows just what to say to turn your day around, and to top all of that off, she’s an extremely talented jewelry designer. With that in mind, I’d like to bring you all a little closer to her designs, tell you a little about Jené herself, and offer up some amazing holiday deals.

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Introducing, the lovely and talented Ms. Jené DeSpain:

**Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon

**Where do you live now?

I live in NYC, Brooklyn

**What do you love most about your area?

The endless possibilities. Everything is an adventure in NYC.

**What about your city provides you inspiration for your craft?

I just launched a new line called the Roaring 10’s. It’s a glamorous art deco collection inspired by the architectural masterpieces of NYC built during the 1920’s. These beautiful buildings are my favorites in NYC and each piece from the collection is named after these historical landmarks.

**How long have you been practicing your craft?

I’ve been making jewelry for almost 5 years now. Somehow that sounds like a long amount of time, but I discover new things about my work every day.

**I’ve seen you work with casting, hand-hammered designs, feathers… Is there a particular medium you enjoy the most?

Currently, I am making pieces from wax. This is a new technique for me. I am learning how to carve wax and shape it into my designs. I love the detail and time put into each piece. It takes days, weeks, to make one design, and I hope the joy I feel creating each new piece comes through in the jewelry.

**Do you turn to friends and family for inspiration and have you ever designed a piece for someone in particular?

I love making jewelry specifically for individual friends or family members. I just made my lil’ 18 month old niece her first necklace, which was really special. I have made jewelry for friend’s mothers, sisters, and grandmothers and I have had the lovely opportunity to create wedding pieces for some friends and their bridesmaids. Anytime I create something that is unique to the person receiving the jewelry is very special for me and completely inspiring.

**The line that you were representing when we first met was based upon Islands - were they based upon places you’ve traveled to, or were they more of a wish-list of where you’d like to go?

The concept for the Island Collection came about after I had made the Ellis necklace. It’s a single pillar of hammered gold with a delicate piece of sparkling blue topaz. The first thing I thought of when I saw the piece was the Statue of Liberty and her beacon of light. My love for all the islands of NYC, as well as multiple other islands that have been significant to my life became the story behind the collection.

**What advice would you give up and coming designers?

The main piece of advice that I would give to other designers is to find the elements of your craft that you do well and revel in the joy that they bring you. For the other aspects of your work, seek out people that know how to accomplish these things better than you can and hire them.

a few of Jené’s favorites…

Author: Bill Mckibben

Musician: I have many, but lately my iTouch has been rockin the new Gossip album as well as Florence and the Machine.

Drink: water w/ lemon and stumptown coffee

Flower: peonies

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and last but certainly not least… Jené’s designs:

All designs can be purchased directly through Jené (email her here) or through her Etsy site, AptNo5 (links supplied below.) All pieces available at AptNo5 are 35-50% off regular retail prices. When purchasing any of the below, please enter ‘Erin, Clarabella’ so that Jené can see where the referral has come from. Thank you!

Moth Charm with Little Heart and White Topaz - $65 Buy at AptNo5

Paramount Necklace - $115 Email to order

Dakota Earrings with Black Onyx - $68  Email to order

Flourite and Amethyst Circles - $50 Buy at AptNo5

Double Leaves and Peridot Necklace - $80 Buy at AptNo5

Cherry Quartz Dangles - $35 Buy at AptNo5

Iolite Chandeliers - $45 Buy at AptNo5

Carlyle Earrings - $68 Email to order

Garnet Oval Swing Hoops - $40 Buy at AptNo5

Swallow Charm w/multi gemstones - $50 Buy at AptNo5

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This is only a small sampling of what Jené has to offer. Check out her full shop on Etsy, AptNo5, be her fan on Facebook, and treat a loved one of her gorgeous designs this holiday season!

The lovely and talented Ms. Nicole Gagne has a new studio space and she’s ready to show it off! Head on down to Red Hook this weekend to check out the new digs, browse through (and buy) her brand new line, and check out some other designers around the building. Start your holiday shopping now! As a former shop owner, I can tell you that it sometimes pays to buy direct from the designer;). And please… if you go, let me know what you find. I so want to be there, but alas… this gal is a Mainer now!

Details in case you have trouble with the image above:

Leoworks Studio Warming and Sale and Screwball Studios Holiday Party

Saturday, December 5 from 5-10pm

Screwball Spaces - 183 Lorraine Street, Redhook ~~ Studio 27, 3rd floor

[Take the G or F to ‘Smith and 9th’ Street stop. Walk on 9th to Court Street, take a left. Studio is 2 blocks after the overpass to the right]

I’m not sure that it would be fair for me to fully identify as a runner. I don’t run every day, I don’t even run consistently throughout the year. I don’t wake up at 6am and when I run, it’s not just me and nature… it’s me, nature, my ipod and my phone in case I want to call a friend during the ‘walking portion’ of the workout. Still, running is the one form of exercise that I’ve consistently gone back to time and time again.

It started with my dad. He didn’t start identifying as a runner until his late 20s. In my mnid, he embodied what a true runner should be. He’d take off with my old dog Maggie in tow and just start running. Whether it was 3 or 10 miles later, he’d feel satisfied. Initially, he didn’t do it for the racing or the competition, just for himself. Later in his life, he joined the track team at Unum. That was around the time of my first introduction to running. There would be kid’s races at the track meets and I’d often join in. I used to be pretty good and as kids have an inordinate amount of energy, it felt like a great outlet. As I got older and hit Junior High, I joined the track team. I’d like to say I’ve got a great story for you there, but I wasn’t very good at all. I’d always get put in the short distance races and consistently came in last. I didn’t really come into my own as a runner until after college. I’m not entirely sure what got me started. I’d like to think that it was my dad.

I was living in a studio apartment on the corner of Riverside Drive and 72nd Street, right across from the Eleanor Roosevelt statue. I loved that park… still do. It was always less crowded than Central Park and it gave you water views alongside greenery. So what if you were looking out over the NJ skyline. I used to head down there and run up the West side. My dad and I ran all the way up to the George Washington Bridge once, or at least close. At that time, it may have been the longest I’d run.

I paired up with a college friend and started doing races in Central Park put on by the New York Road Runners Club. I’m not sure if I joined right away, or ran a few before signing on, but I’ve now been a member from the time I was about 23. I still am acutally… I signed up for a 5 year membership a year or two ago, never dreaming that I’d actually leave NY. At least I know I can still get member rates if I’m ever in the city for a race! Anyway, I ran regularly in my early 20s and was probably in the best shape of my life. Until…

My cousin T and I decided to train for a 1/2 marathon - the first year of the NYC Half Marathon presented by Nike actually. It was before they started with the lottery, but it was still wildly popular. We were both online for about 45 minutes trying to get a spot and we both made it. She and I checked in with each other on training runs and tried to meet up at least once a week. We followed the training program as well as we could and both got to a point when we were running about 25 miles a week. The race was on August 5, 2007 and it was hooooot. It was an amazing experience. Challenging, exhilarating and rewarding, it was our triumph. Since then, I’ve done 4 more and Thas done 3. She’s just now getting ready to start training for a full marathon next Spring.

I ended up taking a bit of a break. I had signed up for the NYC 1/2 again, but hadn’t trained properly and opted out. I thought I might run the Philly 1/2 with T, but the timing wasn’t right as I’d already moved here to Maine. After moving here, I was walking less (people here drive EVERYWHERE) and doing more things around the apartment that prevented me from getting out for a run. It’s always hard to get started again, to get over that initial hump. The aches and pains, the shorter distances that feel like forever, the lack of strong lung power. But it’s always worth it. If you can stick with it long enough to feel good at running 3-4 miles regularly, it can be a release, a break in the day, something to give you motivation and strength.

So, I’m not at the point yet, but I did manage to start myself up again. Rather than leaving from my apartment and running around the Eastern Prom area, I’ve taken to driving myself down to Baxter Boulevard, parking and forcing myself to go around the whole loop. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not forcing a longer run than I’m capable of, I just run as far as I can and walk the rest. At least it gets me out and moving for 3.5-3.75 miles. Right now I’m capable of about 2.5 miles followed by a .5 mile walk and a final .5 mile run. Little by little, I’ll build it up again.

So… if you’ve made it this far, thanks;). The one benefit to not being the type of person who just bonds with nature during a run is that I’ve got my phone with my nifty little camera. So, here is a sampling of what the last 3 afternoons have looked like at Baxter Boulevard. You’ll be hearing more from me on this front… I need to be held accountable during this beginning period somehow!!

Tuesday Afternoon:

Late Wednesday Afternoon:

@ 1:30 this afternoon (Thursday):

A few running resources:

Hal Higdon Training Schedules

Portland Trail Maps

Maine Track Club

My recent apartment redo gave me a chance to take stock of all of the amazing artwork I’ve acquired over the past few years. I’d never been one to collect really… I’d always admired, but was often scared off by prices. Could I afford to have artwork hanging on my walls? After I opened up Clarabella and dedicated a wall to rotating gallery shows, my mindset changed, thanks in part to the generosity of my showcasing artists and the doors that they opened for me into the art world. My apartment now features prints and originals from artists like Bailey Saliwanchik, Amanda Kavanagh, Shaun Kardinal, Matthew Doubek, and more. It’s like walking into my own personal little gallery every time I open the door.

It’s possible for you to have that too, you know. There are all sorts of amazing and affordable outlets for art these days. Yes, if you consider yourself a collector, these smaller spots may not be for you. But who knows… maybe they’ll give you a chance to latch onto the next big thing. Whatever the case, there are some incredibly talented artists on these pages. A few suggestions and samples below, but I encourage you to check out the sites and see for yourself!

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PRINT SOCIETY

The skinny: Print Society is a new marketplace for prints and original artwork online. They strive to empower galleries to sell more art, to build relationships with many thousands of new art buyers online and to enable art fans everywhere to find the beauty they are looking for. I first learned of this site through today’s Online Weekend Guide at Daily Candy. [Titles, Artist and Info appear below each image]

“What’s Inside - Silver” by Hazel Nichols, $65 Buy

“Tools of the Trade” (Print) by Betsy Walton, $35 Buy

“Coexistence” by Shira Sela, $20 Buy

“Costa’s Hummingbird” by Fanny Shorter, $165 Buy

“Owl in the Attic” by Catherine Campbell, $18 Buy

[All images, titles, artist names, prices, etc… courtesy of Print Society]

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TINY SHOWCASE

The skinny: Site curators Jon Buonaccorsi and Shea’la Finch wanted to create an online forum and community where the talents of their friends and others artists could be showcased. Trying to keep things cost effective for both the artist and the buyer, they conceived of the ‘tiny artwork’ idea. They’ve been bringing you great art since 2005. I first found this site during an initial search for art before opening up Clarabella. It’s how I first discovered Amanda Kavanagh. [Titles, Artist and Info appear below each image]

“For every field, there’s a mole” by Caroline Hwang, $10 Buy

“Fall, Fell” by Jen Corace, $20 Buy

“Discordant Rainbow Ring #2 (Dithered and Fading)” by Zachary Rossman, $20 Buy

“Twelve Stories” by Ray Fenwick, $15 Buy

[All images, titles, artist names, prices, etc… courtesy of Tiny Showcase]

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SIX by SIX GALLERY

The skinny: An off-shoot of West Village gem Charmingwall, this idea for this gallery began after a few wildly popular small format showcases, or “Tiny Art Shows”. They were exciting enough that the curators wondered if they could create a gallery dedicated to small format original works of art. They could. And they welcomed anyone loves create art to participate. Six by Six Gallery was born and opened in the Fall of this year. I first learned of this awesome site through the wonderful Ms. Katie McClenahan… the genius in charge of Charmingwall. If I still lived in NY I think I’d like to work for her! [Titles, Artist and Info appear below each image]

Remember… these are originals, not prints!!

“First Date” by Celia Kutcher, $70 Buy

“Bare” by Michelle Farkouh, $100 Buy

“Tear” by Bruce Tatarian, $125 Buy

“Generosity” by Cori Dantini, $150 Buy

“Sun Kiss” by Mei Tung, $200 Buy

“Queen of Hearts” by Andrea Peterson, $250 Buy

[All images, titles, artist names, prices, etc… courtesy of Tiny Showcase]

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Of course there is always Etsy, but the inventory on that site has gotten so out of control, it may need it’s own post… or two or three;).

Hope you enjoyed the selections! Now go decorate the walls!!

This is a new one, so I’m a little excited! I just got a notice from one of Clarabella’s old neighbors, Marc from Fieldlines Architecture that his wife Adelaide is doing an open studio this weekend. She is apparently part of a new jewelry collective called Jumbo Studio, located in the DUMBO area of Brooklyn. From the looks of it, the collective is made up of at least 4 designers…

Talon

Alexia Cohen

Honey & White (Adelaide’s new line)

Rumi Ishino

Details for the sale (also viewable in the image below):

Jumbo Studio - 68 Jay Street Room 610A, Brooklyn

12/4-5 from 1-6pm

CASH ONLY

Sadly, that’s all the info I’ve got for now, but I’ll be back with more. I’m heading straight to the source for more info on these jewelry lines and maybe a few images for your viewing pleasure. Stay tuned!!;)

We’re now officially two days away from what most people think of as the busiest shopping day of the year. I’m not entirely sure if that’s accurate, but I wouldn’t be surprised. With big name stores opening doors as early as 6am with insane sales, shoppers go so far as to line up in the middle of the night to compete with each other for first pick on the season’s sales. It can get nutty and insane and I’m not sure it’s something in which I’d ever like to participate. Did you hear about the Walmart incident from last year… Is the $10 you save really worth someone getting trampled? Yikes.

Anyway, I’ve never been one for huge crowds. I lived in NY for 10 years and never went to Times Sqaure for New Year’s Eve. I actually tried to avoid the entire area as much as possible. On Sunday evening, I found myself getting slightly anxious while shuffling out of Gillette Stadium with 1000s of other sports fans. It’s not that I’m any type of phobic, I just like having my space. I certainly don’t enjoy shopping under pressure. So, while millions of people will be lining up to fight each other for the best sale on Friday, I’ll probably be cozy-ing up on my couch with a good movie and prepping my kitchen for a little pasta-making. That said, I’ve got a few recommendations. Good gift spots… browsing spots… lazy Sunday afternoon spots… Support your local business spots. There will be many more posts like these, and I hope to spend a little more time with shop and designer spotlights, but this is to get us started with this heavy shopping season!

For Gifts:

** Eli Phant :: 253 Congress Street, Portland ME

Felt Wine Rack - $40

Clouds Pouch - $14

Wood Candle Holder - $24

** Ferdindand :: 243 Congress Street, Portland ME

 Griffin T-Shirt - $24

Gorilla Onesie - $16

  The Dream and Scheme Notebooks - $10 each

** Blanche and Mimi :: 184 Middle Street, Portland ME

Graphic Aprons - $28 each

Orla Kiely bags - $158-$215

Travel soaps and creams - $2-$4.50
For Antiques:

** My Sister’s Garage :: 1328 Roosevelt Trail
Naples, ME

Vintage Canister Set - $36

Victorian Sideboard - $195

Strawberry Sister Sac - $45

Marina, Vintage Sewing Bust - $145

** Wild Plum ::  1253 Roosevelt Trail
Naples, ME

THE VERY LAST WEEKEND!! Wild Plum closes it’s doors on Nov. 29. Make sure to pop by this weekend for some great deals on old treasures. I bought 3 bookshelves there for my new place. Tracy is fabulous and her taste is impeccable!

For Fashion:

** Bliss :: 58 Exchange Street, Portland ME

My go-to spot for jeans!!

** Zane :: 41 Exchange Street, Portland ME

William Rast Ultra Low Savoy Trouser - $220

See by Chloe Embroidered Dress - $540

  Seychelles Pumps - $90

** Rogue’s Gallery :: 41 Wharf Street, Portland ME

Thunder Bay Bag - $298

Kent Sweater - $199

Fisherman’s Scarf - $64
For your tastebuds:

** Homegrown Herb & Tea :: 195 Congress Street, Portland ME

Teas!!
Pitta Plunge - A deliciously cooling blend of spearmint, peppermint, rose petals and lime peel. $18.50/6 oz.
China Congo Rose - the perfect balance between the delicate taste of rose and the bold, masculine aroma of late season black tea. $8.75/4 oz
The Flower Child - jasmine flowers, rose petals, lavender flowers and lemongras. $21.50/6 oz.

** Dean’s Sweets :: 82 Middle Street, Portland ME

Truffles - $17.50 for an 8 piece box, $27.50 for a 16 piece box.
Enjoy!!

It’s my first real Maine Thanksgiving since I was in college. Sure, I’d often come back for the holiday, but that always involved Wednesday 1/2 days leading into insane evening travel alongside what always seemed like every last NYC resident on route somewhere else. It was stressful and intense and though seeing family was always great, it was never really a holiday I looked forward to. This year, however, feels different because as I like to remind my parents… I live here now;). I’m here in Portland tonight, having just returned from an evening with my dad, step-mom and sister out in Freeport. I head to Naples tomorrow for a day with J’s family, to Porter on Friday for dinner with old friends, to Portland again on Saturday for a girls night with a close friend, and finally to mom’s on Sunday for a last holiday meal. Even with all of that going on, all of that driving, nothing about it feels stressful. Rather, it feels a little exciting. I’m looking forward to spending time with everyone and am thankful for the opportunity to spend the holiday with so many different people. On that note, I’d like to give thanks…

…for Family

Moving back has given me the opportunity to get to know everyone in a different way. I feel like I’m really a part of their lives again, rahter than just a voice on the other end of the phone. Baking with mom, watching funny videos with pop, going to the movies with my niece and nephew, dinners with my sister. It’s been fantastic and I’m thankful.

…for Love

Without getting too mushy, I’ll just say that I’m thankful for having found J again. I’ll save that story for another day, but I couldn’t be happier. I’m tremendously lucky to have such an amazing man in my life. For him, I’m thankful
…for Friends

Both new and old. This transition has proven once again the power of a true friendship. To my friends in NY, SF, LA and my new (old) ones here in ME, thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all - Sending much Love, Pie and a little bit of Turkey your way;)

xErin

I know you’d think with a name like Erin Whelan, I’m all Irish. But no. I’m 1/2 Irish, 1/4 Italian, and 1/4 mix of French/Spanish/Cuban. This post is dedicated to the 1/4 bit of Italian. It comes from my mom’s dad, Grandpa Joe. He was a firecracker;). Full of stories and comments about the world that could sometimes make you laugh so hard you’d fall off your chair. He knew the best Italian phrases which he willingly shared with anyone who would listen. And… he was a phenomenal Italian cook. You see, Joe (Giuseppe) came here from Italy when he was just a boy. He learned to cook from his mother, Antoinette and thankfully passed those skills down to my mom. One of our long-standing family traditions has been the making of Italian cookies, Pizzelles (pit-zelle) and Biscotti (bish-cotte). I’ve been making Pizzelles on my own for quite a while now thanks to a hand-me-down Pizzelle iron compliments of my mom. I’ve never, however, made Biscotti until today.

My mom drove in to meet me for a day of Italian baking in my new apartment. We did the Biscotti first, as they require a fair amount of baking time, and the Pizzelles while the Biscotti were cooking. I’ve got take-away bags full for J’s Gram and Mom, for my step-dad, my dad, my land-lady (whose family is from the same area in Italy as my Grandfather!) and one, of course, for me. The apartment smells fantastic, I had a gorgeous day hanging out with my mom, and everyone gets treats. What could be better?

Feeling sad that you’re not on the cookie distribution short-list? Drop me a line and maybe you’ll get a treat for the holidays;)

Pizelle Iron

Nice stacks of 10;)

Nice stacks of 10;)

Biscotti - After the first round of baking, before making the cuts.

Biscotti - After the cuts, going in for more baking.

Pizzelles

Biscotti - ready to eat!!