The Portland Bazaar

James Sproul of Portland’s Hatched Goods and Adam Shearer are behind The Cdock™, a handmade iPod docking station that also acts as a retro clock and a (mini) flat screen TV. The Cdock™ is a horizontal docking station for your iPhone 4 or 4s. The iPhone is gently enclosed in a wood iPhone cover / charging station that transforms it into a mid-century bedside iPhone clock! The Cdock™ was never intended to alter the aesthetics of your iPhone, but rather to enhance the implied design elements already present. Because James and Adam use natural materials, each Cdock is unique. James and Adam will be bringing their beautiful handmade wooden Cdocks to the Portland Bazaar this weekend- so come check them out!

Illustrator and filmmaker Edward Juan loves to tell a story, and he wants to help you tell yours. With a witty and lively perspective influenced by his love of film, Ed’s handcrafted paper products include cards, postcards, zines and prints. At the Portland Bazaar, his booth will carry Juan’s set of illustrated holiday cards–each one individually handcrafted on a turn of century letterpress–can be personalized by the giver, creating a unique and individual gift for the recipient. His zines are a short silent film on paper, narrating epic tales in a small medium. He’ll also be selling his popular city prints: illustrated map vignettes from cities that he’s known and loved, including Portland, Toronto, Reykjavik, …etc.

We’re thrilled to announce the lineup for our weekend craft classes and demos! We wanted to celebrate some of the local talent in town and share that with visitors in a more intimate way, so we’ll be offering a range of classes on both days that will teach you everything from making wreaths with local Portland greenery and etching your own custom glasses to giving you tastings of great locally made chocolate and spirits. The full schedule and RSVP list is below. Class-size is limited to 15 people per-class, so please sign up soon if you’d like to join us!

Saturday, December 10th

11am-12pm: Wreath Making with Amy Merrick ($40): Design*Sponge’s resident floral expert, Amy Merrick, is flying out to Portland to teach a class in wreath-making using local Portland greenery and decorations. Each class attendee’s fee will cover all materials and you’ll leave with your very own custom holiday wreath to decorate with or give as a gift to a friend. SIGN UP HERE

*Due to demand, we added a second class on Sunday from 3-4pm! Sign up here

1pm-2pm: Lantern Making with Anna Cerelia Battistini ($35): Local artist Anna Cerelia Battistini will teach class attendees to make a beautiful paper lantern by hand. Perfect for holiday decorating or surprising your neighbor with a homemade gift. Your class fee covers all materials. SIGN UP HERE

2pm-3pm: Chocolate Tasting with Portland’s Woodblock Chocolate (FREE): Chocolatier Charley Wheelock of Woodblock Chocolate will be showcasing his delicious locally-made chocolates. There will be a wide range of samples to taste and gift-sets of chocolate will be available for sale if you’d like to buy some to take home!

3pm-4pm : Build your own Terrarium with Artemisia ($30): Terrariums are a great way to bring the outdoors in, and the perfect way to give a gift that keeps giving long after the holidays are over. Join Amy Aiello from Portland’s Artemisia as she teaches you to make your own terrarium. Your class fee covers all materials. SIGN UP HERE

Sunday, December 11th

11am-12pm: DIY Himmeli Ornaments with Kate Pruitt ($10): Design*Sponge’s DIY guru, Kate Pruitt, is flying up from California to teach us how to make a modern version of traditional Himmeli decorations using everyday straws. If you haven’t decorated your tree yet, or just need something to top your gifts with, this fun and easy DIY is a great skill to have in your pocket. Your class fee covers all materials. SIGN UP HERE

1pm-2pm : DIY Glass Etching with Heather Joy and Kate Keefe Sullivan ($10): Join local artist Heather Joy and Kate from The Portland Flea as they teach us how to etch designs on vintage glass. This class will focus on a few cool patterns and monogramming. Guests will also learn to craft gift bags out of ordinary household items. Leave with your wrapped glass ready to put under the tree! Your class fee covers all materials. SIGN UP HERE

*Due to demand, we’ve added a 2nd Glass Etching class on Sunday from 3-4pm. Sign up here!*

2pm-3pm: House Spirits Gin Demo (Free): Follow your spirit guide, Evan Kinkel of Portland’s House Spirits, as he covers a  variety of Holiday cocktails using House Spirits. Demo will include balancing the perfect drink, cocktail & spirit history, and background of distillation through the ages.

3pm-4pm: DIY Wooden Wreath-Making with Shannon Quimby ($20): What do you get when you combine local Salvage DIY Decorating Gal Shannon Quimby, scrap wood, a blow dryer, glue and paint? Lots of fun and super stylish, upcycled, one of kind, decorative wood wreath that will stand the test of time. Class attendees will leave with their own wreath and a couple surprises from Shannon. Shannon will also be signing copies of her book, Salvaged Secrets. Your class fee covers all materials. SIGN UP HERE

We’ve also organized a series of fantastic book signings to happen on-location! We’re adding more authors soon, but today I wanted to announce several that are confirmed:

Carson Ellis and Colin Meloy will be signing copies of their tremendous book, Wildwood. I can’t recommend this book more highly, so if you will be in the Portland area this weekend, please be sure to visit to get your own personalized copy. Details: Sunday, December 11th, 12pm at the Reading Frenzy Booth at the Portland Bazaar

I’m a huge fan of Corey Arnold‘s photography, and am thrilled he’ll be joining us on Sunday to sign copies of his fantastic photography book, Fish-Work: The Bering Sea. If you have a photography-lover in your life, this book is a must. Details: Sunday, December 11th, 2pm at the Ampersand booth at the Portland Bazaar.

Reading Frenzy was kind enough to offer to sell copies of Design*Sponge at Home while I’m in town this weekend for the Bazaar. I’ll be hanging out at their booth signing copies on Sunday, so if you’re looking for something for the new home owner or design-lover in your life, please stop by and say hi and I’ll be happy to sign and personalize your copy. Details: Sunday, December 11th, 3pm at the Reading Frenzy Booth at the Portland Bazaar

Artist Dan Gluibizzi recently moved to Portland from Brooklyn and will be signing copies of his beautiful new book, Our Time, at the Ampersand booth on Saturday (To coincide with Dan’s book, Ampersand will also be hosting an exhibition of Dan’s watercolor paintings in-store). Our Time is a limited edition book featuring details from Dan’s watercolor paintings and includes an essay by R. Jay Magill Jr., author of Chic Ironic Bitterness. This is a beautiful book that would be perfect for the art-lover in your life. Details: Saturday, December 10th, 12pm at the Ampersand booth at the Portland Bazaar.

Illustrator Amy Martin released a beautiful children’s book through McSweeney’s called Symphony City. The book explores the life of a young girl that is separated from her grandfather on the way to see an orchestra performance. Amy’s illustrations are bold, vivid and an absolute joy to look through. This book would be great for children and adults alike. If you’re in town please come have your copy signed in person! Details: Saturday, December 10th, 12pm at the Reading Frenzy Booth at the Portland Bazaar

Robert & Jocelyn Rahm are Portland-based artists and designers who had a vision for a hub where artists, makers and beautiful-thing-lovers unite. Beam & Anchor was created out of that vision: a home to makers, artists, upholsterers and carpenters who work in the top floor of Beam & Anchor’s premises; the bottom floor houses B & A’s retail space which features curated items from both new and vintage sources, including Jocelyn & Robert’s own designs. Local makers and artisans contribute to the curious mix of furniture, art, household items, and miscellaneous blend of rediscovered and reinvented objects.

Beam & Anchor will be featuring a small sampling of tables, carts, chairs and miscellaneous treasures from their current inventory. They’re thrilled to have the Portland Bazaar function as their debut into the community and are looking forward to showing off the rest of their merchandise once they’re officially open for business in the Spring of 2012.

Alder & Co. opened in the West End neighborhood of Portland in May 2010. The shop offers thoughtfully selected items that are suitable for everyday use as well as the grand occasion. Owner Carla Helmholz is passionate about goods that are made locally, but she also enjoys traveling to Europe and Japan to search for beautiful treasures. Alder & Co. will be bringing items from some of their favorite local designers plus some of their best sellers found on recent trips abroad (ranging from Christmas ornaments to Japanese stationery) to this year’s Portland Bazaar.

Anna Mara Flowers is a boutique flower shop where fashion and flora collide in the most elegant way. Designer Anna Mara features local and seasonal flowers in lush and romantic arrangements for all occasions and celebrations. Anna will be selling little cypress trees, paperwhites, fresh arrangements and wreaths at this weekend’s Portland Bazaar!

The Portland Bazaar is thrilled to have Josh and Andrew from Portland’s Beacon Sound DJ’ing the event all weekend, as well as selling great music for your holiday shopping needs. Josh and Andrew had the opportunity to open a record shop in the space next to Tiga this past summer when Revival Drums moved into a bigger space next door. They wanted to create a space that was comfortable and also well-designed — to that end, they utilized a minimalist, woodsy aesthetic to transform the room into what it is today. Beacon Sound has two turntable stations so people can settle in and listen to records that they are curious to hear. They carry both used and new vinyl and have a full cross-section of well-curated genres from classical to electronic. They’ve cultivated direct and exclusive relationships with a few labels like Ghost Box, but also carry all the labels you’ve come to love and expect, like Sub Pop, 4AD, Warp, etc. Beacon Sound also sells locally hand-crafted guitars by the talented Clayton Pledger. At this weekend’s Portland Bazaar Josh and Andrew will be selling an amazing selection of new and used vinyl, lots of soul, jazz, indie rock, electronica, and more. They also plan to have a few of Clayton’s guitars available!