Holiday shopping for a good cause

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BANGOR – Saturday, Nov. 2 – what a day for some great shopping for the holidays while helping out a variety of good causes.

Start out the day with the Designing Women and their annual show at Husson College. Proceeds benefit Caring Connections.

Head for University College at Bangor in the afternoon for silent and live auctions sponsored by Peace through Inter-american Community Action at College Center. Your bids help out both PICA and Bangor’s Sister City, Carasque in Nicaragua.

As suppertime nears, remember that “It’s About Time” for the annual dinner auction of the Maine Discovery Museum at the Spectacular Event Center. This year, make a special bid on a one-of-a-kind clock.

Between events, check out the numerous holiday fairs at churches and schools throughout the area

Designing Women

A one-of-a-kind ring or bracelet, a sculpture based on paper, cards you won’t find anywhere else, glass confections, scrumptious scarves and treasures in felt. A fine arts and crafts show, hosted by local craft guild Designing Women will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Dyke Center for Family Business, Husson College.

Every year, a local group that assists women and girls is chosen as a beneficiary of the Designing Women show. This year, the recipient is Caring Connections, a cooperative health program for women.

Women enrolled in Caring Connections receive breast and cervical health education services, and advocacy and transportation assistance related to their medical needs. Assistance for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer is one of the signature benefits.

Lisa Colburn, an the organizer of the Designing Women craft show, said, “All of the women artists in our show know someone affected by breast cancer. Some of us are also survivors. We feel deeply connected to the mission of Caring Connections which is to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone.”

Those who attend the Designing Women Craft Show have the opportunity to assist Caring Connections in three ways.

Several of the members of Designing Women have created special artwork for the show and will donate part of the sale to Caring Connections.

For example, Janice Jones, a weaver, has created some pink hand woven scarves for the show. She will donate 10 percent of the purchase price to Caring Connections. Judy Tripp, a woodworker, will donate $2 for every heart spoon sold at the show to Caring Connections.

Caring Connections volunteers will offer for sale a light lunch and refreshments. Profits from the sale of food also benefit this organization.

In addition, the entire suggested $2 donation at the door goes directly to Caring Connections.

Caring Connections is located at the Bangor Y, 17 Second St., Bangor. For information, call Robin Long at 941-2812 or e-mail CareConn@BangorY.org.

Designing Women was started in 1991 by a group of women artisans who wanted to give back to the community by supporting the work of women’s organizations.

The group sponsors yearly craft shows in Portland, Kennebunkport, Manchester, Freeport, Brunswick, Bangor and Portsmouth, N.H.

Artisans who show their work in the juried shows are chosen for quality, uniqueness and fine craftsmanship. Most often the work shown is contemporary.

Exhibitors in the Bangor show are:

Suzanne Anderson, YIKES! Studio, Dedham.

Susan Blaisdell, Skowhegan Handwovens, Skowhegan.

Lisa Colburn, Designs in Glass, Orono.

Jennifer Condoulis, Garden Dreams, Eaton, N.H.

Gabriella D’Italia, The Spring Street Co., Newburgh.

Lisa Eaton, Heart and Sew, Kennebunk.

Sister Bette Edl, Hermitage Fiberart, Stockton Springs.

Pamela Hitchcock, Pamela Hitchcock Goldsmith, Winterport.

Maryann Ingalls, Paper Cycles, Broadway.

Janice Jones, Jones Limited, Bradford.

Beverly Lamoreaux, Shipyard Point Glassworks, Franklin.

Ginger Manna, Bella Colore, East Orland.

Cindy McIntyre, Cindy McIntyre Images, Waldoboro.

Gretchen Mead, Laughing Raven Cards, Thomaston.

Jennifer Miller, Undercover Concepts, Lamoine.

Bridget O’Rourke, Joyful Image LLC, Wayne.

Kari Prichard, Felt Goods, York.

Suzanne Scribner-Reed, Wild Ivy Designs, Winterport.

Mary K. Spencer, The Potter’s House, Litchfield.

Sandy Spiller, Essentially Felt, Glenburn.

Judy Tripp, Tripp Sculptures, Palermo.

Susan Watson, Midsummer Night’s Meadow Farm, Garland.

Martha Whitener, Martha Whitener Designs, Long Island.

For information regarding the Designing Women Fine Arts and Craft Show, call Lisa Colburn 866-3861 or visit www.designingwomen.org.

PICA Live and Silent Auctions

Once again, the PICA auctions will provide a wonderful opportunity to have fun, do holiday shopping and support the work for social justice in Maine and in El Salvador.

Live and silent auctions will be held 2:30-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the College Center, 210 Texas Ave., University College.

For 21 years PICA has conducted an annual auction to raise money for its work and to help support Bangor’s sister city of Carasque, El Salvador.

Local artisans, businesses and generous donors offer wonderful items including original artwork, sweatshop-free clothing, holiday wreaths, cut-your-own holiday tree, pottery, books, yoga and dance lessons, Reiki treatment, gift items, handmade crafts, gift certificates for local restaurants and stores, a seacoast weekend, a sailboat ride, cross-country skiing, plants, flowers, food and more.

Tasty treats, including a juice bar offering Salvadoran Smoothies made from fruits of Central America, are back this year by popular demand.

Organizers say no shopping experience offers so much variety in one place with lots of fun, free food and great music by Brian Dyer-Stewart.

PICA, or Peace Through Interamerican Community Action, is a Bangor-based nonprofit organization.

For more than 20 years it has built strong, reciprocal connections with other groups, tying together the local, regional and global.

It works for a global economic and political system that respects human rights, and nurtures and sustains individuals and their communities. Much of the work is grounded in a 16-year old “Sister City” relationship with the community of Carasque, El Salvador.

View the growing list of items that will be up for bid at www.pica.ws.

Auction of many clocks

The public is invited to support the Maine Discovery Museum and bring home a unique gift at “It’s About Time!” the museum’s dinner auction on Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Spectacular Event Center, Griffin Road.

Guest auctioneers will be Kara Matuszewski and Chris Facchini from WLBZ-TV NewsCenter 2. The silent auction and preview of auction items begins at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the live auction at 8 p.m.

This year’s auction features 56 clocks, created by some of Maine’s finest artists. The one-of-a-kind works of art, from traditional to lyrical to whimsical, will become family heirlooms to be passed down through the generations.

Contributing artists come from across Maine, including Trudi Plummer of Bangor, Robin Lown Gardella of Augusta and Jeff Freeman of Bar Harbor.

Clocks are on display in downtown store-front windows and at the Bangor Mall. A “walking tour” list is posted at www.mainediscoverymuseum.org.

Tickets are $45 each and may be purchased online or by calling 262-7200. View the clocks online and learn about the artists who created them. Absentee bids accepted. “It’s About Time!” is sponsored by Bangor Daily News, Merrill Bank, QuirkSaab and Moss. Photos are provided by James Daigle Photography.