I went to the Image Arts shop on Islington St during the hours of business on their website on…read moreTuesday September 8 and Wednesday September 9. Both days, the shop was closed and there was no sign indicating why. Does anyone have any idea if they are still in business? I only gave this the rating I did because I was required to provide a rating in order to post this and it came to me highly recommended.

Jon and Sue are an amazing team. We had some priceless art from our parents and they helped us…read morereproduce these images so we have them for generations to come. They have all the technology and expertise to capture any picture and create a framed masterpiece for customers. Check them out! Thank you so much, the Lane's of Essex

So many reasons to stop into this place…read more They support local artist with stunning displays of work. Everything is handmade and local. I have numerous items from here. If you are looking for a birthday gift, wedding gift, graduation gift or beyond check this place out! A college graduate would really treasure a gift from here. A local New Hampshire made gift is very special.

Best place in Durham to find gifts. Jewelry, home goods, bath & body products, wall art. Plus…read morecrafting opportunities. Owners are really nice people and artists working with fabric, glass and stones. 10-4 Saturday's. 10-6 Tuesday - Friday

Paying a visit to the "home" of Rocky Mountain Antique Quilts is truly like visiting behind the…read morescenes of the Americana Collection at the Smithsonian Museum, with often brilliantly colored quilts at your literal finger-tips even though most seem to be well over 100 years old and actually to 200 years and quite possibly beyond. They are not secured behind locked glass as one might expect but, instead, are directly out in the open and very touchable. Therefore, realizing this, it is no surprise that a visitor is first directed to a hand-washing station and even requested to wear gloves before handling any of the quilts. The presence of fast-food ketchup and grease and the like on even well-meaning strangers coming in the door must be presumed and guarded against -- just like "behind the scenes" at The Smithsonian. My and my wife's experience was the same on our first visit, and on just scanning the magnificence of the collected quilts, we quickly and fully understood. As to the quality and the variety of the quilts available for viewing and sale, they are simply remarkable -- as is readily seen by the quilts offered on the website. The owner "Betsey" is a fount of knowledge who "sells" with truly verifiable facts and not just "creative writing" as do so many. I can personally attest to the precise accuracy of the descriptions and representations having both been physically a "guest visitor" / shopper on-site as well as over the years having purchased at least -10- quilts, all over 100 years old and most 150 years old, and more. EVERY one of the quilts requested arrived in a condition and with qualities actually better than described. She is also immediately responsive even to general inquiry, such as when recently I really needed technical assistance cataloguing and identifying with particularity -- especially regarding pattern variations -- as well as dating the ones in my wife's antique quilts collection. In short, I both recommend "Betsey" and her Rocky Mountain Antique Quilts absolutely, without hesitation or reservation, as the quilts offered have always been truly exceptional, AND I endorse their up-front directing visitors to a hand-washing station to protect the integrity of such rarified goods for both the visitor and all those interested in the same quilt[s] that follow.

Betsey Telford-Goodwin's Rocky Mountain Quilts shop houses a stunning collection of antique quilts…read moreand unequaled source of vintage fabrics with which she and her staff meticulously restore old quilts. Put her shop in her antique house in old York, Maine, on your destination list! Learn about quilts in her shop. She is an appraiser of antique quilts which she will do on-line or in her shop. On the spot, Betsey can expertly explain the fabrics used, designs, colors, threads, and dyes, all the while giving you a sense of the sociology of the period of the piece and the circumstances of the quilter. She beautifully restored an 1850s quilt we have had for many years, giving it new life, and us a much better understanding of its probable history. I was so excited I brought four friends to Betsey for a morning's lecture on early American quilts that left us breathless with wonder about the designs, the variety, the loving care, the history and inherent humanity of each piece. Visit this gem on the Maine Coast!

The Button Factory Studios are a collection of artist studios about 1/2 mile from downtown…read morePortsmouth. It's not the only mill building to be converted into artist's studios, but I think they've done the best job. More than any other similar building, when I'm walking through the halls of this place I just want to chuck it all and pretend that I can paint. Or draw. Or make furniture. Or maybe jewelry. You get the idea. Just being around all of the creativity in this building (actually several buildings) is habit forming and I want to be a part of it. Every year they have a weekend called Open Studios. Many of the artists open their studios to the public and other artists rent space in the hallways, and they'd all be happy to sell you whatever they've made. Since this is during the holidays and it's in a fairly artsy community, it's popular. Parking is horrible, it's hot inside, and you won't get anywhere in a hurry because of the crowds, but the stuff you'll see is amazing. I have no idea what the day to day issues of working in this space are. I don't know if the owner keeps on top of things, I don't know who pays the heat or picks up the trash. All I know is that this space is one of the coolest and most creative spots in a very cool and creative city, and there's a waiting list to get in so having a studio here is probably a terrific thing.

Nothing brings me more joy than being able to see what other loyal art laborers have for exhibit…read more The old button factory has since been converted into a labyrinth of artist studios (inspiration, color, and life around each corner). Once a year, the artists open their studios and exhibit their work to the public... ~~OPEN STUDIOS is usually the first weekend of December (2011: DECEMBER 3 and 4, 2011 OPEN STUDIOS! 11-5pm!!!) admission fee 0$~~ *Several of the artists offer classes (painting, sculpting, quilting, etc). *My favorite studios to visit: Emma Ashby (an increeedible wax artist - her work breaths life and brightness), Erin A. Ellis (an aspiring childrens book illustrator who has created this adorable creature: the chubbikin), Jen Murray (wonderfully talented photographer - - - great to keep in mind for wedding planning couples, or collectors of unique prints), Sarah Minor (painter of canvas floor cloths), and Roger Goldenberg (crazy awesome, 3-dimensional paintings!). *For SALE??!!! Yes, some works are a bit...costly, but these are pieces which will last a lifetime (and then another...and another). Spread the love, invest in art! Just when the holidays are shifting into fourth gear, it's a wonderful way to spend an early-December morning. Great (brilliant!) people, a unique space, and (of course) enough artistic eye candy to light your own wee inspiration candle.

Love the bistro table I got from here! It's exactly what I was looking for. Great place for shabby…read morechic furniture! They have new furniture too!

I have purchased several pieces from Margie. She takes high-quality previously owned furniture that…read moreis a little outdated and updates it to look absolutely fabulous. Pieces that you find in magazines or furniture stores NOT near the quality. She has also new pieces of furniture but to me it's the ones that she paints and updates that are excellent design and value.

What an awesome little studio! There's a ton of unique and interesting pottery, really friendly…read morepeople, and a really friendly little dog who like to have her back scratched. You can't help but feel like you're home when you're here.

I love this little studio. I love that you can see the workspace as well as the gallery space. I…read morelove that there's NPR playing in the background when I go in, and I love that the owner recognized me from one visit to the next a couple months later. I'm always able to find a unique, original piece to give as a housewarming gift or other small present for someone. Plus, the resident dog is small and cute and makes me happy. Hooray for local businesses.

The Art association organized a wonderful art walk on Sept. 9th. What a pleasure it was to walk…read morefrom studio to studio meeting all the local artists! From Art on the Hill, to the Red Door everyone was friendly and welcoming. Thanks for the great evening!!

The Kittery Art Association is an interesting collection of artists and their work is displayed in…read morea beautifully renovated old building that's a bit hard to find for the first time. I'm enough of a troglodyte that the best part for me were the really unique greeting cards upstairs. There's quite an assortment of work, mostly paintings.

The best selection of Portsmouth-related artwork in town. Prints, watercolors, oils,…read morephotographs... this is a good place to look, whether you know what you want or not. They also do custom framing and have hundreds of frames to choose from. And it's not just Portsmouth art, there's quite a variety but it's the local stuff that really set this place apart.

Fantastic art galley right in the heart of Portsmouth. Great selection of beautiful and reasonably…read morepriced water color paintings, oil paintings and photos. A must go to place for any art lover!