I have a BFA in ceramics from RISD. My inspiration is from the sea and nature. Spending time outside absorbing the beauty of the coast and the woods keeps me balanced, creative and inspired. Watching my work get used by family and friends at gatherings and parties really sparks my excitement to keep making.
B&W Apothecary
Posted by Brandi Church & filed under .
In 2013, I started creating natural products out of frustration! After fighting cancer twice, I wanted natural products that weren’t going to break the bank. It started as an experiment in the kitchen and after a few months, I produced the first line of products for skincare. After a few years I mastered mixing natural ingredients and expanded to hair, men’s grooming and bath products. I have no formal training in formulation and prefer the older method of learning through ‘tribal knowledge’ or from simply experimenting with a blend of old techniques with new.
Land of the Pointed Firs
Posted by Kelly Desrosiers & filed under .
My paintings are landscapes and seascapes inspired by my favorite Maine places, somewhat abstracted, and involve multiple layers of my own original hand printed tissue as well as sanding, traditional brush painting, stippling, and cutting. The overlapping patterns and layers represent a celebration of the richly interwoven tapestry of the natural world. In my paintings I also seek to convey the magical element that the Maine landscape holds for so many of us.
I have a background in both science (Animal&Veterinary Science) and art (MFA- University of Wisconsin) and taught art K-college for over 30 years. I have lived in Maine for 44 of those years, and my home is a small garlic farm in Unity. Now I paint full time, along with gardening, walking, and exploring Maine places, soaking up the magic!
Fields Fields Blueberries
Posted by Ashley Field & filed under .
Ashley was raised on an organic dairy farm in Western Maine and was very involved in 4-H and agricultural as a youth. Ashley was a 3 season college track athlete at the University of Southern Maine where she graduated with a BA in Psychology while also minoring in Business and Holistic Health. Ashley has always had an entrepreneurial drive and was excited to blend that with her background in Ag when growing Fields Fields Blueberries. Wild blueberries has now become her passion and she cares for and educates people about Maine’s iconic fruit. She draws her inspiration from the rhythms and connections to the land, embracing the seasonality of both farming and business. Ashley lives on their 60 acre hilltop farm in Dresden with her husband Jesse and their 2 children, Stella and Alakai.
Gardens of Asgard
Posted by Christina Andersen & filed under .
My plant journey began as a child, sitting on a boulder & making “witches brew” with plants, acorns, mud & sticks. Decades later, I am still continuously inspired by nature & the lessons plants have to offer us. After years of studying & apprenticeships, I’m proud to be formulating our herbal remedies in the traditional way of my Norwegian ancestors.
We make our products using the traditional methods that have been used by people for thousands of years. There is no speeding up the process or quick-fixes! We slowly infuse each herb for a full moon cycle to fully extract all the medicinal properties the way nature intended. Everything is made in small batches using fresh, organically grown, seasonal herbs, most of which we grow!
Like most New England Forests, the land we live on has been ravaged for its resources without reciprocity. We plan to restore this land to a healthy, vibrant botanical sanctuary where medicinal herbs grow underneath the canopy of a healthy forest with a thriving wildlife habitat. We plan to build traditional Norwegian Stabbur houses with grass roofs to host workshops & visitors.
Nautical Farms
Posted by Morgan Fogg & filed under .
I’m Morgan, the owner of Nautical Farms. I started Nautical Farms with my partner in life and in business – Jake Patryn in 2017. We both grew up in Maine, but our seaweed story starts thousands of miles from the sea. While living in Colorado, we began exploring the power of seaweed which has brought us back to our roots and led to the start of Nautical Farms.
We had no previous aquaculture training or knowledge but were proactive in following our passion to learn more and get involved in the growing industry in Maine. We now grow over 5 acres of seaweed, serve on the board of the Maine Aquaculture Association, host events educating communities about the benefits of farmed kelp and more! We look forward to sharing with you the experience of seaweed.
Fieldstone Gardens, Inc
Posted by Steven Jones & filed under .
Fieldstone Gardens, Inc is an established retail/mail order perennial nursery located in Vassalboro, Maine. We offer a full spectrum of perennials for the shade garden, sunny cutting garden, dry rock garden, and the native woodland garden. Come see our choice, well-developed, northern-grown selections of over 1,000 varieties. Container and field grown plants. (hardy to Zone 4/5)-many unusual and hard to find plants. We have 50,000 containers tucked into a country estate-like setting, with 5 acres of display and nursery production gardens, all located within a 250 acre, 4th generation farm. Vassalboro is located just north of Augusta. Plants are shipped throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad. Open House is always the last Sunday in June. Many events during open house and throughout the year. Website: www.FieldstoneGardens.com. Open daily. 9:00- 5:00 April – Oct and other times by appointment.
Marie Spaulding Art
Posted by Marie Spaulding & filed under .
Marie Spaulding was born and raised in Maine. She remembers as a child living in Downeast Maine always creating and being fascinated with nature.
Marie has studied art most of her life and has some professional schooling at a Maine University but has mostly gained her
skills through practical experience, learning through trial and error.
It took Marie some time to find her artistic path after working in other non-art industries, but an opportunity that sold her first painting in 2009 lit her creative fire and from there her art career started to take off.
She then became a full-time professional artist in 2018.
Her style is heavily nature inspired and is a balance of abstract and realism. She uses a combination of mixed mediums and techniques – focusing on colorful, textured pieces.
“I love animals – I’ve always felt connected and drawn to them -and I also love colorful textures and layers – my style has merged bringing these two things together.”
Painting mostly animals she enjoys the connection and meaning of each animal. After losing her yellow lab Lily in 2013 her connection to animals grew even stronger.
Her art studio is located in central Maine where she currently lives.
Three Pines Fine Jewerly
Posted by Robert Coppage & filed under .
I have been making jewelry now for 13 years. I went to VCU and graduated with a BFA. From humble beginnings making props for TV shows to working with metals and fine gems. Early on I did small shows. In 2017 I took the plunge moving to Maine to take over the reigns of a jewelry shop and have stayed in Southwest Harbor ever since. I draw my inspiration from MDI and my love for art; trying to put it into the metal and make pieces that can be handed down from one generation to the next.
Jonathan Alden
Posted by MATTHEW ALDEN PRICE & filed under .
Matthew Alden, founder-
Matt grew up at his family’s century-old weather-beaten cottage on the coast of Maine. It’s a place where shingles buckle and stain peels from the exterior as soon as it is applied. It’s a place that has been pieced together for over five generations. His Grandpa built the fireplace. His great grandmother made the dishes. An Alden crafted the rugs, lampshades, everything in the house. Matt calls it home but it’s not a place he can own. It’s a gift and a legacy that he is the current caretaker of. With his home in Maine in mind, Matt founded Jonathan Alden so the pleasure of handmade home goods could be spread. As a maker, Matt seeks to create what may be the subject of time- our time, and our descendant’s time. This is at the core of every Jonathan Alden product.