Mainers Austin Jones and Susan Dench have partnered to bring their passion for entertaining to products inspired by the beauty of New England’s woods and waters. Austin, an Annapolis graduate and veteran, brings her expertise in manufacturing and the promotional products field. Susan, whose former company joined forces with a recognized luxury giftware retailer, enjoys business development and product development.
Cobbs Hill Sugarhouse
Posted by Daniel And Christine Shea & filed under .
Cobbs Hill Sugarhouse is a family-run operation in central Maine. We love the tradition of making pure maple syrup – one of nature’s true gifts; spring is a special time of year for us!
A while back, we found that if you take the pure maple syrup, boiled over a wood-fired evaporator, and add simple, organic ingredients, you might just be able to make a fabulous thing even better. So we’ve been infusing and blending our maple syrup ever since.
Once we’re confident we’ve got the highest-quality Maine syrup, we start on our proprietary organic infusions and blends. By working in small batches we are able to achieve the subtle balance our customers have come to love. We are careful not to detract from the syrup’s pure flavor, but adding ingredients like Madagascar vanilla bean, elderberry, and birch syrup enhance the natural character of maple and provide a unique and memorable twist on a classic.
Our blends and organic infusions bring maple syrup to a new level. Try it for yourself – we bet you’ll like what you taste.
Forged by Thor
Posted by Tony Stanley & filed under .
It was in 2021 that I started blacksmithing and in 2022 my interest became a passion. I took a beginner blacksmithing course at New England School of Metalwork. Between that course and endless hours of watching other smiths on YouTube, my ability with the trade improved, as did my confidence.
The thing I love about blacksmithing is the process of taking a simple piece of metal and transforming that into a functional item; whether that’s a simple hook for a coat or an ash shovel for a wood stove. It’s a balance of brute force and art.
While blacksmithing is steeped in centuries of tradition and technique there’s still plenty of room for creativity. I strive to find ways to put my own touch on anything I make.
At the end of the day I get an amazing amount of joy from forging items that anyone can use: hooks, spoons, coat racks, fireplace tools, etc. I want what I create to be accessible for people so they can see the difference between a hand-forged item and something that’s mass produced. Everything I make is one of a kind and no matter how many times I make the same item it’s always a little different. That’s something special about handcrafting and that distinct uniqueness should be appreciated.
Dragon’s Breath Pottery
Posted by Bridgette Kinney & filed under .
I have been Potting for 23 years. I first learned in High school and continued on to Haystack Mountain School of Arts and Crafts, where I returned 4 times for multiple artist workshops. I also learned under a master Potter William Flood 1-2 days a week for 7 years. Once I had a kiln and a few years’ experience I taught Adult Education and at 2 summer camps, Alford Lake Camp in Hope, ME & Medolark Camp in Washington ME. I Opened a small Shop in Warren with my mother at her house. I am hoping to build a shop at my own house in 2023. Most of my inspiration came from my mother who was my biggest fan and supporter. She was the one who encouraged me to keep going. Inspiration for my fun animal pots, gnomes, fairy houses has come from my daughter, who loves to pot alongside me.
Unfiltered Skin Care
Posted by Brionne Beck & filed under .
I grew up in Midcoast Maine. I’ve always been inspired by other local makers & the beautiful rocky coast. My ultimate dream has always been to have a small business and continue the legacy of those around me, build my own schedule, and contribute something beautiful & functional.
I would have loved to be a fine artist but that wasn’t exactly in the cards for me. Instead, I went to school for Interior Design and found that my talent was bringing beautiful things created by others together to make really inspiring spaces. I also grew up in a family of bakers. From a young age, I was making my own recipes and playing around in the kitchen.
I find that my skincare business allows a creative way to merge my talents and interests. The design comes through in the packing and labels (which I design myself and have printed at Bath Printing) while my baking/cooking background comes through in the creation of skincare recipes.
Owning a business is hard work but I appreciate that it forces you to go beyond what you thought you could do. Since starting this business, I’ve not only learned a wealth of plant knowledge but also bookkeeping, photography, how to build a website, label design, the list is really endless but I’ve enjoyed it all!
My business doesn’t feel like work to me at all! But when I’m not “working”, I enjoy hiking local trails with my dogs, cooking, connecting with friends, and spending time with my family.
Made By ME
Posted by Heidi Marie-Peterson & filed under .
MadeByME artist Heidi Marie-Peterson makes unique handcrafted greeting cards and prints from heart rocks found in and around Acadia National Park. As a Mount Desert Island native, Heidi attributes her deep gratitude for nature to having grown up in Maine. She feels most at peace when she is admiring the rocky coastline in search of heart rocks. Photographing heart rock art sparked a passion for sharing her photography with friends and family in the form of handcrafted greeting cards. She now creates and sells both greeting cards and matted prints, which have garnered lots of attention from locals and visitors alike. They are the perfect way to honor Leave No Trace principles and take a piece of Acadia National Park home with you! Heidi resides in Bar Harbor, Maine and can be found heart rock hunting along Maine’s rocky coast year-round.
Run Amok Mead
Posted by Christy Hemenway & filed under .
At Run Amok Mead, we start with honey, add other delicious and delightful ingredients, and turn it all into an amazing taste experience. No two alike, each batch of mead is handcrafted, fermented and aged in stainless steel, making for a clean, clear fermentation, along with brilliant clarity and color.
Complex flavor profiles from the honey combine with the richness of fruits, or the stand-alone statements of herbs and spices to produce a drink unlike any other. Every honey is unique, and every mead showcases its ingredients in its own fashion. Probably the oldest fermented beverage known to man, mead is one of the most diverse libations available.
You’ll find us on the internet and social media as runamokmead, and we’d like to invite you to come by and Run Amok with us in West Gardiner, Maine! Because you know… 😉 what could possibly go wrong!?
Wicked Good Doormats
Posted by New England Trading Co & filed under .
Woven in Maine, by Mainers.
“Tough as Maine” Rope
Handwoven from new lobster rope.
Our marine-grade rope is tougher than standard polypropylene & specially engineered to last for years.
Weatherproof & Fast-Drying:
Resists mildew & mold.
Plus, up to 6x’s the industry standard for added UV protection against fading.
Craftsmanship Guarantee:
3 Year Warranty.
Each outdoor mat passes our strict quality testing standards.
Bradbury Barrel Company
Posted by Wayne Bradbury & filed under .
Bradbury Barrel Company is a custom wood display fixture manufacturer specializing in effective displays patterned for productivity. We offer a diverse line of quality cedar barrels, tubs, and unique barrel-craft display fixtures in various sizes and finishes. Handcrafted from northern white cedar, which is naturally decay and insect resistant, Bradbury Barrels are lightweight yet extremely strong. Authentic tongue and groove construction assures durability. We also offer a full line of bulk food accessories.
Whether a single barrel, a complete bulk or produce section, or an effective POP (point of purchase) display, our goal is to save money for our customers and increase sales and profitability with quality, hard working fixtures. We work closely with each customer to create a custom display that will successfully meet marketing / merchandising objectives.
Custom designs, logos, finishes and sizes are available.
No order minimum.
“The Idea Barrel….just imagine!”
For 25 years our customers have told us of the many creative ways they use our products. Some of our best ideas evolved from working with our customers to create a display to fulfill a specific need. We welcome your ideas for new uses and products, and would like to hear how you use our products. Send us a picture, email, or give us a call, and let’s get creative!
Block Brothers Custom Cabinets LLC
Posted by Ben Block & filed under .
While he was growing up, Ben’s parents sawed lumber together at their custom sawmill Block Brothers Lumber in Monroe, Maine, where they cleared land and designed and built their home from the ground up. Sawing lumber offered them a way to work with their hands, to be self-sufficient, and to provide a useful, tangible service to people in their community. Ben had to leave Maine—and return home—to discover that this was what he wanted, too.
Ben studied ethnomusicology and education history and policy at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. After graduating he moved to a small town outside of Durham, North Carolina, where he worked briefly on a horse farm and in an elementary school before finding work in a cabinet shop. Woodworking was a natural fit for a guy who had grown up with sawdust in his pockets. A stint at a small guitar shop helped him further hone his skills and deepened his appreciation for detail and quality. He eventually moved home to Maine, started building cabinets and doing finish work for a builder in his hometown. In 2013, Ben founded his business, now housed in what was once a boatyard on Route One in Northport.
These days Ben lives with his wife Morgan and their son Andrew on old farmland in a small town close to where he grew up. Drawing on his deep familiarity with the materials and his love of the craft, Ben is exacting, and committed to making timeless custom cabinetry of the highest quality.