Heidi is the author of 15 craft books with subjects that range from sewing to beading and recycled crafting. After receiving a BFA from UNH she art directed regional lifestyle magazines in southern NH. While in the midwest she taught at the Des Moines Art Center and contributed designs to BH&G, Crayola Kids, Sew News, Familyfun magazines and HGTV segments. After returning to New England in 2004 she was inspired by her new home in the Maine woods and designed the first animal Whimsy Kits. A lifetime of teaching and design experience has fueled the success of her joyous creative business.
Lovell Designs
Posted by Ken Kantro & filed under .
Craftsman Ken Kantro has worked in Maine for over fifty years.
He received degrees from the University of Maine and the State University of New York.
In the early 1970’s his interest in Asian art and philosophy led him to
an apprenticeship at a pottery utilizing traditional Japanese techniques.
As he worked with combinations of clay and metal, he was fascinated
with the light reflecting qualities of metal and its creative potential.
He went on to study and master the techniques of early American
pewter design and fabrication.
In 1975 he set up his workshop on a farm in Lovell, Maine. For the past 4 decades he has designed a
popular collection of nature inspired jewelry and ornaments under the name Lovell Designs.
Today Ken works out of his studio in Biddeford, Maine creating original
designs in sterling, pewter & gold. He has received commissions
from numerous museums and institutions including the Art Institute of Chicago,
The Winterthur Museum, Monticello, and the National Holocaust Museum.
His work is also in the Portland Museum of Art permanent collection.
He has won numerous awards & his work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution.
Marin Skincare
Posted by Patrick Breeding & filed under .
Gentle & effective skincare products for eczema, psoriasis and dry skin, using a glycoprotein found in lobster as the key ingredient. – Hello! We’re Amber and Patrick, the co-founders of Marin Skincare. While in grad school for Biomedical Engineering at UMaine, we worked with lobster scientists that discovered how a protein found in lobster that allows them to pop-off and regenerate limbs, could actually help hydrate and repair the skin barrier.
During this time, Amber had been suffering from terrible eczema all over her body for years, so while researching it decide to make our own skincare product using the Glycoproteins – after nothing else worked, within a few days of using our Soothing Hydration Cream, her skin was completely clear and back to normal! It completely changed her life – Amber could finally go out into the world without hiding her skin behind scarves, hoodies and hats, and just be comfortable in her own skin.
Because of this, we dedicated our careers to bringing Lobster Glycoproteins into the world to help people like her. Whether it’s skin concerns such as eczema and psoriasis, or dry, flaky, cracked skin from harsh Maine winters, we’re on a mission to bring this natural relief to as many people as possible, and energized to be using one of Maine’s natural resources to do it!
Westphal Studio
Posted by Shannon Westphal & filed under .
I am a Maine based artist currently practicing on Mount Desert Island. At the University of Maine I was a double major in Studio Art and Art Education. I have been teaching art on the coast of Maine for the past 12 years in the public school setting. It is here that I get to share my love for art and visual culture with my students.
My work is heavily inspired by place. Through the use of line, perspective and color, my work attempts to recreate the feeling of place more than a visual representation.
Island Designs
Posted by Judi & Chong Lim & filed under .
em·boss (/imˈbôs/)
verb
carve, mold, or stamp a design on (a surface or object) so that it stands out in relief.
“they used special tools to emboss the leather”
carve, mold, or stamp (a design) on a surface or object.
“a dull gold casing with the logo embossed on the front”
Chong Lim received a BFA in Painting and Printmaking from Minneapolis College of Art and Design
He worked for 7 years learning all aspects of embossing and hot stamping
He studied watercolor painting and metalworking locally and flame painting on copper in Little Rock Arkansas
Judi Lim received a BA in Anthropology from Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota
Most of our expertise has come through experience and experimentation within and beyond our specific training
We opened our business in 1978 on Great Cranberry Island, later moving to Bar Harbor and later to Scarborough
Our inspiration is derived entirely from the beauty of the natural world surrounding us in Maine
Mattie Rose Art
Posted by Mattie Rose Templeton & filed under .
Mattie Rose Templeton is inspired by the living and natural world that surrounds us all. Through art, she explores our connection to nature, including the undeniable fragility that is found there. And the importance for us to protect it. Art, since the beginning, has been a way to record history through visual storytelling. Mattie Rose attempts to produce art that moves the viewer beyond the piece itself, and into that storytelling place.
Using an “old fashioned” ink well, with variously-sized nibs, Mattie Rose is able to add different texture and line. She often avoids using color, because she finds the contrast of black and white more dramatic. While the subject matter of her work is based in realism, there is a conceptual quality added through geometric shapes and patterns.
Mattie Rose is a self-taught artist, born and raised in rural Maine. As a child, she had a plethora of illustrated children’s books at her finger tips. Mattie Rose and her three siblings were homeschooled and the family lived off grid. This alternative lifestyle was the foundation for the blooming of her vivid imagination. Much of her adult life has been spent in the rich and thriving art world of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mattie Rose’s work has been greatly influenced by Spanish American and Native American art styles.
Today, Mattie Rose is an active part of the western Maine arts community. Her work has been on display in many towns and cities across New England. She has participated in multi day artisan fairs including Portland, Belfast, Camden, Freeport, Bridgton, Lovell, New Gloucester, North Conway and Portsmouth NH, Bennington VT, and Long Island NY. Additionally, Mattie Rose’s work is available for purchase at Forage in Lewiston, The Local Hub in Greenwood, Cafe DiCocoas in Bethel, True North in Bethel, Nezinscot Farm in Turner, The Fair Share in Norway, Smedbergs in Norway, Gallery 302 in Bridgton, The Center Lovell Market in Lovell, Fair Ground in Fryeburg, Autumn Nomad in Jackson NH, The Met in North Conway NH, and the Local Grocer in North Conway NH. She also continually creates commissioned art for business graphics and private buyers.
Glasscapes by Stone Ridge Glass
Posted by Bernie Huebner & filed under .
Glasscapes by Stone Ridge Glass are a limited edition signature line of art glass—make particularly fine gifts, but they are also well suited for use by interior design professionals who serve both individual collectors and homeowners as well as corporations.
Glasscapes are a unique cross between high-end art glass and light sculpture. Many of the designs are interactive, with fully manipulable glass sets. In addition to the work displayed here, Lucie Boucher and Bernie Huebner are available to design and produce art glass works for the home, boardroom or corporate headquarters. Contact us with your needs and ideas.
Studio Choo11
Posted by Kirantee Sangsap & filed under .
After graduating from Bangkok University in Fashion and textile design, I moved to the USA in 2017 to begin a new life with my husband. Then we moved to Maine in April 2019 for his new career.
Maine was so new to us, we knew no one here. My first job was as a waitress at Thai 9 restaurant and a few months after that, I found a stitching position at Erin Flett’s hand silkscreen printing studio in Gorham.
After spending a year and a half saving up most of the money by working 30 hours per week at the restaurant and sewing a hundred bags and pillowcases per week. I invested the money in polymer clay and tools, with the intention for this to be a new skill that I could turn into my dream business.
It took me three months teaching myself to make polymer clay jewelry before I decided to quit both of my jobs to focus on only making quality jewelry and making it a real business.
Polymer clay is a fascinating medium. I love that it allows me to create and experiment with color, pattern, texture, shape, and form. It quickly became an obsession where I spent every single day with it. Not only working with clay but learning new techniques from reading and doing a lot of inspiration researching for my creative process. My inspiration is mostly from Art and Design. My goal is to make conversation-sparking jewelry that I get to express my passion in colors and stylishly incorporate with other media like brass, silver, gunmetal beads, or anything that would complement polymer clay. Every piece is thoughtfully designed, and I handcraft every pair in my home studio in Scarborough.
emmy+olly
Posted by Allison Chavanelle & filed under .
Hi! I’m Allison Chavanelle a watercolor artist based out of Maine.
I stumbled into watercolors by accident when trying to get another venture off the ground, but then quickly figured out that painting was something I had to do – everyday. I’m going to credit genetics because both my grandmothers were artists. I kicked off my obsession by using my maternal grandmother’s watercolors on a notepad half filled with her paintings. I have spent many years trying to figure out my perfect creative outlet and was relieved when I discovered watercolor!
I am a mother of a 4 year old boy – Emerson (Emmy), a 1 year old boy – Oliver (Olly) and a 5 year old husky mix, Kevin. There is a lot of male energy in my house, but I’m obsessed with all of them, unless they are going through a sleep regression…. My husband, thankfully, is able to match their energy. He is the kindest person I know and spends his days brewing beer for a living.
I am a former baker and ongoing sugar addict. I believe that traveling gives you the best education. Sarcasm is my language of choice and I’m an open book to a fault which can be a good and bad thing. I’m in love with living in Maine, until around March and then it always wins me back over in June.
Peace House Studio
Posted by Kate And Nick Bergmann & filed under .
Kate Wiebe Bergmann was born and raised in Bangor, Maine and enjoyed athletics, skiing, and 90’s jam bands in her formative years. She studied studio art at NYU and furthered her education in Landscape Design and arboriculture while living in Oakland, California. Kate began sewing, knitting, and crafting from an early age and became serious about sewing once having children and supplementing their wardrobe.
Nick Bergmann was born and raised in central Wisconsin and grew up hunting and flyfishing, which instilled his love for the environment. He studied English and History at UW-La Crosse and furthered his education with a degree in Biomedical engineering at Western Technical College in La Crosse. After spending a couple of years roaming the prairie in North Dakota he moved to California and met his future wife, Kate, while watching a baseball game at a local watering hole. We were married in 2014 and have since moved to Maine and live in Bath with our three little girls.
After moving to Maine, we dabbled with the idea of taking over an established drapery business, but this did not suit Kate’s passion for sewing clothing or Nick’s environmental focus. Nick began exploring different ideas to develop environmentally friendly products. As parents, we soon realized our children grew so quickly that some of our favorite clothing was outgrown before it was worn twice and other clothing fell apart before having the chance to become a hand-me-down. We decided to work to solve these problems by producing quality clothing with an emphasis on extending its life. We formed Peace House Studio in 2020.