Linda Perry has spent much of her life creating unique hand crafted wearable art, distinctly apart from anything mass produced or made by machinery. She works quietly, taking inspiration from nature and the ever changing skies and harbor waters surrounding her tiny studio on Davis Island.
With diverse knitwear pattern designs featured in national shows and magazines, including recent spreads in Vogue Knitting, Interweave Knits, Piece Work magazine, Spin Off magazine and Victoria magazine, Perry has sold her work online exclusively for the past few years. This summer her shop was opened in downtown Damariscotta.
Her background as a fiber artist goes back decades. “Knitting has always been my passion” Perry says. She has degrees in Textiles and Fashion Design, and taught at the college level for over forty years. Natural dyeing has been the focus for about a decade and a kaleidoscope of colors created with natural dyes has evolved. Dyeing with indigo has been a special adventure. Being surrounded by the nature of the water and sky, it has created her love of indigo dyeing or “blue magic” as she calls it. Perry spends many happy hours outdoors dipping yarn into kettle pools of the natural dye, always surprised at what might emerge as the wool hits the air, oxidizes and the colors magically change.
The clear sea air and the calm harbor waters are an inspirational spark for creativity, where life and knitting are easy…just as it should be.
Norway Candle Co.
Posted by Ryan Lorrain & filed under .
I’m Ryan Lorrain, a lifelong Mainer who loves all things our great state represents and our way of life. As an avid candle and scent enthusiast, I created Norway Candle Co. in the fall of 2019 along my wife Becky. We produce handcrafted small batch soy candles and wax melts in the western Maine town of Norway.
Our products are sustainably made and non-toxic, using soy wax made from the oil of soybeans; along with premium essential oil blended fragrances that are phthalate-free. All of our candles consist of lead-free wicks to ensure they do not emit any toxins into the air and are not harmful to your health. We do this to ensure a clean and environmentally friendly burn, safe for you and your family.
Knit Fit LLC
Posted by Michelle McCann & filed under .
Our mission at Knit Fit is to support knitters who want to be more active. As seen on television as well as the Vogue knitting app, we at Knit Fit are dedicated knitters who are committed to keeping fit as we knit. We enjoy knitting as we walk and “getting fit one stitch at a time”.
Knit Fit has everything you need to take your yarn for a walk. We have designed a unique Knit Fit bag to accompany you as well as an instructional guide with sample patterns and tips to get you started on the right foot. Let Knit Fit show you how to enjoy your knitting and keep up your fitness at the same time!
See what WABI TV learned when they visited with us here.
The Faithful Hound
Posted by Kirsten Flakne & filed under .
I attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where I earned a BFA in crafts. After school, I spent many years as a sculptor, building museum and trade show exhibits and illustrating on the side. I am a self taught printmaker and started The Faithful Hound with an interested in combining my love for painting and illustration with my training in crafts. I spend much of my free time walking in the garden and hiking in the white mountains. I like to create stories about what the insects and other creatures are getting up to when they think no one is watching. As a result, much of my work has a strong narrative quality.
Caron Collectables
Posted by Helen Caron & filed under .
Caron Collectables is a small business I started where I personally handcraft quality detailed miniature figurines. Crafted with pride from different colors of polymer clay not paint each one is handmade one at a time so you are guaranteed an original.
Casco Bay Glassworks
Posted by Ben And Molly Coombs & filed under .
Fine handblown glass, made fresh daily.
Studio, gallery, lessons, and demonstrations.
Casco Bay Glassworks was opened originally as the Portland Glassblowing Studio in Portland’s Munjoy Hill Neighborhood. After 13+ years at that location we moved to our current spot on Route 1 in Woolwich, ME. All of the glass is made on location by owners Ben and Molly Coombs. We create objects from small ornaments up to large sculptures and everything in between. Our Gallery hours fluctuate during the year and can be checked by looking on Facebook, or sending us an email.
Zen Bear Honey Tea
Posted by Frank Ferrel & filed under .
The creator of Zen Bear’s Honey Tea is a certified Acupuncturist and Doctor of Oriental Medicine. His explorations of the qualities of herbs, and their effect on the body and mind led him to create a group of golden taste treats that bring delight as well as the benefits of honey and selected blends of
herbs.
Zen Bear Honey Tea is a Maine family business. In Oriental medicine, honey is hypotonic, meaning it draws out. It it is this property of honey which makes it the perfect medium for drawing out the herbal essences and the energies of spices, and imbuing itself with their qualities. The healthful benefits of honey and herbs are combined in flavors that are sure to delight every palate.
As always, Zen Bear’s Honey Tea is made with local honey and the finest herbs and spices. Our Honey Tea is made with pure Maine wildflower honey. In August and September the bees make honey until frost, from goldenrod and asters that grow in fields and along the roadsides. This honey, along
with clover and other summer flowers, gives the wildflower honey the same taste remembered from wild bee trees.
Note: Zen Bear’s Honey Tea is a honey treat for enjoyment, and is not meant to prevent or cure any disease or condition.
Maine Coastal Designs, LLC
Posted by Lillian Quatrano & filed under .
An artist at heart…
I grew up in the coastal town of Friendship, Maine. Though commonly known as a lobstering community, it’s most notably known for building the beautiful Friendship Sloops; which, if you’re a sailing/boating enthusiast, you will recognize the name of this sleepy little town immediately! Though I haven’t lived there in many years, the sea has always called to me, which can be noted in many of the hand-made items I have created over the years.
I have been painting for more than 30 years and love it!! Over the past few years, I learned about using resin and have added that to my repertoire, creating many one-of-a-kind 3-D framed works of art. I draw inspiration from daily sightings of things or even from personal experiences from my past or present. I never know what’s going to come to mind next, which makes it all the more fun…! Most of the beautiful shells that are used in my artwork were personally hand-picked from the rock-bound coast of Maine, along with sand dollars, natural rocks, sand, seaweed, and many other elements.
I truly hope you enjoy looking at, and hopefully purchasing, any number of items I have listed. If you have any questions about any of the products or are interested in having a custom piece created for you, please email me at info@mainecoastal.art
All the best…Lil
Mainely Handrails
Posted by Tom Welch & filed under .
Mainely handrails started as a dream for owner, Tom Welch, over 15 years ago. From a small one-person operation to now over 19 employees, Mainely Handrails LLC has grown into creating products for both residential and commercial applications. As a partner with Maine Cabin Masters, you’ll see their work gracing cabins all over the state with handrails, bannisters, fire pits, and other stunning applications. Along with their home décor lines, Mainely Handrails also handles many powder coating and fabrication projects for other companies throughout the state.
HealingLoops
Posted by Audrey Chisholm & filed under .
My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was 6 years old. I have always crocheted to pass the time or relax. When I had some health issues I crocheted to get me through my recovery. Not long after my daughter at age 5 was diagnosed with brain cancer. Throughout her treatment I crocheted to stay busy in hospital stays. We lived at Christopher’s Haven while Olive my daughter was in Proton radiation for 8 weeks. It was a game changer for us as a family and our journey, Christopher’s Haven made the worst experience turn into a positive. It forever changed our lives. From this I was inspired to start to sell my products and give part of each sale back to Christopher’s Haven to help other families going through the same thing.