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Created from a lifelong love of the ocean and a deep pride of our state, Slack Tide Sea Salt is run by myself Lauren Mendoza and my aunt Cathy Martin, along with our families.
I was born and raised on the coast of Maine. The deep and cold ocean waters of this state have always had my heart. After college at UMaine I moved to California with my husband Dave for his career, but when our children grew school aged we knew it was time to come home. We are so fortunate to have found a magical space in York, Maine to raise our children and grow our business.
Each flavor of salt we make tells a different story about a little piece of Maine and what we love so much about our state.
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Catherine Wiersema started Chocolats Passion in 2014 in her Belmont, MA kitchen. After a move to Portland, Chocolats Passion moved into 189 Brackett Street, which housed their chocolate creation space and boutique for 5 years. In December 2023, the team moved into a much larger space at 175 Spring Street.
Catherine’s passion for chocolate making began when growing up in France: by the age of 10 she had come up with her first confection, a hard-as-a-rock hazelnut caramel! She is a 2013 honors graduate of the Professional Chocolatier program at the renowned Ecole Chocolat, and also went through their rigorous Chocolate Quality Assurance course. Early in 2024, Sarah Burns, a Culinary Institute of America graduate in Pastry and Chocolats Passion’s Lead Chocolatier, became Catherine’s business partner and co-owner. The entire team takes part in creating new confections, 27 of which have received medals in international competitions.
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My name is Steve Smith and I’m the owner of Renaissance Timber LLC in Cumberland, Maine. I returned to Maine in 2018 after a decade spent away for school and work. I started hand-hewing as something of a homing instinct, hearkening back to my childhood of playing in the fields and forests of coastal Maine and helping my Dad renovate our 1856 farmhouse. After 20 years spent immersed in shuffling papers or moving pixels in office work and school, I was hungry to experience life again in all five senses and to create things that I could see and touch. Hand-hewing makes me happy, pure and simple. I love the smell of the woods, the feel of bark against my skin, the sound of a sharp blade biting into willing wood. There is something visceral and satisfying about taking a raw material and turning it into a useful item that will last for generations. Also, sustainability is important to me. I want to step outside of the global industrial supply chain with its economic vagaries and exploitation. Instead, I want to create locally-sourced sustainable products with incredible terroir.
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I’m Joe Rosshirt, illustrator, animator, and adjunct professor (at the Maine College of Art) living and working in Portland, Maine. I have been freelancing under the name FortHouse Studios for over ten years with a strong focus on advertising and children’s media. I love to ski, play squash, drink craft beer, eat good food, and I’m passionate about ‘Making Happy Happen’. I also co-host a visual arts podcast called Thumbnail where we talk about everything art and how to be a professional artist.
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Emma is a mixed media painter and printmaker based in Portland, Maine.
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Erin O’Toole founded Oterra Designs with a vision of creating unique, expressive, and high performing gear for the climbing community. Erin worked for many years as a product designer and developer in the outdoor industry where she honed her technical skills and fed her creativity on the side by making personalized chalk bags and buckets for friends. As these gifts started to be seen around crags, gyms and over social media, she was overwhelmed with responses of ‘why don’t you sell these?!’ And as time went on, Erin felt more and more drawn to the craft of making gear that went beyond its function and into the realm of a usable piece of art. She is inspired by all of the diverse environments around us, and is committed to producing sustainably and doing her part to protect the planet. Based in southern Maine, Erin is an avid rock climber and mountain runner with an intense passion for all things wild.
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In 2012 I took an Art Quilt Workshop at Haystack Mountain Craft School where I was introduced to the magic of dyeing fabric. Living in Maine, commuting to Boston every day as a paralegal, the magic of taking a piece of fabric and creating a design or adding color changed my life, and I took every opportunity to participate in workshops dealing with shibori (Japanese shape resist) and dyeing. In 2016 I decided to dye full time, quite my job, took as many workshops from artists I admired and started to sell my creations at farmers markets and craft fairs. My training has been from amazing dyers/artists from around the world: Irit Dulman, Catherine Ellis, Sharon Sorken, Elin Nobel, Carter Smith, Ana Lisa Hedstrom, and others.
My inspiration comes from nature, reflections on water, and the amazing life of leaves and flowers.
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Dirt Wood Brass is dedicated to creating beautiful, elegant and hand crafted home decor to complement your home’s aesthetic.
Meet Dirt Haehnel, owner and maker
Every Dirt Wood Brass product is one-of-a-kind and handcrafted to order in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Like a finger print, the hardwood grain makes every piece an individual. With this in mind, every product is numbered and signed before delivery.
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Sheepscot River Pottery was started in 1974 out of the back of a pickup truck and is now a second-generation family-owned and operated business. Known for the original Maine Island pattern, it is one of the last hand-thrown pottery studios in the Midcoast region. Our pottery is handcrafted and hand-painted in-house long-tenured artisans. The patterns recall the beauty and uniqueness that is Maine, bringing beauty and joy to homes near and far. Our pottery delivers both form and function and is made to withstand everyday use. It is microwave, oven, and dishwasher safe. We hope that our one-of-a-kind pottery brings smiles to those who love Maine.
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Autumn Hampshire
Founder & Designer of Autumn Designs
Est. 2000
Located along the stunning coast of York, Maine, I am the designer and creator behind Autumn Designs, a collection of unique, handcrafted jewelry inspired by the natural beauty of my surroundings. My journey as a jewelry designer began in high school and grew into a lifelong passion, eventually leading me to earn my Graduate Gemologist degree from GIA (Gemological Institute of America.)
With over two decades of industry experience, I am committed to crafting each piece with the utmost care and precision. I believe there is a soul in things made by hand. Unlike machine-stamped pieces that roll off an assembly line by the thousands, my jewelry is born from a quiet process of patience. This isn’t just manufacturing; it’s a preservation of artistry, resulting in jewelry that carries an energy and a weight that mass-production can never simulate. By utilizing premium materials—including sterling silver, 14k gold, and hand-selected gemstones—I create lasting, meaningful pieces designed to be as enduring as the Maine coastline itself.
