The Whimsy Collection is unique, humorous, colorful and delightful. Product designs are derived from original art created by David Milliken: his work is inspired by nature, the effects of climate change, Maine coastal life and architecture, flowers and plants, imaginary creatures and animals. These sources delight him as he interprets and comments on the challenges of contemporary life.
Many of the characters are based on animals. “I like incorporating them to evoke a strong sense of what makes us all human.” Animals used include owls, dogs, cats, horses, cows, ravens, pigs, chickens, turtles and imaginary beings. A descriptive word is written with most of the drawings to highlight individual characteristics, i.e. “Harried, Eloquent, Dreams, Ascendance, Balance, Strive, Fragility, Power of Limits and Reflections in Crisis”.
Heather Newman Art
Posted by Heather Newman & filed under .
Heather Newman Art offers fanciful and nature themed illustrations with a focus on Maine flora and fauna. I primarily work in watercolor, colored pencil, and ink and my art is meant to make people smile and spark their imagination.
My family fell in love with Maine 14 years ago and settled in the woods of the southwestern area where I am inspired by the beauty right outside my studio window. I love following a good rabbit trail and all of my images have a story and research behind them.
Rabbit’s Foot Farm
Posted by Jamie Hasenfus-Smith & filed under .
I obtained my cosmetology certification from Capillo School of Hair in 2000, which has been my aspiration since childhood. I successfully passed the state board exams in February and commenced my career as a cosmetologist shortly thereafter. After several years, I experienced some issues with my hands, leading me to take a break from my profession. During this time, I deepened my understanding of herbal remedies and explored the natural world.
Through this journey, I discovered that various food and chemical sensitivities were contributing
to the problems with my hands, prompting me to make significant lifestyle changes. I also acquired goats for dairy products, initially without the intention of producing soap. As a cosmetologist, I was hesitant to transition from salon skincare and haircare products to more natural alternatives. However, it wasn’t long before I began experimenting with soap-making using the milk from my goats. Currently, I create each soap with a specific blend of oils tailored to the individual needs of diverse skin and hair.
Transitioning to natural skincare involves extensive research; therefore, I now exclusively use high-quality oils, unadulterated clays, plant-based colorants, and essential oil or plant-based fragrance oils for scent.
Ellen Sedgwick Pottery
Posted by Ellen Sedgwick & filed under .
I have been making pots for over 20 years and apprenticed with a few woodfire potters along the way. Early on I studied at both Penland and Haystack and took various workshops with established potters when I could. The teaching and work of Hamada and Leach were strong influences from the beginning and something of that essence seems to have remained to this day. I am also inspired by contemporary woodfire potters and love seeing the pots that others make. I make functional pots on my treadle wheel and am constantly looking at form and surface and how the pot feels when it is used. I designed and built a 12 foot anagama kiln and have established a small crew of apprentices/potters to help fire it. The kiln fires with solely wood for about a week and reaches temperatures above 2200°. I am so grateful to be living my dream and for all of the learning ahead. I live in Surry Maine with my husband and our 3 young children.
Artist Statement
I make pots to find meaning. There is a sense of presence and timelessness that I feel when making and firing my pottery and I believe this is contained within the final piece. In today’s world of stress and constant activity there is a need and a want to slow down and really feel the present moment and I think the pots do that. When you interact with a pot in your life it makes you pause and notice the line, the surface, how it feels in your hand. It makes you notice the food you’re eating out of it and it adds a quality to that experience. I am fascinated by the elements of wood and fire and intrigued with the surfaces that are created. To me there is an aliveness held within the pot, that is my passion. My pots are daily pieces. They are sturdy and useful and add beauty to the everyday.
Apple Shade Woodworks
Posted by John Marzilli & filed under .
I started working with wood over 30 years ago, mainly creating furniture and gift items as well as an occasion small boat. I concentrated on wood turning with the lathe about 15 years ago in my home workshop in Naples, Me. Once we retired, we moved to Bethel in 2017, and I now have a dedicated building for my workshop. My wife and I work as a team to produce, market, and sell our products through our stores online and multiple craft fairs in the region. I am largely self-taught, with a large library of woodworking books & magazines to reference. I take my inspiration from nature and the wood as it is turned. For the past few years our customers have requested or have inspired some new designs as well.
Bramble Dragon Ceramics
Posted by Set Balise & filed under .
Sett “Apples” Balise is a self-taught potter with about two decades of experience who resides in Liberty, Maine. His ceramic work includes contemporary functional objects like dishware and lamps, often with images engraved into them. His other hobbies include painting, drawing, mycology and walking in the woods.
Fresh Pickins Farm
Posted by Vicki Marion & filed under .
Founded in 2010 by Dan Marion a former professional skier turned organic farmer, Fresh Pickins Farm reflects a passion for sustainable living, adventuring, and a connection to Maine’s diverse landscapes.
We believe that the beauty of life lies in the natural world surrounding us. Inspired by the breathtaking landscapes of our home state of Maine—where the mountains meet the ocean, and the forests embrace the farms—we’ve built a brand inspired by nature’s rhythms.
Our journey begins on our saltwater farm, where we cultivate organic ingredients that are the essence of our personal care products. Every plant, every harvest, is a testament to our commitment to sustainability and our desire to share our connection to nature with the world. We understand that the products we put on our bodies should be as pure and nourishing as the food we eat.
Kimchi Beyond Compare
Posted by Daeun Kim & filed under .
I moved to the State of Maine back in 2013 leaving my home country of South Korea. Since my move to the USA, I always missed my mom and aunt’s kimchi and, unfortunately, all kimchi products in the US market never really satisfied me. One day my mom was telling me how flavors are really dictated from the ingredients’ quality. She also mentioned how an ingredients origin can make all the difference. I trust my mom in all food-related matters as her and her twin sister have owned a restaurant my whole life! My mom and aunt brought a bag of South Korean pepper powder when they visited me and made kimchi for my family. It was the perfect flavor that I had been missing. Since then, I have a strong belief in the importance of key ingredients in recipes, especially kimchi. You cannot ignore how the ingredient was grown, harvested, and processed with climate, soil, and weather conditions in its home country. Our ingredients all come from very trustful and reputable sources from South Korea and local markets in Maine, while availability allows it.
I have always been interested about healthy and diverse food. This led me to my university in which I obtained my food engineering bachelor’s degree. My passion and love of kimchi encouraged me to explore other kimchi types.
Perakis Ironworks Group LLC
Posted by Samuel Perakis & filed under .
My name is Sam Perakis, I’ve been blacksmithing for about 10 years, and I produce architectural ironwork in Portland, Maine. I moved my business from Massachusetts to Maine in May of 2024 when I agreed to take over the location of The Ball and Chain Forge when my mentor, Bob Menard, retired. I got started in blacksmithing because I wanted to learn woodworking with hand tools; I was in college and didn’t have any money for tools, so I figured I could make my own. I got on YouTube and was “self-taught” for a couple years but quickly found my local blacksmithing organization: New England Blacksmiths (NEB). After I got connected with the local community, things took off.
I’m a certified Journeyman and National Curriculum Instructor with ABANA (Artist Blacksmith Assoc. of North America) and in good standing with both ABANA and NEB. In addition to producing architectural ironwork in my own shop, I hold local blacksmithing events at my shop like anvil repair days. I also volunteer my time teaching at NEB’s Gilbert Teaching Center in Brentwood, NH as well as online with ABANA coaching the National Curriculum blacksmithing program. I’m affiliated with the Society of Inclusive Blacksmiths (SIBs) and I strongly believe in the inclusion of people of all kinds and from all walks of life into the craft.
Lickity Split Treats
Posted by Stacey Stolman & filed under .
I am a quirky, creative gal who has always worked in the food industry. My food journey began when I was little. My maternal grandfather owned one of New England’s largest kosher supermarkets, and my paternal grandfather was a poultry processor. Therefore, I was born into the wonderful world of food.
Boston University was my next stop. I graduated with a degree in Communications. My first job out of college was working for Ketchum Public Relations in NYC as the assistant to the director of the Test Kitchen. Instantly, I fell in love with recipe development and food photography. I knew that I needed a culinary arts degree if I was going to be successful in this field. I left Ketchum and enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America.
After graduating from the CIA, I became a food styling assistant and ultimately a full-fledged food stylist/recipe developer. My clients included major food companies, PR firms, cookbook authors, restaurants, resorts, and hotels. I also started a career as a culinary educator and was on staff at The New School in NYC. Fast forward a few years, I married and started a family. I continued to juggle photoshoots and recipe projects. After the birth of my 3rd child, I had the idea of starting a cooking school for children. This business began in West Hartford, CT, and when my family moved to Jupiter, FL, it expanded to teaching over 400 children a week in South Florida. In 2019, we left Florida, purchased a sweet little home in South Portland, and moved my food styling and cooking school business.
We are a family of dog lovers. Now, my husband and I are empty nesters. We are obsessed with our two doodles, Rosie and Harry. Being a chef, I was obligated to prepare homemade treats for our fur babies. They are picky, high maintenance, and the absolute loves of our lives! Yes, at times we love them more than our kids. Rosie and Harry can turn a frown upside down and give us so much joy and unconditional love.
Being the sandwich generation, my husband and I would divide our energies between elderly parents requiring my attention and young adult children seeking our counsel on adulting. To put it mildly, I was mentally tapped out. I would stare at my doodles and fantasize about the perfect job. One that would offer happiness, creativity, and lots of satisfaction. I needed a break from people and decided to focus on Man’s Best Friend. Lickity Split Treats was born.