I have been a full-time professional sculptor working exclusively in hardwoods for the past 40 years. There have been several phases of subject matter for this work. For several years, the concentration was on sculptural lamps, clocks, vases, candelabra and other home accessories. During another period of about eight years, the focus was solely on sculpture in the round of a floral motif. After a twenty-two year period spent creating a line of highly-finished, sculptural, gourmet cooking utensils, my focus has returned to drawing inspiration from all things botanical. The process consists of hand-guided band–sawing, hand-carving, and sanding of solid pieces of wood. There is no bending of the wood in any way. To my knowledge, I am the only person doing this type of work to this degree of finish.
Islandport Press
Posted by Dean Lunt & filed under .
In 2020, Islandport Press celebrates its 20th anniversary and we couldn’t be more proud given the radical and disruptive change that has swept through the book industry since we published Hauling by Hand: The Life and Times of a Maine Island in the spring of 2000. Publisher Dean Lunt started the company in his Yarmouth basement and shipped early book orders from his garage, at times in temperatures so cold he had to plug in spot heaters so the tape would stick to the cardboard boxes. Today we have published more than 200 titles, not only original books, but also out-of-print books that we have revived and brought new attention to both the book and the author. Finding hidden gems whether in the guise of a new author or a forgotten classic is something we treasure and take great pride in doing.
Islandport now employs five full-time staffers—Dean, Holly, Shannon, Teresa, and Piper—and work with a host of contributing editors and freelance professionals. One thing that hasn’t changed is that from the beginning we have been dedicated to this mission:
Islandport is a dynamic, award-winning publisher dedicated to stories rooted in the essence and sensibilities of New England. We strive to capture and explore the grit, heart, beauty, and infectious spirit of the region by telling tales, real and imagined, that can be appreciated in many forms by readers, dreamers, and adventurers everywhere.
Russ Cox Studio
Posted by Russ Cox & filed under .
I endeavor to create paintings that evoke a sensory feeling associated with place, nature and experience. Paintings evolve from a process of applying layer upon layer with multiple glazes to create movement, translucency and depth. A painting becomes completed for me if it reaches a point of evoking an experiential feeling, with multiple viewers connecting with their own individualized interpretation.
As a process painter, one who mixes spontaneity of expression with reflective development of each painting, my work broadly falls within three themes of often overlapping but abstract experience: works that evoke a memory sense of experience of the natural environment; works that evoke a connection to personal action and movement; works that splash with color, texture and line, evoking a reactive feeling followed by visual movement through the work. Generally, I prefer to work on larger pieces so the viewer feels she is walking into the work, with details that unfold the closer she gets. This is achieved by using a combination of old techniques of glazing and layering while also incorporating contemporary staining, field, splatter, hard edge, and bold color techniques. The bubbling found in many paintings is one that I’ve developed over the last six years, and it moves in and out of my work. I paint, reworking the piece until the work resonates a feeling of a place or experience or wonder that I enjoy.
Nick Rossi Knives
Posted by Nicholas Rossi & filed under .
I was knife obsessed from the time I was about 6 years old. I think that the swordplay in the classic movie “A Princess Pride” made me first start thinking about the fact that someone had to make those swords. Inigo Montoya’s father was a swordsmith, so cruelly murdered by the “Six fingered man”. I thought that having the ability to design and then produce any knife or sword I could imagine would be the coolest job imaginable. I was lucky enough to get a job at a retail knife store when I was 15 and that introduced me to a world of talented, supportive craftspeople. I made my first knife at 17 and was hooked. I taught my first Knifemaking class in 2006 and eventually started a Bladesmithing program at the New England School of Metalwork where I stayed for 9 years before striking out on my own.
Birch & Grey Co.
Posted by Brittany Swett & filed under .
I am originally from Portland, Maine. I moved away and lived in several different cities for 10 years, but decided to move back to Maine about three years ago because I missed the city I grew up in. I am passionate about where I am from and giving back to my local community. That is one of the reasons I started this business. I ultimately hope to be able to donate a portion of my profits to local community non-profits.
During the day I am a lawyer. My work focuses in power-based personal violence and discrimination law. I love my day job, but I find it to be incredibly stressful. Around a year ago I found myself looking for a way to relax after work. I had heard of aromatherapy relaxation dough and seen a few options on Etsy, but they all contained dyes. I was looking for an all-natural alternative, so I made some of my own. I really liked the way the dough felt and the positive benefits that had on my stress level. I started creating the dough more frequently and sharing it with friends and family. I received positive feedback, so I decided I would create a website and begin sharing the dough with a larger community.
So far I have loved the experience of sharing my dough with others. The idea often makes people laugh or smile. I love the idea of bringing people simple joy. I have also really enjoyed all of the wonderful vendors and customers that I have gotten to meet at the few markets I have attended. I am so excited to grow this company and continue to share something that makes me so happy with others.
FlutterThatShutter
Posted by Marcia Hancock & filed under .
As a child I vacationed in Maine from Massachusetts, always taking my camera with me to take vacation photos of Maine’s natural beauty. Not knowing 32 years later I would live in this wonderful state. Since 2002 I have taken time to capture some of the most beautiful places in Maine. My goal is to capture that ‘awe’ moment that nature has to offer. I am inspired by all the places I have not yet seen. My talented mom, who passed away in 2007 started her own photography business after moving to Maine. In, 2014 I decided to follow her path and started my first business Always Wonderful Memories Photography Take II. Carrying on my Mom’s passion for capturing individuals and families. When you are planning on a vacation or an event to Maine feel free to contact me, to be able to capture memories that will last a lifetime. In 2020 I decided to separate my two business and creating Flutter That Shutter for nature photography and became a member of Maine Made. My goal is to make your space beautiful! I want each photo to take you to another place and to relieve all the stress you might have had that day! So, grab your favorite drink and let’s visit the great state of Maine.
Sewing a Notion
Posted by Kathleen Farnsworth & filed under .
For me, there is no greater joy than to spend time in my workshop creating fabric masterpieces. I make every fabric and ceramic piece by hand, which ensures its unique “one of a kind” quality.
I carefully select the highest quality batik fabric to create unique pieces that are as practical as they are pretty. By nature, and it’s unusual process, batik fabric is dyed in small quantities and available for a short time, so you will see designs and colors changing and evolving as new batik designs become available each season.
Each piece is an individual work of art made with the highest level of craftsmanship, and as unique as the person who chooses it.
English Field Pottery
Posted by Arthur Emerson & filed under .
I had my first experience with pottery during my college years in Iowa. I majored in Art and Education and worked as a student assistant for the ceramics professor. I took a break in my school to serve 4 years in the US Army. After the years in the Army I finished my teaching degree and returned to the Army to work in their Arts and Crafts Program. I directed crafts shop in the US, Germany and Korea. My dream has always been to have my own studio and produce my line of pottery. I totally enjoy my work with clay and continually look forward to each finished piece of pottery. I do not consider myself a production potter but I do complete over 200 pieces a week. The opportunity that I have to show/sell my pottery has been a joy to me. I enjoy talking to the customer about what inspired a certain piece of pottery, I also welcome input for improvements and new pottery needed. I often do special orders for customers when they do not see what they want in my booth. I try to get to know all potters at show I attend and if I do not have what someone wants I will direct them to another potter.
I enjoy visiting established potters in my area, I often learn more in an hour than a semester in college. I am looking forward to offering classes in my studio in the future, I find a great interest in people wanting to learn.
I have waited until I retired to start my studio but often wonder what could have been if I has started right out of college.
Scout + Bean
Posted by Lauren Beveridge & filed under .
I am a maker to my core. I’ve been making things since I can remember. Give me an idea, describe a product you need, show me a sketch of what you’re thinking – chances are, I can figure out a way to make it. I am a perfectionist through and through when it comes to stitches, size, shape, and consistency. I strive to create unique, original designs, incorporating elements that no other rope artisans are doing. I make pieces that people can actually use – things that are beautiful, but not so beautiful that you want to set it on the shelf and never use it.
When I’m designing my pieces, I’m always trying to solve a problem – needing a basket to bring in all the green beans from the garden, needing a tote to keep all my knitting in one place and ready to grab at a moments notice, a keychain that I can loop around my wrist because I’m hauling in eight grocery bags and a toddler on my hip. I don’t like tchotchke things that collect dust, and you’re not quite sure what to do with. My pieces are designed to be used on a daily basis and to blend seamlessly into peoples’ lives and homes.
I learned to knit sitting between my great grandmother’s legs when I was six. My mother taught me to sew when I was ten. Growing up, we weren’t poor, but like most Maine families – we were one accident or medical mishap away from being in trouble monetarily. My mom sewed our clothes from scratch. From a young age, it was always engrained in me that “we can make it ourselves”. Which when you think about it, is so incredibly empowering and self sufficient – to have the ability and confidence to make something yourself, because you can.
Two Fat Cats Bakery
Posted by Stacy Begin & filed under .
Two Fat Cats Bakery is committed to the honesty and legacy of scratch baking with an emphasis on American desserts and pies. We are focused on the experience of the customer and, in our food, value high-quality ingredients, time-honored baking traditions and techniques, and a humble creativity. Our goal is to modernize and bring back home-baked favorites to provide our customer with a memory of the past, but a taste sensation of the present. We do this through a love and pursuit of food history, particularly New England cooking, an openness to experimentation in all things, an adherence to high quality and, when possible, local ingredients, a respect for our customers’ advice and goodwill, and a loving determination to feed people and feed them well.
Though baking is clearly a passion for Stacy, she is also passionate about helping others, and she has never lost sight of her roots in working
for a non-profit. The bakery has donated gift cards for various community fundraisers and has conducted fundraisers for the South Portland Food Cupboard. Stacy has also worked with Maine Inside Out, a theater group for incarcerated youth at Long Creek Youth Development Center. The bakery provides cakes for teens to celebrate the completion of their sentence at the correctional facility. Stacy said it may seem like a small thing, but it’s a big deal for some of the young people, who have never had a celebration that was just for them.
She said the COVID-19 pandemic gave her some time to think about how the bakery could increase its efforts to help the community. Two Fat Cats launched a fundraiser in which $2 of each Mixed Berry Pie was be donated to charity. There were three charities that will benefit from this. One was be Maine Inside Out. Another was The Telling Room, which empowers young people through writing and sharing their voices, and another was Makeshift Coffee House, which fosters respectful conversations between people with differing opinions. As of press time, a fourth organization hadn’t been chosen.