Dulse & Rugosa was started from love of place. Years ago when my daughter was little we were the only year round residents on remote Gotts Island. This is an island with no ferry, roads and only solar electricity. In fact, I believe we have and still use one of the first solar panels available. Back then- before internet and cell phones, we were disconnected from the mainland. A business like ours, that grows or wild harvested botanicals from sea and shore could not be successful because marketing opportunities were very limited. Today with all our interconnectedness our business and our island can survive.
I discovered the power of seaweed originally because I struggled with a chronically itchy scalp since my high school days. I tried everything to find a solution including doctors and a wide variety of medicated shampoos. Nothing worked. I began experimenting with natural ingredients and it was seaweed to the rescue. That’s how our shampoo bars began.
Since our early days we’ve become aware of the problem of plastic pollution in our oceans. Finding solutions to this problem is now a cornerstone of our business. It’s our mission to make, pack and ship as zero waste and plastic free as possible.
Dulse & Rugosa, island infused skincare from the rocky coast of Maine.
North Wind Carvings
I love the qualities and warmth of wood. It is a unique material to me. I started carving about 20 years ago as a hobby. I am a retired middle school teacher. I was self taught over many of those years; however, I have also had four courses from a master carver from the United Kingdom, Chris Pye, who taught at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship for many years. As to where I find my inspiration, most of it comes from nature and a love of the outdoors.
Zucchini Fish
The seeds of the Zucchini Fish partnership were sown in 1987 when Carey Marden Shaulus and Stefanie Valovic sat across from one another during 10th grade art class. In 1999 we resumed our creative process of sitting around together, chatting, eating chocolate, cracking ourselves up and making art.
Zucchini was Carey’s pet fish in whose memory ZF was named. A professional photographer and graphic designer, Carey had the idea of starting a card company. At a jack-o’-lantern lit table of a mutual friend’s wedding, Carey asked Stefanie to join up. Our first studio was a small room in Carey’s Jamaica Plain, MA apartment where we struggled to fend off 5 cats from drying sheets of hand printed wrapping paper.
We signed up for a holiday craft fair in Harvard Square in December of 1999. Many (many) years, and many craft fairs later, we have grown a devoted customer base. We scrapped the hand printed wrapping paper and focused on stationary – blank cards, enclosure cards, notepads and a calendar. We endeavor to source the most environmentally friendly papers & packaging for our stationery. All of our products are either produced in our Maine studio or by Maine based partners.
Zucchini Fish has participated in the New England Made Gift Show, Boston Gift Show, Cape Cod Gift Show and The National Stationery Show and lots of craft fairs all over New England. Today our work is sold at gift shops all over the United State.
Carey Marden Shaulus has a degree in Photojournalism and worked for Boston area newspapers for 10 years before cutting loose to work freelance as a photographer, graphic and web designer. Her clients included interior designers, artists, art galleries, visual merchandisers and mall developers. In addition to being the primary Zucchini Fish artist, Carey runs the business of Zucchini Fish out of her studio in North Berwick, Maine.
Stefanie Valovic studied illustration at Parsons School of Design and RISD for two and a half years, and then left art school to study political science at UMass. Her “real art” is mostly figure work, landscapes and doodles. Stefanie has an MBA and now applies her creativity to her work as a public health communications specialist.
Our best ZF moment was when a 10 year old girl dragged her dad into our craft fair tent and said, “Daddy, I LOVE it in here!”
Micki Whelan Jewelry
I grew up in a small town on the Maine coast, where it was quiet and predictable. A nice place to be a kid, but not a hotbed of creative thinking.
Everything changed when my mother’s cousin came to live with us. Pat was an artist and I was an awestruck teenager. She traveled the world, dated famous actors and drove a tiny sports car. Most fascinating to me, she made her living as a painter. I wanted to be just like her.
Pat became a mentor to me and my three sisters. We took drawing and painting classes each summer, and I carried a sketchbook everywhere, because Pat said, ‘inspiration is everywhere’. When the Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk offered a jewelry-making class, I showed up with a stack of drawings. I fell in love with metal; it became my medium and eventually my livelihood.
I made jewelry and tabletop accessories for over 30 years and learned something new most days. In addition to exhibiting in countless wholesale and retail venues, I served as a consultant, a juror, a board member and a promoter in the fine craft field.
The transition from jewelry to two-dimensional art began in earnest in 2013 when I moved back to Maine after many years away. Recent encaustic work focuses on subtraction over addition, incorporating oil stick, graphite, charcoal and occasional found objects.
A life-long minimalist with a deep respect for Carmen Herrerra, Agnes Martin and Ellsworth Kelly, I strive for simplicity and intention in everything I do.
Maine Line Products
We started this business in 1979 with the idea of making and selling products from our great state. Maine Line Products is a retail and wholesale business that makes and sells Maine made products and those made by our team. We specialize in the Woodsman’s Weathersticks, nature inspired birdhouses, and wooden crates/boxes that can be used as gift baskets or displays. We also make many floor standing store displays and modular 4 panel displays and shelving that is great to be used in stores or by folks who do trade or craft shows.
The Northern Maine Distilling Company
The Northern Maine Distilling Company was founded by Scott Galbiati and Jessica Jewell in 2006. Scott and Jessica met while attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, each pursuing degrees in engineering. After getting hitched in 2006, the pair moved from upstate NY back to Northern Maine and began assembling the resources necessary to construct their one of a kind setup of micro-potstills. Finally in 2009, the first drops of true micro distilled vodka distilled came into existence, forever setting the new standard in crisp, clean, neutral distillate.
Marilyn’s Jam Session
Since childhood, I look back at how three major elements of my identity have shaped what I do. They are, first a love for hospitality, and table fellowship. Food preparation is not merely a chore for me, but a challenge I relish (an nearly unforgivable pun but…). I love to work with what I have on hand.
Secondly, I love to improvise, to make intelligent guesses about what will taste exquisite (and what will not!). This doesn’t insure a 100% success rate, but it does insure that I come up with jams like “Orange Up” (a habernera driven marmalade) or “Mapple”, a (maple syrup/apple jelly).
Third, I love history, so I research 19th century preserves, etc. This has led to the production of a spiced grape catsup, very similar to those produced on 19th century Maine farms. (My husband named it “Conquered Grape.”).
My creations include, but are not limited to ( There is always something new in my line-up of products!) : jam, jelly, relish, catsup ,syrup, shortbread, welsh cakes, cookies, cupcakes, toaster muffins, and granola.
worthygoods
I’m Dory, originally from The County now living along the coast for the last 20 years. When elements of music, color and style sing -or maybe that’s just Al Green singing to me- I get that seltzer-in-the-brain feeling. You just try and separate me from a creative lifestyle, I dare you. Inspired by peeling paint, historic homes, vintage tartan and reckless tea drinking. A goldsmith for ten years, worthygoods-smith for another ten and more recently, REALTOR®. I am fortunate to live on an island off the coast of Maine that is home to Acadia National Park. I enjoy creating a living. My worthygoods pattern ideas are sparked while we’re out adventuring in the combinations of weather and landscape Maine offers.
Maine Casual LLC
Maine Casual produces unique folding chairs inspired by the rich tradition of craftsmanship and boatbuilding in Maine. A chair worthy of the beautiful coastline, lakes and mountains of Maine.
Built from sustainably harvested FSC certified eucalyptus, marine mesh fabric, bungee cord used in lobster traps and stainless steel hardware. Handcrafted in South Portland, Maine and shipped anywhere.
Lively Accents
Lively Accents started as a small home based business while my children were growing up. As a self taught artisan, I have been making jewelry for over 30 years. I have a passion for experimenting with new designs & color combinations using a variety of mediums including Maine gemstones, Sea glass, Swarovski crystals, fresh water pearls and a variety of metals.
My pieces are often inspired by the beauty that surrounds me here in my home state of Maine. I have been a “Mainer” since birth, born and raised on Peaks Island.
All products are of my own design and handcrafted in Maine. Lively Accents is a member of “Maine Made” and the “Maine Craft Association”.
I’m so grateful to be to able to do what I love everyday!