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Soda-fired* and garden inspired! Lori at Fine Mess Pottery seeks to nudge the world in a better direction, by adding a little joy to everyday rituals like preparing and serving food & drink.
While talking with a fellow potter the other day, I joked that we don’t have to worry about AI; our craft has been obsolete since before we were born. Machines have long been able to make ceramic dishware faster & cheaper than human hands. Why, then, do we do what we do?
Different answers for different potters, I suppose, but I do it because I want to nudge the world in a better direction. Life is mostly made up of ordinary things, and there’s nothing more ordinary than food & drink. If you can make the mundane tasks of daily life a little more joyful, life is overall uplifted.
That’s what I aim to do.
Slip-trailing – the method by which I create the floral imagery on the pieces – intrigues me because it records the luscious squishiness of slip in what becomes the adamantine solidity of ceramic. The flowers are sometimes recognizable, always stylized, in patterns that repeat but never identically, reminiscent of lace. The slip designs are delicate in appearance, but durable for millennia.
I choose soda firing to complete the process because it introduces an element of the random in work that might otherwise might feel too formal for daily use. I make the pieces carefully, decorate them even more so, then load them up and let the kiln have a go at them. I can still see the path of the flame on the finished ware. It’s like the kiln is a partner in the process, if sometimes a stubborn & opinionated one.
Squishy/solid. Delicate/durable. Formal/ spontaneous. I like contradiction. My phrase for it is aesthetic tension – when an artwork has qualities that speak of two contradictory ideas. Not that the eventual user will be aware of all this; not consciously, anyway. What I hope is to provide enough beauty and complexity to charm and engage them – to invite them to stay in the moment and enjoy their daily experience of using this ware.
*Soda firing is a type of stoneware firing wherein soda ash and baking soda are introduced to the flame when the kiln is nearly at its hottest. The heat of the firing splits the sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate (soda ash and baking soda, respectively) into their component elements, sodium and carbon. The flame carries this vapor into the firing chamber and onto the pots. The sodium interacts with the silica and calcium carbonate in the ware (as well any slips or glazes that have been applied to the ware) to form a layer of glass. It’s fired to a very high temperature – between 2200 and 2400 degrees fahrenheit – so it’s very durable.
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Fabula Nebulae is a small, family collaboration that makes all natural products by hand for body, baby, and bath. We chose our ingredients carefully and deliberately, and use only all natural, straightforward ingredients – organic and fair-trade whenever possible.
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Growing up in Maine, with its abundant natural resources and beauty, has had a significant influence on my creativity.
I make all of my own papers, embedding hand harvested natural elements in each sheet to add texture, color, and design, which conveys a sensitivity and detail of nature that cannot be obtained by other methods. I love combining multiple mediums to create heirloom quality pieces, enhancing indoor life with nature inspired creations. I hand form my lamps shades from copper, brass, steel and other traditional lamp making materials depending on the needs of the design. My jewelry is made from sterling silver or copper and covered with my paper, which is then sealed in the same fashion as the lampshades. Custom work welcome.
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Natural forms are the inspiration for my jewelry designs, each one of a kind executed in sterling silver, 18 karat gold and precious and semiprecious stones. I work with stone suppliers from Maine and around the world and make sure they are ethically sourced.
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Columbia Falls pottery in Machias Maine creates hand made pottery and hand painted tiles, inspired by the beauty of Maine. Lupine, wild flower and nautical designs are hand painted on a variety of useful pieces for your home. Plan a visit to our studio and gallery where you will be greeted by the artists and welcomed to down east Maine. We will help you select the perfect piece to take home or to gift friends and family. We offer complimentary gift wrap and will pack your purchases for safe travel. Expert shipping is also available.
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We are a husband and wife winemaking team located in Cherryfield, producing non industrial, handcrafted premium wines. We use the finest grapes and berries sourced from Downeast Maine and elsewhere, to produce our wines. With an annual production of just 500 cases, our focus is on creating wines of the highest quality. Our portfolio includes savory, barrel aged single varietal and blended red wines, crisp, refreshing white wines and berry wines of intense flavor.
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My work explores forms and movement of nature using a variety of materials, textures, shapes and finishes. The pieces are fabricated using processes including carving, forging, patina and found objects. The Maine coastal landscape is my current inspiration, exploring the dance between the ocean and rocky coastline. Shapes morph from water to stone and back again, relating the elements to their evolution through time. I strive for work that is both beautiful and powerful, exposing the essence of the subject. The materials are sustainably sourced gold, sterling, found materials and various stones. Many of the gemstones I use come from Maine, including tourmaline, amethyst, aquamarine and beryl.
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After many years on the retail fair, festival, and remote vending cart circuit, The Buoy Guy has decided to “settle down” and open a brick & mortar store in Ogunquit, Maine! Located at 13 Beach Street in Ogunquit Village, The Buoy Guy sells their own Welcome Buoys, Buoy Bats, and key chains as well as many other fun and high quality products many of which are also Maine Made.
WELCOME BUOYS – These are real lobster buoys on a rope painted in Maine by The Buoy Guy himself. Dozens of designs to choose from. Makes a unique, coastal themed gift. Welcome Buoys are available personalized!
THE ORIGINAL BUOY BAT – Invented and patented by The Buoy Guy himself right here in Maine. Made with real lobster trap buoys and hardwood handles. Easy to use because it’s light and has a very large sweet-spot. Played like baseball. Comes with a special face-friendly foam ball that won’t hurt if it hits you, and it can’t break windows. Awesome family game perfect for the beach, backyard, or playground. To watch a video about Buoy Bats by Steve Minnich of WMTW-TV, please click HERE! Buoy Bats are available personalized!
MINI BUOYS – Mini buoys are made of wood and available in 24 fun designs! Use them as Key Chains, Zipper Pulls, Backpack bling, Christmas Ornaments or in whatever application you’d like!
All buoys are PAINTED by The Buoy Guy…No stick-on vinyl is used!
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Celebrate old holiday traditions, or begin a new one with personalized Christmas stockings. Away Up North’s Christmas stockings are made from wool fabric with appliqués to reflect images and memories of the northwoods of Maine. All of our stockings are hand cut and hand sewn for you. Choose your favorite design and make it your own with custom personalization. Each name is hand-stitched to create an heirloom quality stocking that will be cherished for Christmases to come.
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I’m an artist.. My Name is Richard P. Morin. I live in the beautiful state of Maine. Ever since I was young, I’ve always been interested in art. I was born with the art gene I guess. It seems to come naturally to me. Over the years I’ve taught myself calligraphy,photography, painting and most recently jewelry making.
My work is constantly evolving. I was inspired many years ago by the beauty of flowers and began photographing them in my garden. I loved the intimacy of the close-up, but wanted more. This evolved into using many different techniques to enhance their beauty. Multiple exposures, intentional camera movement, selective focus and freezing them to create impressionistic or abstract effects.
Photographing Maine’s natural beauty as well as it’s magnificent lighthouses became another addition to my portfolio.
I’ve always had an interest in the abstract and impressionism. Capturing water reflections and even reflections in glass objects fulfill this interest.
About 5 or 6 years ago I picked up a brush and began painting with acrylics and have dabbled in oils, also.
I have won several awards for my photography. In 2013 I won my most prestigious – 1st place color category in the state of Maine Photography Show for my image “Iced Daisy.” My images have appeared in Maine Tour Magazine, Popular Photography Magazine, Down East Magazine, Connections Magazine for Toyota and several other local national and local publications. Additionally, I was honored with a solo exhibition of my floral photography at the Kennebunk Free Library. I’m a longtime member of the Art Guild of the Kennebunks and Maine Made..
So, the journey continues – who knows where it leads to next! I hope you enjoy my work!
