Part of the fun of a general store is the element of surprise, of discovery: that “aha!” moment that comes from seeing many different objects rubbing shoulders with each other, soaps and sardines and salad tongs coexisting happily, sometimes on … Continue reading
For the uninitiated or even just the shy, a visit to a designer’s showroom can be a minefield of question—can I touch this? can I buy it? will it fit my living room?—with possibly intimidating answers. Which is why renowned … Continue reading
If you’ve ever built furniture, whether you’re an accomplished carpenter or just someone putting together an IKEA haul, you know that quiet thrill you feel when two pieces come together perfectly: it’s almost as if you can hear the satisfying … Continue reading
Getting the perfect blend of shiny new and older, gently worn objects for one’s home can be tricky, especially if one doesn’t have the time or energy to visit many stores. At Viand Mercantile, her new shop on the edge … Continue reading
On Route 3 in Ellsworth, where the scenery starts to shift from big-box stores to smaller structures and open fields, an old building stood at a crossroad. The longtime home of an off-season Christmas shop for summer tourists had fallen … Continue reading
What do poetry and jewelry making have in common? The connection is clear for Rebecca Perea-Kane (who uses she/they pronouns). “I think to move from poetry to jewelry is easy; it’s the same way of working, but just in different … Continue reading
Many of us have material objects handed down to us (for example, my grandmother’s battered silver tea strainer), but we also inherit less concrete things from our forebears (my grandmother’s secret technique for flaky piecrust). The United Nations defines the … Continue reading
I don’t know what I expected when I went to visit to Maine Surfers Union, but it wasn’t one of the best coffees in the city of Portland. Yet here I am, sipping a perfect cappuccino from a compostable bamboo … Continue reading
As anyone who carries a bag knows, it can be tricky to balance function and fashion just right; a stylish bag can fall open inconveniently, and a practical one can be blandly utilitarian. But Alice Yardley, who makes all the … Continue reading
In a small white clapboard building on the edge of downtown Northeast Harbor, Jennifer Judd-McGee has packed her shop Swallowfield to the rafters, literally. An acclaimed artist herself, Judd-McGee has filled shelves, display cases, and the walls from floor to … Continue reading
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