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 →

Stepping into Evangeline out of the sunshine of a bright fall day is like walking into a cool, shady grove during a summer hike. As the visitor’s eyes adjust to the darker environment, contrasting textures swim into view: exposed brick … Continue reading →

The not-so-secret secret of September in Maine is that it’s one of the best months to be outside: biting insects and blistering sun have retreated, leaving shady woods and still-warm waterways open for exploration. But for Holly Curtis and Suzie … Continue reading →

Many of us daydream about starting a cool business with our best friend, but how many of us actually accomplish it? Katie Bowes and Hannah Haehn are among the lucky few for whom those daydreams turned into reality; their Washington … Continue reading →

“Surface design” is a relatively new term for an art form that’s been around for a long time: the creation of patterns to adorn items of every kind. After designing a pattern, surface designers get to see their work in … Continue reading →

Say the word “craft” out loud and see what pictures it conjures up. Tempera paints? Construction paper? Acrylic yarn in garish colors? Now replace it with “craftsmanship.” Suddenly the images are of finely wrought work (maybe metal, maybe wood, maybe … Continue reading →

Some people’s career paths run like an allée of boxwood in a formal French garden: straight, smooth, unswerving. Others find a more meandering way, like a path in a romantic English garden that turns unexpected corners and doubles back on … Continue reading →

Leandra Fremont-Smith needed a change of scenery. For years, she had loved running her successful design business from the barn attached to the back of her home in Yarmouth. As she recalls, “I could have my kids get off the … Continue reading →

Thomas Michaels and his wife, Nora Hattman-Michaels, are showing me some of their work. On the velvet trays in front of me lie hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry. Michaels picks up a diamond ring for me to … Continue reading →

When prompted, most people can recall their childhood blanket clearly: the smooth satin of the edging on a machine-made blanket, say, or the bright palette of Grandma’s crocheted squares. But not everyone’s blanket can say it inspired a thriving company. … Continue reading →