New Ornament Designs - Lobster and Anchor!

We have some NEW Ornament designs - introducing the Lobster and the Anchor! Huge thank you to Wiglesworth’s Mercantile in Portsmouth, NH for the push to make these happen. At the moment, Wiglesworth’s is the only place you will find these designs so definitely check them out soon on their website or in person.

New England Maker: Early American Painter, Suzanne Carroll Korn

As you know by now, I love sharing about companies and products we love on the blog and our Instagram - and most especially those made right here in New England. It’s been a little while since I’ve done an interview on the blog in our New England Maker Series, but I’m excited to get back into it with Early American Painter, Suzanne Carroll Korn! I first came across Suzanne’s work in my friend Marie’s shop (Here Today Emporium). I loved Suzanne’s colorful and whimsical house portraits, so I bought one of them for our daughter’s room and have been a fan ever since.

Tell me a little about yourself and your business.

My name is Suzanne Carroll Korn and I am an early American painter and folk artist. My inspiration springs from the folk art landscapes, designs, and motifs found on New England’s historic paint-decorated walls. Over 20 years ago, I began researching, studying, and writing about these large and amazing remnants of American folk art… painted in New England between the years 1800-1860. This research allowed me to view and document both landscape muraled and stenciled walls, many of which were the original works of itinerant folk artists like Rufus Porter, Jonathan D. Poor, and Moses Eaton. Through this research, I became a “student” of these iconic American folk artists, and eventually, I began to paint landscapes in the style of Rufus Porter.

Creating scenic and colorful folk art landscapes has given me great joy over the years. When I borrow and blend the early American designs and motifs found on the walls I studied, I like to think that each painting pays tribute to life in the small colonial villages and coastal towns of 19th century New England.

Although I do a lot of painting on canvas, one of my favorite things is to paint on vintage salvage pieces from New England’s past. Old sap buckets, vintage bead board, old cupboard doors, rustic tables, and breadboards from days gone by, all make exquisite “canvases!” There is nothing quite like painting on something wonderfully worn!

In addition to my early American painting, I also enjoy painting in a slightly more modern style that features a bright color palette, minimal landscapes, expressive skies, small cottages, stone churches, farms, and fields of flowers. I love the peaceful spirit of these simple vignettes of rural American life. I am actually looking forward to focusing more on this style in the near future! Who doesn’t need more peace? :)

I just started adding favorite scripture verses to these paintings with the intent of offering scripture cards, note cards, and prints. Hoping such prints and cards will be a source of peace and encouragement for others.

How did you start Early American Painter? Had you been making folk art for a while or was this a new leap for you?

My folk art definitely had it’s genesis in my research and study of early American paint-decorated walls… but the really interesting thing is that up until 11 years ago, I had never painted anything freehand in my life! I had no painting talent at all! - Or so I thought. In 2010, on a whim, I decided to take a class at the Rufus Porter Museum in Bridgton, Maine... “Painting in the style of Rufus Porter.” Never in my wildest dreams did I suspect that my life would change forever from that one experience! With lots of follow up study of Porter’s methodologies, formulas, and designs, and by studying his original murals in homes all over New England, I somehow got to this place of creativity!

It wasn’t until 2015, when I took an early retirement package, did I have the opportunity to really focus on my folk art. A couple of years after retiring, I was able to rent some space at While Home Collections in Wilton, NH. That gave me so much great experience and I learned so much about running my business. I had my “shop” at White Home for 1.5 years, right up until they sadly closed their doors in December of 2018. It was such a privilege displaying and selling my folk art creations at this beautiful landmark shop. I loved meeting many of my clients and becoming friends with them.

These days, I sell a few select pieces at Marie Fortier’s delightful shop Here Today Emporium in Wilton, NH. I also obtain commission work from Instagram and Facebook. Mostly custom landscapes, folk art house portraits, and some painted salvage. Alas, I’m a little behind the times as far as setting up an efficient payment process - so if anyone sees a piece of folk art on my Facebook and/or on Instagram feed, and they are interested in purchasing, I still require a snail-mailed check! I know… I need to get with the times!

What is your favorite part about owning your own company? And least favorite part?

Creativity is my favorite aspect of the business. When painting a folk art landscape, there is a step-by-step methodology that I use... the same methodology that Rufus Porter documented 200 year ago when he was painting huge landscapes on walls! It’s like putting a puzzle together. After backgrounds are done, the super fun part for me is the “decorating!” This is where I get to build out the painting with all the detail… the colonial houses, the trees, the boats, the flowers, the animals, etc. No two paintings are ever alike!

Something else that I love doing is hand-painting colorful tags for all of my folk art. I’ve always said that if the only thing I had to do each day was sit at my drafting table or porch, and paint little tags, I would be content! I can’t tell you how fun and relaxing it is creating these little works of art!

And if inquiring minds need to know - my least favorite aspect of running the business is determining pricing!

What have been some of the most rewarding moments for Early American Painter since you started?

I have been led to many wonderful opportunities, where I could bless others through my folk art. In 2018 and 2019 I was honored to donate landscape paintings in the style of Rufus Porter to the annual Fall Gala events at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City. My pieces were entered in to a silent auction, with all proceeds going towards the continuation of AFAM’s mission to educate and generate enthusiasm about American folk art.

Right here in my town of North Reading, MA, I’ve had several really nice opportunities to give back. At the historic c.1817 David Damon Tavern, I am the “resident” tour guide and Rufus Porter “expert.” When we have Open House at the Damon Tavern, I conduct tours of the amazing second floor ballroom where Rufus Porter, around 1830, painted stunning landscape murals. Also in the Rufus Porter ballroom, I host “Paint Like Porter” fundraising workshops sponsored by the North Reading Historical and Antiquarian Society. Surrounded by the historic landscape murals painted by Porter almost 200 years ago, adult students of all painting abilities learn about the life and times of Rufus Porter and the basic methodologies and techniques he employed to create folk art landscape murals. Each workshop is so much fun… students love this “getaway” day to do something relaxing and creative, and the paintings they each go home with are truly amazing! Students come from all over New England to attend the workshops. With the proceeds from just two of the workshops, the Historical Society had enough money to refinish the incredible 200-year-old wide pine floors in the ballroom!

Over the years, it has also been a great pleasure working with The Center for Painted Wall Preservation, a 501c3 organization dedicated to the research and preservation of 18th and early 19th century American paint-decorated plaster walls. I currently serve on CPWP’s Board of Advisors, and under their auspices, I will occasionally continue my journeys around New England, visiting homes/inns/taverns in order to document historic paint-decorated walls therein. Often we are called in by homeowners to document painted walls that have recently been discovered under layers and layers of wallpaper! I’m so happy that my field research done over the years has been entered into the SPWP’s Digital Archive of Painted Walls. This is a growing database of hundreds of walls, that at some point in the near future will be accessible to anyone interested in these amazing 19th century walls of folk art. The database will ensure that no matter what happens to these precious walls in the field, there will always be a permanent record of the historic folk art found on them.

Last but not least, I’ve always felt blessed to have the best customers ever. It has been so rewarding creating for lots of clients all across the country. Hearing the excitement and gratitude in their voices after they have received their new piece is priceless!

What advice do you have for people just starting out?

Never stop looking for ways to use your gifts and talents to brighten and enhance the lives of others. God will use your abilities and talents in astonishing ways! Find something that you are passionate about… something that you love… something that makes your heart sing… and the rest will come. You will know when you have found your “calling,” because your “work” will never feel like work, and you will see and experience the satisfaction and happiness it brings to others! If what you do brings a smile to your face, plus enriches the life of someone else, what could be better?

What does the future hold for “Early American Painter?”

I see myself continuing to create custom folk art pieces for my clients. However, I also want to focus on painting more of my “minimal” landscapes, and working on ways to incorporate inspiring scripture verses and messages into them. I’m not quite sure what that will end up looking like, but I do feel a leading in this direction. I see an Etsy shop in my future, and have even started designing it. Time will tell! In the meantime, I will be enjoying the creative life in North Reading with my husband Rich, and canine sidekick, Alice.

Who’s one of your favorite New England Makers?

One of my favorite New England Makers is Raffaella Gutermann, from Dolce Amar Bakery and Cafe in Groton, MA. Raffaella is an artist in the truest sense of the word - only her stunning “paintings” are on canvases of cake and other sweet confections! European designer cakes for weddings and other special events are her specialty. Raffaella’s creations are always the embodiment of elegance, beauty, and exquisite taste!

Keep Up with Early American Painter, Suzanne Carroll Korn

| Website | Facebook | Instagram | Shop a selection of items in person at Here Today Emporium in Wilton, NH |

All photos courtsey of Early American Painter, Suzanne Carroll Korn

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DO YOU OWN A NEW ENGLAND-BASED BUSINESS AND WOULD LIKE TO BE FEATURED IN AN UPCOMING INTERVIEW?  OR WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN HAVING ME STYLE, REVIEW, AND FEATURE ONE OF YOUR PRODUCTS?  
Please drop me a note.  

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More Interviews from New England Makers:

Travel Guide: Three Days on Georgetown Island, Maine

This September my husband and I celebrate 10 years of marriage. Originally we were hoping to plan a big getaway… maybe out west somewhere to one of the National Parks, or overseas - but when we were planning this past spring Covid was still a big concern so we decided to plan a short getaway closer to home. In the end it all worked out, because as another surge is coming upon us we feel like we just snuck in our little trip in time before Lockdown 2.0 (though hopefully it doesn’t come to that again). Overall we had an amazing three days on Georgetown Island, Maine and I wanted to share about where we stayed, what we did, and where we ate.

Seguin Tree Dwellings

When we were searching for a New England-based getaway we lucked out that Seguin Tree Dwellings had a cancellation for August (they are usually quite booked), so we jumped at the opportunity to stay here. We’ve seen photos of this magical-looking place for years and always wanted to check it out. We stayed at the Souhegan Treehouse which is arguably the most Instagrammed of the three treehouses at Seguin.

Our treehouse had three “sections”: the main house which was two stories tall and had a small kitchenette/dining area, full bathroom, and screened porch on the first floor; on the second floor up a twisty ladder was the bedroom loft and balcony with views of the tidal Black River.

Then attached to the main house by swinging rope bridges was a second smaller treehouse with a balcony that we had set up as a sitting room (though it can be converted to a second bedroom if you had more people in your group, or if you didn’t want to use the loft bedroom). We enjoyed the sitting room a lot - we brought magazines and books and it was so relaxing to just sit back and read and not be distracted by our phones (which we never even signed into the WiFi).

Finally, the coolest (in my opinion) part of the tree house - the cedar wood-fired hot tub! And yes - that is a hot tub, in a tree, with a swinging bridge to get it to it. Does it get any cooler? We spent every evening watching the sun go down over the Black River and relaxing in the hot tub. It was just picture perfect.

Seguin also had canoes and kayaks available for guests and we spent one morning paddling along the Black River, watching herons fish and taking in the landscape. The whole time out we only saw one other boat - it was so beautiful and so peaceful.

Red’s Eats

One of the absolute highlights of our trip was getting lunch one day at Red’s Eats which is just down the road a-ways in Wiscasset, so not technically on Georgetown Island but well worth the trip for sure! It was a rainy weekday - we got there about 30 mins before opening and the line had already started, though it wasn’t long yet. We patiently waited our turn and I just have to say the food was amazing and the service was even better (is that possible?!). Deborah and her crew handed out fried shrimp samples to eat and sanitized umbrellas to borrow while we waited in line in the rain. They also got on the intercom and gave some shout-outs to other local area shops and restaurants, which I thought was so kind of them. I ordered Fried Haddock and my husband got one of their world-famous Lobster Rolls as well as a Crab Cake. I wish I got a photo of the food but we gobbled it up too fast, it was so good. Red’s Eats definitely lived up to its stellar reputation and we will be back for sure next time we’re in the area.

Harborside General Store

One day we popped in to Harborside General Store at the very end of 5 Islands Road. It was super cute (check out that amazing view out the window too!). We chit chatted with the shopkeeper and found out she was originally from our area, what a small world. We picked up a picture book about boats to give to our kids when we got home and they loved it.

The Coastline

What is a trip to Maine without checking out the coastline? Most of our trip was a kind of rainy/overcast, but we didn’t mind - give me a rainy beach day anytime! We had the whole place to ourselves and it was so enjoyable to take in the sights and sounds of the ocean without tons of people around.

Five Islands Farm

During our stay, we popped over to Five Islands Farm a few times to grab some snacks or drinks. They had a great selection of gourmet foods, local produce, and gifts. One night we just bought a pint of ice cream there and split it for dinner at the beach - no rules on vacation! Right? Right. ;)

Doubling Point Lighthouse

Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of this lighthouse, but I recommend checking it out if you get the chance! We went early one morning to check it out, only to be met with a sign saying the grounds opened at 9AM… we were tempted to go check out this picturesque lighthouse with a long dock leading to it, but the home there looked like it was a private residence and we wanted to be respectful of those that lived there, so we left without seeing it up close. It’s important to note that to get there you take a narrow dirt residential road and there is only room for 2-3 cars to park.

Five Islands Lobster Co.

One day for lunch we went to Five Islands Lobster Company, which is located on a working wharf on the Sheepscot River. The place was hopping! So much so that we couldn’t find parking anywhere so my husband dropped me off to get food while he waited a mile or two down the road to come pick me up later. I enjoyed the wait though, it was a beautiful day and it was so interesting watching the hard-working fishermen come and go. We got scallops and haddock and brought them back to enjoy at our treehouse at Seguin Tree Dwellings.

Georgetown Pottery

We also stopped into Georgetown Pottery to browse - so many beautiful pieces in a wide variety of styles. I particularly loved the ones with birch trees on them (no surprise). They also had some amazing sculpture pieces for the garden outside.

Winnegance Restaurant & Bakery

One thing we did struggle with finding on Georgetown Island was breakfast options… so for breakfasts we hopped over to the Bath, Maine area which was just a short drive away and got breakfast to-go from Winnegance Restaurant & Bakery every morning. We loved Winnegance for it’s small-town diner feel, with local regulars eating breakfast there each morning. We brought our breakfasts to the South End Boat Launch to enjoy breakfast with a view of the Kennebec River and Doubling Point Lighthouse across the way.

On the drive to and from Winnegance you get to pass Bath Iron Works which is always so impressive to behold, and The Maine Maritime Museum which we want to visit next time we’re in the area.

Overall we had an amazing and relaxing three days in the Georgetown Island area and we’re looking forward to another trip back there again in the future.

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August Box from The Maineland Co.

As you all know by now I love finding and sharing about New England-based businesses, so I was so excited when I came across The Maineland Co. - a small business that creates seasonal subscription boxes that feature Maine-made products. Maineland Co. was kind enough to send me their August Box a little early to share with all of you. | This post contains an honest review of product provided by The Maineland Co. |

The August Box from The Maineland Co. celebrates fair season and BLUEBERRIES! The curated box comes nicely presented and includes a “When Life Gives you Blueberries” t-shirt from Creation Labs, a “Blueberry Rake” spork from Pieces of Maine Jewelry, and a rustic blueberry box from Crafted Downeast.

“When life gives you blueberries…” you make pie and eat it with your blueberry rake of course! I made sure to put the t-shirt and blueberry rake spork to good use to help me enjoy this big ‘ol plate of blueberry pie ;)

And the rustic blueberry crate has so many possibilities! For now I put some hydrangeas in it to dry (it will make such a cute centerpiece on the dining room table), but it would make a great item for kitchen decor or as a catch-all by the door for your keys, wallet, etc.

Maine is well known for it’s blueberries, so what better gift for the blueberry-lover in your life than these fun items that can be enjoyed for many more blueberry seasons to come? But the best thing about Maineland Co. boxes is they bring a little piece of Maine to the recipient and every season there is a new curated box full of different Maine-made products to enjoy.

Keep Up with The Maineland Co.

| Website | Instagram | Facebook |

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- I received this item for review from The Maineland Co. but all opinions expressed are my own.  Please see our full Disclosure Policy for more information -   

Birch Landing Home Sticker GIVEAWAY!

In preparation of re-opening my Etsy Shop next month, I am giving away FIVE Birch Landing Home Stickers between Instagram and Facebook. Just hop over to one (or both!) of those platforms and look for this photo to enter - Good Luck!

Giveaway ends 7/23/21

When I reopen my Etsy Shop I’m planning on having this logo sticker available, along with another New England-themed sticker design, some unique vintage pieces, and of course my handmade crafts. Thank you all for being so patient these last few months.

Day Trip to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

This past weekend we took a much needed day trip up to Boothbay, Maine to finally see the amazing Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and its new art installation of giant trolls by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. The whole visit was beautiful and so fun. I’ve included a few photos here but they don’t do this magical place justice - the Gardens and the trolls must be seen in person if you ever have the chance! Here are a few tips and items of note from our trip. | This post contains affiliate links |

Tickets

Currently at this time Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens are requiring advanced purchased tickets only and your entry is timed (I believe this is for COVID precautions to help spread out visitors and limit the amount of visitors coming in at any one time to help reduce crowding). We purchased ours for one of the first time slots of the day and it was perfect. We found that the park was getting rather crowded by lunch so earlier was definitely better.

Masks

There were signs asking non-vaccinated guests to wear masks inside buildings, however we did not see that enforced. Nevertheless, we have been very COVID-cautious ourselves and made sure our kids put on their masks when we passed through the entrance building and when we left, also we had them put them on whenever we went into any other enclosed spaces.

The Trolls

There are five giant Trolls tucked away in the woods throughout the park. The map in the brochure was a bit confusing and it was difficult to tell exactly which paths some of them were on, but after a quick conversation with a very helpful gardener we had a good plan to see them all. At most of the trolls there were groups gathered to take photos but everyone was very respectful, waited their turn, and gave space so each group could take good photos with the trolls which was very nice.

So Much to Explore

Besides the incredible trolls, there are miles of hiking trails and so many gardens to explore. We spent several hours there and didn’t even see most of them. Our favorite areas were the Children’s Gardens with its whimsical flowers, buildings, and animals, and the various ponds and fountains. Our kids especially loved watching the tadpoles (SO many tadpoles!) and turtles in the ponds.

We got lots of compliments on our kids' matching sunhats too! They are our absolute favorite ones by Sunday Afternoons.

Lunch

We headed out early afternoon when it started to get very hot and crowded but we easily could have stayed and explored longer! There was an on-site cafe that had grab-n-go food that looked great but we decided to forgo that and opt for seafood on the way home (when in Maine). We would have loved to stop at Red’s Eats in Wiscasset but the line was down the block when we went by, so we got takeout from Sea Basket instead and ate our weight in fried seafood and lobster rolls - it hit the spot.

Overall it was a beautiful day to get out and explore this beautiful place with our family - we’re already planning on coming back later in the summer to see everything with different plants in bloom.

Giving Backyard Maple Sugaring a Try

We’ve lived in New England all our lives, but I’m ashamed to admit we’ve never tried maple sugaring ourselves until now. We have several family friends that own large-scale sugar shacks so we’re familiar with the process and had some great resources to ask questions. We kept it very small scale and simple, but you can get more technical with the process to make really consistent, great maple syrup. If you want to try this at home, I’d recommend doing your own research first to make sure your syrup is made safely and well. | This post contains affiliate links |

I didn’t take too many photos of the process but we started by tapping the trees. We drilled into sugar maples at a slight upward angle so the sap will drip out, tapped in special metal spigots (also called spiles) with hooks, and hung buckets to catch the sap. It's important to do this at the right time of year when the sap is running, usually late winter/early spring when the days are above freezing and the nights are cold.

Once we got a total of 5 gallons of sap, which only took a day or two, we started boiling. It’s a good idea to boil outside as it takes a while and makes a lot of steam and you probably don’t want that much moisture inside your house. We used a stainless steel pot on a propane stove ring in our driveway to boil. Once the liquid was reduced by half, we added more sap, and just kept boiling it down until it was a good color/consistency.

Serious maple sugar makers would reccomend you use a hydrometer to test the water content of your syrup to make sure it's at the right consistency. However, we totally just winged it and kept reducing until it looked pretty good. We prefer a lighter, more honey-tasting syrup so we didn't reduce it down to a dark amber syrup.

It takes a lot of sap to make a little syrup. We boiled down about 3+ gallons of sap to get the maple syrup you see in the jar. It takes a lot of work and a lot of time, but it was a fun experience for the kids and now we get to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Mmmmm, pancakes!

Disclaimer: This was a very quick overview on the process we did to make maple syrup. If you decide you would like to give it a try, I recommend researching it on your own and asking an experienced producer for advice before starting.

Coming to ACK 4170 on Nantucket!

So excited to have some of my custom ornaments heading down to ACK 4170, a beautiful gift shop located on the island of Nantucket! They are currently closed for the winter, but in the meantime you can shop their store online and then in-person again when they reopen for the season in April.

I wish I could mail myself down there with the ornaments - I haven’t been to Nantucket (yet) but have always wanted to visit!