I'm a wife, stay-at-home mom, crafter, and blogger living in rural New England. As seen in Martha Stewart Living, Food Network Magazine, and more! | Tutorials, DIY, crafts, parenting tips, recipes, money saving tips, product reviews, local product features, New England living, intentional living, and more! |
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.
- 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 -
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
Just stumbled across this sweet mention of our Ornaments on the Artists & Makers Page of Wiglesworth’s Mercantile’s website - thank you so much Anne! I was so honored to be a part of the opening of your shop and through your first Christmas season.
If you’re ever in Portsmouth NH, please be sure to check out Wiglesworth’s Mercantile in person - they cater to carrying New England-made products and have “Give Back” weekends once a quarter where they donate 10% of sales to local charities (how wonderful is that?!).
Happy Small Business Saturday! Just wanted to hop on here real quick and share just a few of my favorite small businesses and makers, most of which are based right here in New England. Quite a few are having sales today, so please go check them out and support them if you can!
Small Business Saturday Picks
Wiglesworth's Mercantile - Wiglesworth's Mercantile is one of the newest shops in Portsmouth, NH. The owner Anne is committed to only carrying items made right here in New England, and this week she is giving back to local charities with every purchase at her store (I love that so much!).
Mermaids & Madeleines - Heather from Mermaids & Madeleines makes the most beautiful, bright coastal-inspired jewelry around. She's also such a positive, happy soul and a joy to follow on Instagram.
Wolfeboro Candle Company - Carrie from Wolfeboro Candle Company makes wonderful candles, and this season is offering Gift Boxes too (our Hand-Etched Snowflake Ornament is included in the Large Gift Box).
Maine Rope Mats - Maine Rope Mats makes amazing recycled lobster rope mats and products. We personally have two of their mats and love the fun it brings to our doorways.
S.Lynch Knitwear - Samantha isn't actually from New England, but is a New Englander at heart and it shows in her beautifully made knitted items. I just love her chunky knit hats and her craftsmenship is beautiful!
Daytrip Society - Daytrip and Datyrip Jr., both in Kennebunkport Maine, are some of my favorite stores around. They are beautifully currated and have such thoughtful and unqiue gift ideas.
Watts in Maine - Watts in Maine is best known for their Perfect Catch Cuff, but also offers other jewelry and accessory items as well. They also have made donations to help with Shark Research.
Sewcialite - Roula of Sewcialite hustles so hard every day, working fulltime and creating the most amazing coastal-inspired rope creations and jewelry in her spare time.
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. Today on the blog in our New England Maker Series, I’m so excited to introduce you 11-year-old(!!) Grace Howe of Rock Art by Grace Howe - our youngest New England Maker by far! As a mom of girls myself, I find Grace so inspiring with her hard work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit.
Rock Art by Grace Howe is best known for her fun and whimsical wall art made of natural stones, paint, and ink.
Tell me a little bit about yourself and your business.
My name is Grace Howe. I just turned 11 in October. I love nature, animals, making digital art, vintage campers, and so much more. I really want to live in a tiny house when I grow up and become an interior designer/art teacher. Making art is my favorite thing to do all the time!
How did you start Rock Art by Grace Howe? Had you been making rock art for awhile or was this a new leap for you?
I started my business 3 years ago when I went on vacation to Maine. I saw this cool artwork made out of rocks in a storefront and thought it would be fun to try and create something similar. Before we left, my dad and I picked up some smooth flat rocks from the oceanfront and my mom was rolling her eyes because she didn’t know what I would do with ALL these rocks. When we got home my dad made some frames and I started making some rock art themes. They turned out pretty good, so I started selling them at Farmers Markets and fairs that I go to with my family's farm. Eventually I was able to create my own Instagram account and started selling at local storefronts. I currently sell my rock art year round at Gilford Country Store in Gilford, New Leaf in downtown Laconia, seasonally at Live Love Lake and Wolfeboro Artisan Barn both located in Wolfeboro NH, Concord Handmade on Main Street in Concord (November/December), and most recently I am located at the Beyond Gallery in Bennington VT.
What does a typical day look like for you when you work on your pieces?
When I get home from school, my mom has a snack for me and I usually check if I have any orders, respond to any messages or emails that I have received. I typically work on rock art designs in the evenings. I usually work in phases. Paper and glue frames, sort rocks by size, design and create, sign and put hangers and tags on. I have swim practice three days a week, so any orders that I need to put in the mail, I take them on the way so I can get them out quickly. This may also include a trip to the bank to deposit my earnings.
What is your favorite part about running your own business? And least favorite part?
My favorite part about my business is seeing happy customers and seeing how many states and countries my rock art is shipped to. I also love to update my favorite Fed-Ex and bank tellers on my progress. My least favorite part is having so many customers at once that it gets very frustrating to get all the orders done and on time. When “famous” people give me a shout out on social media, orders tend to pour in all at once. Most of the time, orders are made to order. I don’t generally have a stockpile of rock art.
What has been the most exciting moment for Rock Art by Grace Howe since you started?
The most exciting moment for Grace’s Rock Art was achieving my $10,000 car goal! It took me 3 years, but I am so happy that I succeeded. Another one was getting a letter from Dave Ramsey saying to keep up the good work! My parents have taught me about saving, spending, and giving. I have donated to several organizations that I am passionate about with funds from my business.
What advice do you have for kids just starting out in their own business?
Be patient. There are a lot of things that go on during your first few years of starting your business. You learn what goes right and wrong and what works best for you. It takes a lot of time to get the flow of it. My parents and our family’s farm have really taught me about how to be successful. I am currently helping two other friends learn about the ins and outs of how to start.
What is your long-term goal? Where do you see yourself in five years?
In 5 years I will be buying that first car I saved for because I will be 16. My personal goal is to buy a vintage camper and make it my mobile rock art store. I love vintage campers! Maybe I’ll have a website too and I won’t have to have a typical job someone who’s 16 has; I can continue to earn income from being an artist.
Who’s one of your favorite New England Makers?
Some of my favorite art makers in New England are Dan Tavis, @dantavis. He is a watercolor, digital artist, and illustrator. He has been one of my biggest fans. He is very inspiring with his work. He sells prints, calendars, books he illustrated and original art works. I have an original Dan Tavis that I purchased from the sales of my business. I think it’s important to support local artists. Two others are my swim coach Liz McBride @elmacb who creates unique nature inspired pottery and Natalie Robitaille @handmade_by_nattie who makes the most incredible pillows and now facemasks thanks to COVID-19.
Keep Up with Rock Art by Grace Howe
| Instagram | Shop Locally in New England at: Gilford Country Store, New Leaf, Live Love Lake, Wolfeboro Artisan Barn, Concord Handmade, + Beyond Gallery |
All photos courtesy of Rock Art by Grace Howe.
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.
