In years past, there was a species of Lupine that was native to Maine, Lupinus perennis, but it is now so scarce that it’s nearly diminished from the state. As you are driving the highways and byways in Maine in the spring, you will almost always see a beautiful carpet of pink and purple picturesque flowers. This is Bigleaf lupine, Lupinus polyphyllus, which actually originated in the western United States.
When Alice Rumphius was a little girl, she vowed that when she grew up she would travel the world and live in a house by the sea. “There is a third thing you must do,” her grandfather told her. “You must do something to make the world more beautiful.” Miss Rumphius fulfilled her dreams. She saw the world and returned home to live by the sea in Maine. But she wondered what she could do that would make the world more beautiful…and she discovered it was spreading the beauty of lupines.
“You must do something to make the world more beautiful.”
We’ve got a few BEAUTIFUL photographs of secret spots here in Maine where the wild lupines thrive. Which one’s your favorite, Lori’s Lupine & Bumble Bee or Ben’s Field of Dreams?
Maine Cards & Magnets
Lori Davis takes these stunning photos of famous landmarks and hidden gems throughout Maine. Come shop our selection of her photography – available in cards, refrigerator magnets, and matted prints!
Beth’s Originals
Hand-painted in her studio on the coast of Maine, Beth’s originals feature a range of painted images reflecting our rugged and varied Maine landscapes. Her collection features delicate lupines (seen on right), colorful buoys, and proud puffins.
There’s nothing like a coastal Maine scene illuminated by a full moon. Our friend and Maine photographer, Benjamin Williamson, has exceeded at capturing our reliable moon in its fullest forms brightening up a dark night. Ben keeps a close eye on the weather, and ventures out when Mother Nature aligns the clouds, light, temperatures, and storms off the coast–all in the name of snapping that perfect shot.
“I found a different kind of excitement in Maine with extreme weather, like winter snowstorms, thunderstorms and sea smoke. There is a sense of drama, a sense of awe of the power in nature.”
One of Beverly’s newest creations: the sailboat! Prop one of these little colorful ocean cruisers near a window or a mantel, and be reminded of your love of Maine, a memory of sailing, or the adventure that always lies ahead!
Newly restocked, and now available ONLINE, too! Find your furry friend in stained glass form and remember, each one is just as unique as your pet!
🎶 Twiddly, Diddly Dee, Tweet, Tweet! 🎶
Beverly is well-known for her stained glass bird collection consisting of seagulls, puffins, blackbirds, and “crazy birds,” as she lovingly calls them. But she’s been busy workin’ on some brand new additions. And when you thought they couldn’t get any cuter…welcoming the MINI bird collection to Lisa-Marie’s Made in Maine!
He rocks in the treetops all day long, hoppin’ and a-boppin’ and a-singin’ his song. All the little bluebirds on Exchange & Front Street, love to hear Beverly’s birdies go tweet, tweet, tweet!
A pretty little raven at the bird bath stand, taught him how to do the bop and it was grand. They started goin’ steady and a-bless my soul, he out-bopped the puffinand the oriole.
As far back as I can remember, I have always loved making Christmas ornaments. I would make them for my own Christmas tree during my children’s growing years and for gift for family and friends. I would make them all year long. So it only seemed natural that 10 years ago, when I start my part time creative business, it began with selling my hand painted ornaments. Four years ago, I quit my day job of 21 years and went full time to keep up with growing demand. I have never looked back. I truly love what I do, because my ornaments become part of family traditions and celebrations, markers of time and important events. So when I get a request to customize an ornament, it makes me happy and when that same family comes back the next year for another custom ornament to add to their family tree and memories – pure joy.
Every year, Beth creates customized ornaments for our customers. 2020 had lots of babies!
Welcome to the world Ashton, Charles, John, Maggie and Wyatt!
And, Congratulations to Melissa & Evan on your first year of marriage!
Are you interested in having an ornament created to commemorate a special event in your life? Email marie@lisamariesmadeinmaine.com to get started! Beth gets very busy the closer to the end of the year we get so it’s never too early to place your order.
Maine’s first flag was designed in 1901 and came through the Legislature via marine committees. Seamen wanted a flag that could be recognized at a distance.
The blue star and pine tree fit the bill–with two bold colors against a pale backdrop, and featuring no words, it could be read from either side and easily seen.
According to vexillologists (those who study flags) the original Maine flag checks off the five basic principles of a “good flag.”
Keep It Simple. The flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory.
Use Meaningful Symbolism. The flag’s images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes.
Use 2 or 3 Basic Colors. Limit the number of colors on the flag to three that contrast well and come from the standard color set.
No Lettering or Seals. Never use writing of any kind or an organization’s seal.
Be Distinctive or Be Related. Avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connections.
Seven years later, in 1909, Legislature replaced it with another flag.
This one features the intricate state seal centered against a blue background. Within the crest, a sailor and farmer stand on either side of a moose lying under a pine tree. Above, the North star shines with Maine’s motto: Dirigo — Latin for “I lead.” A banner stretches below with “Maine” in bold lettering.
111 years later, the 1909 flag is still flying atop the State House dome in Augusta. While containing many symbols of Maine, the current flag is similar to many other state flags within the U.S. Indeed, the Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania flags also bear intricate seals on indigo fields — and that’s just within the Northeast.
What changed from 1901 to 1909?
By 1909, many state legislators were Civil War veterans. They wanted a state flag that resembled battle flags from the war. Most Union flags were blue, making them distinguishable from the red Confederate flags. Thus, the blue flag with the intricate state seal was adopted.
With the year 2020 comes the celebration of Maine’s bicentennial; a great time to honor the flag that stood for Maine’s statehood. Sometimes simpler is better.
The two symbols featured on the 1901 flag represent two of the state’s important values.
At the time of the creation of the flag, Maine was the northernmost state in the U.S. The North star represented this, while also representing the importance of direction. This connects to Maine’s Latin motto, “Dirigo.” The Eastern white pine tree set in the center stands for Maine’s agriculture. 89% of Maine is covered in forest, highlighting it’s nickname of “The Pine Tree State.” Pine trees were important to the early economy of the area because of their use in the shipbuilding industry, and are still a valid symbol today.
Jeremy Hammond brings Maine’s first flag back again with his new (yet old) design.
This design adheres to the original 1901 adoption legislation, but the bill that passed did not set a visual standard for its design. In lieu of the painted and highly detailed pine tree on the original silk version, they have incorporated a more stylized tree they believe is more recognizable from a distance and more easily reproduced.
Hang on a wall or fly outside your home as a symbol of Maine’s history, and a simple statement of Maine pride.
We feel that there are times when we must speak out— silence is complicity, and complacency is not an option.
We are committed to holding ourselves and each other accountable beyond posts and donations, which are only the bare minimum in terms of doing the work of anti-racism. We hope that through this we can come to a place where equality reigns and justice is for all.
As a small business, we are a part of our local community. Our mission is to support and promote artists, creators, and other small businesses from the state by curating a selection of Maine products to feature in our shops. We support local and we hope to influence others to shop small within their societies as well.
It’s a time for us to to highlight, remind, and refer our Maine visitors and residents to the black-owned businesses located throughout the state; we could all use a boost in business and we want to share the love with our fellow stores, as we come together to bring the “bustle” back to our streets.
If you find yourself visiting Portland, Maine, there are an abundance of shops, markets, restaurants and other black-owned businesses that deserve attention. These are just a few:
Portland Trading Co. – located right up the street from us on Market Street, is owned by Kazeem Lawal. As the blog The Mainer eloquently put, “If you don’t know him, exactly, you might feel like you do. At the very least, you’ve seen him walking down the street and thought, that guy looks sharp.” Visit his shop to discover beautiful Maine made and designed clothing as well as unique gifts and accessories from New England. You’ll walk out feeling more stylish than ever.
Indigo Arts Alliance – located on Cove Street, is a place where freedom of expression and personal transformation through creativity is encouraged. Indigo Arts Alliance embodies a Black-led, multiracial approach to the rich intersections of citizenship, community-building, and creativity. More than ever, our world needs people who can help us imagine more compassionate, generous, and welcoming human societies. Indigo does that work. It is a great gift to the Portland community, to the region, and to our nation! Check out their website and join the conversation.
Rwanda Bean Coffee – located on Stevens Ave in Portland and Cottage St in South Portland, this coffee shop donates 50% of their profits back to their farmers in Rwanda. They strive to provide healthcare to all the farmers they work with and their families. They recognize the importance of an education, and are working to build a school and a curriculum with teachers. “As you are about to take that first sip of our delicious coffee—just stop and pat yourself on the back. Remember, every sip you take helps someone in need. There’s no better way to start a day than with a great cup of coffee and a good deed.”
Knitting Nook – found just across the Casco Bay Bridge on Sawyer Street in South Portland, you can relax in this knitting shop with some tasty foods and enjoy the ambiance that facebook reviewers have given 5 out of 5 stars. Knitting Nook is a yarn shop/café with an entertaining environment where the fiber artist can obtain supplies, guidance, camaraderie, sustenance and impeccable customer service
Kings & Queens Hair Studio – located in Brunswick, just a city away from our Front Street location, is the place to go for pure hair finesse and artistry. Located just outside of Bowdoin College in the heart of Maine Street, this barber shop and hair salon offers premium haircuts, fades, and hair color services to Cumberland County. They are proud to provide a family friendly, multi-ethnic, multi-generational grooming experience to our patrons in Brunswick.
When you find yourself strolling the streets of Portland, take a moment to visit the mural on Center Street and see the beautiful artwork created by local artist, Ryan Adams. It’s striking and haunting, paying tribute to George Floyd and the many lives that were wrongfully taken from this world.
Better Letter Hand Painted Signs – Ryan Adams is also a partner of this Greater Portland based company. (If you hang out on their home page for a moment you’ll recognize a TON of local businesses) After years of working together, four artists (Will Sears, Tessa O’Brien, Ryan Adams, & Rachel Adams) officially joined forces under the Better Letter umbrella in 2018, and have been slinging brushes together ever since. The team shares a mutual desire to improve the visual experience of their surroundings through design and quality craftsmanship, and to have a positive impact on their communities.
Casco Bay Cleaning Services – Need your home or office cleaned? Check out Casco Bay Cleaning out of Portland! They use state of the art tools and customize superior cleaning services to your needs, and any routine cleaning can be performed daily, weekly or monthly, or one time deep cleaning sessions.
Visit Black Owned Maine to find a more comprehensive list of businesses, services, and restaurants.
We are all in this together; its time to unite our voices for the greater good of this country and the greater good of humanity.
I had the pleasure of speaking with two genuinely lovely people this past week, and writing about the beautiful pieces they create for our shop. Mary and Joe Devenney work as full-time artists, making pottery from their home and studio in Jefferson, Maine. The creativity that emanates from both of them, as well as their children, is astounding. They have taught and influenced each other, encouraging new ideas and inspiration for all different types of media. Joe had not touched a piece of clay before meeting Mary–and that’s a whole other story.
Joe was working in Woods Hole, Massachusetts when he befriended one of his coworkers, who happened to be Mary’s brother. Meanwhile, Mary was teaching in Derry, New Hampshire and was engaged to someone else at the time. On Christmas break, Joe ventured home to visit family. On New Year’s Eve, he got set up to go on a date–ironically with one of Mary’s fellow teachers. The next morning, “I snuck out before breakfast,” Joe laughed.
The date had taken place in Manchester, not far from where Mary lived, so Joe decided to stop by on his drive home. “Mary was home in her living room, trying to take down her Christmas tree,” Joe remembered. He helped her toss it out the second-story window, and they spent the rest of the day together. I could hear the smile in her voice when Mary reflected back on that moment. “I remember thinking, ‘Well, this guy’s kind of nice,’ and the more I got to see him I thought, ‘I like this one better than the other one’…it’s terrible, but it’s true!” The rest, you see, was history.
Mary was an art teacher in Derry, and with Joe expressing interest, she began teaching him to throw pots on the classroom wheel after school. Every once in a while, her students would want to throw clay in class and she’d put a stop to their behavior immediately. “But as I’d get towards the end of the year, I’d tell them that I did have one clay fight,” Mary claims. It was with Joe. “I took a hunk of clay and slapped him in the face with it,” she laughs. Looking back, it was pretty fun.
Shortly after they married they moved into an old farmhouse, bought a kick wheel and put it in the basement. They’d throw pots in the dank and dark, and later Mary would take them to fire in the school kiln in between firings for her students. After getting the hang of this new routine, Mary and Joe took a two-week workshop in Dunbar, NH from a very well-known potter, Jerry Williams. “We worked from six in the morning to eleven at night for two weeks. It was really quite inspiring,” says Joe. They brought their new knowledge back to their old kick wheel in the basement, and kept at it.
During visits to their daughter in Bath, Mary and Joe would take time to walk the streets and pop into shops. Passing by Lisa-Marie’s Made in Maine, they wondered if it was a place they could sell their pieces. Nudging each other through the door, they took a look around and thought, “Wow, they have a lot of potters…they’d never want to see our stuff.” Friends of theirs, Pam and Kevin White, would chat about selling photography at Lisa-Marie’s and the easy-going, familial atmosphere of the shop. One day in January, Joe took a chance and walked back through those doors.
Lisa-Marie happened to be there that day, and she suggested they bring in a few pieces for her to look over. Within a few weeks the Devenney pottery was newly featured amongst the shelves of Lisa-Marie’s Made in Maine. “We went from admiring the store from the outside to admiring it from within!” Joe exclaims.
For years, Mary and Joe have settled into their lives as full-time artists, producing pottery for local shops and craft fairs around Maine. Through their experience at Lisa-Marie’s, they’ve come to appreciate the opportunity to be creative and add new items to their inventory, with the ability to step back and see what happens.
Feedback from managers and staff have led to new additions, one of those being Christmas ornaments. All year round, these delicate ceramic tree-hangings fly off the hooks. They’ve even begun collaborating with their daughter Nina, incorporating her hand-drawn and painted designs onto their signature mugs. Joe explains that “knowing Andy and Lisa-Marie as much as we do, or as little as we do, it still feels like we’re dealing with–” “family,” Mary says, finishing his thought. And creativity seems to run in their family, as well.
Nina Devenney, one of Mary and Joe’s daughters, has recently joined Lisa-Marie’s artist lineup. She’s a queen of all trades, dabbling in various types of media. You can find some of her beautiful paintings, cards, and jewelry between both shop locations. Her skills were curated from a young age. “I remember–I think I have a picture of her–when she was 3 years old, I gave her clay and watercolors at the table all at the same time. She didn’t know what to do!” Mary recalls.
Mary and Joe own many of her pieces, as well as their daughter, Angela’s photography, on display throughout their home. “Oh yes”, Mary laughs. “We have a big painting in the living room, and a wreath [featuring] all the things that are special in our family. We have a photogravure of her and her sister called My Estuary, it’s really beautiful.” That’s not all. The Devenney’s can’t leave out an up-and-coming artist from their home gallery. “We [also] have our 5-year-old granddaughter’s first drawings hanging, too.” As I speak with them on the phone, I can imagine their cozy house, proudly and tastefully decorated with artwork by both owners and their family full of artists.
“You know, there’s a lot of stuff in this house! You wanna tour? I’ll give you a tour!” chuckles Mary.
Inspired by family, students and friends, the Devenney’s have made countless pieces in their years as artists. Their designs have changed throughout time, but along the road they have achieved a signature style. It features glazes of teal blues and seafoam greens accompanied by a pop of contrast with dainty, red hearts. Influenced by her students and driven by their love for Valentine’s Day (and each other), the hearts evolved during creations. Beginning as “bumpy hearts,” as Joe lovingly called them, they modified them to be simpler, smaller, and a whole lot smoother– resulting in their iconic mug and bud vase designs.
Turning your passion into your career can be a tricky path. Whether it be researching start-up funds or the challenge of keeping a steady yearly income, Mary and Joe have experienced the journey from full-time employment to full-time creation. “When you’re involved in the arts it’s a real gift. It’s not like when you reach a certain age you have to retire and figure out what to do, “ Mary says. “You can keep on doing what you’ve done, you know? It’s awesome, I feel pretty lucky.” The key to happiness is loving what you do, and you might have to work hard to get there.
Switching gears, we touched upon the looming COVID-19 crisis and how it was affecting our daily life, our future plans, and the ability to connect with friends and family. Knowing that we have been swimming in updates and news revolving around the pandemic, I asked them what they’d be doing on a perfect day, untouched by the Corona Virus.
Popham Sunrise By: Joe Devenney
Mary answered first. “I would get up early and feed the birds–Ha! Joe’s in shock because I never get up early. Maybe walk around the yard, make some pots, then go out to have breakfast with some friends, like Kevin and Pam. Then go for a walk on the beach and come home and check on the kiln.”
Joe’s answer followed suit. “I would get up at 4 o’clock [in the morning], and I’d ask Mary if she’d wanna go and she’d say ‘No thanks.’” They both crack up. I do too. “I’d go to the sunrise at Pemaquid or Popham beach–I’m an old photographer– so I’d go there and take some photographs and work until it got late enough that the nearest coffee shop would be open. Then I’d hang out with a cup of coffee and a biscotti. After, I’d come home and throw some pots. If it were summertime, I’d probably saute some scallops and make supper with Mary…and I’d have several glasses of red wine,” Joe finishes, their laughter echoing in the background.
Their love for each other and their passion for creating has driven the two to lead lives with no regrets. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to speak with Mary and Joe, especially during this time of “social distancing,” a term I personally have mixed feelings about. While we are remaining physically distant, it’s the social connections that keep us together. The Devenneys warmly welcomed me into their lives, even if it was only for an hour long phone call. Before hanging up, they spoke about how they were thankful for the ability to continue working during this uncertain time. And as a small business, we are thankful for their endless hard work, producing pottery for our online shop–and for other local businesses, too.
Joe said something during our chat that stuck with me; something I think describes the way the Devenneys have cultivated an appreciation for life and the way they live it. “We moved to Maine to be potters back in the mid-70s, and after about ten years of making pots, I said to Mary ‘Jeez, you know I’d like to do something else besides spending my entire life in a two-car garage’.” He chuckles. “A couple years ago I said to Mary ‘You remember when I said that? Now I feel like the only place in the world that I want to be is in our two-car garage’.” If we can channel Mary and Joe’s outlook during moments of doubt or uncertainty, we can step back and discover newfound appreciation for the daily routines, the wonderful people, the doting pets, and the meaningful hobbies.
These are the little things that make life that much better.
Take a peek at some of their ceramic creations here, and email us if you have any questions!
