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Winter 2008
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(cont) . . . The exhibit features well-known contemporary Maine artists including Connie Hayes, Eric Hopkins, Gifford Ewing, Tom Curry, David Little, Grace DeGennaro, Jill Hoy and Wendy Turner to name a few. The interpretations of the Maine landscape by these familiar artists are a wonderful backdrop to Moser’s classic simplicity. In the mood for a jolt of great design, the ultimate in craftsmanship and easy conversation with Moser’s loyal crew? This is an easy, interesting stop right off of Route 295 that is well-worth your time. The showroom recently received the new Edo Collection designed by one of Thos. Moser's sons, David Moser. The Asian-inspired Edo Collection has both dining room and living room pieces including a trestle table and dining chair as well as an upholstered sofa and chair. This new collection is an interesting contrast to the Arts and Crafts, Shaker and Colonial pieces that are beautifully placed throughout the showroom. Among the cherry furniture designs on display in Freeport are Thos. Moser's signature Windsor chair, New Gloucester rocking chair, Pencil Post Bed and Sleigh Bed designs as well as dining tables, desks and dressers. No matter what your tastes are the furniture and wonderful artwork currently on exhibit are a feast for the eyes. The theme throughout is beautiful craftsmanship using only the finest of materials, all morphed into timeless designs. This is the kind of furniture that will get passed down for generations. Classic simplicity at its best. All of their designs can be modified and customized to their clients needs. Maine's most famous furnituremaker, Thomas Moser, abandoned a Bates College professorship 35 years ago to start building furniture in an old Grange Hall in New Gloucester. In his book, "Thos. Moser: Artistry in Wood," Moser outlines the history of Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers and reflects on craft, materials, design and creativity. Thos. Moser, who has been profiled in dozens of national publications including Forbes, Architectural Digest, Fine Woodworking, This Old House and Down East, is still designing and is currently working on a new dining chair and a sofa. His adult sons work with him in all aspects of design and fabrication. A free catalog is available upon request. The Freeport showroom is located two blocks north of L.L. Bean and across from the Harraseeket Inn. 865-4519 One of the best things about living in Downeast Maine is the deep connection we have with the outdoors. For many that means simply using the outside as a recreational playground. For others, the connection comes from working outside like the watermen and women, the contractors and builders, and those rugged guys who work heavy equipment. As the late fall descends on Downeast Maine, the major topic of conversation among Libby and other area wreath makers is the weather. A worn copy of the Farmer’s Almanac is always close at hand and serves as the prognosticator of the weather for the weeks from mid-November to mid- December. If the weather is too warm, as has been the case over the past few years, or if it is raining, snowing, or too dry, each of these factors can have a noticeable effect on the quality of the balsam. Throw aphids, gypsy moths and other creatures into the mix and you've got every imaginable problem which can and has occurred. Libby and her crew work long hours in a shed on her property that serves many purposes for herself and family through the year. However, for 30 days in the fall it is where a tremendous volume of Maine balsam wreaths are produced, all eventually ending up on thousands of front doors throughout the US. Five large plywood tables, about 40’’ off the floor, are the work stations for her crew. Nearby are rough poles about 6 feet high that have pounds of balsam fir affixed to them. This is the inventory that is harvested and delivered to Libby and her crew for 'wreathing.' Libby is at the mercy of the group of people who perform “Tipping”. She is totally dependent on how much balsam is available, the condition of it, and how often the tippers deliver inventory. Tippers charge by the pound, so the old home-style scale by the back door of her shed is the inventory management tool that can make or break her season. Dry, freshly harvested brush, harvested when the temperatures are in the high twenties is the optimum product. Unfortunately optimum is not necessarily the order of the day, especially in Libby’s world of wreath making. The day that we visited her recently, it was not a good start to a day of wreath-making: the first of the season’s snowstorms was underway; her crew hadn't shownup; the tippers weren't tipping because of the weight of the snow; and Kelco, her supplier of steel rings, was out of stock! Tipping, a niche of the wreath industry, is generally performed by rugged men who have pick-ups and do a lot of physical labor. Much of the undeveloped land in Hancock County and Washington County is owned by the paper companies and private landowners. Filled with Balsam Fir it is are the perfect place for “tippers” to harvest their bounty. Most tippers are legit and acquire the necessary permits by the landowners to travel the back dirt roads and engage in the annual ritual of tipping. A sharp, professional pair of pruning shears is the tool of the trade. The harvested balsam fir tips are pruned from the end of the tree branches. Tipping removes 12-20 inches of the branches from the middle of the tree as this is where there are branches with needles all around the stems. Many of these guys have their particular territory where they “tip” and are quite proprietary about it and do not share information. They quietly and diligently go about their work alone in the woods, returning to Libby with product after the bed of the pickup is filled with balsam fir tips. Once the product is delivered, Libby and her wreath-makers get to work. Standing with their legs slightly apart, a pile of Balsam Fir on their left, a spool of wire on their right, the rhythm of the task begins. The wreaths are made on a steel ring purchased from Kelco, in Milbridge, Maine. (Kelco is one a few businesses in the US that strictly markets supplies to the Christmas wreath and Christmas Tree crowd. Their on-line catalogue is worth checking out. It’s a trip) The overall size of the wreath is determined by the original size of the ring. When completed most standard wreaths are 24” in diameter, so the ring size is 14”. Working clockwise, the 6-8” long branches are laid on the steel ring and secured to the metal ring with the wire as the ring is rotated. The trick is knowing how long the stems need to be, how much wire to secure them with and how thick to make each turn. Once the first layer is completed, the wreath-maker repeats the same action. Fall, 2007
At the Maine Grind, my coffee bar and café in Ellsworth , I come into contact with people all day long. Recently had interesting encounter that I want to tell you about, dear reader. As I read the article I thought that it would be great to sell his work here on my site and in my shop at the Maine Grind. I contacted him by e-mail and within a few days received his answer to my inquiry. No, he was not interested in having me carry his work, but he graciously thanked me for the inquiry. I was disappointed, but that’s life, right? A few weeks had gone by and one afternoon a nice guy had stopped in to the Maine Grind for a latte and he and I began talking. He liked our place and complimented us on the comfy atmosphere and good vibes. He told me that he lived in the western part of the state and was a graphic artist and was just visiting Downeast Maine for the day looking at a few lighthouses. I knew right away that it was Alan Claude, the same guy who I had contacted after reading about him. He was pleasantly surprised when he realized that I was the woman who had contacted him a few weeks prior. Serendipity at its best! We both were amused by the providence of the moment and a new friendship was forged at that moment. It was also immediately apparent to him that his work complimented my shop so I placed an order on the spot and have been selling his splendid lighthouse images over the past month. If you aren’t able to stop in and see his pieces, you can see them here on my site. You never know who you’re going to meet, do you? |
