The Pride & Joy of Maine

Several years ago I read an article in our local newspaper that featured a wonderful artist/designer in Portland that was creating something unexpected…unexpected, that is, for the rather traditional design sensibilities of the Maine homeowner and interior designer. This article wasn’t about just a typical artist or designer, and what caught my attention was that this designers approach was fresh, modern, and adaptable to many designs thanks to the wonderful trend of blending traditional and contemporary styles. What she was doing was getting the attention of not only Maine consumers, but national consumers as well.

Her name is Angela Adams and she has become the pride and joy of the Maine business, arts and design communities. What began as a small local company that was creating unique, high-end, hand crafted rugs that were equal in quality, creativity, and technique to the best painters and sculptors, grew and expanded to include mid-range products. Continuing with her core line of rugs, angela adams added handbags, paper goods, clothing, wallpaper, tile, and fabrics, all while never forgetting her humble island roots and keeping her growing business anchored in her home state of Maine.

I’ll never forget reading that article and subsequently coveting an angela adams handbag. Her rugs, while amazing works of art, were not something that I needed in my home at that time, but a handbag was definitely something that I could never have enough of. At the time, I was starting Avolli and my husband kindly suggested that I should probably stop taking my beloved L.L. Bean Boat and Tote to business meetings and find something with a more polished and professional image. So I seized this opportunity to satisfy my longing for an angela adams handbag and selected a wonderfully designed piece that was not quite a briefcase and not quite a purse. I don’t remember the name of the pattern but its unique design, understated colors and fabulous buckle closure made a professional statement while being creative and fun at the same time.

Here is my first angeal adams handbag perched on top of a Danish pine cupboard and next to Swedish rag rugs in my office.

This handbag has stood up to aggressive travel, has been forced to withstand the weight of an oversized laptop and the accoutrements for conducting business away from the office. It has been shoved into overhead compartments, toted into the dusty nooks and crannies of the many back country antique shops I’ve visited in Denmark and Sweden, and all while maintaining its crisp shape and beautiful quality.

Ms. Adams astute business sense has kept her line fresh by introducing new designs, colors and products over the years, so my beloved bag is no longer available. Her latest collection reflects casual, easy, comfortable lifestyles.

In addition to rugs and handbags, angela adams has taken her creative patterns and applied them to apparel, pillows, fabric, paper goods, fine art prints, and trays.

Recently there was an article in Maine Home + Design magazine that featured Ms. Adams and her equally talented husband, Sherwood Hamill. Mr. Hamill is an incredibly talented furniture designer with a style I would confidently describe as having a Scandinavian Mid-Century modern influence. His furniture pairs beautifully with the rug designs of his wife and together they make a formidable design and business team.

Image: Maine Hom + Design Photographer: Irvin Serrano

In the article it was touching to hear Angela speak with pride about her husband’s great talent, and her frustration and disappointment that his work does not receive the same sort of public recognition that hers does. He has been part of the foundation of the angela adams company and has been instrumental in its growth.

Images courtesy of apartment therapy

It is quite possible that part of the reason for Ms. Adams incredible name recognition is due to the adaptability of her designs mid-priced products (handbags, stationery, trays for example). This has made her art accessible to more than just those that can afford a several thousand dollar rug. Her products allow most of us the ability to have a little piece of angela adams art to carry with us, wear, or embellish our homes with. Mr. Hamill’s artisan furniture is a bit more difficult to adapt to the mid-priced market (something that I know very well here at Avolli) which may be the reason for his less recognizable name in the design community. His talent is no less – that is for sure.

Image: Maine Home + Design, Photography: Irvin Serrano

I feel fortunate to have Ms. Adams and Mr. Hamill living and working in my community. About a year ago I had the good fortune to attend a lecture Ms. Adams was giving at the Portland Museum of Art. The topic was on developing a brand and it was clear that her brand would not be what it is if it were not for her Maine island roots. Each of her designs is named for a beloved family member, friend, place, or pet. She is constantly drawn to and influenced by her childhood, the natural beauty of the Maine coast, and the woods and fields of our beautiful state. She and her husband have, without intention, become ambassadors for Maine by showing our state to the world through their individual interpretations expressed through their spectacular and very unique art.

* As a special note, on September 24th ASID New England Awards Gala will be honoring Angela Adams for her New England inspired product designs.*