Katy Elliott Visits Avolli

Yesterday morning was special because I had the great pleasure of meeting Katy Elliott and her lovely mom, Mary Jane, at the Avolli warehouse.

If you haven’t visited the Katy Elliott blog you are really missing something. Katy’s approach to blogging comes from a place of originality, style and passion. Her background in magazine publishing (House & Garden and Domino) gives her a sense for what readers are looking for and she knows how to keep them coming back again and again.

Katy’s warmth and fine eye for quality was the perfect match for me because I found her easy to talk to and her appreciation for the beauty and quality of fine antiques was apparent. We share a love of renovation and an appreciation for the beauty and charm of historic homes…so we had a lot to talk about!

A bathroom inspiration image from Katy Elliott

At Katy Elliott, readers will follow along as she transforms her very special historic home in Marblehead, MA. Through this process Katy offers 'before' images and shares the many ideas and resources she collects through the renovation process.

Salem Garden Club Tour

Katy also takes us along as she transforms her home's landscaping. Through this process Katy collects many of her ideas from garden tours and visits to some of the nicest greenhouses in New England.

Thai Beef Salad

Katy’s love of cooking and creating beautiful things is seen in her creative recipes made with local and organic produce, the many DIY projects, and posts on beautiful textiles.

Laikonia via Katy Elliott

Source: abby sharp via Katy Elliott

It was such a treat to meet Katy and Mary Jane at Avolli and I look forward to having more opportunities to spend time with this truly lovely blogger, publishing professional and lifestyle arbiter extraordinaire!

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.*

It has been awhile!

The past week and a half has been a bit challenging as I have been suffering through a chronic back pain episode. I say episode because usually once a year my back goes out on me and I suffer through days, and sometimes weeks, of teeth clenching pain.

Thanks to the many visits to my chiropractor, countless rounds of icing, stretching and walking, I am finally feeling up to working again. At this point, my Scandinavian designed Variable Knee Chair by Peter Opsvik for Stokke is the most comfortable position for sitting.

Unfortunately I think that Stokke no longer carries this chair as I could not find it on their website anywhere. That is too bad because this is a chair for anyone with back issues! As I write this I am enjoying perfect alignment of my knees and spine, giving welcomed relief to my back and happiness and gratitude for my ability to work once again.

If you are interested in purchasing a similar typle of chair you can find one at backworks, a UK company.

A Maine 4th of July

Maine is a great place to celebrate the 4th of July.

Start the day by watching the sun come up on United States of America. Cadillac Mountain in Arcadia National Park is the first place in the country to be kissed by the morning sun.

Then enjoy a morning walk along one of the many rocky coastal beaches, taking in the lovely scent of the sea roses, the salt air and the spectacular views.

Stop by one of the many road side or beach side eateries and enjoy a delicious fresh Maine lobster roll for lunch.

Take in a local parade, wave a flag and show a patriotic spirit.

In the evening have a sea side lobster bake with corn on the cob, fresh Maine clams with hot butter, and finish it off with a delicious strawberry shortcake.

End the day by attending a spectacular fireworks display, preferably seen over the ocean.

Go to sleep giving thanks for those who fought for our independence and the many blessings we have as Americans.

Happy 4th of July to everyone!