The A Team

Remember those Reese's peanut butter cups ads about "two great tastes that taste great together"?

Speaking of great taste, the same could be said of the recent design-match-made-in-heaven between Angela Adams and Anthropologie. Much like the recent Sea Bags-Angela Adams-J. Crew collaboration, this brilliant partnership pairs two of our faves (seriously, who doesn't love Anthropologie?).

Anthro is selling a small, select line of AA's wares, including rugs, bedding and window treatments. The patterns are, for the most part, things we haven't seen before. And we're especially fond of the chickadee curtains (pictured).

So head on over to Anthropologie.com, search for "Angela Adams" and get your design on. Because, really, this is way more tasteful than a peanut butter cup.

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Antiques Freaks

Editor's note: We're giving away a gorgeous tote designed by Erin Flett for AU. To learn how to enter, click here.

Here at the Maven, we love a good antiques/junk shop. Not the decorative kind of junk, mind you (well, actually, our illustrator Shawn and his wife, Erin, do like their knickknacks) but furniture and architectural elements: beat-up cabinets, rustic French farmhouse tables, stained-glass windows, you name it.

Usually, we buy everything at Chesley's Auction Gallery in Corinth (one of Maine's best-kept secrets — look for a future post about it), but this weekend, we did a little antiquing. We were on a mission: looking for dressers, cabinets and a dining table.

On Saturday, we started late, so we only made it as far as The Old General Store on Route 1A in Hampden, which is a good spot for interesting items at relatively low prices. Though we didn't see anything we wanted, the selection is always changing, so we'll be back.

Next up, we headed to the Antique Marketplace & Cafe in downtown Bangor. This antiques superstore is so much fun to visit, but the furniture tends toward fine pieces with price tags to match — a little too formal (and big) for our farmhouse.

We left empty-handed and decided to do the Ellsworth loop on Sunday. Of course, we stopped at the new Marden's — which is the place to be if you're in need of a mounted buffalo head. We weren't, so we headed into town to J&B Atlantic, one of our favorite stores. The new furniture here is great (and they were having a sale), but so are the antiques. There were a few beautiful dressers and mirrors, but nothing that fit our space, so we hit the road to the Big Chicken Barn.

If you haven't been to the Big Chicken Barn, it's a must. If you have, you totally get what all the fuss is about. The store has the largest antiquarian book selection in Maine, and the antiques vendors range from the very low-end to the very high-end. Somewhere in the middle, we found what we were looking for: a glass-front mahogany china cabinet for $125. When we went to check out, we found that it was 20 percent off — what a steal! Jason went back and picked up a rustic painted bench to use as a plant stand, and we were on our way.

Since we were driving toward Bucksport we stopped in Orland at Old Things (located on the Castine Road). This streamside shop feels like a hidden gem, though we're sure many tourists discover it every summer. Here, we found all sorts of things we loved, including the coolest Hoosier ever, but nothing that was quite right for the house. If you're in the area, make a point to stop here, because it's worth the quick turn off Route 1.

After a quick and much-needed stop at Wahl's Dairy Port, we were on our way. And though we didn't find everything we needed, we managed to load up the truck. Plus, now we'll have an excuse to do another antiques loop.

What are some of your favorite antiques stores in Maine? Let us know by posting below.

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Fair Trade

To the DIY decorator, there is nothing more irritating than the words "to the trade." We get it. It lends a certain cachet to the brand. And we don't expect to find fine design at The Home Depot. But there are times — like when we wanted to bind off an Angela Adams carpet from Architex and use it as a stair runner — when "to-the-trade" can be a real "pain in the ass."

But with the introduction of the Angela Adams Design Center, we don't need to worry about naked stairs any longer. Located at her Portland, Maine, headquarters, the shop is open to the public. And it's an Angelaxtravaganza — her entire line of sustainable rugs, wallcovering, carpet and fabric are on display.

So go ahead — drape yourself and your upholstery in rich fabrics. Throw out that crappy old rug from Wal-Mart and treat yourself to something Rugmark certified. With the money you'll save from not bribing your architect/designer friends (with booze, of course) into placing a tiny order with your name on it, you can afford it.

The Angela Adams Design Center is located at 273 Congress St. in Portland. For more information, call 1.800.255.9454 or click here.

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Blanket Statement

At first glance, wool blankets seem like they'd be such a drag. They're itchy. They're as stiff as a starched shirt. They're itchy. They're not easy to clean. Oh, and did we mention that they're itchy?

But like all things practical, they've grown on us. Big time. Frankly, we think there is no better foil for spring's chilly nights. A down comforter is too heavy — even a lightweight one — and synthetic blankets just don't cut it. But those sheep are on to something.

So are the editors of Martha Stewart Living, who gave a shout-out to Maine's own Swans Island Blankets in the May 2009 issue. These blankets are exquisite — who knew you could have them monogrammed? — and they're decidedly less itchy than most we've felt. In other words, they've earned all the national press they've received. However, unless you're Martha Stewart, chances are a $1,025 blanket isn't in your future.


Not to worry, because there are plenty of other, more moderately priced options from Maine. We like the hardy-yet-pretty version that Meadowsweet Farm sells from time to time at the Orono Farmers Market. The rich hues of Casco Bay Wool Works' merino wool throws are to dye for — they're as posh as the company's capes. On the other end of the spectrum, the soft hues of The Maine Blanket, crafted by Nanney Kennedy of Washington, are like a lullaby. And the natural luster of Brahms Mount Textiles' alpaca/merino wool/cotton blankets, made in Hallowell, is absolutely luxurious. And most of these blankets incorporate wool from Maine, making them an environmentally friendly choice, as well.

With all of these warm woolens, you may just be craving spring's cool nights. And even if you're not, who doesn't want an excuse to snuggle?

Ordering and pricing information for all products listed is available by clicking the links. The herringbone blanket from Brahms Mount Textiles is pictured above.

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Sheep Trick

Usually, you want to crawl into bed with something tall, dark and handsome. If you make it to the bedroom.

But right about now, short, white and fluffy is looking pretty hot. Literallly.

Allow us to introduce North Country Comforters, which will keep you warm on these cool spring nights and cool once the summer heat arrives. Instead of down, they're filled with wool, and as owners Jill and Patrick Glover describe it, each comforter is a "cloud of pure comfortable warmth to fall asleep under."

We could get used to that. We could also get used to the fact that wool is hypoallergenic and resists dust mites and other nighttime nasties. The Glovers created their first comforter for their daughter, who was allergic to synthetic fill. From there, demand grew, and they now create a whole host of hand-filled, hand-stitched comforters, using wool from Maine sheep, in their barn/studio in Great Pond.

So go ahead, take one to bed with you. We promise you won't be disappointed.

To learn more about wool comforters from North Country Comforters, click here .

In other news, The Mad Hatter Children's Fashions in the Bangor Mall will hold an Easter Basket party from 6 to 8 tonight. The shop is owned by Harmony Allen, whose family owned the original Mad Hatter in Presque Isle years ago. She has brought the tradition of gorgeous, higher-end children's clothing to Bangor, and the locals couldn't be happier. If you're interested in attending this evening's event, call 942-9898. As a bonus, all Easter frocks are 25 percent off. Hop along!

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