Saturday, December 27, 2008

Cozy Camden And A Good Cup Of Coffee


It was rainy and cold in Camden.




There is a river that runs right under main street, and this is it. There are always beautiful ducks on it.

So, I decide on a yummy mocha to warm up and people watch, when I see the cutest Boxer dog sitting in the drivers seat of the car in front of me. I also decide to go over to 'Surroundings' across the street. This place is jammed packed with housewares and other pick-up items.


Here is a closer look at the Boxer if you can see through the glare of the window.

This is the coffee shop looking back as I cross to head over to ' Surroundings'.

Inside the shop.

Remember , this is Maine. These dishes  and linens are BLUEBERRY designs.

I am crazy about these linens, very sexy colors. And no, I really couldn't get a better shot. They were jammed between a few things.  But they were great.



I love black & white. The egg cups are way too adorable. !!!


Surroundings
Durable goods for the Home and Garden
Camden Maine
207.236.8536

( enlarge any picture for more info and a closer look )

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her blog of her Adventures in Design

Lazy Downtown Rockland Day

I just wanted to give you a better idea of what the area looks like, and how many islands there are. This is just a tiny portion of Mid-Coast Maine, but it is filled with these little fingers of land surrounded by water.

There is so much water here. It is everywhere. It might be a river running into the ocean, or a spring, or a huge lake ( or small one ) that narrows and runs into the ocean.

There are mountains, and dramatic cliffs with beautiful harbors in every direction.


The Rockland Christmas tree covered in Lobster Buoys.
This is actually a pretty ugly shot of main street in Rockland.

There is a Fabulous sort of style store that carries quite a few high end items.

It is a lovely shop , jammed packed with great clothes, home-wares ( only the latest and most stylish ) shoes, scarves, ties, hats......you get the idea.
It is on Main St. and called the
Black Parrot
Rockland, Maine (& Portland , Maine)
207.593.9370
Ask for Barbara, she was so sweet, friendly & darling to look at.
I do not know how she keeps it looking so organized.
This place is filled , and I do mean filled !
I am sure you are wondering why I have these ties.... when I am stale I turn to scarves, ties, and patterned fabrics on clothing for a fresh color scheme. This has always worked for me when stuck in the design mud. Even if I only use 2 or 3 of the colors, it's usually a good start. And it is good, because I wouldn't have come up with those 2 or 3 colors, remember, I am stuck in the mud.


G.F. MacGregor
Home Decor And Design
Rockland, Maine
207.596.6300
The owner and designer is Ariana S Fischer Gregg.
ariana@gfmacgregor.com

This is Ariana, and she wouldn't turn around for me, I think it really was a "powdering her nose kinda' thing". She was nice, and very pretty . I don't blame her in the least, she had been dealing with the day after Xmas crowd, of which I was the last one of her day. ( yucko !)
This is her shop window, and the town movie theatre across the street.

Some of her things on the cocktail table. I thought the throw was great. And probably made by a local artist.
This is the back of the store and where I decided to whip out my camera and ask if I could take pictures.
I started taking pictures today because of this horse pillow. I love it !
I am a woman who loves horses deeply. And that my dear, is another story for another time.
So, anything 'HORSIE' makes my heart smile.
Notice the Tony Duquette book ???
Now this is a little antique shop down the street called :
Hall's Antiques
Rockland , Maine
207.594.5031
These are the boats etc. from inside the shop.
This is Green Depression glass - love it .
This is Pink Depression glass. I have a girlfriend with a humongous collection. When she has you over for lunch and sets the table, and serves with only this pink depression glass....it is a
KNOCK-OUT !!!
Oh look !!! There is a pair of opera glasses, and I have already had an Adventure in Design on that subject.
But these opera glasses seem to be everywhere, I myself own 2 or 3.
But what I love and collect myself in this picture is the 'Mulberry'.
The plate on the stand that looks out of focus but is not. That is just the way Mulberry looks. It is transferware, there are several colors including Mulberry. The Mulberry color actually is a purple, that is so dark that it appears to the eye as black. Dolly Hall is one of the owners. This ' Redneck Wind Chime' made me crack up when I was leaving, but Dolly hates it. Apparently her partner put it in the store.
The people of Maine, I find are pretty funny given the chance.
I have been coming to Maine most of my life, and I love , love , love it !!
( enlarge any picture for more info and a closer look )
Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her blog of her Adventures in Design
pic credits: flickr- mmpartee