Made in America: "Island Riches"

If you are ever in the vicinity of Chebeague Island in southern Maine, do be sure to drop by "Island Riches," a quaint little shop filled with an abundant variety of handmade items hand-crafted by area and local island artisans. 

 

 

While there, if you have a little time to stay and chat, you won't be disappointed.  Proprietress Florence Rich is always happy to spend time engaging in conversation about her work, plants, family and the weather.  Florence is supremely talented at a number of crafts herself--I have attended craft shows on the island and have been admiring her work for years.  Confidently thoughtful and unassuming, Florence offers no hard sell at  "Island Riches," which opened in 2010 and is located  on her home property just steps from the Casco Bay boat landing.

Florence Rich pictured in her shop
with "Annie" (my mom's dog) in the foreground.



 





 If you can't drop by, Florence additionally enjoys a worldwide following on her Etsy website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/islandriches Check it out!

 

If you come to the shop looking for T-shirts, you most likely won't find them here-- and that's really not a bad thing!





















Florence and her husband Herb, a former boat builder and lobsterman, started hand-making napkin rings and jewelry out of their old flatware after their daughter gave them a new silverware set. Now one of the shop and website's most popular items, the recycled flatware items are very-reasonably priced.

 



This silver ring refashioned
from a rose-patterned utensil,
is one of my favorite purchases.



I love this hand-painted wine bottle
remodeled into ambient lighting.

 

Metal sculpture by Chebeague Island resident,
Clinton Jones.

"Let me live in a house

by the side of the road,

Where the race of men go by-

The men who are good and the men who are bad,

As good and as bad as I.

I would not sit in the scorner's seat,

Or hurl the cynic's ban;-

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man." ~ Sam Walter Foss

 

 

 

To inquire about any of the items that you see here, please contact Florence through her website:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/islandriches 

 Or email: islandriches@chebeague.net
 

Note: they accept custom orders and will ship internationally!

 

 

 

*Thanks to Jennifer Vandemeer for her editing help!