Swans Island Blankets
We drove through Rockland, where The Wyeth Center at the Farnsworth Art Museum is located. This is where three generations of Wyeths in Maine are on display - N.C. Andrew, and James. We were headed to Blue Hill, where I also like to antique when we spotted the new home of Swans Island Blankets new studio and showroom. I am a big fan of their products and we just had to stop and pay a visit.
Swans Island Blankets are gorgeous wool blankets, woven by hand using time-honored traditions. They select the finest fleeces from sheep raised on farms across Maine, looking for fleece that is soft, strong, and having a broad range of natural color. When fleece is dyed, only wonderful natural dyes are used. These blankets are soft and luxurious and are designed to last for many, many years. I simply love my Swans Island Blankets.
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The Wyeth Center and Farnsworth Museum are lovely destinations, too. I'm sure, Martha, that you have visited the Olson House and been charmed by it on another visit to the Rockland area?
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | July 30th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Am loving all the stops on your 'road trip' Martha - thanks for taking us along with you!
Safe travels.
Posted by: Donna Olson | July 30th, 2009 at 1:12 am
I too love those blankets. If someone would only sen dme a stack I would sleep happy!
Posted by: The Blushing Hostess | July 30th, 2009 at 5:04 am
Those blankets are so beautiful- but the cheapest one on their website is $395.00!! Others are $1,500.00!! How about a more recession-friendly road trip??
Posted by: erica s | July 30th, 2009 at 8:48 am
I love to hear what you're up to in Maine. I'm proud of the state I live in and all it has to offer. Hope you have another wonderful stay.
Posted by: Julie | July 30th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Hi Martha,
It has been a real pleasure seeing the photos from your Road Trip. I think they have been more entertaining than any others you've posted, with the exception of those of F&S.
And, for those who bemoan the cost of The Swans Island blankets. . .they can either have a blanket that can be passed down to their great-grandchildren, or they can buy one from a "big box" discount store every year for 20 bucks made of acrylic that the dog won't even sleep on!
Also wanted to let you know that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your Twitter posts!
Posted by: Jon | July 30th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Hi Martha!
Keep the road trips coming!
I would have never known - if not for you - that one of my blankets is a Swan Island blanket! I thought there was something very special about it when I rummaged it up for a dollar at Good Will!
Thanks, Martha!
PS. It's camel brown with four dark brown lines at each end. I think it's an old one.
Posted by: tinay | July 30th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Lovely blankets...the grey ones are my favorites. The shop is very orderly...and i am sure contributes to the continued success of Swan's Island.
Posted by: sherey | July 30th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Martha, it is so nice for a tour of American small business and shop owners. We can only hope they are doing well and with your help/visits keep their doors open as well as maintain their suppliers.
Enjoying all your stops.
Posted by: Margie | July 30th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Hi Martha,
I was just at Swans Island too. I missed you by two days. Such a lovely stop!
Katy
Posted by: Katy Elliott | July 30th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Totally off topic but wanted to tell you that one of my customers (retail women's boutique) brings her chow, Grasshopper with her every time she shops here. She is disabled and he is a working dog. He is so beautiful and gentle and lies right down while she shops. I am reminded everytime I see him of noble Paw Paw, whom I met on your Valentine's Day show in 2008. I wonder, did you make a keepsake out of all that fur?
Glad you're having such a terrific summer. I'm enjoying your posts from afar.
Posted by: jackie lamothe | July 30th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
When I saw a Swan's Island blanket on display in the gift shop in Seal Harbor I realize how special they were. Dear Husband and I stopped in the Northport studio for the tour on our way back to Camden where we were staying. All night long I thought about the beautiful blankets. Finally decided it would make a wonderful 35th wedding anniversary gift to give to ourselves. We drove back to Northport in the morning and I picked out a winter weight king sized white blanket. (DH has no idea how much they actually cost--I put it on my charge card and paid for it when we got home.) In the summer, it is stored in the fabulous linen and cedar case in which it is packaged. Truly a lovely souvenir of our 35 years of vacationing in Maine.
Posted by: Cathybytheriver | July 30th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
The Swans Island website is so interesting and informative. Why, they haven't even been around all that long! I like that they "keep it real" and are not pretentious at all. I was having some anxiety about moths after reading this blogpost but I saw that they provide linen storage cases with cedar inserts. Nice.
Posted by: jw | July 30th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Martha, if you have time while at Swan Island, you must visit Saturn Press, which makes the most beautiful letterpress-printed cards and stationery. I don't believe they have their own web site, but I did a quick web search and came up with this link:
http://threeredhens.blogspot.com/2008/02/surprise-visit-from-saturn-press.html
Don't miss them! Their work is beautiful. I've bought their Christmas cards in specialty shops over the years. It's so enjoyable to buy a card that feels as good to the touch as a Swan's Island blanket!
Enjoy your road trip....
Posted by: Gabriel | July 30th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
p.s. to my earlier post, about Saturn Press, the letterpress printing outfit on Swan's Island:
My search turned up this link, too. Apparently the founder of Saturn Press, Jane Goodrich, has a collection of over 8,000 original luggage labels. Martha, sounds like a collection that would photograph beautifully for your magazine.
http://www.americanwaymag.com/jane-goodrich-saturn-press-jim-van-pernis-travel-bags
Posted by: Gabriel | July 30th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Thanks for sharing. My son recently received a rug from Turkey.
Coffee is on.
Posted by: peppylady (Dora) | July 30th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Wow, those look wonderful. The price is a little steep but I imagine you get what you pay for.
Posted by: Robin | July 30th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
It is always so inspiring to follow your footsteps - at least virtually.
thanks for sharing your experiences
Posted by: Greta | August 1st, 2009 at 4:14 am
Can you do a show about Spidergoat and its products? Apparently, a Canadian company has succeeded in inserting DNA from the orb weaver spider into the embryos of female goats. What has resulted is amazing, eg, bullet proof vests made from the milk of these 'new' goats. Their milk is supposed to be much stronger that the silk made by spiders. This company is also trying to market the milk from these goats for human usage. Many are against. This would make for a fascinating, eyeopening program, one which noone has covered yet.
Posted by: Christine M Nava | August 1st, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Hi Martha, I remember the Swans Island segment on your original show. It was terrific! I loved watching them weave beautiful blankets and dye the wool with natural dyes. One of my favorite parts was when they moved to their summer house which was just a short distance away. I love your original show as much as I love the one you have now. Thanks for the memories. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | August 2nd, 2009 at 10:08 pm
I, too, love the Swans Island blankets. I bought my first one when we were vacationing on Swans Island many years ago and they were being woven there in a charming house . We discovered them quite by accident along with the Saturn Press which another reader mentions. It was so exciting to find two such superb cottage industries(which they were at that time) on little Swans Island which didn't even have a doctor and one grocery store. I have since added several more blankets to my collection.They are warm in winter and cool in summer and lovely to look at.
Posted by: Wendy Baptiste | August 2nd, 2009 at 10:23 pm
I have the same pic's we too visited the showroom of Swan island Blankets and could not resist buying on for my self, the colors are so great! While we were there they gave us a tour of the loom room, one young lady was very busy at the loom it was a great visit!
Posted by: Tamara Born | August 10th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
While on vacation in Camden, stayed at the Windward B&B, and got a lovely throw at the Swans Island shop. Love it!
Posted by: LTC James&Geri Moorhouse | June 16th, 2011 at 6:06 pm