CHART story

Today's CHART story comes from a Portland, Maine yoga instructor who customized a pair of cuff links. This story reminds us that sometimes it's more about the memory than the place... Enjoy!

We made a pair of cuff links for a Portland yoga instructor featuring an "Unexploded Bomb Ordinance" sector of the chart. This alerts navigators of the possibility of unexploded bombs upon the ocean floor, never good to drop anchor in such areas! He remembered this from chart place mats his mother used to have when he was a child and always thought that part was cool. Well... that part definitely was cool and so are the cuff links we made to preserve the memory!

Commemorate a loved one's special memory for Valentine's. How about a shared romantic memory??!! Order yours today.

Wear your world, tell your story. What is yours?

Where did January go....?

Did I just blink or is February already here...? And I didn't even have time to begin any of my New Years Resolutions yet... guess I'll put them off to next year and focus on creating great jewelry and accessories for you...

Here's a little of what we've been up to in the first month of 2010!

Thanks to everyone that stopped by to see our "Islands of Casco Bay" exhibit at Hilltop Coffee Shop. We enjoyed creating the pieces and displays and sharing a little bit of the history of the islands of Casco Bay for the last two months. So many great stories to tell, tell us yours!

We have a winner for our CHART story contest, it's a gem and a real treat but it's a gift so we can't share it yet, stay tuned!

We've opened up an exciting new account on St. John, USVI. If you're ever in the area stop by and check out Nest at the Marketplace in Cruz Bay. Within a couple of weeks they'll have a fine selection of our goodies on hand featuring St. John points of interest. They also stock all the essentials to adorn and inspire: bath, home, body, kitchen, tabletop, fine correspondence & lighting. We hope you can make it there soon!

With that we're getting back to work to bring you fine custom jewelry and accessories. Remember to get your Valentine's order in by Thursday, February 4th!

We'll have some more to say next week, enjoy the weekend!

Monday's CHART Story

Today's CHART story comes from Malissa of Massachusetts who customized a small bronze of leather cord with Higgins Beach.

Malissa writes:

Summer vacations at Higgins Beach began as an opportunity to connect with a childhood friend and her family living in Scarborough... our annual bonding sessions of beach, barbeques and the Yarmouth Clam Festival. Nine years later our vacation has become two glorious weeks in a sweet beach house shared with a growing extended family and visiting friends all enjoying the magic of Higgins.

There is nothing in the world like a communal puzzle permanently set up on the porch table, searching for crabs in the Spurwink at low tide, the annual Turkey Dinner at the clubhouse and the nightly "knotty pine tour." Babies have taken first steps, children have learned to kayak, teens have discussed the mysteries of life while having mad pillow fights (if only walls could talk) and grown ups have given in to true relaxation here.

Higgins Beach is the source of so many wonderful experiences and memories... it is our slice of Americana, our little piece of heaven. Thanks to Charlotte and John my beautiful custom CHART pendant will be a constant reminder of that special place especially during the Massachusetts winters as I count the days until we return.

Thanks so much...

You're very welcome Malissa!

Help a loved one through the winter, gift them a special gift for Valentine's, order yours today.

Wear your world, tell your story. What is yours?

Islands of Casco Bay: Clapboard, Stave & Cushing Islandss "Pastures"

Today we offer some history on Clapboard, the nearby Stave (any guess as to where they got their names), Bangs and Cushing Islands.

Trips to Clapboard Island were made by men from Richard Trelawney's fishing station on Richmond Island off of Cape Elizabeth. Workers would make small-boat excursions to Clapboard Island to cut timber and saw it into lumber. Guess what that used the lumber for?... That's right, clapboards. Providing an excellent example of Yankee ingenuity, the island quickly became know as Clapboard Island. Oddly enough, on nearby Stave Island, they cut barrel staves.

At one point Bangs Islands belonged to Joshua Bangs, you see where the name came from. In 1762 the island was purchased by Ezekiel Cushing for $2,300. $2,300 was an expensive price tag which remained higher than even some of the Casco Bay islands sold for in the 1960s! Upon purchasing the island, Ezekiel quickly renamed it Cushing Island.

Some time passed and Ezekiel sold the island back to Joshua Bangs. He renamed it Bangs Islands. Joshua's daughter inherited the island and married Jedediah Preble. Eventually, their son, the famous Commodore Edward Preble, father of the US Navy, inherited the island.

Commodore Preble then sold the island to Lemuel Cushing, a distant cousin of Ezekiel, and the name changed once again back to Cushing and has remained so since!

CHART metalwork's exhibit the "Islands of Casco Bay" is on display through the end of January at Hilltop Coffee Shop, 90 Congress St., Portland, ME. "Pastures" features a silver lapel pin featuring Clapboard Island, a silver tie tack featuring Cow Island, a bronze zipper pull featuring Basket Island and a silver zipper pull featuring Cushing Island. The jewelry can be purchased separately or as a collection with frame and story...

...or, you can always customize your own special piece.

Islands of Casco Bay: Pound of Tea Island & Great Chebeague "A Lone Tree""

Today we offer history on some points a bit more North in the bay, Pound of Tea Island, located at the mouth of the Harraseeket River, Freeport and Indian Pt. on Great Chebeague.

Pound of Tea

Now how do you come up with a name like Pound of Tea? Well, legend has it that's the price for the island. It's said the original settlers purchased the island from American Indians for a single pound of tea. The island is now inhabited by the King and Queen of Pound of Tea.

Indian Point, Great Chebeague

A single tree stands alone on the windswept barren point know as Indian Point. This is the fruit of the labor of a man know as Wentworth Ricker. In 1791 Ricker settled on Great Chebeague and planted a garden upon Indian Point. One day he noticed a tiny oak growing from his garden patch. He carefully tended to it and eventually it grew to be the landmark and seamark known today to all navigators in the bay.

CHART metalwork's exhibit the "Islands of Casco Bay" is on display through the end of January at Hilltop Coffee Shop, 90 Congress St., Portland, ME. "A Lone Tree" features an extra small silver pendant on sterling ball chain featuring Pound of Tea Island, a small silver pendant on sterling ball chain featuring Indian Point, an extra small bronze pendant on oxidized ball chain featuring Sturdivant Island and a small bronze pendant on oxidized ball chain featuring House Island. The jewelry can be purchased separately or as a collection with frame and story...

...or, you can always customize your own special piece.

Monday's CHART Story... a day late

We're a day late again, this time due to the long weekend, but this story is worth the wait...

We made a pair of silver cuff links as a very thoughtful gift for a man by the name of F. Lee Bailey... yes... the F. Lee Bailey.

One features Princes Point, Falmouth, ME where he spent some time as a child, the other the Massachusettes Cape residence where he grew up. They fit him like a glove, much nicer than the one made ever so famous in that certain trial.

He wore them yesterday and has already sold several pairs to a couple judges and colleagues. We're trying to work out a rep agreement but he's a very well skilled speaker and negotiator...

We're guilty of making great gifts for Valentine's Day, order yours today.

Wear your world, tell your story. What is yours?

Islands of Casco Bay: Peaks Island "Shore Dinners"

Today we offer a little more history on one of the more accessible Casco Bay Islands to Portland, Peaks Island.

Peaks has been enjoyed summer destination island for quite some time. Peaks was once a rendezvous point for Indians who went there for summer excursions and clambakes.

By 1850 William Jones had begun to turn Peaks Island into a tourist destination for day visitors from Portland. He turned his boarding house into a restaurant that served shore dinners. Guest enjoyed fresh lobsters, steamers and corn at Jones' Restaurant.

The arrival of the steam ferry to the area in the late 1800s brought a great tourist boom to Peaks. During this time Peaks boasted an extensive boardwalk, roller coasters, vaudeville acts, roller skating rinks and fireworks every evening.

The en vogue activity was to take the steam ferry from Portland to Peaks and take in a show. Ferry and show ticket cost all of twenty five cents.

Though today the boardwalk, roller coasters, roller skating rinks and daily fireworks no longer exists, elements of Jones' vision still do. Peaks still is a popular day trip destination from Portland.

These days every Sunday a great crowds coalesce upon Peaks to take in reggae at Jones' Landing, round trip ferry $4.10, buckets of beer $10. I've never seen a vaudeville act at Sunday reggae, but I sure have seen some interesting ones....

CHART metalwork's exhibit the "Islands of Casco Bay" is on display through the end of January at Hilltop Coffee Shop, 90 Congress St., Portland, ME. "Shore Dinners" features a medium silver pendant on sterling silver choker featuring Little John Island and a large silver pendant on choker featuring Peaks. The jewelry can be purchased separately or as a collection with frame and story...

...or, you can always customize your own special piece.