This is how Artful Wares was born. Now located in the old Naval Station building in Cutler, the business takes shells from local seafood processors and recycles them into the colorful handles of serving pieces. Each item has the creamy color of clam shells, the rich red of lobsters or the deep blue of mussels. The company’s newest offerings feature combinations of the shells, which create a pleasing, mottled effect.
Every piece features brushed, stainless steel paired with a shell and composite handle. The company also offers serving platters in a variety of shapes. All the pieces are dishwasher safe and the glass-topped platters are heat resistant.
“I happen to be a mix and match person,” says Philbrook, who had help starting the company from her husband, Glenn. “And I’m seeing more people mixing and matching things.”
The Artful Wares pieces lend themselves well to such combos, giving the table a colorful feel evocative of the Maine coast.
Philbrook says she plans to add a five-piece place setting at the beginning of the new year. Until then, the company offers things like salad sets ($95), hors d’oeuvres spreaders ($25), serving spoons ($47.50), pastry servers ($45) and four piece gift sets ($155).
You can buy Artful Wares locally at Cape Cottage Gallery at 179 Cottage Rd. in South Portland and Cranberry Island Kitchen at 7B Corey Rd. in Cumberland. All of the items can be purchased online at http://artfulwares.com.