Early Fall in Maine | Cozy Bedding, Antiques, and a Fall Photo Shoot

Fall bedding in the guest rooms, an early morning flea market outing, a photo shoot with a favorite Maine brand, and a cute new addition to my kitchen counter.

It has felt like a long time coming, but the autumnal equinox is finally upon us.

Usually I sail blithely through the first weeks of September, enjoying them exactly as the bonus summer time they are.

This year has felt different, though — distinctly fall-like already. Yes, the temperatures have been cooler, and the leaves are starting to turn and even drop. But more than that, there has been a moodiness in the air that has made me want to grab a sweatshirt, wrap my hands around a warm beverage, pull the shades, light a candle, play soft music, and start cooking with apples and root vegetables.

It has also prompted me to swap out the bedding in the guest rooms — mostly old familiar layers coming together in a comforting way that still feels fresh.

This is a great time of year for festivals, fairs, and shows. Wednesday morning I got up at the crack of dawn (literally) to go to the Montsweag flea market.

And Thursday, Swans Island came to the house for a fall product shoot. We spent the afternoon setting the table and playing with canvas bags and handwoven scarves and blankets.

Today I’m sharing all this with you, plus my newest small kitchen appliance that bakes, air fries, toasts, and more — all while looking cute and taking up minimal counter space.

It’s an early fall grab bag today. Let’s jump right in.

Fall Bedding in the Guest Rooms

I shared the primary bedroom fall bedding refresh, including new sheets, a couple of weeks ago. If you missed it you can read it here.

For the guest rooms I dug through my linen closet and pulled out a mix of old favorites. Not having seen most of them since last fall, they feel fresh to the eye, but also like a reassuring reminder of the rhythms of the seasons.

Waterside guest room

In the waterside guest room I started, as I always do this time of year, with a Company Store floral patchwork quilt and matching shams in autumnal shades of teal blue and dusty rose, with pops of green, burgundy, purple, and orange. Floral sheets pick up the pinks and blues, and throw pillows from Target pull out the burgundy. A sweet embroidered pillow echoes the texture of the vintage white bedspread.

Fun facts about the bedspread: I picked it up this summer at a favorite local antiques store, Elmer’s Barn. It was woven by Bates Manufacturing Company, a Maine institution established in 1850 and best known for its hobnail-style bedspreads and coverlets. Mine is the Martha Washington design, which Bates says is a replica of the handwoven candlewick bedspread that George Washington gave Martha on their wedding day. According to the Bates Mill’s guide, the tag design dates my bedspread to between 1944 and 1961. It is in perfect condition. I think it adds both charm and a bit of Maine history to the room.

Captain’s Room

In the Captain’s Room I kept the white block-print style coverlet I’d had on the bed all summer and swapped the coastal landscape sheets for ones with a bold floral design in blues and warm caramel. A quilt folded at the foot of the bed repeats these same colors. New ruffled shams in a soft blue check from Amazon add graphic contrast and a bit of femininity to a room that leans masculine. The needlepoint ship pillow stays year round and ties directly to the gallery wall above the headboard.

Shop fall bedding finds

Montsweag Flea Market

On Wednesday morning I set my alarm early to go to the Montsweag Flea Market right on Route 1 in Woolwich. This market is open Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, generally May to October. Wednesdays are designated as Antique Dealer Day, when the market is reserved for antiques and collectibles. It officially opens at 8am, but dealers sometimes start setting up as early as 6, so the savvy shoppers get there early. My goal was around 7.

But, ah, the best-laid plans. I am not an early morning person to start with, and then I got distracted by the sunrise and the way the golden light spread throughout the downstairs. I couldn’t resist taking just a few snaps… It was magical.

So, I ended up pulling into the Montsweag parking lot around 8:15. Since it’s late in the season, there weren’t as many dealers as earlier in the summer. The setup is casual, with dealers’ wares spread out on long tables and larger items grouped on the ground in front. There was a little bit of everything — baskets, china, jewelry, books, rugs, buoys, clothes, old tools, artwork, small furniture pieces, and more.

I made a quick loop, lingered at a few things, but nothing really called my name. Walking back to the car, I did stop and purchase a wicker footstool that is almost identical to one I have in my bedroom. It is in sorry shape, and needs a coat of paint (and maybe some glue in a few spots). But at just $8 — far less than I paid for the one I have — I thought I would give it a home. At the very least, I can use it as a plant stand.

While it wasn’t the most successful outing for me, I know others who have done well there. So I will definitely give Montsweag another chance.

The best part of the morning? A kind reader stopped me to say hello. It is always a joy to meet one of you. Amy, let’s get together sometime!

And, since I didn’t find any treats at the market, I stopped to get myself a few at Treats, a cafe and bakery in Wiscasset. I have heard so many people rave about this place and it didn’t disappoint. I grabbed a maple coffee and almond croissant for the car ride, and a slice of frittata, which I have enjoyed over the next two mornings.

Treats cafe is open Tuesday-Sunday 7:30am-3pm. And their wine bar and restaurant serves dinner Thursday-Saturday 3pm-9pm.

A Fall Photo Shoot with Swans Island

In July I attended a creator event at the Swans Island store in Camden. I wrote about it here.

Swans Island is a small local lifestyle brand that sells blankets, wraps, and scarves hand-loomed right here in Maine. They also have a beautifully curated selection of bags, pillows, table linens, and other items for the home.

On Thursday, Tania and Michele came from the shop, their car filled to the brim with bins full of blankets, scarves, bags, table runners, napkins, and placemats. Plus, an armful of hydrangea branches, berries and leaves for styling.

And then we had some fun. We set a table for fall with colors that are a little different than what I usually go for, but which tied in beautifully with pops of blue. I loved it. We draped the gorgeous Swans Island blankets all over the place — the fireside swivel chairs, loveseat, Captain’s Room bed, and even outside on the porch.

Thank you, Swans Island for coming to play at my house! Look for photos of my home on the Swans Island Instagram page.

Shop the Swans Island Photo Shoot

I’ve linked some of the beautiful Swans Island pieces we used around the house for the photo shoot. The gorgeous floral table runner appears to be brand new and isn’t available on their website yet, but I’ll keep an eye out for it!

The Our Place Wonder Oven

The guest cottage kitchenette has a large Breville toaster oven that does it all: bakes like a regular oven, reheats food quickly, and toasts perfectly. I have always wanted one in the main house, but don’t want to sacrifice counter space for something I wouldn’t use all the time.

Recently my friend Kim from Northern California Style shared the Wonder Oven from Our Place. I was familiar with this brand, since my daughter Zoë had gifted me one of their Always Pans several years ago, which I love. I didn’t know, though, that they also have some small appliances.

If you haven’t heard of them, Our Place is a kitchenware brand known for thoughtfully designed, multifunctional cookware and appliances that are as attractive as they are practical.

Their Wonder Oven comes in three models, including the standard, which measures just 12 inches wide. It doesn’t sacrifice functionality for size, though, as it can bake, roast, air fry, reheat, broil, and toast. This little cutie doesn’t skimp on looks either. You can choose from five colors — dark gray, blue, beige, light orange, and cream. Guess which color I chose?

My Wonder Oven arrived on Thursday, and I immediately took it for a spin. It toasted my English muffin evenly, reheated my frittata without it getting soggy, and roasted up some carrots in about 20 minutes.

I know I am really going to enjoy my new oven’s functionality. But what I think really sets it apart from similar appliances is how attractive it looks on the counter. You know I am a sucker for form and function.

Shop My Our Place Favorites

This Week Into Next

It was a busy week, but I have to say it feels good to fill my days with things I find meaningful.

Last Saturday was our town Art Tour, with over 20 artists, studios, and galleries participating. I only stopped by a few, but I did pick up a new painting. Something about the scene and colors spoke to me. I love how it looks in my bedroom.

Next week I am looking forward to a visit from Zoë and Poppy. We will be going to the Common Ground Country Fair on Friday and I can’t wait to see it all through Poppy’s eyes. I wrote all about the fair after I went with my sisters two years ago. You can read that here.

I am also planning to take Poppy to the pumpkin farm to help me pick out the pumpkins for my stone wall.

So, while I won’t be posting next week, I will have plenty of fall content when I return the following week.

Until then, be well!