By Linda Galway
Freelance Writer

For those of us without the knowledge or talent to create our own clothes and accessories, we’re enormously lucky others have figured it out. As Martha would say, “That’s a good thing.”

??Yamabibs, Frank Norman, 16 Pagoma Lane, Lewiston, ME 04240; Tel: 207-753-0101. Email: Frank@yamabibs.com; Web site: http://www.yamabibs.com
Think about all the times you’ve ruined perfectly good shirts and blouses when a bit of food inadvertently landed on them and you’ll know immediately why Yamabibs are indispensable for eaters of all ages.
“Yamabibs are one of a kind, unique, hand-crafted adult, nursing mom, and kids’ bibs and clothing protectors,” explained Frank Norman, who was inspired to create these bibs after his wife suffered a traumatic head injury and became totally disabled. With her shaking hands and poor coordination, Norman and his wife Arlene saw every meal as a disaster, and she felt frustrated by the spills on her clothing.
The bibs now have become a fashion statement as well as a practical accessory. “Yamabibs and all my products are made with female, male, unisex, professional, charming, wild, sports and outdoor-themed fabrics,” Norman continued. “Yamabibs are custom-made so we can expand or change the size, as needed. They’re 100 percent cotton, have two usable sides and utilize a special European fastener that does not pick up lint in the washer and dryer.” A Yamabib, he continued, “keeps your clothing spotless, makes you look more together and feel very presentable, Yamabibs will also help reduce your dry-cleaning bills and wear and tear on your clothing.
New this year are the “YamaMama” for women nursing in public to provide them with privacy to nourish and nurture their newborns,” Norman said. ” The other new product was requested by existing customers. Wrap the “YamaKid” around a child for eating, playing with paints, crafts, mud and helping cook in the kitchen, then just whip it off when you want a clean child again.”
There’s no doubt Frank Norman has a passion for the “Yama” line of clothing, but that’s not all. He is also the owner and CEO of Future Fuel Technologies, Inc., focusing on inventing, manufacturing and distributing green, environmental, fuel-extending products.

 
?? My Comfort Clothes®, Contact: Betty Snowman, 116 So Main Street, Auburn, Maine 04210 FMI: 207-783-6462; http:// www.mycomfortclothes.com

Move over comfort food. It’s time to wear some Comfort Clothes®. “I just kept hearing my customers say how comfortable my clothes were,” says Betty Snowman, creator of My Comfort Clothes, “so one day the light bulb just went on in my head and I thought, what a great name for a clothing line.” Even in hard economic times, or maybe because of hard economic times, people want to buy cozy, comfortable and carefree clothes.
Maine native and Auburn resident Betty Snowman explained that nearly 20 years ago she and her sister Jane formed a small craft business to sell small stuffed snowmen and appliquéd sweatshirts as a creative outlet. “I think all our friends and family had their fill of our snowmen!” she recalled, “so we had to find other people to take them. Given my last name, ‘The Crafty Snowman’ seemed like an appropriate name for the business at the time.”
As lives evolve, so did theirs. “Jane moved away, and I took on sole proprietorship,” Betty explained. “Since then, the clothing line has expanded dramatically to become my main product line, and the snowmen have gotten bigger in size but represent a much smaller part of the business.” Nevertheless, all items are still designed, sewn and hand-crafted in Snowman’s home sewing room.
The My Comfort Clothes® line includes appliquéd ladies sweatshirts, tunic style sweatshirts, sweatshirt jackets, and tee shirts. “My best-seller is a unique coordinating sweatshirt jacket and tee set,” says Snowman, “It’s hard to keep them in stock.”
Snowman’s web site offers a sizing page to instruct customers on how to properly take their measurements as well as some helpful hints for fitting purposes. Almost all items are available in sizes from ladies’ small to 3X.
In addition to her web business, Snowman enjoys meeting her customers and has an active craft fair schedule, including:
Aug 13 – 16, United Maine Craftsmen (Cumberland Fair Grounds)
Sept 12 & 13, Summer Solstice (Wells)
Oct 4 – 11, Fryeburg Fair

?? Andes Alpaca Farm, Gil and Morelia Candia, 334 Johnson Road Auburn, ME 04210, 782-7385, info@andesalpacafarm.com
Farm store is open during the holiday season and by appointment the rest of the year. Selling alpaca fleeces, roving and yarn produced from from their our own flock. A few alpaca items are available, i.e., clothing and accessories, made from our own fiber.

?? Lake and Mountain Designs, 1250 Carrabassett Dr., Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947, Sandra Schniepp, 207-235-3040, mountain_designs@hotmail.com
Bags, clothing, sewing

?? Pegalant, 1009 N. Ridge Rd. NR3, Carrabassett Valley, ME, 04947
Peg Gallant, 207-235-2703, kpgallant@yahoo.com
Sewing, clothing.

?? Karen’s Knits, 65 Linda Dr. Greene, ME, 04236; Karen Flagg, 207-946-2016
Hand-knit clothing.

(The business listing was culled from a variety of sources; for the most updated information, please contact the business directly.)