ABOUT US
I always feel stymied when I try to describe
Nervous Nellie’s: a cottage industry that
is actually in a cottage? A quirky living
museum of island life and culture?
A folk art sculpture garden that feels
magical, hilarious and poignant all at
once? A colorful shop of handmade
goods and a tea room with homemade
goodies? A sandbox with great toys?
A dog that smiles? It is a treat for us
to see people explore the grounds,
discover the unexpected, poke into the kitchen when the
kettle is boiling to have a sniff and chat up our cook, Patty. I love to eavesdrop on the ecstatic
moans as people taste the jam samples for the first time, watch a child come upon a sculpture that brings
delight, or see someone simply relaxing in the autumn sun on the deck, hands cupped around steaming
mug of coffee watching everyone else explore, discover, and be delighted.
It’s hard to say exactly when Nervous Nellie’s began… Was it the first kitchen stovetop jar sold, the date of legal incorporation, or the moment Peter came up with a company name that sounded like the notquite- serious venture he imagined he was embarked upon? Like its beginnings, Nervous Nellie’s continues to be an unfolding, a process grounded now in the maturity of 25 years of life. Years ago, with profit margins of slim to none, we sold our jam to Dean & Deluca, we could be found on the shelves of tony Atkinson’s Market in Ketchum, Idaho and on the breakfast table of the Wrigley Mansion on Catalina Island when it was an exclusive bed & breakfast. No more. Today 90% of what we produce in our 375 sq ft factory (aka the JK or Jelly Kitchen) is sold right here: in person, over the phone or internet. Not the usual trajectory for a tiny manufacturer whose survival is generally reliant on economies of scale, volumetric growth and venture capital. We are making the same small batches that the business began with and have depended on efficiency and the steady growth of a base of loyal fans, instead of Bigness. More than anything, our visitability has ensured our survival as a made-by-hand manufacturer. Similarly, Peter used to exhibit his sculptures in galleries in and around Portland. e delivered sculptures to Ohio, Mississippi and North Carolina. Many motels and much mileage later, not to mention the muscle and man-handling these life-size sculptures require, it became more rewarding to channel that energy into Nervous Nellie’s: installations like the Grail Castle—a sculptural world, and sculptures that could be shipped, packed into the family wagon or delivered closer to home. Dozens of figures and creatures live here: knights and dragons, owls and herons, good ol’ boys and witches, a lobster and tuna playing checkers, and a pink flamingo 10 feet tall. Recent first time visitor Deborah Nash of Exeter, RI wandered around for over an hour, taking it all in, then exclaimed, “I’ve been to the Louvre, and this is better!” Perhaps not an entirely apt comparison, but we are delighted by the spirit in which it was offered and take immense pleasure ourselves in creating a place that feels transcendent and joyful. Peter and Anne
598 Sunshine Road, Deer Isle, Maine 04627 1-800-777-6845 or 207-348-6182 Email:jam@nervousnellies.com 
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