Angela Adams	The Week of March 20th, 2005

Designer

1. What’s in your wallet right now?

I'm not positive. It's in the overhead compartment above me on a flight to Chicago. I think there's about 30 bucks in it and some change, plus some receipts. Oh, of course, some credit cards. It’s a small wallet so I can't carry much else in it.

2. What do you wish your parents taught you about money?

How to manage it. They were great at teaching us how to work hard, to create good jobs for ourselves, etc. But they didn’t teach us how to manage it.

3. What is your worst habit around finances?

I have trouble keeping track of my receipts.

4. What makes you happy?

My husband Sherwood, our kitties, our families, the ocean, sunsets... Lots of things.

5. Personal philosophy around money?

Money is energy. It will help get us to where we want to go if we have a good plan. But it won't make you happy or more entitled. It can be a trap.

6. Where does money come from?

I think it comes from a desire to value things. We have price tags and values attached to so many things. Money quantifies what our time is worth, or how much a cup of coffee is worth. But somewhere along the way, people started to think it put a pricetag on people and experiences that are invaluable.

7. What would you do with a million dollars?

I would donate some, invest some in my company and have some fun with a little bit of it too.

8. What is your most prized possession?

My family.

9. Who is your role model?

I have different role models for different things. My cat Scooter is one of my role models. He is a very peaceful creature. He knows how to really relax, let go, stretch it all out. He can also make a game out of anything. When I get wound up and stressed out about work or something, he always reminds me that I need to just slow down, get cozy by the fire and stretch out.

10. What is your greatest achievement?

Aside from making this flight that I am on, I would like to think it hasn’t happened yet. I'm just getting started.

11. What organizations do you support?

We concentrate on animals, arts, environment and community.

12. What contributions to society do you want to make?

A positive impact. Our goal is to evolve into a totally sustainable company in the future. I'm also about the idea of making people more aware of the natural beauty around us. Also, I hope we make people more aware of design and beauty in general. I think it so often gets taken for granted.

13. If you could buy one thing right now what would it be?

Today I would buy my friend a full-time nurse that would take extra special care of her while she recovers from an illness.

14. Favorite activity that doesn’t cost a dime?

It's too hard to pick just one… one would be a picnic on the beach with our family and the other would be a quiet night at home by the fire with my husband Sherwood and the kitties.

15. How do you indulge yourself?

I love to cook and I tend to spend some extra coins on things to cook. I love going to the fish market, the bakery, the butcher, the farmers market. Id rather shop for food any day than shop on Madison Avenue for clothing.

Angela Adams grew up on North Haven, an island 12 miles off the coast of Maine. Her island upbringing helped to shape her unique perspective. Angela's designs are known for their sense of timelessness, simplicity and balance, all inspired by the remote and harsh natural beauty of life off the coast of Maine.

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