Maine Balkan Imports grew from a friendship between Kirsten Stockman and three Bulgarian folk singers, Mitra, Lyubimka, and Neda Bisserov.

Kirsten met the Bisserov Sisters during a visit to Bulgaria in 2000. She returned to Bulgaria with her husband in 2001, where they met Neda's husband Boyan and learned about his blankets.

"We wanted to help Boyan sell his blankets, so we started a small family-owned import business," said Kirsten. "It has taken us a few years, but we finally can offer Boyan's blankets to you."

Maine Balkan Imports founders Tom Crikelair and Kirsten Stockman (center), master weaver Boyan Stoimenov (left), and members of the Bisserov family on the banks of the Danube River in Lom, Bulgaria