Author: studio.egroom@gmail.com

Just returned from the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival! More about that soon, but here are a few  photos of some of the lovelies that came home with me–yarns, fleece, and beautifully painted roving! Aren’t they yummy?

Check out our latest pillow creation. Cozy, natural, 100% wool, Perfect for lazy Sunday mornings with a book, or crisp fall evenings by the fire. 16″ diameter.

What a great fall day! Maora (my Australian shepherd) and I are about to head out for a hike, but first we wanted to share the latest Studio E creation. It’s an Ultimate Tote, and what a great color choice! Emerald green and silver were oddly hard to find this season, but we are pleased with the result. This customer will have no trouble organizing all those student papers and family Christmas lists in style! –What do you think?

You can find more photos in the Textile Art gallery

Several days ago I got a message from a friend that the Norman Woods bridge has closed for emergency repairs. Wha?! This was an unpleasant wrinkle in my day. The other two ways to cross the Susquehanna river both involved considerable detours. Grumble, grumble. Well, couldn’t be helped, right? I had to go cloth shopping for a new commission and that was that, off I went. It was a good day for a drive and the countryside is beautiful.

As I passed over the Conowingo dam and began my trek to Bird in Hand I passed by Joy’s Antiques in Quarryville and noticed an old spinning wheel in the window. “Gotta check that out on the way back,” I thought. And I did, but Joy’s is one of those special places. The sign in the window says “Open by chance or appointment”, and chance was not on my side that day.

Today I got another chance with chance and this time, she was with me. If you ever get a chance yourself, visit Joy’s place. I could have spent three days in the first aisle alone. Manual 35mm cameras, tiny cork stoppered vials with pigment for china painting, marble gear shift handles, chandelier prisms of every possible shape, size, and color, brass andirons, bone-handled penknives–just in the first three feet! I finally made my way to the spinning wheel and found that, though it would be great as a decorative piece, it wouldn’t be much good functionally. I kept looking around, smiling like idiot as pieces of other people’s pasts kept catching my eye. Workbenches, books, wooden chests, cast iron skillets, hand tools, records…and there it was. A lovely antique skein winder, with a  clockwork yardage counter that still works. Yup. Mine. A beautiful addition to the collection of eclectic oddities that is my decorating style, as well as a functional piece–I can’t wait to start winding up some yarn!

Check back soon for some video of this gorgeous piece in action.

 

 

It’s starting to get a bit chilly around these parts. We’ve fired up the woodstove and now it’s time to think about spinning some new yarns and knitting up deliciously warm and cozy sweaters and shawls. Keep an eye on the galleries for new pictures soon!

Well, that may be a slight exaggeration. Today, friend and fellow artist, Jen, from Wild Heart Studio, came out to do a photo shoot with my boys. Captain Jack (alpaca) and Pavaroti (Angora goat) were both mugging for the camera. Norman (Shetland sheep) went for the sophisticated pose, as did his buddy in brown, Delli (alpaca). Shuggah (Shetland sheep) and Orion (alpaca) were really just in it for the snacks. Look for the results on our Boys (and girls) of Studio E page soon!

A huge thank you to all of you who have encouraged (I won’t say nagged) me to finally take the plunge. I hope you visit frequently, order a lot, tell your friends, leave a comment or two, and enjoy the story of my art adventures, along with the pictures of animals being silly and cute.