Just got back from a fruitful trip south to North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. I could not have asked for better weather as I camped among the Appalachian trees and soaked up a little early summer sun. Now that I am back in Madison and a heat wave has hit, I miss it especially.

I began at John C. Campbell Folk School, in Brasstown, NC, attending a broom making class with the head of Broomcraft at Berea College, Chris Robbins. It has been so long since I’ve taken a class on broom making that it felt like leveling up. I left with some more specialized techniques that I can’t wait to continue playing with.

I then drove north to Cookeville + Smithville, TN, to see friends at the Appalachian Center for Craft at Tennessee Tech, and enjoy a relaxing vegan barbecue for Memorial Day. Much love to Ashley Lusietto and Eleanor Rose for hosting me - those grad school ties run deep!

Then, I continued on to see Berea’s historic College Craft Program’s studios in person - and visit the excellent Hunter L.V. Elliot and Erin R. Miller. In addition to seeing the studio’s vast plethora of broom making operations and equipment, I made my first broom on a kick winder. A real game changer - now on the hunt for one for myself!

Finally, I headed to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill - my most southern Shaker village visit to date. After a restful stay with my SPSC friends in Lexington, I drove back north to Madison. I am still stunned that I managed to accomplish so much in one week. Time for for some slowness.