Click on each Studio Tour Stop number to link to individual Google Maps
Doug's Turnings
3300 Whippoorwill Dr., Taneytown
Click on thumbnails for slide show.
Doug’s Turnings
Doug Heck, 410-259-6406
I am a self-taught Carroll County wood turner, enjoying the beautiful wood that God has given us. He puts the beauty in – I get to show it off. I began turning wood in 2004, finding that wood-turning was to become my new passion. Most of the wood I turn is from the Maryland area and from trees that must come down or have already fallen. It’s hard for me to see a fallen tree on the side of the road and not imagine what could be created from that wood. I cut and haul most of the wood that I use. I also turn most of it green, meaning while the wood is still wet, which is a whole process in itself.
I find relaxation in the craft. I also enjoy reading books on the topic and researching techniques others have used that help tackle the many challenges involved in turning wood.
I reside in Carroll County, Maryland, with my wife Susie. When I am not wood-turning, I enjoy beekeeping.
Photo credit: Kelly Heck Photography
ALSO SHOWING AT STOP #1: John Long, painter/pen+ink, 443-789-7575
Toll House Studio
955 Baust Church Road, Union Bridge
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Stop #2a: Toll House Studio
Linda Van Hart, 443-340-0955
Linda Van Hart sculpts botanical portraits. Rather than gems, surface texture and form are the focus. The scale of the work is dramatic but the fluidity of diminished diameter forging and undulating surfaces lend a rhythmic grace to the body adornment. In business and teaching metalsmithing for over 30 years, Linda’s nature inspired work is easily recognizable.
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Stop # 2b: Bent, Wrapped and Hammered
Max Groft, 410-861-1629
www.bentwrappedandhammered.com
The original core intent of Bent Wrapped and Hammered was as an outlet for students of Linda Van Hart (Tollhouse Studio) to expand beyond the classroom studio to present their work for exhibition and sale. A few of the founding artists have moved on to start their own businesses and Bent Wrapped and Hammered continues under the ownership of Max Groft, one of the founding artists.
Working with Linda and her students in the classroom facilitated the exploration of a wide range of tools, techniques, media and genres. Max not only had the privilege of learning under artist Linda Van Hart, but after completing her courses, remained as one of her teaching assistants as well. Working in Linda’s classes for many semesters has taught her that she will always be a student.
ALSO SHOWING AT STOP #2:
Mimi Hay Designs, mimihay7@yahoo.com
Hats by Tatiana Rakhmanina, hatbytr@gmail.com
Magnolia House Studios
3438 Littlestown Pike, Westminster
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Magnolia House Studios
Jaqui MacMillan, CZT, 410-346-6884, drumforjoyjaqui@gmail.com
Tom's Cabin
916 Silver Run Valley Road, Westminster, MD
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Tom’s Cabin
Tom Berry, 443-789-1775
I was born in Salisbury, Maryland to parents who were both creative and artistic. My father’s love of water-foul-carving was the inspiration for my passion of wood-working.
After graduating from Millersville State College, I located to Carroll county in the fall of 1981 to teach Industrial Arts.
In the summer of 1990, I built my home in Silver Run. I have always enjoyed building, restoring and repurposing. Searching for old lumber, hardware and glass, I enjoy creating a variety of objects that are unique and functional.
My store, Tom’s Cabin, is where I display and sell my creations as well as antiques, vintage items, and recycle Americana.
Thomas Sterner's Art Factory
235-R Leppo Road, Westminster, MD
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Thomas Sterner’s Art Factory
Thomas Sterner, 443-201-6126
Thomas Sterner is a full-time artist in northern Carroll County, where he built his ‘Art Factory’ studio, with a large woodshop and weld fabrication space, and a painting/printmaking loft, nestled in a forest on the edge of farmland. He works in various materials including steel, stainless steel, wood, paint and ink. Recent additions of an outdoor welding area with hoist and trolley assists in the fabrication of large public sculpture commissions. He has produced 7 large public sculptures since 2019. Thomas is a member of NOMA Gallery in Frederick and the Baltimore Sculptors, and exhibits regionally and internationally. The goal of his art is to make people think and smile.
Shiloh Pottery
1027 Brodbeck Road, Hampstead, MD
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Shiloh Pottery
Ken and Marty Hankins, 410-239-8888
I am Ken Hankins, owner of Shiloh Pottery, Inc., located on our family farm in Carroll County, Maryland. I would like to introduce you to what is happening at the pottery. Please visit our web site to learn about our farm and pottery. Shiloh Pottery was created in 1972 when my wife, Marty, and I returned to Maryland from graduate school at Alfred University in New York State.
Over the years we have made stoneware pots, run a potters’ supply business, made and sold kick wheels, and fired salt-glazed pots with gas or wood. We have attended many craft fairs and shows, taught classes of all kinds in our studio, schools and colleges, and run workshops with famous and talented potters, all the time raising 2 children, Matt and Meg. We have been part of the Carroll County Artists Studio Tour for all of its 15 years and then some!
Elizabeth Shaw Woodworking
3831 London Bridge Road, Sykesville
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Elizabeth Shaw Woodworking
Elizabeth Shaw, 410-340-6254, bluecrows@verizon.net
Virginia Sperry Studio
415 Heath Dr., Sykesville
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Virginia Sperry Studio
Virginia Sperry, 443-474-4714
Imagine walking among several life-sized steel animals set in the landscape of a six-acre property in Carroll County. Stick your tongue out at a kangaroo or drink with a giraffe. Walk to the bottom of the hill and hang out with a musk ox.
Then come in to the studio where you can see the most recent artwork that Virginia is working on including her fabulous paper collages! Virginia’s work can regularly be seen at NOMA Gallery in Frederick, MD.
You can see Virginia’s sculpture “Great Blue Heron” at Piney Run Park in Sykesville, MD.
Rosebud Studio
1328 Gold Court, Sykesville
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Rosebud Studios
Teri Koenig, 410-549-6317
http://www.rosebudstudioschina.com
“Painting is a passion…I can’t stop, its a quest to keep trying something new.”
My love for ceramics started as a small child in Carroll County. This passion eventually evolved into a local business.
At Rosebud Studios, everything we do is fired in a kiln. We do both high fire and low fire ceramics, as well as kiln fired glass painting. Our favorite type of work is overglaze paint on porcelain. This art form is full of techniques and kiln surprises. The artistic ideas are endless! Our goal is to create beautiful and functional art for your home.
In addition, I offer group and individual classes in and out of the studio. I have taught classes for home schooled children, scouts, and at the County Parks and Recreation Department. I have also taught in-house classes at local retirement communities. Contact me if you want to learn more about learning this process!
Mud Pi Studios
1596 Daisy Rd., Woodbine, MD
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MudPi Studios
Lori Baker, 410-499-8156
MudPi Studios was born from the creative passions of Lori Baker and is currently located at Heron’s Meadow Farm in Woodbine, MD. Heron’s Meadow Farm is Maryland’s first (and only) tea farm and is host to many inspirational views, wildlife, and MudPi teapots. Visitors to the farm can sample some of our teas, shop for their new favorite mug from the mug tree, walk through herb gardens, or simply relax on the patio. Whether it’s a new tea to try or a new stoneware creation on display in the pottery studio, there is always something exciting happening at Heron’s Meadow Farm.
Ashby's Agates
524 Bear Branch Road, Westminster, MD
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Ashby’s Agates
Brian and Denise Ashby, 410-549-7461,
Preserving an Ashby tradition of three generations, we are rockhounds. We maintain a lapidary and design shop where we transform precious stones and minerals into jewelry. Many of the stones we like to work with are found in our annual travels to well documented collecting areas through the western US. Because camping in the desert is as much a part of the process as is running a rock saw or playing with wire, we have built a collection of material primarily based on where we like to go, so you’ll see a lot of things from Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Idaho. At our house, every rock has a story.
Angellocks Fiberworks
406 Muller Road, Westminster
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Angel Locks Fiberworks
Angela Muller, 443-536-3480
https://angellocksfiber.square.site
Angela’s love of knitting and yarn led her to start raising sheep and spinning her own yarn. Angela loves creating unique yarns from her small flock. All of the wool used in her products are from her sheep or other small local farms.
Hill Farm
935 Bloom Road, Westminster
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Hill Farm
Gwen Handler and Larry Fisher, 410-596-6096
Hill Farm is home to Norwegian Fjord Ponies, Leicester Longwool sheep, various birds, dogs, cats, and chickens. Products of the farm include yarn, fleece, roving, sheep skins, lambs, hand-woven blankets. Raising lambs, foals, puppies, chicks, ducks, and kittens are all wonderful experiences to be a part of. We find this lifestyle, not necessarily easy but always rewarding. I can’t think of a better place to raise a child. Being in touch with the land, the animals, and the seasons give life a true sense of purpose.
Homestead Forge 'N Wood
1843 Ridge Road, Westminster
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Homestead Forge’n Wood
Reb Staup, 410-259-6392, homesteadforge@msn.com
Joseph C. “Reb” Staup is a native to Carroll County and grew up in Shipley, Maryland, just south of Westminster. He is also a veteran of the U. S. Airforce and has enjoyed history and the ability to make something out of raw material for most of his life. In the year 2000, Reb had the opportunity to join a Civil War reenactment group and become part of the time period. After doing portrayals of dismounted cavalry, medical, and living history as General Fitzhugh Lee, he finally settled into the art of blacksmithing in 2004. Working with fire and hot iron to create historical pieces for the reenactment community as well as those who love historical items and the outdoors. He continues participating in the period festivals and reenactments from the 1730 pirates through to the Civil War. He has been head blacksmith for the 1797 Union Mills Shriver Homestead located in Union Mills, MD, just north of Westminster, MD since 2005.
In 2012, while blacksmithing at an event in Brunswick, MD, he met members of the Mid Maryland Wood Turners Club and found he enjoyed working with wood. This new-found passion included carving bowls and utensils as well as turning wood on mechanical and foot powered lathes. He decided to add his talent for woodturning to his thriving blacksmithing business. Reb began including and selling his hand-made wood products at the historical events that he attends and on his webpage homesteadforgenwood.com.
Not only enjoying demonstrating the old world trades and crafts at different venues and shows, he has taught classes at the Union Mills Homestead and Carroll County Farm museum. He has been a juried member of the Carroll Arts Centers Gallery of Gifts for many years as well as an Early American Life Craftsman in both metal and Wood for the Early American Life Magazine and other historical events.
Cat Track Studio
811 Rolling Ridge Drive, Westminster
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Stop #15a: Cat Tracks Studio
Carolyn Seabolt, 410-848-1452
My name is Carolyn Seabolt and I create my art work at Cat Tracks Studio. I am a native of Carroll County and hold a BFA and MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art. I have illustrated several children’s books and written articles for art education journals. I enjoy teaching and sharing a variety of different art techniques with students of all ages. If you are interested in classes please let me know. I work in a variety of media, my favorites being handmade paper, ceramics, silk painting and batik. I also work with watercolor and create 1800’s style tinsel paintings My silk paintings and batiks can be found framed and also in wearable works of art. Most of my work has a feline theme, and because of the many gardens that surround the studio you will also find a lot of flora in my work.
NOTE: During the studio tour you can meet the characters of my books in person and take a photo using our selfie frame to remember the visit!
Click on thumbnails for slide show.
Stop # 15b: Sharon Schaeffer Basketry
Sharon Schaeffer, 410-967-4482
swschaeffer-baskets.blogspot.com
Sharon Schaeffer is a Westminster artist, teacher, and basketmaker. Her baskets reflect a blend of traditional and contemporary styles, techniques, and materials. Reed, ash, oak, pine needles, gourds, seagrass, beads, and found objects are used in Schaeffer’s handmade vessels.
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Stop #15c: Animal Faire
Gayle Mathues, 803-645-3964, gemathues@yahoo.com
It gives me great pleasure to bring little creatures to “life” using just wire, wool and some needles. All my life I have wanted to have some creative outlet for the would-be artist within and I found it in the world of needle-felting sculptures of animals, and other figures. I have been needle felting for several years off and on and now consider it my business and my calling.
Mini-Met Gallery and Studio
208 Main Street, New Windsor
NOTE: Gallery is in the alley behind the house
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Mini-Met Gallery and Studio
Sharon Gribbin-Lindemon, 443-536-9198, lindemon3@aol.com
The Mini Met is a brand new gallery space in New Windsor and the studio of Sharon Gribbin-Lindemon, a painter and mixed media artist who is just now embarking on the full time creation of her artistic vision. She is inspired by the beautiful landscapes of Carroll County and the architecture of the historic homes in New Windsor that drew Sharon and her husband to settle down there back in the ‘90’s. Her love of the surrounding land can be seen in her paintings and mosaics, and her exploration of artistic and recycled materials can be seen in her abstract, mixed media pieces.
Sharon earned her BFA from Salisbury University and her MAT from The Maryland Institute College of Art. She then taught Drawing at SU and a variety of classes at the MICA Young People’s Studios for ten years while also beginning her full time career as an art teacher in the Montgomery County Public School System where she has taught for the past 30 years.
Do Martian’s Recycle is the name of a book written and illustrated by Sharon and inspired by artistic endeavors between her and her son. She also illustrated a book by Dr. Mel Gilley entitled Sam and the Sad Dinosaur.