The Golden Egg Studio is housed inside a light-filled space that is a former chicken coop, situated on 10 acres of the original farm.Ray and Deb Pierce's talents intertwine and are reflected in their home in Amston, part of Hebron. The farmhouse is circa 1771, home to the Pierces since 1976.
"It might be older," said Deb Pierce, who runs the studio along with her daughter, Cait. "That's the date we found on a stone lintel."
"We've been sugaring about 1990," said Ray, who taps the sugar maples on the farm plus neighbors' trees. Ray owns Pierce's Carpentry & Remodeling, and his work restoring and rebuilding (plus his art created from found objects) can be seen throughout the farm.
At the recent Hebron Maple Festival, the front pasture was full of vehicles, visitors exploring the sugar-making, drawn to the sugarhouse with billowing plumes of steam pluming skyward. "Troy," the miniature horse cropped grass just greening up, and families delighted in the plump chickens they could hold (with care and gentleness).
The Pierces' farm is welcoming and delightful, including the quirky art - a row of windows march out from the studio, framing pasture views; a display of horseshoes artfully occupy a stone niche. The farm is only open during the annual maple festival. Take heart though, the studio is open Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. (or by appointment).
Offerings include Easter egg decorating (small classes, one for adults, another for children); and children's morning art classes in April and May. There's a Mother's Day gift workshop on May 2, and in April, a Fiber Arts Show and Tea (date to be announced). Space is limited (to keep classes small) and fees vary ($15 to $30 for workshops).
"The most important thing is that people are comfortable in a place," said Deb. "Then they can let their guard down to create."
Her partners in art are her daughter, Cait Pierce, and neighbor, Ellen Ludwig. Scout meetings and birthday parties can be scheduled. For more information call (860) 228-0273 or e-mail goldeneggstudio@gmail.com; located at 325 West Main St. (Route 66).
