In The Spotlight: Root Studio
Welcome to our newest edition of In The Spotlight, where we showcase the great makers, artists, and small businesses whose products grace the shelves here at Mountain Hollow.
Sit back and read along as we share with you our interview with Carrie Root of Root Studio.
Photo courtesy of Owl Iris Photography.
1. Question [How would you describe your business?]
Answer: Root Studio, located in Addison, Vermont, is a stained glass studio specializing in contemporary, nature-inspired stained glass gifts, home decor, and unique jewelry.
2. Question [When did you first start your journey? Was there anything in particular that sparked your interest and led to you getting started?]
Answer: Root Studio originally started as a side business over 15 years ago with felted items such as stuffed animals, birthday crowns, and home decor. This was put on hold after working as a lead merchandiser and buyer for several catalog companies. Unfortunately, as print catalogs declined, so did these businesses. In 2018, I left the corporate world and started to focus on my childhood dream of being a professional artist. Looking for something new and inspiring to rekindle my passions, I remembered the stained glass window I made in a studio class over 20 years ago. One to never throw away art supplies, I dug out my soldering iron and some dusty pieces of glass, retaught myself the art of stained glass, and vowed never to take a desk job again.
Photo courtesy of Owl Iris Photography.
3. Question [Do you have any formal training or are you self-taught?]
Answer: I took a stained glass class in my twenties from Larry Ribbecke, who is a Burlington, Vermont artist specializing in stained glass window restoration. I loved the class but found it hard to do on my own without proper equipment. When I reintroduced myself to stained glass seven years ago, I went all in purchasing the required tools and materials. I learned that the Tiffany copper foil method was the best way to approach smaller items such as sun catchers and jewelry. I fell in love with the process and used many YouTube tutorials to help me fine tune the process.
4. Question [What inspires you and your creative process?]
Answer: Chirpy forests, woodland critters, and snowy mountain tops. My love for Vermont and all things nature is where most of my inspiration comes from. I love the thought of bringing nature inside the home for enjoyment.
Photo courtesy of Carrie Root.
5. Question [How does where you live influence your work?]
Answer: Vermont loves their local artists! I feel grateful to live in a community when people want to support the arts and small businesses. Attending local markets and talking with customers gives me motivation and inspiration. I love hearing stories from customers about how they purchased a piece from me for a house warming or wedding gift and how much the recipient loved it.
6. Question [Do you have a favorite product/piece you make? What makes it special to you?]
Answer: My iridescent crescent moon earrings, which are one of my best sellers, is one of my favorites - I personally wear these on a daily basis. I love selling earrings, it brings me so much joy when I see other people wearing them out in public! People often comment on how unique the earrings are and if they own a pair they get many comments from strangers. The other is my stained glass owl (shown above). It's one of the largest pieces I make and just feels magical and special.
Photo courtesy of Carrie Root.
7. Question [What advice would you give to aspiring makers?]
Answer: If you love doing what you do - keep making! If you want to sell your items make sure your quality is at a high level. Attend local art markets or craft fairs to see what kind of response you get. Be careful on your pricing, make sure you're covering your materials, overhead and time.
8. Question [What have you accomplished that you're most proud of and why?]
Answer: Moving my studio out of the basement into a little cabin on our property was a real game-changer. It gave me the space, light, and creative environment that I needed. It had always been my dream to have my own studio space and to be so close to home/family is an extra bonus.
Photo courtesy of Owl Iris Photography.
9. [What are you currently working on or excited to make next?]
Answer: I just started making these little 3D stained glass houses that I really love. Some can hold a flameless candle and others can be planters. It's been fun to come up with alternative stained glass decor ideas that are less traditional.
Photo courtesy of Carrie Root.
One of the very first products we offered was Carrie's stained glass feathers, and over the years we've expanded to stock even more of her designs such as mushrooms, moons, mountains, leaves, earrings and more! These pieces have a dedicated area in the shop which can be counted on to have a continuous stream of admirers. Whether you're looking for the perfect gift for that person who has everything, or simply to treat yourself and home to something beautiful, be sure to take a look. You're bound find something you love!
Head on over to Carrie's website to view her current offerings, and be sure to follow her on social media to find out where she'll be next!
A big thank you to Carrie for allowing us to showcase her!
Stay tuned for our next edition...
-J