Penland's in Marshall in now carrying some of John's work. After the shock of the fire and the long slow cleanup and rebuild, it's so gratifying to see his work out in the world.
Penland's is a special place to us. We bought overalls there for ourselves and our two-year old almost fifty years ago. Penland's has always carried my books--along with many others of regional interest. Country apparel, local crafts, jams and jellies, fried pies, produce . . .you never know what you'll find in this delightful old-time store.
This below is the shelf-talker displayed with the pieces.
No, the pot with the turquoise inlay isn't for sale. But he's working on making more.
OUT OF THE WOODS . . .
John Skemp has been a woodworker here in Madison County for almost half a century. After a calamitous fire destroyed the old barn that was home to his Wool Branch Woodworks as well as a lifetime collection of tools, with the help of friends and family, he slowly rebuilt. Now he has returned to his avocation, working with wood, most of it from the forested cove where he lives.
The woods used include Cherry, White Oak, Ash, Tulip Poplar, Hickory, Locust, Linden, Eastern Red Cedar, and Black Walnut, usually from trees harvested for firewood or naturally fallen.
The pieces are finished with food-safe (but NOT dishwasher-safe) polyurethane to protect and highlight the natural grain.The weed pots are NOT meant to hold water, but are the perfect place to display a twisty twig or dried seedpod or . . .