Esther's Place is a magical wonderland. That's all you need to know. :)…read more
It is here, that I found myself at a table with a group of people from Sweden, eating homemade baked goods and poking needles into brightly dyed wool. We made felted acorns with those needles and wool. An hour prior to my visit, I never imagined that I would be doing that, but there I was, enjoying the company, poking, and learning a Swedish word or two.
So glad I had the fortune to end up here. After a couple weeks of living in our RV near Elgin, we 'moved' to a campsite in Big Rock, a mile or so from Esther's place. Big Rock isn't a big (or very exciting) town, so I did a quick online search to see what kind of shops were nearby and this place popped up. Interested in doing a little bit of exploring, I stopped by here expecting to just look at yarn for five minutes. But no, I had a light lunch with a group of people visiting from Sweden, played with needles, and learned so much about the story behind Esther's Place. Well, that's a much better adventure anyway, right?
In the two weeks that I stayed at the campsite nearby, I dropped by Esther's several times for whimsical inspiration, drooling over wool, conversation, and a quick afternoon of needle felting with some good friends.
Not only can you swing by the charming house (there is a knitted monkey hanging out in a tree!) to sign up for a myriad of classes or farm tours, but you can purchase felting materials & wool, handmade treasures like little felted animals and knitted scarves, handmade soaps/lotions, and have a chance to pick up some farm fresh fruits and veggies in the warmer months. Stay for awhile and you might just be treated to a hospitable plate of pie or a glass of water as you sit and chat with the family.
Natasha, the sweet woman behind Esther's place, is so warm & friendly, bubbling with enthusiasm for fiber arts and the community. I am amazed at how she made her dream a reality and has created this fantastic haven for people to come together and create delightful things. Her family also helps with the business (and the farm); it's nice to see a thriving family business in this sweet little town. Definitely visit Esther's Place if you have a spare afternoon and a desire to learn something new!
