Fabulous Doll Fashions!

November 24th, 2010 Comments Off


I had to share these two incredible doll creations from the Doll Fashions Workshop at the PCA on November 11. Two themes- a Western outfit for a horse-lovin’ gal and a beautiful holiday ensemble. Great job, fashionistas! We had so much fun that I will be holding two more Doll Fashions Workshops at Roudenbush Community Center on January 28 (no school in Westford). Doll Fashions, Jr. will be from 9am-12pm (ages 6-8) and Doll Fashions, Sr. will be held in the afternoon from 1pm-4pm (ages 9-12). Contact Roudenbush Community Center to sign up. Limited space.


Doll Fashion Workshop for November 11

October 28th, 2010 Comments Off


When I was a little girl, I had more fun making clothes for my dolls than buying them in the stores. Some of the creations were pretty out there . . . I had yet to learn the joys of sewing machines and glue guns! I learned that Elmers was not the right choice for all craft projects. But, it was still so much fun choosing color schemes and working on just the right fit for the dolls! I still love making things. Now, I teach how to make things. I have taught part of this workshop to a few birthday party groups, and it is incredibly fun. The kids are so inventive! In the picture above, I love how they cut out cupcakes from fabric to decorate their dresses.


On November 11 (Veteran’s Day), I am giving a workshop for kids on doll fashions at the Parish Center for the Arts in Westford. There will be bins of fabric, jewels, ribbon, lace – the list could go on and on. The kids will all get a chance to sew on my machine with me and make dresses, coats, purses, hats, necklaces and more. American Girl Dolls and other 18″ dolls are the perfect models for our clothes, but we can make custom outfits for favorite baby dolls and stuffed animals.


The workshop is on Thursday, Nov. 11 from 9-12pm in the upstairs classroom at the PCA on Westford’s Common. Ages: 6-14. Fee: $30 (Sibling and Friend Rate: $25).


To register, e-mail me, Emily Piper, at info@creativityunhinged.com or call 978.995.7002. Spaces are limited.


Rumphius Finds a Home

September 13th, 2010 Comments Off


I live on an amazing 18th c. farm in beautiful Westford, Massachusetts. Everything has been painstakingly restored to beauty from the house to the barn to the cider shed to even the two seater outhouse, except for one rather decrepit, yet picturesque little building. The old schoolhouse. Meadowbrook Farm, LLC has been looking for just the right reason to restore this former schoolhouse, and I am happy to announce that the right reason is me!


Rumphius has found a home. The little schoolhouse, nestled in the backyard of the farm, behind the big old tree and next to the stone fence and garden, will become my classroom and office for my business. Once again its walls will hear the sound of children’s voices and its floors will feel the scuffle of little feet. However, my lessons will not be grammar and arithmetic, but instead, creative classes, workshops, camps and parties of all kinds from creative writing to art to puppetry to historical model-making and more!


And, in true Mrs. Junkbox style, we hope to restore it using recycled materials. If you have access to roofing, flooring, clapboard siding, perennials and more, please contact me at rumphius@creativityunhinged.com.


The work begins this Fall and will continue throughout the Winter and Spring. There is much to do! I will try to document its progress as best as I can. It is a dream come true for me and my business – and, I think for the little schoolhouse!

A Very Special Weekend at the PCA

September 13th, 2010 Comments Off


In August, my business celebrated its first anniversary. It was a year full of new experiences, projects, classes, workshops, tea parties and recycled art. I started the second year of my business with a big undertaking – and something entirely different from my other projects. Rumphius hosted the Antique Boutique at the Parish Center for the Arts in Westford, MA. My parents and their antique-loving friends brought up a trailer filled with antique and vintage treasures from Northwestern Pennsylvania, my home region. April’s Attic and 3Little Figshttp://www.3littlefigs.com/3LittleFigs-Tasty_Bakin/Tasty_Bakin.html joined us in the first-ever Antique Boutique at the PCA.


What a weekend! A few hundred people showed up to shop in our two-day store. We saw a myriad of wonderful items go out the door in the arms of happy customers . . . jewelry, furniture, hats, pocketbooks, flowers, baskets, scones and so much more. I was especially intrigued by an old blacksmithing manual which mentioned that one should never imbibe while on the job!


And, to top it all off, the vendors and volunteers packed up on Saturday night, and we transformed the PCA into a beautiful Go Local Cabaret. Broadway, jazz, classical, folk and even original works were presented by some of my favorite local performers. And, our finale, Jeff Cox, wowed the audience with his auctioneering skills and his fine voice and guitar playing. Gail Flannery of Sweet Visions Patisserie outdid herself with an amazing selection of complimentary treats for each table. Absolutely DIVINE!


This weekend would not have been possible without its wonderful volunteers! Thank you to all of you who unloaded, set up tables, took money at the door, made food, played music, scrubbed antiques, made me smile, took care of my animals on the farm, fed my family and friends and provided a fun atmosphere for our visiting vendors and our fine customers. You are truly all gems!


Looking forward to our future endeavors . . . after a cup of tea and a bit of a rest!


Antique Boutique at the PCA Sept. 10 and 11

September 6th, 2010 Comments Off


I grew up between some of the best country auction houses you can imagine. This was not in a little town in New England, but a beautiful, yet economically struggling county nestled in NWPA in Amish country. Old wooden floors (if there are floors at all), grimy junkmen bidding against each other, ladies fighting for pretty china and lamps, and the furniture people with big bucks to spend to fill their antique stores with 19th c. finely crafted furniture. I recently brought one of my dearest friends to my parents’ farm in Beaverdam, Pennsylvania to witness this little piece of antique heaven. She was in awe of the auctions, the shops and the gorgeous countryside.


My mom is an antique dealer in little Waterford, PA. Her shop, All Things Nice, is an amalgamation of cool Fifties kitchenware, “chippy” chairs, folk art, china tea cups, grape carts, and other items which raise the question, “What on Earth was this used for???” (always followed by an excited description of its function by my mother). Her store is a treasure of wonderful vintage and antique items.


About a year ago, I was reading Country Living magazine. I stumbled upon an article of “occasional stores.” In this economy, a lot of small retailers who sell antiques and decorative goods are giving up their store fronts and overhead costs and opting for the occasional sales they hold in their barns or a rented space. It is becoming quite popular and is fun not only for the seller, but also the shopper. My mom and I are great teammates, so I immediately called her and told her that she should close up shop for a weekend and do an “occasional sale” right here in Westford. She could bring up her really cool items and sell them to New Englanders who love a great bargain and great antiques. The Antique Boutique was born!


This Friday and Saturday, my mom and a small collection of other NWPA and local vendors will hold the Antique Boutique at Westford’s Parish Center for the Arts on Westford’s Common (10 Lincoln St.) There will be a wide variety of affordable antiques and vintage goods, fall flowers, my recycled art, a café and live music on both floors of the PCA. The admission is $5 which includes complimentary coffee and tea and a cookie. The hours are Friday, Sept. 10: 9-7 and Saturday, Sept. 11: 9-5. Come for great shopping, a place to relax and chat with friends, to enter for prizes and to meet some fun antique people who have been in the business for decades. And, remember, bring your friends! Shopping is always more fun with pals!


Proceeds from admission support local art events and Sustainable Westford.

Farm Art Workshops End and a New Season of Classes Begins at the PCA

September 6th, 2010 Comments Off


We celebrated the end of summer with three outdoor Farm Art Workshops here at beautiful and historic Meadowbrook Farm in Westford, MA. The workshops were: Barn Art – Perspectives on Canvas, Cockadoodle Doodle – Chicken Folk Art and finally, Furry, Fuzzy and Fluffy- Animal Collage Art. Pete Seeger and Aaron Copland joined us for some musical inspiration via the radio, the chickens clucked happily in the coop, the cats watched the creative process through the farmhouse windows, and Wallace enjoyed several “good dog” pats by small hands still covered in paint and glue. The students created a variety of truly unique art from old barnwood, upholstery fabric, nails, feathers, beads, and old jewelry (to name just a few of our materials).


A fall chill is now in the air, the kids are back in school, and it is time to focus on our indoor art activities at the PCA (check out my CLASS OFFERINGS on the left toolbar of the website). I look forward to sharing my home on the farm in the near future. It is a truly inspiring place – made even more inspiring by happy young faces creating great works of art!

Farm Art Workshops

August 17th, 2010 Comments Off


Fresh from two successful, creative and educational camps, it is time to jump into the next project – my Farm Art Workshops here at beautiful Meadowbrook Farm! My husband and I are lucky to live on this historic 18th c. farm in Westford. Complete with a big horse stable, goats, stone fences, a big farm porch, enormous garden (perfect spot for my favorite green beans – Providers – pictured above), old chicken coop and a very wonderful neighbor, Marti, it is a piece of old-fashioned farm paradise. I invite your children to share their creative skills in the following workshops:


FARM ART WORKSHOPS AT HISTORIC MEADOWBROOK FARM!


Join Artist and Educator Emily Piper of Rumphius Creativity Unhinged in a series of fun workshops on a 1700s farm in Westford!


THE WORKSHOPS:
August 19: Barn Art: Perspective on Canvas
August 26: Cockadoodle Doodle: Chicken Folk Art
August 30: Fuzzy, Furry and Fluffy: 3-D Animal Collage Art (a.m. workshop only)
September 2: Fuzzy, Furry and Fluffy: 3-D Animal Collage Art for Homeschoolers


• Two workshop times to choose from each day:
a.m. session 9-12 and p.m. session 2-5
• Each workshop is $25. Materials included. As always, there is a 10% discount for siblings and friends.
• Sign-up for all three workshops and receive a $10 coupon good toward future classes, workshops or Rumphius parties.
• Please bring your own snack. Water and herbal iced tea will be provided.
• Each workshop is 3 hours in length and includes 30-45 minutes for games and their snack.
• Each workshop is limited to 8 students.
• Workshops are for ages 6-12.
• To sign-up, simply e-mail Emily at rumphius@creativityunhinged.com or call 978.995.7002 to hold your place and bring your class registration form and fee to the workshop.


Mrs. Junkbox Goes to PEI

August 17th, 2010 Comments Off


This past July, Mrs. Junkbox visited Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. She held a puppet-making workshop at Beaconsfield’s Carriage House. What fun we had! The kids made lots of great junkbox rod puppets and put on plays with them. Laserman saved the day in each play. Thanks, Laserman!

The Recycled Dollhouse begins! Camp to follow in August!

July 14th, 2010 Comments Off




We are so excited to share with you our recycled dollhouse project from beginning to end! We started just a few days ago with a vintage kitchen shelving unit. By the start of our recycled dollhouse camp in August at the Parkerville Schoolhouse in Westford, it will be transformed into a Parisian Flats building complete with flower shop and café. We are not overlooking any detail – balconies, curtains, little French kitties and more! If your child is interested in signing up for our camp, please check out our Summer Camps on the left toolbar for more information. And, if you get a friend to join, there is a 10% discount for both of you! All materials are supplied.


And, come to the Westford Farmers Market every Tuesday to see our dollhouse’s progress in person! (2:30-6:30) Check out this blog regularly for the complete transformation.

Summer Camp for Kids on the Island!

May 19th, 2010 Comments Off


I am so pleased to announce a project I have wanted to commit to since leaving PEI in 2004 is finally coming to fruition! I am excited to announce a partnership with Beaconsfield Historic House, one of my favorite spots on the Island. With BHH, I am presenting a summer theatre camp for kids, Monday-Friday, July 19-23, in Beaconsfield’s Carriage House. The camp is an afternoon camp from 1pm until 5pm and is for ages 8-12. The fee is $150 CDN with sibling discounts available.


For our first summer, I decided it would be fun to connect the theatre camp to the history of the house. I am currently working on an original comedy, Princess Louise Comes to Call, which draws upon the real-life visit of Princess Louise, Queen Victoria’s daughter, to the historic PEI home. The play includes a bit of time travel for two young volunteers at the museum. Not only do they get to meet Princess Louise, but also a host of other Island historic figures who join her as guests to a “fine” dinner party. Young thespians will learn about proper table manners and the etiquette of the 19th century – as well as learn about comedic timing and diction.


Our hard work will culminate in a final performance on Friday, July 23 at 7pm in Beaconsfield’s Carriage House. Tickets are $5 adults and $2 for students and young children.


Cheryl Scofield, MA Theatre, will join me as a guest artist and co-director. Cheryl has been teaching theatre in Virginia and Illinois for several years. She has an MA from Northwestern University in Theatre History, Criticism and Literature and worked as a dramaturg with some Off-Loop theatres while living in Chicago. Also in Chicago, Cheryl taught theatre in inner-city schools in a program designed to keep kids out of gangs through involvement in theatre. She is currently director and theatre teacher at Liberty High School located in Virginia.


To sign up, go to How to Register on the left toolbar and mail your Summer Camps form and check made payable to Rumphius Creativity Unhinged to 5A Gould Rd. Westford, MA 01886. If you would like more information, please call me, Emily Piper, at 978.995.7002 or e-mail rumphius@creativityunhinged.com.


Can’t wait to be back on the Island doing what I love!


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our mission…

Henry David Thoreau could not have said it better than in his quote, “The World is but a canvas to the imagination.” At Rumphius, we provide the canvas in a communal, eco-conscious and grassroots setting, and you provide the imagination!