Town and Country readers from all over the East Coast make special trips just to buy glassware and pottery at Simon Pearce (1760 Main St., the Mill at Quechee, 802/295-2711, www.simonpearce.com [1], 10 a.m.–9 p.m. daily), which has crafted exquisite specimens of both for more than three decades. Located in an old mill building completely run by hydroelectric power, the studio is open to the public for demonstrations.
In the downstairs area, potters spin Pearce’s distinctive shapes, while glassblowers blow bubbles into glowing orange balls of 2,400-degree silica (the glassblowing room is a particularly popular place to spend time in winter).
Also on display are pictures from the excavation of the mill pond and installation of a turbine brought from Nova Scotia in 1983. And then, of course, there are several levels where you can buy Pearce’s designs yourself, including a healthy sampling of cut-rate “seconds” with minor imperfections.
To find the Mill at Quechee (coming from I-89), cross Quechee Gorge [2] and take a right at the first blinking light.
Links:
[1] http://www.simonpearce.com
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-england/vermont/southern-vermont/woodstock-area/quechee/quechee-gorge