My name is Erika Woodworth. I have been painting for over 40 years, and have been tole and decorative painting for over 20. I grew up in "The Old Country," where decorative painting - Norwegian folk art - Bauermalerei - was born. I love what I do! I spend mornings, nights and weekends painting in my home studio. The entire business is family-run and operated. My husband & kids help out with shows, my sons help with all the work that goes into preparation, such as sanding, gessoeing, antiquing. My daughter designed & maintains this website.

It is difficult nowadays for the crafter. We are competing with third world country prices & run-of-the-mill items from factories. I, however, can assure you that my items are different - no two are quite alike - and they are high quality, yet my prices are competitive. Everything I sell is quite a bargain. On the outside chance that you don't like what you've purchased, I do offer a 30-day money back guarantee.

I have a lot of experience - I've painted on walls, chests-of-drawers, trunks, square items, rounded items, in hard to reach corners. I taught classes for 15 years & ran my own boutique for several. I ended both because I wanted to return to my true love: painting.

This truly is a labor of love for me - when I first started, I was often up until 5 in the morning painting away in my studio. My daughter even had a dream in which I had died, gone up to Heaven, and returned to earth briefly - only because I had forgotten my tole painting supplies & needed to bring them to the afterlife! I still laugh today about that dream.

Enjoy the site, and if I can be of any help to you in your quest for expressing yourself with decorating your surroundings, or making your home a more serene, cozy & elegant place to live, please, just let me know.

- Erika Woodworth, September 2000