Ann Marie Elder
Anne Marie Elder is a co-founder of Colonial Crafts of Connecticut and the owner of Real Happy Earth, where she brings together her love of heritage craft and wood carving. A dedicated maker, she specializes in hand carved spoons and bowls, as well as 17th-century joinery and carving inspired by early New England traditions. Her 17th-century work includes bible boxes, carved panels, and joined chests that draw directly from period techniques and historical examples using many tools from the 1800s passed down from her great-grandfather.
Anne Marie enjoys showing her work through the Granby Artists Association, and she regularly shares her passion for traditional woodworking through demonstrations, workshops, and community programs. Her commitment to preserving and teaching early American craft was recently recognized with a SNEAP CT Museum of Art and Culture grant, awarded in support of her 17th-century joined blanket chest project and her ongoing efforts to make historical craft accessible to the public.
In addition to her museum and educational work, Anne Marie opens her studio each month for relaxed, community carving gatherings, welcoming makers of all experience levels to carve, connect, and enjoy the rhythm of hand tool work. Blending historical accuracy with a warm, community-centered approach, she brings traditional craft to life for today’s learners while honoring the deep roots of New England’s woodworking heritage.
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