Today, in the spirit of the season, we tour a Stafford Springs, CT, shop that designs, carves, and sells magic wands. Harry Potter fans especially, take notice! Are these lovely carved sticks really magic? you ask.
Well, it was a certain kind of magic that compelled Ed Bareiss to pay attention when, a little more than 10 years ago, the parents at his daughter Hillary’s birthday party marveled at the dozen or so wands he’d made as party favors and urged him to start selling them.
Fast forward to today when Orchard Works Magic Wands is an international business that’s about to have two locations in tiny, out-of-the-way Stafford Springs, and that sells all over the country at loads of comic con style events, with buyers including some way cool celebrities you younger listeners will recognize.
That birthday girl Hillary, by the way, is now a student at Hartford Art School, which is how I met her and learned about the family’s magical business. Ed tells the whole story and give us a tour.
You can access the shop at orchardworksCT.com and orchardworksCT@gmail.com.
Oh, and BOO!
Open Studio 