An Interview with Karen and Jeffery Jelenfy by Marie

Karen Jelenfy has been the owner of Village Books in Washington, Maine for past five years. She sells a wide variety of used books, but specializes in used fiber, art, poetry, and antique books.

Karn's handspun yarn using Cushing Dyes

You can also find her hand spun yarn at her shop as well.  The dyes that she uses for her yarns are from Cushing Dyes which are made right here in Cushing, Maine.

As I sat with her on the porch of the art studio watching her spin, I realized there is more to her than meets the eye.  She explained to me that she is a trained fine arts painter.  In fact, she used to be a fine arts professor for both the Art Institute of Washington and the Maryland College of Art and Design. 

One of Karen's drawing classes at Searsport Shores Campground

She is currently employed by the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland.  She enjoys her position as an interpreter of history for the Olsen House.  The Olsen house in Cushing was the setting for Andrew Wyeth’s famous painting Christina’s World.

During her stay at Searsport Shores Ocean Campground she worked with people teaching them to draw, spin and needlefelt.  Each day she gave drawing lessons to interested campers and visitors or to try one of the other creative stations she had set up in the studio.   People of all ages and backgrounds improved their drawing skills while getting to know other people and sharing touring trips about the surrounding area.  Because most of the people in the classes had never concentrated on their drawing skills before, they were delighted in the results and many vowed to continue their efforts long after their camping trip was just a warm memory.