The Walworthians: Ed Garbowski, Wood-crafter

The Walworthians

A collection of telephone interviews published in the Wayne County STAR Newspaper and Wayne County MAIL Newspaper, 1994-209

by Kate Chamberlin

Ed Garbowski, Wood-crafter

August 05, 1998

Ed Garbowski and his mother, Barbara, are two local artists who have found Walworth a friendly place to do business. Barbara is an avid cross stitcher and came to the Cross Stitch Corner for supplies. Ed works in wood and once they met Pat and Edie, they realized what a perfect outlet Potpourri of Gifts would be for their handcrafted items.

“We felt like family right from the beginning,” Barbara said. “They are so friendly and enthusiastic.”

Ed Garbowski, Jr. enjoys making small scale storage chests, planters and Shaker style tables. He credits his mother for his artistic ability.

“Mom saw a side-board when I was attending R.I.T.,” he said, “She wanted it a specific size. I found I have a knack of seeing something and being able to make it without a pattern.”

Barbara painstakingly stains or paints Ed’s projects and then stencils or paints a design in free hand. She uses non-toxic paints with a polyurethane finish. She is thinking about using beeswax as the final touch.

Years ago Barbara worked in a fabric store and made all her daughter Christine’s clothes. She found making cloth dolls, bears and bunnies a natural thing to do. Her transition to wood began with making a Scottie dog. She taught herself how to paint by seeing a picture she liked and very carefully and slowly copied it onto a Jelly cabinet Ed had made for her.

Ironically, Ed, Sr. was given the band saw as a gift, but now shares it with Ed, Jr. Some of the tables at Potpourri of Gifts are Ed, Sr.

This dynamic and lively mother-son team are delighted to find Walworth the perfect outlet for the items they so obviously love to make.

“We want to make quality hand crafted items that people can afford,” Barbara and Ed said. “We’re part of the Giggling Pig Craft Co-op in Caledonia, but Potpourri of Gifts is local for us and just perfect.”

The Garbowskis decorated tables, chests, planters and sewn crafts were introduced during Potpourri of Gifts’ recent Christmas in July Sale.

“Ed and Barbara’s things were very popular,” said Edie Pasquini, proprietress of Potpourri of Gifts. “It has always been my dream to have a central place for local artists to come, meet and share their fine art. Pat and I look forward to doing more consignment business with and for them.”

Hm-m-m-m. Ed and Barbara told me they get their ideas from books with photos of antiques. I wonder if Ed has ever seen a Captain’s chart chest made from Oak?

Cross Stitch Corner and Potpourri of Gifts are located in the Walworth Seely Building (across from the post office), 2256 Walworth-Marion Road, 315-986-7999.

2018 Up-Date: As you know by now, the Potpourri Of Gifts is out of business, except by special order. I’m still looking for a Captain’s chart chest made from Oak.