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The Art of Making: Inside the Home and Studio of Maker, Christine Watt

Cameron Renfrow

Updated: Jan 23

January 2025 Issue

Photos & Interview by Cameron Renfrow

 



 



Nestled between acres of woods, Christine's charming straw house lends an abundance of inspiration and material for her botanical sculptures, wreaths and framed plant studies. She lives here with Boyfriend, her rescue dog, where they let nature guide them. This serene space is an oasis for Christine, especially when it's filled with an orchestra of birds that she enjoys to listen to, watch and record.



This is 'Art of Making: Home with Christine Watt.’ Come on in.





 


MEET THE HOME OWNER:


'The Art of Making' is kicking off the new year with our latest home tour in Efland, North Carolina. Come inside the home and studio of the maker and collector behind Found & Foraged, Christine Watt.




 

What made you select this home in Efland, NC?


After deciding to move to North Carolina, I came across a listing for a house surrounded by acres of beautiful native trees. Then I found out that it was at the dead end of a mile long gravel road, so I decided to have a look. It was twenty years ago on a very warm New Year’s Day when I arrived and was greeted by a loud chorus of tree frogs. Instantly, I knew this was where I wanted to be!









What’s the biggest difference from this home to your last home?


I grew up in the Philadelphia area and had always lived in old houses with small rooms, so this recently (1998) built house with a very open floor plan and large loft was a completely new environment for me.








 


 






What was your biggest challenge with creating this home?


Being confronted with large open spaces was overwhelming at first.  Everything was moved around continuously for about two years until I finally worked out how to divide those big spaces into smaller, more intimate areas.







 

What do you love most about this home?


An abundance of large windows with views of nothing but trees on all four sides….not another house in sight. It feels like being outside all the time.


 







How’d you meet Boyfriend and how did he get that name?


Boyfriend arrived here nine years ago as a two year old rescue dog from Lucky Labs Rescue in Charlotte. He was called “Jimmy”, but I decided Boyfriend was a more suitable name for such a sweet pup.









 


What is your design philosophy?


Surround yourself with what you love!  It’s different for everyone. Somehow, it’s the odd and quirky things that bring me comfort and inspiration, along with books, art, and things from nature.


 


Who or what do you pull your inspiration from?


I’ve been fortunate to have some very creatively gifted long time friends who have always given me inspiration. And I find that nature, simplicity and comfort are my guides. To live with natural materials in a simple and comfortable way.



 






Can you share how you started Found & Foraged?



One of my fondest childhood memories was helping my grandmother make her holiday wreaths. Fast forward several decades and I had a landscape design practice. Clients began to request help with holiday greenery for their homes, which included outdoor containers, wreaths, and then indoor decor as well. This evolved into having a holiday wreath and roping sale at my house which was great fun.











Fast forward several decades again, and I’m here in NC living in the woods isolated at home during Covid and collecting bits of nature… so I found myself assembling all these random collected bits into wreaths once again.  I started selling them at my local farmers market and also began experimenting with other botanical related endeavors. I have always collected and pressed leaves, so I found some of my old specimens and started framing those and added them to the mix. There are still lots of ideas I’m ready to play with, so I’m looking forward to  whatever happens next.





 



How do you decide what to select when foraging and how does that process continue as you make your pieces?


Anything that captures my attention is collected and brought inside to my workspace. It could be a lichen covered branch or acorns or a twisted piece of wood or anything!  This nature’s bounty is scattered around my work table and I just select random pieces and see how they work with each other. It’s almost like they come together on their own and I’m just there to help them.




 

Why is "making" important to you?


The creative process brings me a sense of well-being, contentment and joy.


 


Can you share a little bit about your pieces?  Where people may have seen them in the past, where to purchase them?


My local farmer’s market was the first place I started selling the wreaths and where I set up frequently. I’ve also sold some at The Farmers Wife in Greensboro before they retired this past Winter and at Dylan Auman’s @chkn.dad Organic Plant Sale + Pop-Up Market. I recently hosted a Studio Open House at my home in Efland on the first weekend in December where I welcomed the community to sip, shop and tour my studio and home.




 


 






What are your favorite shops or places to source for your home from?




The Farmers Wife in Greensboro is my favorite shop, and I have found so many treasures there. Over the years I’ve attended countless auctions, antique markets, surplus stores, and yard sales. Basically, everywhere!







 


 


What is your favorite space in your home? 


The second story loft is where I have my bedroom and work area. It’s such a treat being up there with windows on all four sides looking out into the treetops. It feels like being in a treehouse!






 





What is your favorite piece(s) in your home?


There are many favorites for either aesthetic or sentimental reasons, but my most recently acquired favorites are a pair of black side tables. They came to me from a childhood friend I’ve had since first grade, who was downsizing and moving across the country. Her artist uncle made them in the 40’s or 50’s as a gift to her parents. I have such a vivid memory of them in her childhood home.






 



How many different types of birds have you recorded over the years?  Which are your favorites?


A friend recommended the wonderful bird identification app Merlin, which identifies birds by sound. It has recorded and identified well over a hundred different bird species over the years (which was a huge surprise to me). I have a soft spot for the woodpeckers since they stay around all winter.



 

What’s your typical Saturday look like?


Every Saturday morning I shop at the Eno River Farmers Market in Hillsborough. They have a great group of farmers offering an amazing selection of seasonal food.


 






What’s the food that always brings you back home?


My favorite thing to cook and eat is soup….all kinds.  It’s my comfort food and I love the slow process of making it from scratch and then having it around for days to enjoy.










 







Before we go, can you share some advice for anyone wanting to create a home that they love?


Surround yourself with the things you love and have fun doing it!









 


 



Thank you so much for supporting and reading this home tour! We're so excited to bring you more stories of making in the future. Make sure you’re following Christine at @found.and.foraged to keep up with her and her art events and follow us at @artofmaking_ for more crafted stories and inspiration. Join our maker community to stay up to date on all things making.



Until next time, what are you making?






 

Photos & Interview by @cameronrenfrow

Home of Christine Watt, Owner/Maker of Found & Foraged


If you have are interested in sharing your story, please email us at info@artofmaking.com

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