Inspired Lunacy

Elizabeth Gurrier's Artful Sew Biz, by Brenda Joziatis

Like the nursery-rhyme pussycat, Elizabeth Gurrier sews a fine seam. Her work, however, may be the best kept secret in New Hampshire. Asked how her neighbors react to her unconventional soft sculpture, the Hollis woman throws back her head and laughs. “They don’t know! I don’t have an open studio . . . and most of my things are sold outside of New England.” Her production assistant Betty Wood interjects, “Well, they know you do something,” but agrees that most area residents have little idea of the scope of the wry creations she and Elizabeth Gurrier turn out on sewing machines.

It takes a certain personality to carry a Gurrier evening bag named Sadie. Let’s face it, most purses don’t have names, let alone red hair, sunglasses, and bare toes. And it is perhaps predictable that one of the delighted purchasers of the frowsy-faced “Old Bag” carryall was rock star Elton John, whose lifestyle could be summed up as eclectic.