Poet, Writer, Archaeologist, Curator of Shiny Things.

A magpie is an irresistible metaphor. She has a relentless eye for anything bright or interesting; then, in a flash of her iridescent wings, the magpie builds her nest. Her selection isn’t just random objects that sparkle; it’s curation. It’s the instinct to gather beautiful, curious, useful things and bring them together somewhere meaningful. 

I’m Tamara, and I have been a collector of shiny things my entire life, although in my case “shiny” is a broad category. It includes pretty wave-tumbled rocks at the beach, a hand-dyed yarn with colors that complement each other in surprising ways, and the techniques and materials that connect us across cultures and through time. If it catches the light, literally or figuratively, I’m interested!

Magpie & Ewe grew out of that curiosity. I am an archaeologist by training, which means I have spent decades considering landscapes, objects, and stories that others might pass by. That habit of attention never turns off. It shows up in the way I choose what to stock: not just what’s popular, but what’s interesting. Things with texture and history and a smattering of magic in the making.

I have been knitting for longer than I have studied archaeology, and I enjoy weaving, a bit of spinning and felting, and many other fiber crafts. I approach fiber arts the way I approach everything else: by diving in, doing some research and learning out loud. Along the way, I’ve discovered that the best way to really understand something is to teach it. I love sharing in other’s discovery. There is a moment in every class when a student’s hands figure out what their brain has been trying to explain to itself, and I live for that moment.

Whether you’re here for yarn, for a class, for a kit to start something new, or just because you also cannot resist a beautiful skein, welcome. This is a space for the curious, the tactile, and pursuing shiny things.