Karen Ashbrook

I've been negligent in updating this blog.  Last month I finished the recording part of the project. It's mixed and mastered and sounds fantastic!  The total time is 64:30.  This is the first project I have ever been truly happy…

I'm excited to announce the very generous donation of 19 pairs of Ashbrook Signature Hammers from Wolf Hill Woodworking to my crowdfunding campaign.  For $55 you can receive a pair of the style of hammers I use plus a download…

Paul plays on three tracks on the new recording.  He plays his Sedgwick harp guitar in DADGAD tuning on “Hands of the Healer.”  He plays his Sobell 10-string cittern on “The Dream Passes by the Windows/ Manx Lullaby” set.  We've…

Paul joined me in the studio to record 2 of his 3 sets mid-January and I also spent a day recording solo sets. “The Dream Passes By the Windows” is a haunting Ukrainian lullaby Paul plays on.  I now have…

This Saturday Paul joins me at Tonal Park to record at least two of the pieces he'll be on.  He's on 3 sets, of course all on different instruments: The Ukrainian lullaby the Dream Passes by the Window/Manx Lullaby  with…

As we come to the end of 2025, I will try one last time (my third attempt) for the Maryland State Arts Council Creativity Grant.  I finally received feedback the end of October from my initial application that had some…

Thanksgiving weekend the project's cellist Sophie Chang was in town.  We played Thanksgiving morning at our home church, Church of the Ascension in Silver Spring.  Friday we practiced all day (the service music showed us many spots we needed to…

Grammy-award winning artist Michael G. Stewart has done amazing pr photos for my last 3 recordings.  HOH was the excuse to get new photos!  So here are a couple of the silly takes. The things you have to do to…

October 15 Update:

Much progress has been made in the last 2 months. I had a fantastic all-day rehearsal with the project's cellist Sophie Chang up in Rhode Island the end of August.  The photo is us rehearsing on the…

I applied for a Maryland State Arts Council Creativity Grant of $4000. My application was just 3 points (out of 100) short of receiving it.  I can try and tweak the application and reapply, but it will be another few…