Joseph Phillips, Hideaway Craftsman

Mon, 05/02/2022 - 8:27am — Diane Dyer

Brooms are normally viewed as a functional tool for the home. Until seeing the Harry Potter Quidditch broom hanging in Firehouse Pizza, I had never thought of them as being a piece of art or aesthetically pleasing until I met Joseph Phillips.

It all began when a friend asked for wood to try to make a broom and then Joseph himself decided to give it a try. Joseph loves working and creating with his hands, so his self- taught journey began. For over a year he watched online videos to learn his craft. Then in September of 2021 he became confident enough to begin selling his artesian brooms. From the twisted limbs he finds on his family’s property in Logan County, to every last plaited corn bristle, he creates each one by hand with his own artistic flair. His aim is to not only create art, but make it durable and functional. However, these brooms are so dang gorgeous I wouldn’t want to dirty them up with dust bunnies.

Looking at his brooms you would think they could take off by themselves, dancing along mopping the floor like the scene in Fantasia when Mickey Mouse gets the wizard’s broom. Speaking of wizards, for those that enjoy cosplay or just appreciate true craftsmanship, he also makes wizard staffs, wands, and walking sticks. I can attest the wands are a great hit with children because my daughter plays with hers constantly. It fuels her wonder, makes no sound and needs no batteries, just her imagination.