05 23rd, 2009
So while I was the Kibry’s Mill last week, on the day that I fell down at work and hurt my knee, I was busy getting the Museum Shop ready for the upcoming quilt show. In the course of this I needed some help. So after a quick glance around the 1st floor of the Mill for something that would assist me in my task. Here it is….
This cast iron fork-like thing on a stick was what I found. Can you guess how I might have used this tool? I don’t really know what it actually is … so I printed a copy of this photograph to I can interrogate the curator next time I see him – hehehe – he will just love me pestering him with more questions! Plus I have a few more tasks in mind for using this antique unknown gadget on a stick!
Meanwhile I am busy getting things ready for the quilt show. The Museum Shop will have a feed sack theme. www.OriginalAbbie.com has designed a logo for our sack-like items and I can’t wait to see them. Stop by to see – I will blog about them soon but you’ll want to see them in person. Thanks Abbie!
I have signed up for a few shows starting with the Art, Wine & Music Festival in Medford Village on the 1st Sunday in June – see my events calendar for particulars. So I have been getting prepared. Last evening I set up my tent in the back yard to make sure it was in great shape and today I purchased some new lightweight and sturdy tables. It seemed like a good idea to revamp my whole display and go with the rustic recycled flair that is the new direction I have chosen to be my focus. I have alot of items all ready but of course there are a few more that I hope to get finished as well. Finish – oh that is a big word in my world…. Today I am making graduation cards – this is a new project since I have an order for 10 plus a special order for 1 more. Graduation time is just around the corner so I think they will be a big seller. Tonight the finishing touches will go on and I promise to blog about them by the end of this weekend. These will also be available in my Etsy store.
Did I mention that I am the proud new member of the Etsy NJ team? It is great to be able to meet other artists from New Jersey and hear what is going on with them. We meet at shows but that isn’t always the best forum for a conversation. There is a wealth of information there and it has been encouraging me to continue pursuing making my creations and getting the word out about what I am creating. I haven’t linked my Etsy shop to my website yet – more for me to learn in that area but I will get there eventually…. www.creatinginslippers.etsy.com
Thanks for reading my tale – Happy Memorial Day - make and keep memories every day…..
Stop and see me – it’s easy to find me – see my events calendar. As usual, mention my website and you get a free gift – FREE GIFT – hehehe. I am still losing the battle of ‘real’ comments vs spam. Why do they think I want to buy that much amoxycillian? I can only spell that word cause I see it so often. It is all worth it when a real comment comes in between. So take a moment and comment – bring a smile to the bloggers of the world who really do appreciate it!
05 13th, 2009
A few weeks ago I had feed sacks on the brain and I posted a bunch of pictures into my Flickr account. Actually I often have feed sacks on my brain. I am a quilter and hear so many stories of how feedsacks were used and see so many examples. So I went to the Mill and took pictures of all the feed sacks that I could find. Those pictures were following up on the inpsiration that had been rattling around in my brain.
I take care of the Museum Shop at Kirby’s Mill. The Mill was finished being built in 1778 and was in operation until 1964. Surely feed sacks were a big part of what happened there. So in trying to keep new items coming in and people interested in stopping into the shop each time they visit the historic Mill I try to find items that are historic but useful. The purchases benefit the preservation of the history. Not always an easy task to top last year’s new items but this year I think it’s a real winner. When people came to the Mill to purchase grain, flour, cornmeal or whatever it was carried home in a sack. Feed sacks became a widespread way for women to gather fabric to make quilts, clothing or other household items. Kirby’s Mill is a gristmill and there are many chutes throughout the Mill of many different sizes. A sack was placed underneath when the customer made a purchase. Can you picture getting your 10 pounds of flours that comes barrelling down a chute into your waiting sack to be taken home to bake bread? So it seemed the perfect addition to have some feed sack related items that tell a historic story as well.
So I shared the photos that I took with my creative and artistic friend, Abbie. She has turned my idea into an awesome graphic. OriginalAbbie.com will be screenprinting some cool new merchandise for the Museum Shop at Kirby’s Mill. Very exciting!!!
The grand unveiling will be the Quilt Show on May 30th and 31st…… see my events page for more info!
