I am really excited about this year’s Art Show & Sale at Kirby’s Mill.  Last year artist, Tom Kimball, created this watercolor and has allowed us to use it as our logo for the event. 

Isn’t this awesome?  It reflects what happens during this event on the grounds surrounding the old rustic mill. 

Art Show & Sale at Kirby’s Mill

Sunday, August 2, 2009   11AM to 4PM

Location: 275 Church Road, Medford, NJ 08055 (at the intersection of Fostertown Road)

Click here to visit the Kirby Art group in Facebook

The Art Show & Sale at Kirby’s Mill has been growing each year. This year we will again have the melodic music of Jennifer Mylod and the Boys of County O’cean. Also we will have book readings for the children. Great art, refreshment and festivities.
Sponsored by the Medford Historical Society
Please mark your calendars and join us….

This was the 34th year of the quilt show held at Kirby’s Mill.  I was pleased to have many of my quilts on display throughout the rustic old Mill.  My Christmas star quilt somehow ended up right inside the entrance.  This quilt was from an advanced collaborative class that I took in 1992.  The center star is the one that I made.  Each month we all made a block from the same pattern – some included cathedral window, crazy quilt, fine applique.  At the end we all got the squares for a quilt and I was so thrilled that this one was mine.  It remained unfinished for many years.  If I was to do the hand quilting it would still remain undone as time just does not allow such things.  My machine quilting is not very good.  So it sat in a pile until a solution finally presented itself.  Kathleen Johnson is a machine quilter who was recommended by another member of Love Apple Quilters.  She quilted in stars and holly leaves and swirls.   It was perfect and finished just in time for the LAQ Quilt Show which was held back in March 2009

The night the quilts came in to the Mill there were not quite enough to reach our goal of 100 quilts.  At 9:45 PM I called Carole and asked her if please could I pick up some of her quilts to bring to the Mill the next morning.  Being a great friend she scurried throughout her house and had a bunch of quilts for me, including Sarah’s “Bob and Friends” quilt (from Veggie Tales).   Carole’s quilt was hung directly below mine near the entrance.  This quilt has such meaning for Carole so I was glad to see that it had a place of honor. 

“Bob and Friends” was on the 2nd floor atop a display case so everyone could see that kids can make great quilts too!!!

This is one of my very favorite people.  Betty to the 4th power as she calls herself.  Bad Betty Brown Black has been lighting up the quilt show at Kirby’s Mill for many years.  She is an avid quilter and shares her joy with everyone around her.  She was demonstrating quilting by the doorway all day on Saturday so it was fun to sneak up into the “Authorized Personnel Only” area to catch a picture of her.  I assured her I was not authorized but doing it anyway.  She liked that!!!

Here is Charlie delivering my chocolate milk.  That was exciting!  Always nice to see men in kitchen.  When business was slow in the kitchen I would walk through the Mill telling all the ladies “men cooking in the kitchen”.  Charlie & Bill wondered why suddenly there was a line for hot dogs – hehehe!

Dawn Heefner, and AQA Certified Quilt Appraiser was on hand and I brought my charm spools quilt for her to give me a verbal appraisal. The binding is not yet done on it and I also got to ask for her opinion on how to finish it.  I was really pleased with all that she told me.  It was so neat to see that many of my quilts made over the years and on display inside were included in the spool shaped pieces that I had been hand piecing together for many years.  My nephew Josh is 21 now and there are fabrics included that I used to make him clothes when he was just a toddler. 

The Museum Shop looked great.  The Kirby’s Mill “Feedsack” collection was a big hit.  I took some old barrels from the cooper area and made a little display of the tote bags, towels and t-shirts.  Abbie Galie (official screen printer for the Museum Shop) did an awesome job.  The best part was she screen printed the design onto a paper towel.  I put little notes to explain – the paper towel is “not a green item” and the feedsack towel “is green”.  A few people got the joke – LOL!!

Even less people got this joke.  I made up little “logs” and put them inside the wood burning stove.  The Museum Shop is not too big so I figured I would use every available space for stuff.  So I got some piney power inspired fabric and cut it into fat quarters.  The fat quarters were placed inside toilet paper tubes and wrapped with old sewing patterns.   I had flashlights inside and red plastic flames attached to the door.  There were signs directing people to “See What’s Hot” and “Open the Door” and “Disclaimer:  Not a real fire – do not call 9-1-1″.    Hehehe – Well at least I had fun and a few people got a laugh out of it.  I gave the leftover “logs” to the ladies of the Berry Basket Quilters whose help was so appreciated.  Their boutique was awesome again this year and I added another chicken to my collection.  But that will be something to blog about another day.  My chicken collection doesn’t get out of the coop as much as they’d like.

Hope you enjoyed my tale – maybe it left you in stitches!!!

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!  

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! 

http://www.originalabbie.com/

It was just like in the song – well almost like that.   On Saturday, December 13, 2008 Santa came to Medford.The temperatures required heat and it is alot of effort for volunteers to turn the water in the mill on and off repeatedly.   So although still under renovation, a place was made for him in the Sawyer’s house which stands behind the old mill.  This was our first time (that I know about) that Santa came to the complex at Kirby’s Mill. 

Although there weren’t the throngs of kids standing in line to see him, Santa was his jolly old self and seemed to enjoy himself anyway.  I called Abbie in an effort to help the event along and asked her if Neil might like to see Santa.  They arrived a short time later and Neil got to sit on Santa’s lap.  Seems Santa’s left knee was not where Neil wanted to be so after he switched to the right knee I snapped this gem of a photograph.  Isn’t he just the cutest little boy ever?!!!   He did not cry and it was great to see him waving to us along with Santa. 

Although I do my very best to keep the Christ in Christmas who can resist a photo of yourself taken with Santa – so I had to do it!!!  He said I’d been good and assured me that good things would be under my tree – HOHOHO!   Perhaps Santa does not know all – hehehe!!!   Just in case I went to the local cheap nursury and bought 3 little trees for $10.   2 I am giving away to brighten another’s day and the other now sits on my computer desk with a single candy cane on it!

The funniest thing was this little dinky tree that was placed on a small table near Santa.  Santa called it a Charlie Brown tree but it was a little more than just sticks.  Still it was smaller than Santa’s beard.  Of course no one would take my picture while I was holding the tree upside down next to Santa to demonstrate this very point.  So through the magic of computer I am hope you can see what I mean!!! You can tell we were really trying to entertain ourselves while waiting for more kids to arrive. HAHAHA

Lastly but least – Santa gave away a beautiful Christmas present today.   Jackie was the winner of the 2008 Medford Historical Society’s raffle quilt.  She was so excited to win the vintage reproduction quilt that she arrived just 1/2 hour after we called to tell her the good news.   It was a pleasure to meet her.  We spent some time talking quilts and guilds and the joy of Christmas.  Jackie and I shared the fact that both of us make quilts but few remain in our possession, having been given away.  She looked forward to keeping this quilt at home and I know it will be treasured there.

Then we heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight – Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!!  The world so often adds so must hustle and bustle to the holiday season that it takes our focus off the glorious event we are really celebrating.  I hope you find joy in the little things this holiday season!

I was excited to get some pictures that my sister took at the Apple Festival at Kirby’s Mill on October 11th.

This is my sister and I playing with our walkie talkies.  It was a bunch of fun but it really was necessary to coordinate the many different areas that required volunteers.    We look important, right?  I’m on the left.   This was a rare break for us so we quickly found someone to take our picture.  Usually we were seen on the move while our walkie talkies were going strong.  We actually had 8 people with walkie talkies!!!

Apparently red was the ONLY color to wear that day!!!   Here’s Amy – see the huge crowd just outside this  door.  This is only a small fraction of the incredible amounts of people that were there.  These people were also in line for the apple cider donuts.   I estimated that over 114,000 donuts were made and sold.  The line went on all day until they finally ran out of supplies to make anymore.

Here she is making the donuts.  I think this photo was taken early in the day cause no people are there.  They started making these donuts at 2AM and went non-stop until later in the afternoon.  Very yummy!!!

…And here is Jennifer Mylod and the Boys of County O’cean.  It was great to have the music back again!  There were a few years without it so it was extra special to invite Jennifer, Phil and John to entertain us!  Their music is awesome.  They were actually performing at the barn door - really cool!   

Of course you can always check out her website www.JenniferMylod.com.   Look for my picture there – hehehe!

Last but not least – this is a favorite sight at the Apple Festival.  Coles brings his tractor to help up move the bunches of apples and apple cider.  It’s always good to have a tractor on hand!!!

If you missed the Apple Festival this year, mark your calendar for the 2nd Saturday in October 2009!   It’s really worthwhile and a bunch of fun.   Get your apple cider donuts early……

Today was the day of the 30th Annual Apple Festival at Kirby’s Mill.  I arrived at 6:45AM.  Did you know that the sun has not risen yet at that time of day?  I’m more of a sunset kind of person so it was a challenge for me driving in the dark.  I had delivered everything I needed the night before so I just had a little bit to carry all the way from the parking area down the road.  A path had been cut through the trees to avoid the hazards of large quantities of people walking on Fostertown Road.  It was dark through the trees but on the other side was the sights and sounds of busy crafters preparing for the day.  Quite a bustle of activity.

As I approached Kirby’s Mill the smell hit me.  Apple cider donuts had been baking since 2AM.  The aroma of the tasty delicous donuts was overwhelming and comforting all at the same time.  It filled the inside of the Mill and the whole area near Church Road.   Boxes and boxes of donuts lined the shelves awaiting the  hungry shoppers.   I quickly carried 4 boxes to the museum shop to stash them in my closet.  Not all were for me – I had orders from friends.  Often the apple cider donuts are sold out early or the line is so incredibly long.  This way I had all my friends covered and me too! 

My favorite trick which I shared with a bunch of people today is to buy a dozen.  Bring them home and put each one into a seperate plastic bag and put them into my freezer.  The thinking here is that I won’t eat all 12 donuts if they are frozen.  They’re so good is really is hard to stop eating them.  Once you get that sugary goodness on your fingers it is addicting.   So each night I take a baggie out of the freezer and place it on the counter.  By morning it is ready for me to take to work the next morning.  Yummy!  Plus it makes the joy of apple cider donuts last a little bit longer.   Try not to eat them while driving – the sugar on your fingers makes a mess of the steering wheel – hehehe!

Apparently the smell got to others as well because the line at the apple cider donut table started at around 7:30AM and didn’t end until they ran out in the late afternoon.  Those are some busy ladies!

Near panic arose at 9AM when the event was officially supposed to begin.  The crowd was already there and growing well before that.   But where was the apple ice cream?   Each year Leo’s Yum Yum on Tomlinson Mill Road mades bunches of apple ice cream just for the Medford Historical Society to sell at the Apple Festival.  The tent was ready and many were in dismay.  Walkie talkies were quick to action.  The road had already been closed and fear that the apple ice cream delivery would not get through.  But, alas, at 9:30AM the truck arrived with the freezer and buckets of the delicious treat!  Another wonderful smell of the apples today.   Those who had already breakfasted on apple cider donuts were ready for more and quickly came over for their fill of ice cream.

Meanwhile the food vendor was busy preparing massive amount of onions and steaks.  The kettle corn people had arrived and the smell of popcorn filled the air.  It was about this time that the thought came to me.  Wouldn’t it be awesome to bottle up the smells of the Apple Festival?  Put it into bottles to be stored and shared later.  Or perhaps an incense type stick that would bring the smells with the pillows of smoke?  It just all smelled so scrumptous! 

So it was an exciting day in Medford, NJ.  The 30th Annual Apple Festival was a great success.   It was the place to be, the thing to do and had the foods to eat.  The line of tents belonging to the 98 crafters surrounded the area.  Plus we enjoyed the music of Jennifer Mylod and the Boys of County O’cean coming from the barn and filling the air!   It was great to have the music back again after many years without it.  Plus I get to wear my new www.JenniferMylod.com t-shirt to church in the morning – yeehaw!

I’ll post any pictures I can gather onto Flickr for all of you to enjoy.  Keep in mind this will not give you that “all senses feeling” of actually being there but perhaps it might bring a smile.   I have heard that the sense of smell is the quickest trigger for your memory.  Just smelling those apple cider donuts this morning reminded me of all the good things to come for the day!  It put a little kick in my step.  Although I am tired and  don’t want to walk a single step further today, it’s all good!   I shall nap tomorrow!!!!

Title: Apple Festival
Location: Kirby\’s Mill – Medford, NJ
Description: Annual festival including all kinds of apples, activities for the kids, over 95 crafters, live music by Jennifer Mylod and the Boys of County O\’cean and much more…
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2008-10-11
End Time: 04:00

Title: Kirby\’s Mill Flea Market
Location: Medford, NJ
Description: The Annual Flea Market at Kirby\’s Mill, on Church Road in Medford, NJ
Date: 2008-09-13