Monday, September 15, 2014

FALLing into my work ~

just a little smattering 
of things that I've been working on for the show….
{well, not this pincushion…it is mine ~ but it looked 'sew' pretty in the early morning light}

constant companion


~ Witches Shoes ~

wearing silk ribbons and small calico pumpkins...



...ready to keep your pins & needles safe.

~ a Sampling of Samplers ~


almost finished now….


oh my!!


~ Pumpkin Jack Chairpad ~


hand hooked with velvet, wool & cotton fabric ~
black background punched with hand dyed wool yarn.
{Love my red chairs, have a set of 2}

 here is the same chair pad below
...just set upon a different chair.

I found this lonely black chair in the dumpster!
now it holds my bottom when I stitch at my treadle machine :)

 the colors on my painted chairs match perfectly in my Folk Art world ~
chrome yellows, salmon, federal blue…turquoise-greens, black & cinnamon red.




When I found this little treasure in the dumpster,
it had a broken stretcher ~ 
{{something that would have been easily repaired 
long ago in a society where nothing was disposable,
but valued & regarded as serviceable and useful.}}

I knew Peter could quickly fix & replace the stretcher for me,
so I climbed into the disgusting dumpster to rescue it and brought it home to show him.

and when we turned it over to fix it, we found this:
a penciled signature!

...perhaps of the owner?

Barton F???
 can you make it out??

 There is more writing on this chair bottom too ~
done is what looks like chalk or grease-pencil…




it reads:

"Jacob Stauffer
coller (color) black
design no 18."

clearly this chair-maker wanted his work to be known...
and I love him for that!

I LOVE the misspelling of the word 'color' ~ 

~ such pride was taken in the workmanship of days long ago ~
such a pity that it is not valued in today's world as much as it should be….
it is so much easier to throw-away & buy a new one these days, 
and I find that so very sad.

Thank GOODNESS 
for the artisans & crafts-folk who continue the tradition of making
wonderful things that stand the test of time…

for the folks out there that mend & make-do
and appreciate things handmade.

Have you seen this new book yet?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They Made Do
from Jill Peterson
& Cheryl Jones

If you love primitive antiques, 
if you honor handmade things,
if your heart is resting in the past 
...and you long for simpler times…
this is a must-read.

I found myself happily lost in it's pages ~
digesting each written word 
and letting the feeling of this book 
absorb into my bones.

take time today to think about what you're throwing away…
can it be mended?
made into something else?
...are you creating something with your hands 
that will last generations to come and are pouring your heart into each stitch or loop?

~ remember to sign your work
 for those that will treasure you long after you're gone...


* Blessed be *
 Lori

13 comments:

Jane said...

Your pieces are an inspiration, as always. The signature and words on he chair really make it a special treasure!

Jennifer M said...

Wonderful, sweet post. My feelings exactly:)

Diane said...

Lori - Your work and the information you share are always so wonderful! Thanks so much!

Dogwood Farm said...

Love all the pieces you posted especially the pumpkin chair mat!!!
xo L

Faye said...

Sweet find.... Oh, and if those markings could talk!!!

I'm getting really excited about getting to the show Saturday Lori~ My list is made... Amherst and Lynchburg motel addresses bookmarked and map quested in phone ~~checked weather channel for the 5 day forecast,.. On and on..... Looking forward to seeing everyone Sat... Coming for the day, to shop, stitch, visit and gather among friends... Putting faces with names~ you'll have to run me outta there!! See you Sat morn~

susan hemann said...

your work is wonderful, as usual!! As for the chairs, I would have dove in myself!! I am a folk art painter and to see the work of man thrown away!! Horrible. Thank you for sharing the book. Will be looking at it!

ileyssilver said...

Lori, I would love to have that book but couldn't find it on Amazon. Where did you find it? Love everything.
Iley

Linda said...

So beautifully said. I'd give your chairs a home anyday. Sadly that mindset has even permeated relationships. Very few try to fix anything. I hope better for our grandchildren.

Shuttle, Hook and Needle said...

I've been known to climb in dumpsters too. Sometimes I can't believe what people throw away. Glad you rescued the wonderful chair!

The Preening Crow said...

Barton Fery?
My best guess. Love finding old writing
Good luck this weekend!

Queen Bee's Musings said...

Wonderful post of beautiful things. So wish I was close to enjoy your show!
Where so you find the book They Made Do,

Queen Bee's Musings said...

Lori, I just read They Made Do. Online. I enjoyed it. Thanks for heads up about it!

Cathy said...

It almost looks like it says Bostin Fern. He spelled color wrong, maybe Bostin, too....