DAY THREE as the artist-in-residence at Homestead National Monument. I'm here through the end of the month and have promised to blog every day. First, I'll be sharing something about this fascinating place. Then, I'll show you what I accomplished with needle-and-thread!
Yesterday, I showed images from the Palmer-Epard log cabin, inside and out. Yet, it isn't the only thing in that part of the National Monument. There are several rusted pieces of farm equipment and this contraption (which I did read about but have already forgotten the information). What impressed me was the fact that this machine was bigger than the cabin! (What I do remember is that this machine could do in one day what otherwise took ten men.)
One of the reasons I forgot what the big "thing" did was because there are SO MANY tools, machinery, and devices that truly transformed the American farming landscape. I read about lots of them in the Farm Implement Exhibition area.
I understood this one! It's an apple cider press!
Mostly, I snapped photos of the interesting gears.
What's there not to like about a machine when the details appear as an artistic abstraction?
Yesterday I shared this piece in progress. It is now finished! I've successfully depleted most of my flesh colored and light peach buttons. This hasn't put the slightest dent in my overall collection ... but I'll be working on that! LOL!
(Above: Waste Not Fresh Tears II, detail.)
In the morning I spent time doing the free motion embroidery on one of
the public domain images of Homestead National Monument that I had
printed on fabric. It's a work-in-progress and will take several days,
but I forgot to snap a photo of how it looks right now. I'll get to
that tomorrow!
(Above: Homestead Act Postage Stamp. 13 1/2" x 17 1/2". Digital image of the 1962 Homestead Act Centennial US Postage Stamp printed on fabric. Buttons. Hand stitched.
Yesterday I also showed this little art quilt in progress. I finished it too. It is entirely hand stitched.
(Above: Homestead Act Postage Stamp, detail.)
I did not, however, make a dent in the box of black buttons. The box is measures 4" x 6". It is three inches deep. At least some of them got used!
I really do try to USE the vintage things I buy at auction and the many buttons I seem to collect. It was wonderful to use this hand embroidered table runner as the reverse for my art quilt. The stitching was rather nice but the piece was never actually finished into the runner. The edges were still raw. At least now, it has been used! Check back tomorrow! I'll be blogging from Homestead again!
I'm linking this blog post to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Fridays", a site for sharing fiber arts.
3 comments:
I love your button pieces and I went back and looked at your series with women in compromising positions. I applaud the fact that yours are all hand sewn. I must confess that on my last piece I I (horrors) glued them on. It's on my blog.
Hi Susan
Thank you for finding my web page and answering by question about Artists in Residence. I will be looking and searching also because those trips you make look like too much fun and relaxation into art. I have started my own collection of wooden spool ornaments based on those that you do. I happened across a basket full of old and varied wooden spools at an estate sale.... absolute GOLD to me. I paid them $20 for the entire basket.... they thought I was nuts, but these were unique wooden spools.
I am the President of PAQA-South this year and next. We've been pleased to have you exhibit with us at Page-Walker Art Gallery!
Thanks again. Enjoy your remaining time in your residency.
The large piece of farm equipment that was shown in your first photograph is a hay stacker. It lifts loose hay onto haystacks, indeed much faster then men building the stacks with pitchforks. I'm enjoying your posts about your impressions of the Homestead Monument and your art work.
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