After Chicago Renegade, my husband and I drove into Wisconsin to visit the House On The Rock. I’m not sure I’ve ever been in Wisconsin before- it is beautiful even though they’ve had a terrible drought all summer. We were lucky enough to be there a few weeks after they’d finally had rain and although the corn was only about 3 ft high, everything was very green and pretty.
This is the display in one of the the Ladies Restrooms!
I was initially confused about what kind of collection I was looking at. It is a wide variety of stuff. Some is rare, special and amazing, some looked very close to junk to me- especially when I was looking at something I know about. I readjusted my expectations.
There was an amazing collection of automata, mostly musical- from individual self-playing instruments to whole orchestras!
I was saddened by how many were in poor repair. Visitors can buy tokens and choose which they’d like to see in action. One of the first that we tried was a mechanical banjo. There were 4 “fingers” but only 2 of them were working. It was terrible. Other ones that we tried were wonderful in spite of the broken bits, but I really wish someone cared enough to spend money on keeping these treasures going.
Wonderful collection of circus posters in the cafe.
A player piano with an interesting way of storing the scroll- definitely worth 50¢ to see that in action.
Here you can see the scale of some of these “music boxes”.
This one filled an entire room- And it wasn’t the only one!
There were a number of these planters out in the parking lots. I’m not sure you can tell how big these are- well over 10 ft tall I think.
And next I’ll post some photos of the NIADA doll conference and my too short visit to Maker Faire.
Thanks for all the nice notes- really I’m fine. I mostly wanted to let people know why things were going to be quiet around here. We all need time to reflect.
Currently I am planning to schedule some classes in the next few months- I’m thinking that it would be fun to focus on projects that people would like to make for holiday gifts- little felt ornaments, owls, tiny worlds… and if I can figure out about sewing machines, the fish. I’m wondering about weekends versus weekdays. Also, just a reminder, I am happy to schedule a class for any group at your convenience if you have a least 4 people ready to go.
I’ll be back soon!
I am from Wisconsin and I visited the House on the Rock back when I was young. I found it so strange and a little creepy, too! I remember the giant carousel and the dolls very vividly. I would love to go back again now as an adult to see it all again. I am glad you were able to visit us here in America’s Dairyland for the first time. Wisconsin really is a lovely state and I am happy to make my home here.
I wish I could take one of your classes; it would be an honor to work with such a talented artist!
What a wonderful house of curiosities. That’s too bad some of them were in such poor repair. Thanks for sharing the pictures. How wonderful that you’re offering classes. Many will profit from your talents and skills.
Any chance you’d teach a class out in the SF Bay Area if you come out for the SF Renegade again next year? I’d love to take a class from you, Mimi, but you’re too far away for me, otherwise. :)
Otherwise, I’ll just have to chalk it up to one of my fantasy “I Wanna’s!”