House on the Rock

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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!

what’s happening

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I know it has been quiet here and that might be true for a while. I have a big, un-blog-able project to finish up. I am heading down to Stamford, Connecticut and going to the NIADA conference on Thursday. I’m hoping to have my project mostly done although I know in my rational head that that is totally unrealistic.

To tell the truth, my Chicago trip knocked me for a loop. I can’t blame how I’m currently feeling entirely on the trip- I’ve been heading in that direction for a while. I’ve been spending too much time on things that aren’t making me happy with the direction my art life is going. I’ve got to slow down and do some reflecting. Way back in December I was feeling like things were getting off track. The Chicago trip was just the last straw I guess. My mood was off the whole time I was there. I seemed to be feeling very fragile. Loads of nice people came into my booth but I only seemed to hear the horrible things that got said (Really people, do you not realize that the maker of the work is standing right there?!) I was having some vague allergic reaction that was making me itch, part of my display got totally soaked on Saturday night, I had some booth neighbors who need to learn some show etiquette, a giant dog came into my booth and grabbed one of the dolls…  yep, not a great time.

So, I am trying to imagine how I might redirect my energies in the coming months to get to a better place. Firstly, I will not be doing any Holiday markets or shows this year. I will continue to stock my Etsy shop and that will be how I will manage my holiday season sales. I’ve got other ideas going around in my head but will keep them to myself for now. I just know for sure that I want to have some time with no deadlines and no demands. Sounds good, right! And, eventually I will post some photos of our trip to House On the Rock.

 

Chicago Renegade booth

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above was Saturday, below Sunday. I put the back wall up on Sunday so it looks a little different.

This was the Saturday wall display.

And more goodies in a cloth basket. All those fish have found new homes!

And this is how I changed the wall around for Sunday.

And the table display-

I have almost finished putting everything in my shop that didn’t sell. Hopefully I will get that done in the next few days.

Thanks to every one that came out to say hello!

one more summer girl fox

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I know summer is coming to an end but I can’t let it go yet.

I’d make her a heavy sweater but it just didn’t seem right.

She has a bright, pretty skirt made from a Lizzy House fabric.

And a shirt made from handkerchief linen. Well, actually made from a handkerchief. I added a little line of lace at the neckline. And a spider-webby shawl in case there are cool breezes.

A wool felt purse-

another professor fox

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This fox is of the absent-minded variety.

He has all the professorial necessities- elbow patches,

a beautiful soft leather briefcase.

But when you look inside- very disorganized! A nice red leather bound book but mostly a mess of papers.

Don’t worry though; he’ll be at school on time.

I am going to take all these foxes to Chicago for the Renegade Market. Whatever comes back home with me will go into my shop soon after September 12. And look! I was Spotlighted on the Renegade blog yesterday!