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!