A Fall Sale

Crisp bright fall days make good times for yard sales.  Some friends and I had a variation of that on Barbara's lovely screened back porch yesterday.  Our guests came by invitation, there was no sign or ad for our event in this intimate space.  Barbara and Jean had antiques to offer and I had my paintings and also a small table of Christmas things. Linda had a pretty display of her jewelry.  I would have liked to include photos with people, but after the sale started I never got back to taking pictures. So here is a taste of it.  

The tavern table with lovely turnings was from Maine.

A lucky person took home this wonderful comb back Windsor chair.

Barbara's homemade ginger cookies and pomegranate punch.

You can see some of the jewelry on etsy at

https://www.etsy.com/shop/PrairieRoseRanchwear?ref=l2-shopheader-name 

This was the first time I have shown my paintings this year and they were well received and I am much encouraged! Several friends came who are really interested in art and their comments are special.  And these four little ones sold!  

Bittersweet and Indian corn and pumpkins make a festive set up.

 All were priced and offered for sale except two large ones I may have giclee's made of.

One buyer said these paintings remind her of 17 century paintings and I was thrilled she recognized it. That is exactly what I am studying:  chiaroscuro, the play of light and shadow as mastered most famously by Rembrandt and taught today by David Leffel and his pupils of which my own instructor is one.   Leffel applies this technique to fine antique oriental porcelain and the like, while I am using it to paint the humble American pottery and less formal antiques Jack and I collected.  This gives my own paintings a personal voice.  Search Google images for David Leffel and see his amazing work!

Note, detail of the wooden doll above:

She came as just a carved wooden head and torso with a hole from shoulder to shoulder as on a Motschmann doll.  I made a tube of cloth holding the arms Jack carved. To give her legs, I sewed drawers with the legs and gathered the top edge around her waist. So no glue or other fastening mars the doll herself. There is no paper mache molded over the wooden base, she is a wooden doll with a very thin layer of gesso under the paint of her head. Worn spots tell the story.

Of course I had to buy some little treasures.

It was a great day, thank you Barbara.

PS If you would like to have a cupboard for your dolls like the one Jack made for mine, the pattern and instructions for it are in the new December Early American Life Magazine.  e

Two Star Rug Camp, fall of 2016!

This has been an exciting day in so many ways.  It is for me as for all of you I expect, a heartwarming thing to see and hug people you have known for years and share the excitement of a well loved craft together.  I love seeing what people are making now.  An additional pleasure was seeing friend Linda set up her jewelry for just a tight 45 minute slot to sell in the sales room, and how well her things were received! It was a happy near riot. Thirty eight out of forty two pieces offered were sold, that is almost one per minute.

Hope you will enjoy the pictures below, it is hard to catch color and creative highs in a small rectangle with my camera.  warmly, e

 Men can hook rugs too.

Linda starting to set out her jewelry

Here come the buyers!

It went so well!

An enthusiastic bunch

Debbie wrote the tickets.

Added Note, see Linda's jewelry on etsy at 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/PrairieRoseRanchwear?ref=l2-shopheader-name 

A whale rug from my pattern. He has barnacles on him using spot dyed wool!

Weaver's Lion is one of my favorites.

three examples of pretty wool applique.

 See how muted the colors are for an antique look.

Kay's armadillo is one of her Texas Critters, So beautifully done!

 This rug represents Shake Rag Street in Mineral Point Wisconsin designed and hooked by Sally Kallin

The wool is luscious. 

Maggie is holding her early looking one. I had so many favorites! But this might be my favorite favorite today!  Nina Fletcher Little would have approved I think. This is a very wide cut.   Glad you can be a mouse in my pocket and share this. e

added on Thursday:  Below is the first Bird and Pomegranate rug I hooked in 1982, signed and dated.  I have recently purchased it back from someone who bought it in the 1980's.    Over years I have hooked this design three times. I am glad to see the rug again and that it is in fine shape.  It has not faded which is a tribute to Evelyn Newton’s dying, as it is all her wool.   e

Rachael's lovely hand sewing for my dolls

Here is the dear early girl I bought last week on line, in appalling condition but too interesting to pass up.  I have collected over 60 years and have only seen this head style four times I believe and one of  those may have been the same doll, so perhaps just three times. Her hand sewn cotton twill body appears original except one replaced arm.  I fashioned an under dress for her out of an old one thin as gauze and with shredded sleeves which I hemmed away.  I will find or make drawers by and by.

She is now in a Rachael Kinnison dress and has some of my beads draped over her shoulders until I can get some for her.

I have seen her with glass eyes as well as painted.  A glass eyed example was in the Merritt Museum.  Can anyone else add something about this head mold? 

I love all dolls with the simple covered wagon hairstyle.  I believe this one may date in the 1840's.

Another uncommon papier mache is this Motschmann type with a great snood hair style. I would date her about 1860.  There is no residue or sign she was ever waxed though many of this style were. This  doll also wears a dress made by Rachael.  Although she has a snubbed nose and other wear, I have chosen to leave her as she is.

Please comment, I read every one. e