She’s back. . .

Our friend Pattie came back for another visit. I think she likes us?!?! 

We first met her years ago while attending John C. Campbell Folk School, in Brasstown, North Carolina.

On Thursday, we took her to Jacob’s Cave Flea Market.

Of course, I borrowed this picture, but I wanted to show you, this place is

H-U-G-E.  The three of us didn’t find much we couldn't live without. But at least we each got a few things. We stopped at the Pioneer Restaurant for Supper. 

On Friday, after the Blacksmith left us unattended for 3 days, we got busy. You see Pattie is a Master basket weaver. She wanted to teach me how to weave on an antler. 

The blacksmith gave us lots of choices on antlers.

By 5 o’clock I made it this far. Dinner was calling. We joined my DIL Lori, granddaughter Lizzie, and grandson Brady, for Mexican!

I finished it after dinner but waited for sunshine to take this picture Sunday .

While I was weaving, she was piecing this quilt for her oldest grandson. Funny, the Pattie’s turned the tables. In the end I showed her how to add length to it. Unfortunately, she didn’t finish before she left. We were just too busy. 

On Sunday morning, we went to my favorite antique store, J Street Antiques. I had seen a Facebook post from the vintage clothier there, showing bib overalls! Surprisingly they were my size. I need them for an upcoming memorial dinner. We pay tribute to our late friend Phil, who almost always wore bibs.

After visiting J Street, I took her to my friend Marla’s antique store, Cotter Pin Cellar. Before we left, Marla and Pattie figured out they had a mutual friend in Mexico, Missouri. Small world. 

We then went across the street to The Art Bazaar. It was just like visiting the gift shop at the Folks School. 

It was time to scoot home, Pattie was fixing BBQ Ribs for supper for us, Jeremy and Lori, Brady and Lizzie. Unfortunately, Alex had to work. The ribs and baked potatoes were delicious! 

Lori brought her loaded peanut butter brownies. You too can have some. Brownie Points by Lori! 

These are a couple of Pattie’s recent baskets. She tells me these are cat-head baskets. When you turn them over, the points on the bottom, resemble cats ears. She wove them using dyed ash splint for the spokes and natural ash for the weavers. She wove the larger one first, and then challenged herself to make the same basket on a much smaller level. They are started on a mold, and then finished off- mold. 

It like holding a kleenex, they things are so light weight.

This pretty much sums up our weeklong fun. We are pooped! But man did we have a fun filled week. Until next time sister!

 

She’s back!!

It’s always so much fun when my friend Pattie comes to visit. She arrived Thursday evening after an almost 12-hour drive from Georgia. 

She brought us rocks! Yep, a basket of rocks. She would show Lizzie and I how to do some weaving on them. After all Pattie is a master basket maker. She’s taught for years at John C. Campbell Folk School, in Brasstown, North Carolina.

These were my two. The one on the right is called fish bones. 

Lizzie used one piece of dyed material. It was dyed multi-colors. It was so neat to see how the top was basically two colors only. This is the kimono pattern.

The teacher and her students.

Saturday Pattie and I along with Lori and Aaron went to Stark caverns. It’s been a tourist attraction for 72 years, most of that time I lived 30 miles away, yet I had never been there. It was the first time Pattie had been in a cave. 

The top of the cave entrance had these pretty flowers.  

Sunday, we went to my niece, Amber's baby shower. Here is the quilt I made her.

 

Come Monday we went to our farm to dig bloodroot. Bernie dug, we separated it. She wanted the bulb root and some young plants to transplant.

Only a few were still showing their blooms.

A wash tub was plenty for her! 

I bought this hickory rocker many years ago. There were a few pieces that were broken. If I remember correctly, I paid $12 for it. It's a very comfortable rocker. I was going to put it on the front porch of our hunting cabin. We decided it was too good to be out in the weather.  

Years ago we got some hickory from basket makers Alice and Joe Dudenhoeffer to repair in.  Pattie being the master basket weaver did her magic and repaired it. After we varnish it, I doubt you'll be able to tell the repair.  

Did I mention she is fun to have around?  I can't wait to see what we can find to do on her next visit.  

BAM and Arrow Rock the same weekend

On Saturday October 9, 2021 we hosted the BAM meeting in Boonville, at the Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association grounds. Attendance was great, as was the weather. 

 It's a fantastic building.

Bernie demonstrated an 18th century candle holder. 

John was his striker!  He is always great help on anything we need at the shop.

To say we took a a few of our candleholders from the house is an under statement. We both like and appreciate the early American lighting.

The wives sat outside for good conversation and fresh air.

That evening we stayed in our Casita across the road in the show grounds camp ground. 

On Sunday morning we went to Arrow Rock, Missouri for their festival. 

Beautiful homes line the streets. 

 

One of our first stops was to see our friend Jim Duncan, the gunsmith.

Here's an interesting story. I was talking to this lady about her weaving. I told her I had taken a class at John C. Campbell Folk School on weaving and soon learned it wasn't something I wanted to do much off. She told me the Folks school was on her bucket list.

I went on to admire her loom. She tells me it's cherry wood and is some what portable as it folds nicely and fits in her car. I told her about my blogger friend who has had many looms in her time. She asked me her name and I said Karen, immediately she said her last name.  She knew her from the blog too. Read my blog post before this one and you can read more about Karen. 

Lunch time found us in the Tavern. After our main course we divided this big fried cherry pie, or as my friend Deanna calls them, a hand pie. It was delicious.

Next door we found our friends Brian and Brad in their Santa Fe traders camp. This is their new wagon they recently purchased. 

Brad lost a button on his trousers for his suspenders the night before. How, we aren't sure how as we never got the complete story. I was impressed he was sewing it on himself, even if I thought the needle was rather large!  Good job Brad!

This quilt was on display in one of the old homes we went into. It was better than any that were displayed in the quilt show in my opinion.  

This quilt was made from a Crabapple Hills Studio pattern. Bernie thought it was pretty neat, especially the old oil cans. 

It was a wonderful weekend to be out and about!

John C Campbell Folk School 2015

We did it again, a return trip to Brasstown, North Carolina to attend John C. Campbell Folk School. The blacksmith was taking at class on 18th century lighting. I was just going to relax and enjoy my week there. 

We've been 6 or 7 times, we can't remember. It never gets old, the area, the music, the wonderful people, the way of life, the list goes on and on.

Here is a recap of the week. 

The dining hall looks amazing with all the oak tables and white table settings. This particular evening we had eggplant Parmesan and warm olive bread with a hard crust, my favorite. Dessert was Tiramisu.  

 The mushrooms I found while walking the campus.

I walked this path nightly. The scene is one of my favorites. 

Smoke in the mountains. Actually it's coal smoke from the forges of the blacksmith shop in the distance.

 My blacksmith is on the left.  On the right is another Missouri blacksmith, Bob Alexander.

The meeting of the minds, teacher Jerry Darnell of Mill Creek Forge in Seagrove, NC shows Bob and Bernie a technique.

 Thought I'd do a little house hunting on campus. 

Since I didn't take a class this time, I would spend my mornings in the Casita sewing away. I was surprised at how much work I could accomplish without the internet and TV. 

One night, upstairs in the blacksmith shop, there was a little jam session.  Music is a big part of the Appalachian area. In the eight days we spent in the area, we went to 3 jam sessions and 2 big performances. 

 Here I am watching my smith from the second story of the beautiful timber frame shop.

Friday at Folk School is always show and tell. Here are some of the quilts completed in just 4 1/2 days. 

 My friend Bryanna Alexander made this box. Can you tell she is Bob's wife?

All the materials in this basket were harvested Monday and finished by Friday in a natural basket. 

Bernie made a lot of projects this week. His are on the bottom left side. 

 This timber frame stage is new since we were here last year.

I stumbled upon this in the museum. Doug Hendrickson was a founding member of the Blacksmith Association of Missouri (BAM). He passed away in 2007 from Lou Gehrig's disease. 

On the last Friday night at John C. Campbell Folk School, the Chuck Nation Band performed. 

My friend Pattie (love that name), who is the resident basket making instructor at John C. Campbell, made a beautiful little pin cushion for me.

On both Friday evenings we attended  jam sessions at Clay's Corner. It is well known for it's possum drop on New Years Eve. We also enjoyed hand dipped ice cream cones every time we were there.

Last but not least, I got to pick up another order of mugs and steins from Rob the potter. Smoke in the Mountain Pottery Shop is always a stop I make, some times twice! 

If you want to read some of my post about previous trips there just click here. Be sure and click on the link at the top to check out the John C. Campbell Folk school. It's a wonderful place.