Thursday, May 21, 2009

Henry Ford Museum

I have been on the road since Saturday. I taught two great classes with the gals in Battle Creek. We had a really fun day of dyeing fabric and then a day of making fused art quilts. Either Summer Afternoon or Pumpkins. I guess the girls in Battle Creek are getting ready for fall. I am now outside Toledo in Sylvania OH where I will be teaching Machine Quilting and Small Autumn Mums.

Yesterday I had a day to play, so I decided to visit the Henry Ford Museum. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm and I thoroughly enjoyed myself walking thru the selection of collections in the Museum and then walking around the Greenfield Village, a collection of homes and buildings from around the country. Henry Ford’s home is there, Edison’s workshop, the Wright Brothers store and many other homes and buildings representing different time periods from around the USA.

Here are a few pictures from the collections sorry there aren’t more but  my battery went dead.

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Well first I had to stick in a picture of George, because I miss him. This was taken right before I left. The dog days of summer are here.

OK now some interesting pictures from the museum.

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There was a wonderful display of irons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was some beautiful painted furniture. I love painted furniture. I guess I Really love decorative arts.

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We all know a little about the history of the sewing machine, but I love learning more. I also love the decorative look of these old black machines. I wish our sewing machines were as beautiful and had as much style as these do.  I wish they were  works of art. Some one could make alot of money if they designed a sewing machine that worked well and looked beautiful.

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This was a rug in I think Daniel Webster’s house that was made of these 12” square  blocks of wool. All hand sewn to create I think what is called a “penny rug”. I would think that the wool would fray, but maybe not. It was very cool looking.

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These are ceramics in the gift shop. I have always loved tiles and redware pottery.

If you ever get a chance to visit the Henry Ford Museum it is well worth the cost and time. I had a great day. It was my Birthday present to myself. Since tomorrow is my BD and I will be working all day, it was a nice treat.

7 comments:

Barbara Strobel Lardon said...

Thank you for sharing part of your trip with us, stuck at work, visitors.
That penny rug was fantastic. I cannot imagine the work that took.

An early Happy Birthday to you!

Dolores said...

I hope you have a wonderful day of doing what you want to do on your birthday. Have a great day!

Sølvis blog said...

Love the penny rug

Leslie said...

Happy Birthday!

randi said...

Happy Belated birthday - I hear we have a date with the Dames soon! :)
Yay~

seleyrn said...

Wow, you were only a couple hours from me when in Sylvania OH. In fact I had family living there at one time. I am in Lima OH, just south of Toledo on I75. I noticed in one spot on your web page, Gwen Marston is one of your inspirations. I took a class from Gwen at the Knoxville AQS... And made my first liberated log cabin quilt, I feel like I can now consider myself a quilt artist, but have much more learning and skill to acquire.

seleyrn said...

Wow, you were only a couple hours from me when in Sylvania OH. In fact I had family living there at one time. I am in Lima OH, just south of Toledo on I75. I noticed in one spot on your web page, Gwen Marston is one of your inspirations. I took a class from Gwen at the Knoxville AQS... And made my first liberated log cabin quilt, I feel like I can now consider myself a quilt artist, but have much more learning and skill to acquire.

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