Sunny Day at Greenfield Village

After spending the morning cutting up clothes for the memorial quilt, I had SUCH an urge to get out & walk yesterday so I took a trip to Greenfield Village. So invigorated (and hot) after my walk I took in the museum, too!

Civil War Remembrance at Greenfield Village

This past weekend was the Civil War Remembrance weekend at Greenfield Village (Dearborn, MI).  This one was particularly important as it's the sesquicentennial of the start of the Civil War; over 500 reenactors from all over the country participated.  

For three days (in some truly awful humidity and hurricane-infested storms), men (and some of their families) setup their tents and camped in full reproduction regalia.  On Monday, a special ceremony with foot soldiers & cavalrymen, "politicians" & belles, color guard & band occurred on the Village green to commemorate those that have risked and those that had lost their lives for the freedom of this country.  It was particularly moving.

Last week, I featured quilts of Greenfield Village (part 1 and part 2).  Today, I thought I'd share quilting in the Civil War encampment.  I know these images are small here; if you would like to see a close-up, click on the picture.

Actually took this one last year, but I like it and figured you haven't seen it yet.

These are the owners of The Dressmaker's Shop in Leslie, MI.
They've setup shop in Sutler's Row for the last few years.
Great people and good prices!

Most of the tents were closed due to the humidity so it was nice being able to peak into this one. 

Some quilts were right out in the open.  Later, after the noon ceremonies, the owner came back and took a nap with it!

I'm having a greater appreciation of cheddar in quilts.

Lovely lady, hand quilting, on a VERY humid day.

Soldiers have to transport them somehow, right?

I'm assuming this was Union and not Confederacy.

Not part of the outside exhibit - this quilt took the workers of Firestone Farm 15-years to make by hand using 19th-century techniques.  It now resides in the Henry Ford house.

Has nothing to do with quilting, but aren't they sweet?

I do hope you enjoyed my Civil War quilt show, and that you and yours had a safe & healthy holiday weekend.

Elisa

Greenfield Village (The Henry Ford) part 2

I hope you're enjoying the pictures.  I had such a great time at The Village - sometimes it's nice to escape from the modern world for a little while.  

Weiser Railroad - taken with my Hipstamatic app

A little further down the road from the Adams house is the Noah Webster house (1823 - New Haven, CT).  This house is filled with treasure!  Workers, in period costume, will make quilts during the day using the original methods - one lady said "their" quilt took them 15 years to complete!

Does this carpet catch your eye?

Yes, those are penny rugs!  

Purported that the odd contours of this bed are from Noah's ghost laying down!

Our next stop today is the Susquehanna Plantation (1835 - Maryland).  These ladies were giving a quilt demo - the heat, however, in this kitchen was unbearable!

Our final stop for this quilt tour is Firestone Farm (1828 - Columbiana, OH).  Here we see some lovely crazy quilt pillows.

I hope to have more to share next week.  Starting Saturday, May 28th, Greenfield Village hosts its annual Civil War Remembrance where reenactors from all over the country setup camp, cook & sleep & parade all weekend.  I love walking among the encampments because many have beautiful Civil War repro quilts in situ!  

Take care!
Elisa

Greenfield Village (The Henry Ford) part 1

Had a glorious day yesterday at Greenfield Village (now called The Henry Ford) with my brother Jeremy, his wife Robyn and my adorable nephew, Andrew.  Except, of course, for the fact that I'm so sunburned I even burnt my eyelids! OUCH!

My Brother Jeremy - taken with my Hipstamatic app

"Entering Greenfield Village is like stepping into an 80-acre time machine. It takes you back to the sights, sounds and sensations of America’s past. There are 83 authentic, historic structures, from Noah Webster’s home, where he wrote the first American dictionary, to Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park laboratory, to the courthouse where Abraham Lincoln practiced law. The buildings and the things to see are only the beginning. There’s the fun stuff, too. In Greenfield Village, you can ride in a genuine Model T or “pull” glass with world-class artisans; you can watch 1867 baseball or ride a train with a 19th-century steam engine. It’s a place where you can choose your lunch from an 1850s menu or spend a quiet moment pondering the home and workshop where the Wright brothers invented the airplane. Greenfield Village is a celebration of people — people whose unbridled optimism came to define modern-day America."

I love Greenfield Village, and yesterday was especially gorgeous!  Sunny day with a light breeze - lilacs in bloom. One of the under-appreciate features as you walk through these historic buildings are the real and reproduction quilts throughout!   I thought I'd share some of my favorites.

Our first stop is the Mattox Family home built in the 1880's originally located in Georgia:

Inside the walls are lined with yellowed newspaper and everything is in its place.  Here are a few of the scrap quilts:

Across the street is the Adams Family home (1840 - Saline, MI)

Even the reproduction quilts are wonderful.  The staff, in full historic garb, will work on the quilts using the same methods and reproduction fabrics of the time period!  Imagine sitting there with no rotary cutter or acrylic rulers and piecing by hand in candlelight!

Since I have so much more to share, I'll post some more tomorrow.

Happy Sunday!

Elisa