Colonial Williamsburg Gets a Tramp.....The Art Tramp that is!

I have only been to Colonial Williamsburg

a couple of times but I remember

my visits with much warmth and admiration.

The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum

is simply astounding with the quantity

and quality of it's collection....a MUST SEE

for those who truly love Folk Art.

When I visited, it was late Fall.

The leaves had mostly turned but there was

that wonderful "crispness" in the air.

The crowds had gone and I was able

to spend time talking with the artisans in their shops.

There were no lines for anywhere and 

I could stroll the streets at ease. The aroma of

Hot Apple Cider filled the air along

with that of the spice cookies they had for sale

on a small street cart.....

it was a wonderful experience!

And now, I have had another wonderful experience

that I wanted to share with all to you.

Some of my Tramp Art will now be available

through the Art Museum Store of Colonial Williamsburg.

They currently have eight of my pieces

and I am working on a small order that should go out

next week. I am also hoping to have the

opportunity to design some Tramp Art pieces that

will be exclusive to Colonial Williamsburg

since those designs will all be my interpretation of

pieces that are in the museums collections.

I am honored to have my art available at

such a wonderful and well respected museum.

The people I have been working with are

outstanding in every way. I want to thank Susan

and Lauren for everything they have done.

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I encourage everyone to visit and support

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation as well as

your local or regional museums....

they are a precious gift for all of us to enjoy!

Show Time!

Well, it is that time of year again.

There is a chill in the air and soon there will be frost as well.

I love the Fall and that "crispness" in the air.

Of course, all this means that the Wilton Historical Society's

American Artisan Show

is just around the corner....November 4th - 6th.

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As you can see, things are all over the place

as I am getting ready for the show.

I have so many pieces I want to make and

so little time!

Sewing pieces, Ornaments, CAWfin®, Tombstone Angel,

and a very special piece that will use an antique

Sheraton table base with the original black paint...

let's see how much I can get done.

Hope to see you all there at the show!!!

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The Early American Folk Arts & Trades 

The first MARKETPLACE for this Facebook Group

will be held on Facebook this weekend, October 15 - 16.

Each artist can post one piece at a time

and add another once the first piece has sold.

I will be posting two pieces for

everyone's consideration...

"Live Free, Die Happy"

and

"Get Cracking"

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I would like to share a couple images

of two of my most recent

Heart In Hand Thread Holder & Pin Cushions...

Hope everyone has a great week!!! 

I will be heading back to create more Tramp Art

one chip at a time!

A tree grows in Brighton.....that's right, NOT Brooklyn.

I love folk art and have collected

both antique pieces and various artists work

over the years. In my efforts to design

and create new and interesting pieces of Tramp Art

that are unique and original I am working

on a Bird Tree.

This particular Bird Tree is an anniversary present

for my husband. Once the tree has a

proper base or vintage box to attach itself to

I will be making new and different

Tramp Art clip-on birds to attache to the tree

for special occasions or just because.

The first bird is a Raven.

He holds two vintage German acorns in his beak.

They symbolize us as a couple and

that we will keep growing older, wiser and stronger

as the years go by.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is a gray and rainy day today!

As I walked through the garden the other morning

I took a few photos of nature that

caught my eye and thought I would share them

with you...

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At the moment, I am working on

weaving some miniature and full size Shaker Baskets.

Many, many years ago I took a class

from Martha Wetherbee. She is the foremost

authority on Shaker baskets and through

her studies and hard work she revived the art of

the Shaker Basket!

Here are some of the baskets I have made

along with a few of Martha's. I also make and collect

1 inch scale miniatures so I made the miniature

Shaker Alphabet Board based on a piece that had been

in the "Shaker Design" exhibit many years ago.

Lol, you may notice I like Ravens and Crows...

I will also be attempting to make a

1 inch scale violin case based on this exception

antique piece I saw from an antique shop.

I will be tweeting the case a bit but this was my first prototype.

As with my Tramp Art, I don't employ the use

of any power tools so this is all being done by hand

with an x-acto knife. I will be making a handful

of these cases and will be painting them to match the original.

A good friend and miniature artist has been most

generous and is sending me the hinges for at least on case.

Wish me luck!

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I hope you enjoyed this post. As always, I invite you to

take a look through my website and my Etsy Shop.

Feel free to spread the word about my work.

I thank you for your time, your friendship and your support.

Blessings.

Spring is in the air.....after a few snow storms

It has been a while but all is well.

I have been finishing up a few pieces and

took the time to make a piece I have

been wanting to do for a couple years now.

"PICKED FRESH"

is a piece that I will be keeping. It is one of my

German style Tramp Art automobiles with

the addition of some hand painted farm stand signs

to hang off the sides.

I have asked a small group of my artist friends to make 

a German style veggie person to ride in the

passenger area and then another artist friend volunteered

to make the driver for this piece.

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A walk around the garden has revealed

the beginnings of some pears,

peaches, cherries and some flowers.

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Of course, Mr. Rabbit has started tending his garden...

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As some of you may know,

I have designed a collection of paper patterns

for hooked rugs, punch needle, 

wool appliqué and will be having some charted

for cross stitch as well.

All these designs are taken from my 

originalTramp Art designs. 

I am calling these patterns the "HOOKER collection!

They are all available in my Etsy Shop.

Please take a moment to visit the shop and 

I hope you enjoy these designs.

www.etsy.com/shop/TheArtTramp

One of my friends (Renee Bowen) took one of my designs and

made it in to a 1/12 scale miniature "hooked rug"

using nothing but french knots.

and another friend (Colleen McDonald) took 

one of my patterns and converted it to 

a wool appliqué pattern that can be used to make 

a wonderful pouch to hold your tablet 

or a needlework project you are working on.

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I have been gathering up some small 

vintage/antique pièces to pair up with some new

Tramp Art designs I am working on.

I have over 50 new pieces designed so far.

Now all I need are the funds for the supplies. 

I trust this will happen as I know

that I have found my true calling creating each of

the pieces as The Art Tramp!

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I am also working on weaving some

full size and miniature Shaker baskets. This is something

I decided to do again. It has been many years

but I think they will be a nice addition to some of my

Tramp Art pieces. I also have a few friends 

who will be getting some of them in trade for pieces

I love of their work. And, if I make enough, 

they will also be sold at a miniature show at the end 

of the summer! Just trying to stay 

busy and creative at the same time!!!!

I am hoping to attend two shows this year.

I will be returning to the Wilton Historical Society's 

American Artisan Show on November 4, 5 & 6.

And, I am waiting to hear if I have gotten

in to another amazing show that is held in Pennsylvania

around the middle of September. I will keep you posted

on these here and through Facebook.

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I hope your Spring is off to a good start!

Enjoy.