Monday, May 9, 2011

A Drive By Post - Literally

Not much stitching has been going on around here lately.  I'm within a hair's breath of being finished with Elizabeth Clayton - but not quite there!  Dance rehearsals, recitals and just the normal things that usually go on around here have really cut into my stitching and blogging time.  It doesn't help that our wireless modem is on its last legs and every time I try to get into blogs it shuts me out.  So far it hasn't kicked me out here, so I'll try to post this and see what happens.  But if you haven't seen me comment, blame it on the modem.  I'm going to try to get out today and get a new one.

Anyway, because it's been so busy, I decided to get out of Dodge last Saturday, go for a drive and take in some of the local culture.  Rochester Hills has some wonderful historic places to visit.  I've lived here for almost six years and have been to the school house (it's a right of passage for the school children to spend a couple days there in prairie dress with hornbooks and being put into the corner with a dunce cap on your head when bad).  But they also have a lot of exhibits.  So I finally went to one -  a rug exhibit at the Van Hoosen Farm.



I just fell in love with this Alice in Wonderland rug.  To see it in person was breathtaking.  It was done with a 3 cut for those who are in the know about rug hooking.  And a couple more:


The lighting wasn't the best, but you get the idea.  The rug exhibit was held at the Van Hoosen Farm in the reconstructed cattle barn.  If you want to read a little bit about the history of the Van Hoosen farm you can click on the link: www.thebarnjournal/org/stories/story014/index.html (well, the link is not clickable no matter what I do, but if you are interested you can do a copy and paste to read a little history of the farm).


The original barn burned down in 1968 when two boys were playing with matches.  A new barn was reconstructed and in one of the pictures below, is a picture of what is left of the original barn and the cattle area.  Sarah Van Hoosen Jones took over the farm from her grandfather and enlarged the home and barn.  She had built a new dairy unit and bred her own stock of cattle.  She graduated with a doctorate degree in genetics from the University of Wisconsin and her aunt, Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen, did important research in cattle diseases.

The Village encompasses a small community - schoolhouse, cemetery, and various buildings.  I didn't get a picture of the school house or the cemetery - I'll do those on another trip, but here are a few others:

I don't know if you can read the sign, but the name of the building is The Sign of the Black and White Cow.  This used to be the Dairy Store for the Van Hoosen Dairy Farm.  It's now a private residence, but the owners have to keep it up to City requirements.

1850's Red House:

The Farmhouse:

The reconstructed barn and museum:

What is left of the original barn:


One of my favorite houses which sits across the road (heavily traveled) is this one and I can't get the best picture of it because of the traffic.  All homes in this area are kept to strict standards as to how they are maintained.
From there I went to a quilt show held in Romeo, Michigan.  Romeo is probably best known for peaches.  Here are a couple quilts:


I'm usually into the more primitive style of quilting, but I thought that these two were pretty:

Romeo is also known for antiques.  And what would be a good days drive, if I didn't stop into the antique store???  You know how my car just can't pass up one of those places.  Romeo tends to be a bit pricey, but I lucked out and walked away with a new addition to the sewing room:

It needs a bit of cleaning, but I loved the graphics on it.

Well, that's about it for me.  Sorry there are no stitchy pictures, but there will be soon.  Thanks for stopping by and even though there are no pictures of cross stitch, I hope you liked seeing a little part of my world.

38 comments:

Margaret said...

Oh, cool sewing machine! Is it a little one or a regular sized one? So neat! I saw one in an antique store window (a different one of course) but didn't go in to ask about it. Maybe I should have. :D Love love love that Alice rug! Gorgeous! Nice quilts too!

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Fun post, Deb. Love the AiWonderland rug! Sweet little sewing machine, too. Always fun to start, and quickly build, a new collection.

Nicole said...

Beautiful pictures Deb! Michigan definitely has some beautiful areas. Makes me homesick! Even though I only lived their until I was 10, I still consider it home. :)

Yvette said...

I couldn't have walked away from that machine either. What a great find!!

Looks like you had fun! I love outings like that.

Hazel said...

Amazing rugs. x

marly said...

What a beautiful village with such lovely houses. It seems there are lots of stone walls and they are so perfect - LOVE the stone! The rugs are a real showcase of talent. You snatched a real goodie - never saw a machine with that stand and design.

Linda said...

What a great place to visit! Those rugs are incredible...your new little sewing machine is just perfect! I love how they decorated some of the older ones.

Nancy M said...

Now you are in my old stomping grounds! I used to "park" on that road. It was all dirt and nothing was around there. I lived on 25 mile, by Shelby Rd. and still went to Adams. Now I would go to Eisenhower. I know most of those buildings, but they look much nicer now than when I was there!

Siobhán said...

What a sweet little village/town! At the risk of totally embarrassing myself, I wouldn't have thought there would be many historical things in Michigan. I say that but then think and realize that my assumption is wrong. I guess I just don't associate it with a lot of historical things, so it was really neat to see the pics and read about the town. Love the antique sewing machine!

That AiWonderland is amazing!!

valerie said...

Great photos! I just love that Alice in Wonderland rug

WoolenSails said...

Wonderful place to visit to see a bit of history and art.
Love your new machine, great piece with those decorations.

Debbie

Sylvia said...

Love that Alice Rug, what a stunner. Your sewing machine is darling.

Me and My Stitches said...

It's good to know that you don't just get me to buy these little machines (Satan)! Love all of the pics - those rugs are wonderful.

Cari said...

Oh Deb...I love that Alice in Wonderland rug...it is a stunning piece of work. Love all the pics you took as well. That sewing machine is over the top DARLING. Good pick up my friend!! Hugs

samplerlover said...

Hi Deb, wonderful post. I love all your photos and it looks like a wonderful place to spend some time. I also love the Alice in Wonderland Rug along with the others. I also love your new toy. Looks like you are becoming a collector of them - Sandra.

Annie said...

What a fun outing! I love everything Alice and that rug is spectacular! And I have sewing machine envy now too!

mdgtjulie said...

Wow, what great photos. I love the one of the farmhouse. It looks modern, but quaint at the same time. Can't wait to see your stitching. The rugs are beautiful too!

Rugs and Pugs said...

Deb ~
Van Hoosen Farm looks like a fun place to visit! That Alice hooked rug is incredible!!! I can't even begin to imagine hooking with a 3 cut.
Your new sewing machine is very sweet!
That house you like...a saltbox is the house of my dreams. Maybe in my next life...sigh...
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Katherine said...

Oh, Wow, the sewing machine is gorgeous. Is it just decorative, or did it work at one time (maybe still?)

Alice said...

Fun post! I love the Alice rug, just amazing!

♥marylin♥ said...

c'est magnifique beautiful
bisous bisous

Nick said...

Those rugs and quilts are neat, I really like the Alice In Wonderland one as well! We also have a one room school house here and I remember going in 5th grade, dressing up and bringing brown sack lunches.

Lainey said...

Wonderful photos Deb thanks for sharing your day out with us. Beautiful rugs, especially Alice.
Pretty quilts and sewing machine too. Hope you get your modem fixed soon.

Loraine said...

For cute! I think you are so lucky to find such fabulous things. I have never seen a sewing machine quite so cute. Love it!
What a fun road trip too. Thanks for sharing all the beautiful rugs and quilts. I have been MIA this week, and I'm in the process of writing to you. I'll get it done later today.
Hugs to you! Hope you get a new modem soon.

Katrina said...

What a fun day!!! The Alice in Wonderland rug is fabulous, seriously gorgeous. Loved all the pics and the sewing machine is too cute :-).

Lois said...

Look at that lovely sewing machine! What a great find! Really enjoyed reading about your visit, the houses are lovely and I like that the owners have to keep them to a certain standard. The rug is wonderful!

Natalia said...

How interesting, Deb !! Thanks for sharing the pictures and your day with us.

Berit said...

Loved the tour!~

Especially that little sewing machine; it's gorgeous!

Also, I love all the details in the Alice rug--amazing!

Michelle said...

The sewing machine is so sweet. And OMG, that Alice rug - I want one!!!

Cathy Lloyd said...

Love the rug pics! Always fun to stop by Deb! And that sewing machine...ahem...DARLING! Jealous and envious!

woolwoman said...

OMG Deb - be still my heart - I LOVE that Alice rug - I wish you knew more about it - did you notice if they told who the designer of the rug was? I would love to get that canvas - it looks quite large - and the next one is a william morris canvas - I recognize that one - I loved touring this village with you and one of my BF's lived in Romeo for a long time and actually owned a cross stitch shop there for a number of years. Also might be interesting to note that Kid Rock grew up there - his father owned a car dealership. Love your darling sewing machine find. Hope you have a great weekend - Mel

Justflo said...

Fantastic rugs and quilts. What a variety of designs.

You must have had such a good time. Lucky you.

Kathy Ellen said...

What a fabulous trip! The wool rugs are beautiful, and I agree with you that the "Alice in Wonderland" one is absolutely beautiful. What a fun time you must have at the farm too, and then to find that incredible antique sewing machine...well, that must have been the topping off of a truly wonderful trip!

JOLENE said...

What a fun post Deb....even if it was a drive by. Love those AIW rugs, way cool! And the quilts are amazing, too.

I love the little sewing machine. I will have to go check out mine, I think it is the same one I have. I think we have similar tastes! Love antique shopping, way too fun!

Hope all is well with you and you're stitching up a storm, take care my friend. Smiles....

Jennifer Ann Fox said...

Looks fun! Great pics!

reinaknitsbythefire said...

What a lovely sewing machine~~a great find! Enjoy it. Do you have others in a collection? I have a singer that is almost 75 yrs old. Was my folks!

Have a great week end,
reina_knits
Las Vegas, Nevada USA

reinaknitsbythefire said...

Oh gee I just read further down and saw more sewing machines...great.
Nice to have a piece of history! So many different styles.
I have enjoyed seeing them.
reinaknits
Las Vegas,Nevada USA

Susan said...

It's April, 2014, and I wondered if there were any pictures on the web of the old Black and White Cow building at Stoney Creek. My husband and I used to walk around the block out there, in the early 70's. We lived in Rochester, and liked to walk out there. I always wished I could live there. I have a store in the country now, but I'm thinking of building something new.
Thanks for this picture. I still love this bldg.

Susan Johnson
Avalanche, Wi