I ran across an event on Facebook last week called “Textile Arts Day” at Heritage Hill, a State Historical Park in Green Bay, and thought it would be a fun thing to do with the girls. The boys would have been welcome, too, but Junah had just returned from a week at camp (I saw him later that day and, wow, he still looked completely wiped out from a busy week) and I don’t think Davy would have had much patience. Plus, it’s been a long time since I had a girl date!
There were exhibits & demonstrations of weaving on a few types of looms, spinning, and embroidery, plus examples of knitting, crocheting, and sewing. Both girls had an opportunity to sit down at that adorable little loom and, between them, added a good few inches to the project.
We walked the whole park & stopped at every building on the property — church, blacksmith, print shop, lawyer’s office, hospital, kitchen, garden, barracks & residences, jail…
…and the Belgian house (and barn, at left, which had been relocated from the southern end of Door County & was charred on one end from the Peshtigo Fire). There were some adorable outbuildings, too.
I could have spent a little more time poking around in that house!
It’s a popular place for school field trips (Ginny’s already been), but it had been decades since I visited Heritage Hill!
The girls were each able to choose some fabric squares to eventually make into a quilt square. First, Nona will have to press & square up those blocks! Yikes, there wasn’t much care taken in cutting.
We went out for lunch after that, then to a thrift store, and the cookie shop for dessert… but that wasn’t enough!
I’d also read about the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass “Festival of Glass” which had been relocated to Appleton from Neenah because of the recent tornado & the ongoing recovery effort.
It was fun to see so many different types of art glass from all over (including an artist from Scotland), and the girls each chose beads to make a necklace. Too bad it couldn’t have been outdoors, as originally planned, because it was such a gorgeous day, but it was nice. We also sat down at the kid activity area & made some pinwheels.
It was nice to sit down! Wow, that was a day for me — almost 7,000 steps! I had some ice packs in a cooler in the car, and used those while we drove from place-to-place.
Needless to say, I took it pretty easy yesterday. It rained much of the day, but I went to the store with Kate so I could walk around a bit, because I knew I’d get a “restless leg” feeling as I tried to fall asleep last night if I didn’t.
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I can hardly get over how mature the girls are! You had quite a fun day, and I’m impressed by your 7,000 steps and ability to plan ahead with ice packs. (I see what you mean with the variability in cutting those squares. That sounds like the quickest way to frustrate beginners.)
That sounds like so much fun! And I’m glad you were able to navigate without pain, too.
Wow, all those steps on a new hip. You go girl! What a fun day with the girls. I’d also be squaring up those squares. They will have more fun sewing on them if they fit together reasonably well.
What a fun day out! I see a pair of weavers in the making! My kids loved a cardboard looms! A great “rainy day” activity… and the dolls were so appreciative of a new blanket or two! Ha! But go you with all those steps… that is fantastic! Your recovery has been phenomenal!!
What a fun day! I’d have loved this type of trip at any age. I’m also super impressed at how much walking you did (and that you planned ahead with the ice packs). You’re doing phenomenal at your surgery recovery!