GOSCHENHOPPEN FOLK FESTIVAL!
The weather was herrlich for our trip to the Goshenhoppen Festival yesterday.
It is a long drive for us, but there is nothing like it any closer. This year we got to sample an old fashioned stew of potatoes, onions and wurst as well as homemade peach ice cream - - peaches, sugar, vanilla and heavy cream, oh my!
There were lots of Mennonite show towels embellished with drawn work, cross stitch and satin stitch and folks making them in the old ways. The towels were normally hung on two little nails on a door and never actually used as towels.
When we got there the teams were just being hitched. Draft horses are so impressive no matter what they are doing. There is even a threshing machine operated by a grey draft horse on a treadmill.
The highlight for us was being able to talk to Eleanor Bittle. We met her for the first time last year at the festival. She has been demonstrating on her tape looms at the festival since 1983. She had a marvelous loom with her yesterday dated 1816. It was clearly a labor of love by who ever made it. It would be hard to find more bells and whistles.
She was showing how her narrow linen tapes were made on her treadled floor tape loom.
It is a long drive for us, but there is nothing like it any closer. This year we got to sample an old fashioned stew of potatoes, onions and wurst as well as homemade peach ice cream - - peaches, sugar, vanilla and heavy cream, oh my!
There were lots of Mennonite show towels embellished with drawn work, cross stitch and satin stitch and folks making them in the old ways. The towels were normally hung on two little nails on a door and never actually used as towels.
When we got there the teams were just being hitched. Draft horses are so impressive no matter what they are doing. There is even a threshing machine operated by a grey draft horse on a treadmill.
The highlight for us was being able to talk to Eleanor Bittle. We met her for the first time last year at the festival. She has been demonstrating on her tape looms at the festival since 1983. She had a marvelous loom with her yesterday dated 1816. It was clearly a labor of love by who ever made it. It would be hard to find more bells and whistles.
She was showing how her narrow linen tapes were made on her treadled floor tape loom.
posted by finnsheep at 10:06 AM
4 Comments:
I'm so glad that you got to go!
And I'm so sad that I did not!
Lovely photos, and that peach ice cream description is making my mouth water!
I'm curious, where is Eleanor Bittle from? I knew someone with that same name when I was much younger. She made the best No Bake Cookies ever. I have not seen her in many years, and I was wondering if this is the same person. She lived in Frederick County MD.
Hello... I found your blog when I googled Antique Spinning Wheels. :-) I just purchased an antique wheel from a yard sale. Needs just a bit of TLC and I was looking for more information on the internet trying to find out more info on the wheel I purchased. I just made a quick read through your last few pages... I'll be back to read more.
Lana
I'd love to know how you would warp a two heddle tape loom with treadles and how would it work? I can't wrap my head around it. I've made one...and have warped it like you would a rigid heddle loom with two heddles but the shed isn't right because I have a top layer of warp that doesnt' get included. Is there any reference materials for these? Thank you for the lovely pictures!
My best,
Janet
Post a Comment
<< Home