I made this duvet and pillowcase from three sheets that have been kicking around the family home for years. Mom said these were the first sheets her mom gave her when she got married. Circa 1960′s then. By the prints I’d say that’s right on. I couldn’t stand to get rid of them, I am sentimental that way. Also, my extra down comforter needed a home. Just in time for winter!
Last month my family gathered to South Jersey to dismantle the house my grandmother lived in. The house has been in my family for many generations, many people lived there. My cousin is currenly living there as my grandmother is living in a care facility. It is going on the market and was badly in need of purging the contents. Treasures abound and I saved this one (shot gun barrel and an antique pipe vise) for myself. For anyone who has sorted through and cleaned out an entire home, the process is daunting and emotional. Booby-traps of sentiment and land mines are rampant. This little lady sat on the back of my grandmothers toilet for as long as I remember. Researching her origins online I found her to hail from Japan. My grandmother called me a “mud gutter” blonde, which I see a resemblance in my new (old) keepsake too.
These are lamps I made from giant Hobart mixing attachments. One of my coworkers left one on my desk as a gift (they know me so well). I rushed back into the warehouse and bought all four, two dough hooks and two flat beeters. I parted with one of the dough hooks (rats!) and made the rest into lamps. All three are at my house presently lighting the way.
The top dish of the fire pit is made from a steel plow disk and was salvaged from a farm on Sauvie Island near Portland, Oregon. The plow disk is part of the impliment that carves rows in the soil. The round cast iron colum piece (top) and the bottom molding are both items reported to be remnants beloning to the Smith and Watson Building circa 1880′s. This building is featured in the “Grand Era of Cast-Iron Architecture in Portland” by William J. Hawkins, III.
I made three like this. One lives with the farmer that sold me the plow disks. Two live with co-workers.
The original Atomic Fire Pit (the first I ever made) is not pictured. As the name suggests, it’s not quite as demure as the others. I have plans to make more in the style of the Atomic Fire Pit. Stay tuned.
I don’t know where I would be in this world without my friends. I have the pleasure of running amuck and coming down with the most creative, thoughtful, generous, hilarious, and disturbing (in a good way) people from around the country. At the moment I thinking about my friend Fargo Holiday (no, that’s his real name, i swear) who set up GutterCherry.com for me. He is a remarkable human being that enriches my life. Thanks for this Fargo (and the Venture Brothers too), you are great!
P.S. I plan to keep the spelling mistakes, it wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t.