…of rural Northwestern New Jersey is a treasure that I’m still not sure why more people don’t know about. Peters Valley Craft Center has been serving the art/craft community for more than 40 years, I remember visiting the newly established arts community back in the mid 1970’s while still in college. When the US government bought the town of Bevans for a damn project back in the 1960’s, this lovely historic sleepy town eventually became what is now known as Peters Valley after the damn project fell through. The buildings are old, and it is of course a struggle to keep them alive and healthy, but the setting is gorgeous, and the art/craft community thriving, and it is one of my favorite places in the world. I actually sat on the board of directors back in the early 90’s. The community is part of the National Park Service, which of course means little funding from the government for maintenance, but still, in spite of properties dating back to the 1800’s, and monsoon rains, and flooding, and road washouts and downed trees and all the weather related calamities of the last couple years in NJ, the Valley is strong and full of inspiration.
I just returned from teaching a five day garment construction intensive. What I love most about teaching here is the community feeling. There are multiple disciplines existing in the same complex, all dining together, talking, creating, feeding off one another. I instantly hit it off with Steve Tengelsen the wood instructor, and Lulu Smith, the metals instructor, and we had some pretty amazing conversations in the dining hall. (The food was fantastic!)
There were all sorts of wonderful events happening while we were at Peters Valley. The annual firing of the Anagama Kiln was underway, and if you’ve never seen or heard of this kind of kiln it will blow you away. It is a firewood fueled cave like kiln built into the side of the hill. It takes about a dozen cords of wood, and more than a week of round the clock firing to bring the temperature all the way up to 2500F degrees. Peters Valley was lucky enough to have one built more than 30 years ago and though I’ve seen it fired before, it never ceases to blow me completely away by the team work and knowledge to make this all happen.
In addition, the gallery opened their new exhibit, coincidentally a retrospective of more than 30 years of firing the Anagama Kiln at Peters Valley.
And of course, there was my class. I had of course a terrific bunch of women, five students plus the assistant who was thrilled to take the class as well. The space was just the right size, and brightly lit, and kept us reasonably dry during a couple of horrific days of rain.
There was lots of table space to cut out the jackets.
There was an old Singer Featherweight called into service, which chugged along like a trooper.
There were lots of hours at the sewing machines.
The jackets began to take shape.
There were two with handwoven fabric.
Linda S. was particularly proud of her matching job.
There were lots of hours at the ironing boards.
There were lots of happy sewers with some well fitting jackets. (Note, none of the handwork is done until after the class is over and students are not permitted to remove any of the tailor’s tacks until I’m safely back in NJ. :-))
The class photo from the studios at Thunder Mountain, a part of the Peters Valley complex.
And as I left, I snapped a photo of what I was told was Belladona Amaryllis, a bulb that I simply must get for our gardens.
Stay tuned…
Daryl, I’m getting the urge to sew again, and it’s all your fault! I haven’t done any sewing since my now 26 year old daughter was about 10 or 11, dresses and jumpers for her, skirts and blouses for myself, no tailoring at all. Perhaps after I gain some experience again, I might be able to sign up for a class in a year or two if/when you are in WI again. I’d love to try with handwoven fabric. Love your blog and reading your adventures!
MORE fun, as usual 🙂 and the Anagama Kiln is mind boggling! thanks, glad you had a good time and that Belladona plant is a beauty.
Janice, at least two of the students had little or no experience sewing garments. You don’t have to get good at sewing to take the class!
I’m amazed you can grow the Belladonna Amaryllis in your part of the Country. They don’t tolerate frost and like mild winters. I learn something new every day!
Had to do a little research…I think this is Lycoris squamigera, or Resurrection Lily (yes I looked that up) rather than Belladonna Amaryllis. We see the Resurrection Lily a lot in northern Ohio, so it’s definitely cold hardy.
I think I need to put Peters Valley on my list!
We just discovered that we have these at our new house. New to me – they’re called “Naked Ladies” in Kentucky (aka Surprise Lily, Magic Lily, Resurrection Lily, Lycoris Squamigera), because the foliage appears in the spring with no flower, then dies back. Suddenly the stalk and flowers appear – popping up out of the lawn. Paired with Queen Anne’s Lace, it makes a simple, striking bouquet.
That’s funny, we call them Surprise Lilies here in St. Lou. The greens come up in the Spring that feed the bulb, and then months later, the flowers pop up surprising everyone. It is almost like having two different plants.
I’ve heard them called all of the above. They are lovely to see springing up from nothing in August. However, a word of warning: be judicious in your plantings. They don’t travel across the yard to another bed, but they multiply like rabbits where they’re planted. I usually end up digging up a bunch in spring and giving them away. I’d definitely go do a drive around your neighborhoods and see if anyone has them. Maybe you could get some for free!