Columbus Neighborhoods
Local Crafts
Season 7 Episode 22 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
A visit with traditional craftsman in Central Ohio and some unconventional artisans.
Central Ohio is home to a thriving arts and crafts community. In this episode, we visit with traditional craftsman, along with some unconventional artisans. We'll explore the Chillicothe arts and crafts movement, the French-inspired bakery, Pistacia Vera in Columbus' German Village, the Clintonville Yarn Bomber and of 19th century needlework done by school girls.
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Columbus Neighborhoods is a local public television program presented by WOSU
Columbus Neighborhoods
Local Crafts
Season 7 Episode 22 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Central Ohio is home to a thriving arts and crafts community. In this episode, we visit with traditional craftsman, along with some unconventional artisans. We'll explore the Chillicothe arts and crafts movement, the French-inspired bakery, Pistacia Vera in Columbus' German Village, the Clintonville Yarn Bomber and of 19th century needlework done by school girls.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[ music ] >> WHEN IT COMES TO CREATIVITY AND INGENUITY, ONE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TOO FAR TO FIND A CRAFTSMAN OR WOMAN WHO'S MAKING SOMETHING TRULY UNIQUE.
MANY TIMES THE SKILLS ARE PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.
THAT'S THE CASE IN OUR FIRST STORY, WHERE A SON IS CARRYING ON HIS FATHER'S HAND PRESS PRINTING BUSINESS.
WE HEAD TO CHILLICOTHE FOR THAT STORY.
>> WE'RE JUST COMING IN TO DOWNTOWN CHILLICOTHE, THE SEAT OF ROSS COUNTY, A HISTORIC COMMUNITY SETTLED IN THE LATE 18th CENTURY, 1796, AND IT HAS SOME OF THE BEST ARCHITECTURE IN THE STATE, WOULDN'T YOU AGREE?
>> ABSOLUTELY, NOT JUST THE DOWNTAUN AREA, BUT RESIDENTIAL AREAS, A LOT OF 19th ARCHITECTURE YOU DON'T SEE.
>> WE'RE GOING UP THE BIG HILL ON THE SIDE OF CHILLICOTHE.
WE'RE GOING UP TO VISIT A PLACE CALLED MOUNTAIN HOUSE.
THIS IS THE FAMILY HOME.
LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING THIS VISIT.
>> HERE WE GO.
>> IT IS QUITE A HOUSE.
>> HEY, DAR.
>> HI, NANCY.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> WE ARE SO EXCITED TO GET THIS TOUR TODAY.
>> SHOULD WE TAKE A LOOK?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
COME ON IN.
>> I HAVE BEEN HERE ONCE OR TWICE, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS ANOTHER STORY TO TELL, ISN'T THERE?
>> RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY.
>> OH, MY GOSH, THIS IS WONDERFUL.
>> OH, YEAH, IT'S A GREAT OLD HOUSE.
>> OH, LOOK AT THIS.
>> YEAH, THIS WAS REALLY THE LAST ROOM THAT MY GRANDFATHER CREATED WHEN HE DID HIS RENOVATIONS IN 1920 AFTER PURCHASING THE HOUSE IN 1919.
>> THESE STAINED GLASS WIN DOSE LOOK LIKE PAPER MAKING.
>> THEY ARE.
THEY STUDY THE HISTORY OF PRINTING AND PAPER MAKING.
>> AND THESE WERE MADE BY YOUR GRANDFATHER.
>> MY GRANDFATHER MADE THESE BETWEEN 1925 AND 1930.
>> FOR THIS SPACE, FOR HIS LIBRARY.
>> HE WAS IN THE ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT.
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
HE DID MANY GRAPHIC DESIGNS, MADE ALL THE LEADED GLASS WINDOWS FOR THE ROYCROFT INN, MADE POTTERY AND JEWELRY.
BUT THERE WAS ONE COMPONENT MISSING FROM THAT WHICH THE ROYCROFTERS WERE DOING, AND THAT WAS HANDMADE PAPER.
THEY WERE PUBLISHING THE BOOKS MUCH THE WAY PEOPLE HAD BEEN DOING IN MEDIEVAL TIMES.
THEY HAD A MEDIEVAL LOOK.
THEY WERE IMPORTING PAPERS FROM EUROPE.
HE THOUGHT THAT WAS A TRAGEDY.
HE SPENT 1911 ON STUDYING THE HISTORY OF PAPER MAKING AS WELL AS COLLECTING ARTIFACTS AROUND THE WORLD ON HOW OTHER CULTURES MADE PAINER.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE PAST YOU WOULD'd YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
>> WE DO, IN STUDIO.
>> THAT'S WHERE ALL THE WORK GETS DONE.
>> OH, LOOK AT THIS SPACE.
>> THIS IS THE STUDIO THAT MY GRANDFATHER CREATED.
HE CHOSE THESE TWO WASHINGTON HAND PRESSES TO USE TO PRODUCE ALL OF HIS BOOKS.
REALLY THE SAME PRINCIPLE THAT GUTTENBERG WOULD HAVE HAD, IT COMES DOWN TO MAKE THE IMPRESSION.
>> AND WHEN YOU'RE PRINTING IT'S ONE AT A TIME.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, I PRODUCED TO LAST BOOK MY GRANDFATHER PRINTED.
ALL EIGHT BOOKS HE PRODUCED HERE WERE ON DIFFERENT ASPECT OF PAPER MAKING.
SO THIS WAS HIS MAGNUM OPUS.
>> WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LOOK.
>> A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE STUDY OF PAPERMAKING IN AMERICA.
THIS IS THE MOLD MY GRANDFATHER USED TO MAKE THE PAPER FOR THE BOOK.
THIS IS AN EARLY EUROPEAN MOLD WITH A REMOVEABLE DECKLE, WITH A LAID WIRE COVERING WITH THIS WATER MARK.
SO ANYWHERE WE HAVE THIS, WE TAKE WIRE, STITCH IT TO THE MOLD SURFACE, AND THAT WOULD CREATE LESS PULP IN THESE AREAS.
>> PULP IS THE GROUND UP RAGS AND WATER, AND IT'S A SLURRY -- >> WE DIP INTO THE VATS AND SHAKE IT IN ALL DIRECTIONS, SO THERE'S NO GRAIN DIRECTION IN HANDMADE PAPER.
>> WHAT A PROCESS.
>> ARE THESE WATER MARKS?
>> THESE ARE WATER MARKS MADE IN THE SAME MILL HE MADE THE PAPER IN THAT BOOK.
HE WAS TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THE SALES OF HANDMADE PAPER WHICH WAS DIFFICULT IN THE DEPRESSION SO HE WAS OFFERING CUSTOM WATER MARKS.
>> PAPER MAKING YOU STILL DO HERE.
AND YOU DO THE PRINTING AND MUST HAVE OTHER LINES OF BUSINESS AS WELL THAT BUILD ON THAT TRADITION?
>> WE DO.
WE STARTED DAR HUNTER STUDIOS WE WORK WITH A LOT OF ARTISTS AROUND THE COUNTRY WORKING IN THE SAME STYLES AS THE ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT, AND WE DO THAT IN OUR STUDIO DOWNTOWN.
>> WE'LL AND SEEING THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.
>> YOU WILL, YES.
[ music ] >> THANK YOU.
OH, WHAT A BUILDING.
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING.
TELL US ABOUT THE BUILDING FIRST.
>> WELL, THIS WAS BUILT ORIGINALLY AS A CANAL WAREHOUSE, SERVING THE OHIO RIVER CANAL.
THE CANAL CAME TO THE REAR OF THE BUILDING.
BOATS WOULD DOCK AT THE REAR AND THEY WOULD UNLOAD AND STORE THEIR DRY GOODS IN THE BUILDING.
FROM 1900 TO 1950, THE ELECTRIC COMPANY PURCHASE IT AND INSTALLED ALL THE CABINETRY THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING WHICH WORKED OUT PERFECTLY FOR OUR USE.
REALLY COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A BETTER BUILDING FOR US.
>> DAR, IT'S BEEN GREAT LISTENING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY.
>> IT'S BEEN A FASCINATING VISIT.
WE LOVE CHILLICOTHE.
THIS REALLY ADDED TO THE EXPERIENCE OF A GREAT HISTORIC CITY TO ACTUALLY GET THE STORY OF YOUR FAMILY AND THIS BEAUTIFUL ART.
>> DRILLING DOWN TO SOME OF THE LOCAL STORIES IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS.
>> I ALWAYS ENJOY TELLING THEM, SO THANK YOU.
>>> YOU PROBABLY HEARD THE OLD ADAGE THAT FOOD IS THE NECESSITY OF LIFE, RIGHT?
IN OUR NEXT STORY, I HAD THE CHANCE TO VISIT PISTACIA VERA, WHERE EACH DESSERT IS BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED FOR THE EYES AND THE STOMACH.
HERE'S THEIR STORY.
[ music ] >> IN COLUMBUS, PISTACIA VERA IS DEFINITELY A DESSERT DESTINATION.
FROM PASTRIES TO SPECIALTY CAKES TO THEIR SIGNATURE MACRONS, SIBLINGS SPENCER AND ANN FLETCHER STRIVE TO BRING ARTISTIC TECHNIQUE AND ENDEAVOR TOGETHER.
TODAY I'M SITTING DOWN WITH THEM IN THEIR PASTRY KITCHEN AND CAFE IN GERMAN VILLAGE TO FIND OUT HOW THEY DO IT.
I GOT TO ASK, ARE YOU BOTH BAKERS?
OR WHO'S THE BAKER?
>> SPENCER GETS THE CREDIT FOR THE TALENT BEHIND THE FOOD.
>> I'M THE BAKER IN THE TEAM, EVEN THOUGH HE BOTH GREW UP IN THE COLUMBUS AREA.
I SPENT 13 YEARS AWAY IN PHOENIX, IN NORTH SCOTTSDALE AND WENT TO A PASTRY APPRENTICESHIP AND HAD CHILDREN AND WANTED TO MOVE HOME.
>> RAISE OUR BABIES IN COLUMBUS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I REALLY THOUGHT THERE WAS A DEMAND FOR THIS TYPE OF DESSERT AND PASTRY.
LUCKILY MY SISTER AGREED TO BE MY BUSINESS PARTNER, AND THE REST IS HISTORY.
>> YOU'RE THE HEART OF THE BAKING BUSINESS, AND YOU'RE THE HEAD, THE MIND.
>> SURE.
I GET THAT CREDIT FOR IT.
I'M THE PEOPLE SIDE I GUESS, IN THE SENSE OF TAKING CARE OF -- WE HAVE A STAFF OF 43 NOW.
>> THERE'S A GOOD ENERGY HERE.
I FEEL LIKE YOUR STAFF ENJOYS WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND PUT IN A LOT OF WORK.
BUT IT STARTS WITH YOU ALL PUTTING WORK INTO IT FIRST AND IT COMES TO THE STAFF AS WELL.
>> I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE COME THROUGH THESE DOORS TO TREAT THEMSELVES, AND WE LIKE TO TREAT IT AS SUCH.
SO IT'S GREAT COMING TO WORK EVERY DAY AND BEING ABLE TO WORK JUST WITH A GREAT TEAM.
>> AWESOME.
NOW, SO, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BAKING STYLE?
>> I WOULD SAY OUR STYLE PAYS HOMAGE MORE THAN ANYTHING TO A CLASSIC FRENCH TECHNIQUE.
A LOT OF OUR RECIPES JUST HAVE A FEW INGREDIENTS, BUT THE METHODS AND TECHNIQUE BEHIND IT ARE A COUPLE PAGES LONG.
SO WE'RE REALLY ATTRACTED TO PASTRY THAT TAKES -- >> WOW.
CLEARLY YOUR PASSIONATE ABOUT PASTRY.
NOW, WHAT DID YOU DO, ANNE, TO BRING THE BUSINESS SIDE AROUND YOUR BROTHER'S PASSION FOR CREATING THESE AMAZING PASTRIES?
>> WE OPENED IN THE BACK ALLEY OF THE SHORT NORTH IN 2004, KIND OF THE FRONT END OF THE FOOD SCENE, KIND OF MADE IT UP AS WE GO ALONG A LITTLE BIT.
IN 2007 WE MADE THE DECISION TO MOVE TO GERMAN VILLAGE.
WE LOVE THE SHORE NORTH, BUT WE WERE A DAY BUSINESS, AND THERE WAS SOMETHING FROM A QUALITY OF LIFE FOR US OF A COMMITMENT TO STAY AS A CAFE, GET THE VIBE OF THE MORNING SCENE, AND KIND OF THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR AN AFTERNOON COFFEE.
PUT THOSE TWO PIECES TOGETHER OF GOOD, HISTORIC KIND OF VIBES WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS A QUIRKY, STRANGE BUILDING BUT WE'VE EMBRACED IT.
>> THIS BUILDING DEFINITELY HAS SOME INTERESTING ARCHITECTURE.
I'M SURE IT HAS AN INTERESTING HISTORY.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?
>> IT WAS ORIGINALLY A TWO-STORY HOME BACK IN THE '30s.
GEORGE REINER, THE CLASSIC GERMAN MAKERY STORY.
CAME TO AMERICA TO BUILD HIS BAKERY OF WINDOWS, AND IT OPERATED UNDER HIS FAMILY NAME, REINERS.
YOU'LL SEE THE INSIGNIA ON THE SIDE OF OUR BUILDING.
UNTIL THE '70s.
THEN THE PLANK FAMILY PURCHASED IT FROM THE REINER FAMILY.
THEY RENAMED IT STERNS, SO AS KIDS GROWING UP, WE WOULD EAT DONUTS AND EGG SALAD SANDWICH TEST COUNTER.
THEN THEY CLOSED THEIR FAMILY BUSINESS RIGHT AROUND THE TIME WE WERE MAKING THE DECISION TO MOVE BACK.
SO IT WAS INSPIRING TO GET THE BAKING VIBE BACK IN THESE BRICK WALLS AND COMPLETELY REHAB THE PLACE AND REALLY TRY TO RESTORE A LOT OF THAT ORIGINAL CHARM AND CHARACTER TO WHAT IT WAS.
>> YEAH, AND YOU'VE CLEARLY BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN GERMAN VILLAGE.
SO, LET ME ASK YOU THIS, BECAUSE AS AN ARTIST, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I CONSIDER YOU TO BE, AN ARTIST.
WHERE DO YOU GO FOR INSPIRATION?
>> WE CERTAINLY GO OUTSIDE COLUMBUS, CERTAINLY LOOK TO EUROPE, LOOK TO THE FRENCH MASTERS.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE DESIGN OF THE PASTRY, WE ARE INTENTIONALLY RESTRAINED IN THE WAY WE PRESENT OUR PASTRY.
>> THEN THERE'S A GENERAL SEASONALITY, TOO.
KIND OF THAT INSPIRATION OF, WHAT FEELS GOOD?
YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE'S WARMTH IN THE AIR.
>> NOW, CLEARLY FROM YOUR SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL HIGHLY VALUE.
HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE INTO THE WORK THAT YOU DO?
>> GERMAN VILLAGE IS AS COMMUNITY AS IT GETS SOME WE FIRST STARTED IN OUR HOME BASE.
THEN THE FUN PART IS WE'RE GOT SOMETHING PEOPLE LOVE TO EAT.
SO WE SUPPORT THINGS THAT WE PERSONALLY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT, BUT ALSO REALLY LOOK TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND LET THEM TAKE THE LEAD FOR THINGS.
SO IT'S A WIN-WIN.
IT'S A WAY TO GIVE BACK AND SAYING, THANKS FOR SUPPORTING OUR BUSINESS.
LET US HELP SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING IT.
IT'S CLEAR YOU ALL CARE ABOUT PASTRIES AND YOUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU'RE EXPERIENCING THE SUCCESS YOU'RE EXPERIENCING BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO CARE.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR THAT AND APPRECIATE YOU VERY SHARING THIS, BECAUSE I REALLY CARE ABOUT DIGGING INTO THESE PASTRIES A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> SHOULD WE BOX THEM UP FOR YOU?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
>>> IF YOU LIVE IN CLINTONVILLE OR DRIVE ANYWHERE NEAR IT, YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN VARIOUS WORKS OF YARN ART POP UP IN SOME UNCONVENTIONAL PLACES, AND NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE WHO'S BEHIND IT.
THE ONLY THING WE KNOW ABOUT THIS CLINTONVILLE YARN BOMBER?
WELL, THEY WORK UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS, THEY GET THE HELP OF FIFTH-GRADE STUDENTS IN LINDEN, AND THEY SURPRISE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN THEIR CREATIONS SUDDENLY APPEAR.
HERE'S THAT STORY.
[ music ] >> MY GRANDMOTHER, SHE WAS VERY SKILLED AT EMBROIDERY AND CROCHETING AND KNITTING, DABBLED IN SEWING.
SHE TOOK ME UNDER HER WING.
MY GRANDMOTHER ACTUALLY GREW UP HERE IN NORTH COLUMBUS.
SHE WAS A POLAR BEAR ALUM, FIERCELY LOYAL.
I STILL HAVE SOME OF THE MEMENTOS, INCLUDING HER CLASS OF 1926.
THIS IS MY GRANDMOTHER THERE.
HER PICTURE WHEN SHE WAS A 1920s FLAPPER DANCING HER WAY THROUGH NORTH COLUMBUS.
THIS IS MY GRANDMOTHER AS I REMEMBER HER.
THIS IS ME, AND IT WOULD BE A FEW YEARS AFTER THIS THAT WE HAD OUR FIRST CROCHET NEEDLE IN OUR HAND.
SHE MET A DASHING STUDENT AT OHIO STATE.
HE TOOK MY GRANDMOTHER BACK TO ORVILLE TO LIVE ON THE FARM, WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED.
AND THEN I WAS AT OSU, FOUND MYSELF RIGHT BACK IN HER STOMPING GROUNDS.
I PICKED UP THE NEEDLE AGAIN FOUR YEARS AGO.
I WAS A LITTLE RUSTY.
AND THEN I REMEMBERED THIS REALLY COOL FUNKY ACTIVITY CALLED YARN BOMBING AND I THOUGHT, THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
THOSE VERY FIRST BANDS I PUT UP ON HIGH STREET WERE SO SIMPLE.
REALLY IT WAS ME KIND OF GETTING BACK INTO LEARNING MY STITCHES AGAIN AND GETTING THE FEEL OF IT.
BUT I WOULD MAKE A BAND AT NIGHT, MAKE A CUP OF COFFEE, WALK UP TO HIGH STREET, STITCH IT ON EARLY IN THE MORNING.
EVERY TIME I DROVE BY IT WAS EXCLUSIVELY JUST FOR ME AND MY MENTAL HEALTH.
THE FOLKS WHO CAUGHT ME WERE THOSE DARN HEALTHY PEOPLE, THE RUNNERS.
I NEVER WORRIED ABOUT BEING SPOTTED SO MUCH IN THE EARLY, BECAUSE I WAS THINKING OF IT JUST FOR ME.
AS IT PROGRESSED, PARTICULARLY WHEN I STARTED SEEING IT GET NOTICED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, I THOUGHT, OKAY, WELL, I NEED TO KEEP THIS ON THE DOWN LOW A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I WANT TO STAY UNDERCOVER ON THIS.
WHEN WE MADE THE MOVE TO MORE OF A COMMISSIONED PIECE, EVERYTHING CHANGED.
DOING IT IN ONE SPOT ON HIGH STREET UNDER A STREET LIGHT, UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS WORKED FINE.
WHEN I FOUND MYSELF CREEPING AROUND PEOPLE'S DARK BACKYARDS AT NIGHT, THAT'S WHEN WE INVESTED IN A MINER'S LIGHT.
THE IDEAS FOR THE PIECES, EITHER THERE'S A MESSAGE THAT I WANT TO PLAY UPON -- THERE WAS A SITUATION THAT WAS VERY HUMOROUS IN CLINTONVILLE THAT DEALT WITH A KANGAROO SIGN, SO I MADE A KANGAROO.
OR I WILL SEE A STRUCTURE, AND I SEE IT AS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I SEE THE BIKE RACK AS A CATER PILLAR CRAWLING.
I DON'T GET TOO INVOLVED IN ACTIVISM, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME THAT HAVE SPOKE TO CLIMATE CHANGE OR PRIDE MONTH.
THE TIN SOLDIER MAYBE IS MY FAVORITE UNTIL THIS CHRISTMAS WHEN I ANTICIPATE A NEW FAVORITE.
>> WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AT FIRST IS LEARN THE BASIC STITCHES.
AND HONESTLY, ONCE YOU KNOW THESE STITCHES, THE WORLD IS OPEN TO YOU.
>> I SAW IN ITALY A CHRISTMAS TREE THAT HAD BEEN MADE OF INDIVIDUAL GRANNY SQUARES.
A GRANNY SQUARE IS A PROJECT IN CROCHET, ALMOST THE FIRST THING EVERYONE LEARNS HOW TO DO.
AND I THOUGHT, I WOULD LOVE IF WE COULD GATHER GRANNY SQUARES FROM ALL OF THE CROCHETERS IN CLINTONVILLE AND CREATE THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PUBLIC ART.
>> YOU DID GREAT!
YOU DID GREAT!
>> ON SOCIAL MEDIA, I HAD NOTICED PEOPLE COMMENTING ABOUT THE YARN BOMBS -- OH, IT MAKES ME WANT TO LEARN TO CROCHET.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY.
SO I PUT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WE WOULD HOLD A FREE WORKSHOP.
WE ACTUALLY HAD TO GO WITH TWO CLASSES BECAUSE THEY FILLED UP QUICKLY, AND IT WAS A DIVERSE CROWD.
AND WE HAD FOLKS WHO HAD NEVER HAD A CROCHET HOOK IN THEIR HAND, FOLKS THAT DID KNOW HOW TO CROCHET, BUT WANTED TO LEARN THE GRANNY SQUARE.
AND MANY WENT HOME AND CONTINUED TO MAKE ADDITIONAL SQUARES.
WE ENDED UP WITH SOME PEOPLE CONTRIBUTING UP TO 20 OR 30 SQUARES.
WE WANTED TO CERTAINLY HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED.
I KNEW FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE LEARNING TO CROCHET AS A CHILD HOW MUCH FUN IT WOULD BE.
FORTUNATELY WOSU CLASSROOM HAS THE RESOURCES TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS.
>> NOW GRAB IT AND BRING IT THROUGH.
>> THE WAY THE WHOLE S.T.E.A.M.
MOVEMENT HAS COME UP, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, WE'RE LEAVING OUT THE "A," ART.
IT IS A GOOD TIME TO SIT AND REFLECT AND TAKE LESSONS IN THE CLASSROOM AND APPLY THEM TO SOMETHING THAT SEEMS UNRELATED BY TIES THEM TOGETHER.
>> IT WAS HARD TO CROCHET, BECAUSE I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO MOST OF THE STUFF.
MRS. K STARTED TO TEACH ME, AND THEN IT WAS EASY AND I STARTED TO DO IT FASTER.
>> AT FIRST IT WAS TRICKY FOR ME.
THEN AFTER I DID IT FOR A COUPLE DAYS, I GOT THE HANG OF IT.
>> AT FIRST IT WAS JUST LIKE THIS LITTLE KNOT RIGHT HERE, BUT NOW IT'S ALMOST A GRANNY SQUARE.
>> I STARTED RIGHT HERE AT THE KNOT.
THERE SHOULD BE A KNOT RIGHT THERE.
AND THE HARDEST PART WAS GETTING IT THROUGH THE HOLES, BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS RECTANGLES, AND I WENT THROUGH.
>> I WAS IMPRESSED HOW EASY THEY GOT OVER THEIR FRUSTRATIONS.
YOU MESSED UP?
LET'S JUT PULL IT OUT, AND THAT WAS PRACTICE.
>> THERE IT IS, WHOO-HOO!
>> I'M GOING TO KEEP CROCHETING.
I'M GOING TEACH MY YOUNGER SIBLINGS.
>> I WANT TO KEEP MAKING BLANKETS FOR THE HOMELESS.
>> I HOPE THEY TAKE AWAY THE CONFIDENCE OF KNOWING THAT NO MATTER HOW HARD SOMETHING LOOKS, IF THEY KEEP TRYING THEY CAN DO IT.
>> IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN TODAY TO FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE, AND THROUGH MAKER SPACES AND THROUGH CREATING AND MAKING PROJECTS WHERE THEY CAN SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF THEMSELVES, I THINK, IS JUST A REALLY INSPIRING MOMENT.
>> I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF GRANNY SQUARES ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
I CAN'T WAIT AND SEE HOW SHE'S GOING TO MAKE IT -- IT ALL COMES TOGETHER.
>> HELLO, YARN BOMBERS.
>> HELLO YARN BOMBER.
>> WHO IS THE YARN BOMBER?
>> WHO IS THE YARN BOMBER?
>> WE HAVE BEEN MAKING GRANNY SQUARES FOR YOU.
>> WE HAVE BEEN MAKING GRANNY SQUARES FOR YOU.
>> WHERE IS THE CHRISTMAS TREE GOING TO BE?
>> WHERE IS THE CHRISTMAS TREE GOING TO BE?
[ music ] >> I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD JUST BE THRILLED.
FOR SOMETHING THAT STARTED OUT JUST FOR MY OWN PLEASURE, TO KNOW, TO HEAR, TO READ HOW MUCH IT MAKES OTHER PEOPLE SMILE, IT NOW HAS BECOME THE MOTIVATION.
[ music ] >>> IN THE 19th CENTURY, IT WAS THOUGHT THAT NEEDLEWORK WAS AN INDISPENSABLE SKILL FOR WOMEN, AND IT WAS A BIG PART OF THEIR EDUCATION.
OHIO HISTORY CONNECTION HAS PRESERVED A FEW OF THESE HISTORIC QUILTS, SO WE VISITED THEIR COLLECTION TO SEE THE INTRICATE CRAFTSMANSHIP FOR OURSELVES.
[ music ] [ music ] >> HI, HANNAH.
>> HEY, BRENT.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD.
NO PRESSURE, BUT I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE GOING THE KEEP US IN STITCHES TODAY.
>> YES, VERY MUCH SO TODAY.
>> WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?
>> WE HAVE SOME EMBROIDERY SAMPLERS FROM OUR PERMANENT COLLECTION.
>> WHAT ARE WE SAMPLING?
>> EMBROIDERY STITCHES.
THESE WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY YOUNG GIRLS IN THE 1700s, 1800s.
>> HOW OLD WERE THE GIRLS?
>> THEY COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 6 TO 16, AT LEAST FROM THE SAMPLES WE HAVE IN OUR COLLECTION.
>> 1934.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT MARY ANN EDMONDSON?
>> WE KNOW SHE WAS 10, BECAUSE SHE WAS BORN IN 1824, AND THIS IS 1834.
WE KNOW THIS WAS DONE IN DAYTON, OHIO A.
>> IS THIS SOMETHING THEY'RE LEARNING FROM MOM OR IS THERE A FORMAL EDUCATION?
>> IT DEPENDS.
SOME GIRLS MAY BE LEARNING FROM AN OLDER RELATIVE, BUT LOTS OF GIRLS ARE GOING TO BE TAKING FORMAL CLASSES, GOING TO A SCHOOL WHERE THIS IS PART OF THE CURRICULUM.
>> WHAT ARE THESE SCHOOLS LIKE?
>> WE KNOW IN THE CASE OF MARY ANN THAT THE SCHOOL WHERE SHE TOOK THIS CLASS SHE WAS BEING TRAINED IN PLAIN AND ORNAMENTAL SEWING, SO THEY HAD A FAIRLY RIGOROUS CURRICULUM.
>> DO I UNDERSTAND WHEN A SUITER CAME CALLING THIS WOULD SHOW OFF THEIR SKILLS?
>> YEAH, YOU CAN THINK OF THIS AS A RESUME.
OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO INTO A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE PROPOSAL, BUT THE GIRLS WOULD USE SAMPLERS TO SHOW OFF THEIR SKILLS.
IF THERE'S A BIBLE VERSE, IT WOULD SHOW THEIR VIRTUE.
ALL KINDS OF THINGS A SUITER MIGHT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THEM.
>> BEAUTIFUL.
YOU HAVE ANOTHER PIECE OF TWO YOU WANT TO SHOW US?
>> YES, I'LL BE PULLING A COUPLE MORE FROM A CASE DOWN HERE.
SO, WE HAVE A COUPLE IN HERE THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT.
>> YEAH, LES SEE WHAT YOU HAVE.
>> WE CAN START WITH THE ONE OVER HERE.
>> THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S THE OLDEST.
>> IT'S ONE AN OUR OLDER ONES.
YEAH.
SO THIS ONE IS FROM AROUND PROBABLY 1800, 1825 AT THE LATEST, AND THIS ONE WAS ACTUALLY NOT MADE IN OHIO.
THIS ONE WE BELIEVE WAS ACTUALLY MADE IN WALES.
>> AND HOW MUCH HAS THIS FADED OVER THE YEARS?
DO WE KNOW?
WOULD THIS HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE VIBRANT AND COLORFUL 200 YEARS AGO?
>> LIKE WOULD HAVE BEEN, YES.
TEXTILES ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO LIGHT DAMAGE.
IN THE CASE PROBABLY THE FABRIC IN THE BACK AND SOME OF THE COLORS OF THE THREADS MAY HAVE FADED.
THERE'S A LOT OF VARIATION DEPENDING ON THREAD AND COLOR.
>> WHAT'S THE NEXT ONE?
>> NEXT IS HERE IN THE CENTER, DONE BY A GIRL NAMED MARY S. WATERS IN 1822.
>> DID SHE LIVE IN OHIO?
>> SHE DID, AS A MARYLAND WOMAN.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY MADE WHEN SHE WAS IN PITTSBURGH.
SHE ATTENDED SEMINARY SCHOOL THERE THAT WAS JUST FOR WOMEN AND LEARNED WHO TO SEW THERE AND MADE THIS AS A STUDENT THERE IN 1822.
>> WHAT'S THE TERM, IS THIS EMBROIDERY, CROSS STITCH?
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE EMBROIDERY.
SOMETIMES THEY'RE USING A CROSS STITCH, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE USING A VARIETY.
TO THE NOT CROCHETING BUT IT IS EMBROIDERY AND SOMETIMES CROSS STITCH.
>> AND OF COURSE PEOPLE STILL DO THIS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE IN WHO WANT TO SEE THESE BECAUSE THEY DO SAMPLERS AND WANT TO SEE THE TECHNIQUES.
>> WERE THEY STARTING FROM A PATTERN LIKE PEOPLE DO TODAY?
>> MOST LIKELY.
WE HAVE EVIDENCE OF PENCIL MARKS WHERE THEY COULD HAVE BEEN DRAWING OUT THE PATTERN BEFOREHAND, AND IF THEY'RE RECEIVING FORMAL EDUCATION, THERE'S LIKELY A PATTERN.
>> THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THEM WITH US.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANKS FOR BEING WITH US, AND REMEMBER YOU CAN CATCH ALL OUR EPISODES ON COLUMBUSNEIGHBORHOODS.ORG.
PLUS SEE OUR STORIES ON THE WOSU MOBILE APP.
AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM.
WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK ON COLUMN COLUMN.
WEEK ON COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS.
!
!musiC@!
I DON'T WANT ME NO MORE RED APPLE JUICE !
!musiC@!
!
!musiC@!
I DON'T WANT ME NO HONEY, BABY, NOW !
!musiC@!
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!musiC@!
A DON'T WANT ME NO HONEY, BABY NOW !
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[ music ] !
!musiC@!
I DONE ALL I CAN DO, I SAID ALL I CAN SAY [ music ]
Video has Closed Captions
Preview: S7 Ep22 | 30s | A visit with traditional craftsman in Central Ohio and some unconventional artisans. (30s)
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