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Arts & Crafts Words to Live By

Every Monday on this blog we post insightful and pithy quotes from Elbert Hubbard. I am sure some touch your heart, some make you grin and some probably make you roll your eyes. But has there ever been one that inspires you? Helps you make it through your day?

One trend in decorating right now is placing words and sayings on your walls. One company Wall Words even has a wonderful arts & crafts font.

Can't you just image a great quote above your fireplace, or over your entry door?

 

The company wall words has many quotes to chose from or you can custom order your favorite saying.

Speaking of decorating...Did you know the Roycroft Copper Shop has authentic stencils that were common in arts and crafts homes? Did you know we have stunning pillows to add to your bed or sofa?  We will be glad to help you accessorize your home. Come see us.

Julie

The arts & crafts dog

It seems like a lot of my friends are getting dogs and puppies lately. (Not us. We are a cat family). Did you know that is was not uncommon for dogs and cats to be on the Roycroft Campus. I have seen an old photo of a cat at the back door of the Inn and I have seen an old photo of a guest holding a dog.

There is a breed of dog that is considered THE arts and crafts dog. It is the airedale.

 

This breed of dog was very popular from 1904 to 1922.

We know that Bert Hubbard (Elbert's son) always had Airedales. We know one of them was named "Red". I think a good name for an Airedale is "Hubbard". What do you think?

Julie

Another Incredible Arts & Crafts Destination

The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in Doylestown, PA is delightful. Founded in the early 1900‘s and built by Henry Chapman Mercer, a wealthy amateur archaeologist, this fantastical structure continues to produce tiles from Mercer’s original designs. The tour is self guided, which allows one to throughly explore the nooks and crannies and ask questions of the artisans while they work. 

Next door is Mercer’s exotic mansion of his own design consisting of a jumble of stacked rooms with contorted connecting staircases. The building is entirely constructed of concrete and decorated throughout with tiles from the factory. The tour feels like a trip through an Escher maze - up and down on narrow stairways to odd little rooms chock full of interesting artifacts. 

Mercer also collected tradesmen’s tools and created a museum to house all of these artifacts of “modern” man. That building is in downtown Doylestown. He was an eccentric fellow, no doubt. But his Arts & Crafts legacy is well worth the visit to this quaint town. 

Closer to home here in WNY, the Roycroft Copper Shop has tiles inspired by The Moravian Pottery & Tile Works which have been created by the contemporary RALA artisan firm Mission Guild. The artisans are in town for the Roycroft Summer Arts Festival this weekend June 27 & 28 so stop by to see their work and that of other artisans on Campus, daily 10am-5pm; 31 South Grove Street, East Aurora. 

- Sue

Arts & Crafts Movement, Women & the Arts

Recently online I found a museum in the U.K. with a wonderful one page synopsis of the A&C movement and I have excerpted two paragraphs that touch on the influence of women and the other arts on the movement. The Roycroft was an excellent example of an A&C community that recognized and capitalized on the contributions of women and the arts.  

“For the first time women took a leading role in a major art movement as designers, makers and consumers. Both the home and women's role in it were elevated bringing a subversive freshness to architecture and interior decoration. The Arts & Crafts Movement encouraged the involvement of amateurs and students as well as professionals through organisations  such as the Home Arts and Industries Association.”

“Music and drama played a significant part in the movement. Composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst shared the Arts & Crafts love of the countryside and folk traditions. As part of the movement, Arnold Dolmetch pioneered the revival of early English music while Cecil Sharp and others collected traditional folk songs and dances. Theatrical entertainments were an important social aspect of the movement involving both amateurs and professionals such as Bernard Shaw and John Masefield.”

 

 

This web site also lists other A&C sources and sites (both in the U.K. & abroad) and The Roycroft Campus is one of those listed. Unfortunately, they don't have the right phone number listed. I have tried emailing them the correct number. Perhaps with help from our readers, we can get them to fix this! The RCC phone # is 716-655-0261. A little activism can always help a good cause...

Feel free to share your discoveries of good A&C resources through the comments section of this blog.

 

- Sue