Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-11-09
THE ARTS AND CRAFTS
One Of Most Enjoyable Days in
History Of the WOman's Club
Great Variety Of Handlwork on ExhIbl-
ton at the Brooks House and Two In
terestlna Papers Read.

One of the most enjoyable and, from an
educational standpoint one of the most
valuable days in the history of the Wom-
ans club was the arts and crafts meet
ing Wednesday with the exhibition
and sale of arts and crafts wednesday
and Thursday.
The regular meeting of the club was
held in the Brooks House dining room
Wednesday at the usual time. A paper
on William Morris, written by Mrs. Wen
dell r. Stafford of Washington was read
by Mrs. Charles Thompson. William Nor
ris was the founder of the arts and crafts
movement Practically his whole life
was devoted to a crusade against cheap
imitation ostentatious, gaudy art and
conventional standards of life. His aim
was a philanthropic desire to make life
more interesting and inspiring to his
less gifted workers and his IN
fuence is and has been the dominat-
ing one in all the arts and crafts move
ments in this country.
paper on some experiments in arts
and crafts written by Mrs. John Tttcomb
of Washington was read by Mrs. Joan
BarroWs This paper was an account or
the successful arts and crafts societies
I'm this country Mention was made of
the work of Gustav Stickley, founder of
the United Crafts society in Syracuse.
The Craftsman, a magazine devoted en-
tirely to arts and crafts, is published by
him Mention was made OF the many
successful village Industries, chief of them
being Deerfield. The work of the Deer
field society Is too well known to need de-
tailed description In all these societies
the work has developed sense OF beauty
and taste and at the same time furnished
a means of earning comfortable lVell-
hood for the makers.
The exhibition of handiwork in the
Brooks House parlors was to many a
revelation of the artistic and beautitul
things that are being made here In New
England many of them In our own town.
This is the first exhibition of the KIND
ever held in Brattleboro and the great
number who attended expressed the great
est enjoyment and appreciation OF the
splendid specimens of work exhibited.
The Deerfield exhibits occupied one OF
the parlors and showed baskets, rugs
blue and white embroidery, bed spreads
blue and white coverlets knotted fringe
for curtains and spreads. One of the
greatest attractions in this room was the
photographs by the Misses Allen whose
work in this line is uneXcelled. Most OF
the Photographs were sold and orders
taken for many more The Montague eX-
hibit was much like the Deerfeld, includ-
ing besides the things mentioned In that
exhibit specimens of tatting and bay
berry candles. The woven rag rugs made
by the Mothers and Daughters industry
of Plainheld, N. H., and those made by
Mrs Woodbury. of Perkinsville, VI at
tracted much attention. The designs and
colorings were very beautiful. All the
rags used for these rugs are dyed with
vegetable dyes by the women who make
the rugs. Two wool rugs made by Mrs
Woodbury. copied from Indian blankets
attracted special attention.
The hooked-in rugs, well known as the
Abnakee rugs. from Mrs. Allbee of
Pequaket, n. H, are worthy 70 stand be-
side some of the most beautiful On
entail rugs. 1t is almost incredible that
such beautiful rugs are made in the same
old fashioned way that produced the I'M
attractive horses and gorgeous flowers
in times past.
The exhibit including the bead chains,
hand wrought jewelry and copper work
appealed especially to the feminine eye
and mind. Most of the chains We're the
work of Miss Sarah Knapp of Plymouth,
Mass, and Mrs. Phelps of Worcester.
The hand wrought jewelry was the work
of Miss Elizabeth Copeland of Boston and
Miss Butler of Beverly; also some beauti-
full copper work by the latter. A brooch
made by Miss Marion Hosmer OF Sum-
init, N. J., was also on exhibition. Many
of the things in this exhibit were sold.
The Mosher books represented some OF
the finest specimens of hand made books
in the country. These books are the re-
suit of the direct influence of William
those made by him. They represent per-
feet workmanship in every detail. The
handtooled books by Miss Mollie Chat
field of New York who formerly lived here
were extremely beautiful. Everything
about the binding is done by hand and
the cover designs are all original. Mis-!
Elizabeth Chatheld and Harry Chatfiel(
also help in this work. Miss Mary Scar;
of Boston also had on exhibition tive
hand fooled books. Miss Sears has {
school of book bindery in Boston and
the work which goes from there is re
cognized as the finest in the country
Miss Louise Powell of Springfield haC
some painted china for exhibition
which was greatly admired. Among othe
things were two plates made in imita
ton of Irish Beleek. These were mad
in the Trye studio in New York.
Although Brattleboro has no arts ant
crafts society. the exhibits from tow
showed that the work Of the women her
Is unsurpassed by any Of the out-of- tow
exhibitors. Mrs. Carl Hollender's rafhi
baskets were perfect in color design ant
treatment One basket which attracte'
considerable attention was her "greel
mountain" basket made in a series o
green shades. Most of the baskets wer
of Indian design. Mrs. Hollender's bas
kets have been on exhibition all over tn
country and have everywhere won III
highest praise
der the supervision of Miss Mary Cabo
had on exhibition samples of hand mad
linen and woven rugs. The fact tina
there is such an industry in Brattlebor
is not generally known perhaps, but tn
linen is well known outside. Orders ar
received from various places. One frT
of New York tailors uses one kind O
the linen for mems suits. There wa
also on exhibition piece of linen whic
Is used for oil painting and of which tn
industry is justly proud. In response t
a request from De Forest Brush. the we
known artist, asking that experiments b
made for perfecting a linen which coul
be used for oil painting. this linen ha
been the solution. Nothing of the kin
has ever before been made in the Unite
States which was suitable for this pur
pose and Mr.. Brush pronounces this a
absolutely perfect. Miss Cabot Is con
sidered as an authority on weaving an
has spoken before many clubs wishing I
astart the weaving industry. Deerfiel
sends here for much of the linen used 70
the blue and white embroidery. Mis-
Hatcher does practically all the weav
ing.
Miss Belle Guild had on exhibition tw
pieces of embroidery-one a specimen {
Biedemelr embroidery, a revival OF oil
German embroidery The other was o
unbleached linen made with T.ussah silk
They were exceptionally beautiful an
we'll done.
Mrs. Fred Morris had a case OF han
painted china showing the excellent wor
done by her. Among other things weI
lIu