Free Loom

November 6th, 2011

Several years ago a friend was moving and had an old loom in her attic that she did not want. She gave it to me and I set it up in my attic to see what it was and how much of it was there. From what I can tell it is the main frame and beater of an old PA Barn loom. Someone had begun to update it with new treadles etc but never finished.

Loom Structure. Closeup of Barn loom

PA Barn Loom-click image for larger view

I would like to find it a home, perhaps an historical society etc that could restore it and use it in demonstrations. All I ask is that you pick it up and take it away. It is on the third floor in Philadelphia, PA. I have no idea of its provenance and neither did my friend.
If interested, contact me at: beth@emmott.com

Working from home

November 4th, 2011

I have moved the office and my work out of our large studio and I love it. I’m good at setting schedules for my self and can get a lot of work done. I might miss people being around all the time but I do teach two days a week at Philadelphia University so quiet space to work in is great!
I have two rooms on the first floor with a separate entrance, big windows, and space for our office, my computers and drawing table etc. (Yes, I do use a drawing table.) There is even a working fireplace for chilly days. Below is a picture of one side of the first room—the office to the left and my spinning equipment in the back. What took me so long to figure this out?

working from home.

Pumpkin Drawings

October 19th, 2011

Downloaded Sketchbook Pro on my iPad and decided to make one pumpkin drawing a day for the month of October.
They are posted at Pumpkin Drawings
(click images for a larger view.)

Changes. . .

October 2nd, 2011

Making some changes on this site.
Have added a portfolio page, rewrote the about page and changed the name from “Gardens, my non digital world” to “Beth Emmott, image maker”.
Still some changes to come.
Check the changes out.

Jane’s Carousel

September 24th, 2011

My friend Jane, one of my garden gals, has been working on restoring a carousel for 20-30 years. She and her husband, David, gave it to the city of New York as well as a pavilion built for it in Brooklyn Bridge Park in Dumbo where they live and last Thursday it was dedicated with the inaugural ride!

It was a wonderful event, a bit rainy but that did not dampen anyone’s excitement. I’ve seen the ponies from time to time as they were being worked on and have ridden on the almost finished carousel in its temporary home but this was different.

Jane's Carousel lettering. Jane's Carousel.

Name in cement and in her new home!

Sitting joyously in its clear pavilion (designed by French Architect, Jean Nouvel), jutting out into the East River it is spectacular. From the stainless steel lettering laid in the concrete proclaiming that this is “Jane’s Carousel made in Philadelphia by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company” to the ribbon for the cutting ceremony every detail was complete. Guests were even given a special horseshoe as a souvenir! (Vincent Farelli would have loved this!)

Jane's Carousel Ribbon.

Ribbon for cutting ceremony!

If all this wasn’t enough, when night falls and the doors are closed, large concealed curtains descend from the edge of the ceiling and shadows of the rotating ponies are projected from within. Magic!

Jane's Carousel. Jane's Carousel.

Spectacular view and at night!

Some online links for this are:
Official Site
First Ride
At Night