Many new activities have been added to The Stickley Museum’s Annual Holiday Open House which takes place during the first two weekends in December.  This year’s event will take place between 11:00 and 4:00 on all four days and will offer something for all ages.  The log house will be decked out for the holidays as Stickley and his family would have decorated it.  Evergreen garlands will festoon the staircase and poinsettias, which Stickley described as “the Christmas Flaming Star,” will brighten the three fireplaces. A unique collection of holiday cards from the period will be on display.

On Saturdays during both weekends, “Mrs. Claus” will visit the Log House from 11:00 to 2:00 to talk about the 1899 origin of Mrs. Claus and other seasonal rituals of the period, such as the introduction of the tin cookie cutter and the lavish dessert buffet.  Children can also participate in activities based on holiday celebrations in the early 1900’s such as orange clove pomanders, paper chain garlands, tin stars, stringing popcorn, and of course sampling yummy holiday treats like freshly baked gingerbread or warm mulled cider.

On the first weekend of the Open House, the Museum will present a Holiday Trunk Show. This event features the work of skilled artisans from across the country and is designed to offer families an alternative to the frenzied shopping mall experience.  While parents check off names on their Christmas shopping list by buying beautiful, handmade items, their children can have fun in another part of the museum.

Throughout the Trunk Show weekend, furniture maker Stewart Crick will demonstrate the techniques he uses in creating his Arts and Crafts inspired furniture. The Arts and Crafts views and philosophies that spawned an opposition to mass-produced furniture, and advanced a return to the virtuous qualities of the independent craftsman, mirror Stu’s design perspective. Honest lines and simple curves, guided by natural forces, and patient attention to details make up his guiding philosophy.

On the second weekend of the Open House, The Museum will present holiday performances.  On Saturday, December 13, The Joyful Noise Handbell Choir from the First Presbyterian Church of Whippany will ring in the holiday season between 1:00 and 3:30. Also on Saturday, Homer Hanson will demonstrate the art of paper-cutting from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. On Sunday, December 14, the Community Theatre Performing Arts Company will sing holiday favorites at 1:00 & 2:00 p.m.

Watch this space in the next few weeks as we feature the artists involved in our Holiday Trunk Show!

The Holiday Season At Craftsman Farms is a post from The Stickley Museum At Craftsman Farms