Domestic Archaeology (part 6) another excavation and a shrine

So far, in this series, I've been cannibalizing drying racks and wooden clothes hangers for the frames. With this piece, I took apart an old wooden quilt frame, like these. Since the top sections were a good 2" thick, I had room to create a thicker piece - not just the illusion of depth, but actual depth!   

 Excavation Site #2    Size:    46”w x 21”h x 2”d”   So the thimbles and crochet hooks behind the heavily embellished top layer are actually sitting in tiny, 2" deep cubbies. This old thimble is resting in a tiny nook, along with a black button and some lace.

This one has part of a darning egg, buttons, pins and even a few bones. The lacey top layer protects and semi-hides them, but fingers can reach in to touch them. 

Another small cubby, with crochet hooks and a wooden pattern wheel.

This section is surrounded by strips from the same old army blanket as in the last excavation piece (on Wednesday). Parts of the heavily worked top layer were dyed brown and embedded with buttons and hooks.

And here's the back, with more of that lacey top layer, (all dyed brown on this side) and more of that army blanket :

I do love the deconstructed clothespin images. They read as clothespin fossils (I hope) as fragile, crumbling remains.

This section has an image of a very old kitchen cabinet (more in another post). Take a look at the next photo to see the original image.

This is the original.

Yes, the same sewing box seen in the last excavation.

It would be great to exhibit this piece on the complete quilt stand, so it could be turned to view both sides.

Next week, you'll see the last of my Domestic Archaeology series, and then I think we should take a look at that old house, where I found the kitchen cabinet. Field trip!