Welcome to Century Farmhouse®!

Open the door and come on in!

Our little city of West Bend, Wisconsin is privileged to have some very creative citizens.  We are privileged to have some very conservation-minded citizens, and we have citizens who prize education and the arts. 

We have beautiful parks, a labyrinth garden, a rails-to-trails-and-parks walk graced with public art and sculptures that tell stories.  We are on the Ice Age Trail.  We have a beautiful regional art museum with a striking, brand-new building - almost ready to move into - and we have a nature conservancy with an education center set to open on Earth Day 2013. Of course, we have a lot more than that.... We have people who open doors.

This door, created by the Senior Citizens Activities, Inc., is titled Through the Years, and features a collection of photographs of Senior Center activities. It is a featured door at the Century Farmhouse Studio until the end of January.

 Art from Upcycled Doors:  Oooooohhhh!  The Lac Lawrann Challenge was to create a piece of art - functional or not - from a door, which then would be auctioned off to raise funds for the new education center at Lac Lawrann.  What to do??? What to do??? The response was amazing!  You can see all 40 of the door project entries  here. 

The Learning Center at Lac Lawrann will open its doors on Earth Day, 2013.  While regard for nature and science education have been cornerstones of Lac Lawrann's mission, most of the classes have involved outdoor activities. The Learning Center will provide a magnificent venue for appreciation of the natural world in an indoor environment and will reflect the beauty of the Lac Lawrann property itself. 

Do you recognize this cupboard? The Century Farmhouse team chose to decorate one of our portable counters in a manner that celebrates the beauty and tranquility of lavender. Right now the cupboard is part of the exhibition at the Museum of Wisconsin Art. After January 20, it will be on display elsewhere in the city - until the auction on February 2.  Look at the little doors above the cupboard.  Would you guess that they are common kitchen cabinet doors?  The piece at the far right of the photograph was created by the Washington County Historical Society and is a collage of historical photographs of area lakes and resorts from days gone by.  It is my favorite!

 The Museum of Wisconsin Art  will close the doors of its present building and open the doors of the exciting, new facility in April.  The new space is intriguing... a fascinating, triangular profile and glass walls characterize the exterior.  We'll have to wait until the doors are officially unbolted to see the inside... It is very fitting though, that this public art project of doors be the final exhibition as the doors are closed on January 20 at the Museum that has belonged to the community since 1961. I don't know about you, but I have a hard time waiting.... 

On Sunday, January 6, the Museum hosted an artists' reception and an opportunity to see the Lac Lawrann doors.  The gallery was humming with excitement and crowded with lots of interested community members and celebrated with yummy carrot cake!  Were you there?

  So, there is more to come!  Twenty doors are being shown in the Main Gallery of the Museum of Wisconsin Art until January 20.  See their hours here. 

It's a Party!

The rest of the pieces are being displayed at businesses around West Bend. You are

A sneak peek at the contents of that basket! Wouldn't you like to take it home? Click on the photo to see all the treasures inside!

invited to stop in to see them - and just so you know, the Diva shops are hosting an event to allow you to see many of the doors in one evening.  Join us for

A Door to Door Evening ...a Diva Group Event on Friday, January 25 from 5PM - 8PM.  Look for the luminaries (they are going to be so pretty!) and stop in to exclaim over the doors and shop a little too!  Later you can meet the artists at the party hosted by An Idle Hour or Two restaurant from 8PM - 11PM. 

      AODA of Washington County created this lovely painting called The Valley of Freedom.

 Open the Door Auction/Gala The fun continues, because the doors have be sold to raise those funds for the Lac Lawrann Learning Center.  So after you've seen the doors at the Museum and at the area businesses, join the excitement on February 2 at the West Bend Mutual Prairie Center.  Bid on a door, chat with the neighbors, and play a game or two! 

 

Zebra Sky & A Beautiful Day in the Park by Carly & Grace Mueller is at Century Farmhouse Studio. This folded-door project is quite delightful! Come on in and see it!

 

 

a year of all things beautiful

It was a magical and snowy evening that lured me into the woods and inspired me to keep a bit of it as a photo for posterity.  As you enjoy the magical spirit of this beautiful Season, allow your mind to wander a snowy landscape and dream of what the next year will bring to you.....

We thank you, all of you, for your kindnesses, great ideas, and wonderful support throughout the past year.  2012 kept us very occupied, and you played important roles in our successes.  Thank you!

We accomplished a lot in 2012: We fully began producing soaps in our Studio, and released several new soaps: Flower of Flowers, Sugar Moon, Witch Hazel & Mint, & Bluebonnets & Roses.  Erin Paasch of West Bend began creating shaving mugs and two-piece soap dishes for us, and you can find them in our Studio and with us when we are on the road.  You could find us in Austin, TX with Country Living Fair, and we returned to the Fairs in Columbus, OH and Atlanta, GA.  We had fun at home with Diva events and local farmers' markets and began selling soaps at Growing Power in Milwaukee as well as at the wedding shop, Mignonette Bridal in Chicago. Chicago saw us several times with events at The Chicago Botanic Garden and at One of a Kind at the Merchandise Mart.  Our very first hands-on soap making class was held in November - this was a very busy year!

We have lots of new ideas up our sleeves for 2013!  Watch for candles to match our soaps, fabrics, & more hands-on classes. We've been working on a pet soap or two, and we'll be upgrading our website to be even more beautiful. More to come....

A lovely, peace-filled 2013 to you,

- Ann Marie  & the CF team: Judy, Jo, Vicky, Susan, Lexie, & Mae                                                                                                                                                    

Southern Fried Breakfast

This morning's breakfast was all about an Andy Griffith time warp.

It's Atlanta and it's Country Living Fair and it's Matthew's Cafeteria for quintessential Southern food. "Eat fried," said Bessie at the hotel, when I asked her where the locals go for a real Southern-style meal. We were here in Atlanta two years ago and ate Lebonese, Greek, and French meals. It was time for a taste of the South.  We don't get that in Wisconsin.

So this morning we turned right on Main Street in Tucker, Georgia and headed for Matthew's.

Step through the door into the past. High ceilings with fans, grits, cafeteria steam tables, red-checked oilcloth table covers, grits, windows overlooking the street, grits, and decor that probably hasn't changed since 1955.  Did I mention grits? I love grits. So we picked up a tray and started down the line. Pie? Mmmm. Probably not for breakfast today. Bananas. Peppered fried potatoes. Five kinds of sausage. Ham. Old fashioned bacon. Eggs. Biscuits. Cheese biscuits. Grits. Sausage gravy.  Each spooned onto your plate in feed-the-family-sized servings by smiling and cheerful hostesses. Orange juice. Coffee. Oh my.

Then we chose a table near the window and next to the dresser that looked like it came from Grandma's house.  This was a table with a good view of the room and of the diner next to us who was packing heat. Really.

The grits were as creamy as grits can be.  The biscuits were light and fluffy, the potatoes pepper-spiced and savory.  We were happy because each bite had the downhome taste that brings people back day after day.  Across the room, strawberry shortcakes were being readied for the noontime crowd and If we didn't have to get to work at Stone Mountain, we'd be back for lunch for sure.

Are you hungry yet? 

 

Matthew's Cafeteria was featured on the Food Network: http://www.foodnetwork.com/local/ga-tucker/matthews-cafeteria-restaurant/index.html#/38.736171/-97.222306/4/