VICTORIAN HOUSE TOUR and CRAFT SHOW
255 Mill St. - Scandinavia, Wisconsin 54977
Halloween Weekend – Saturday Oct 28 and Sunday 29 – 10:00a to 5:00p
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HOUSE TOUR
Tour the Wrolstad-Quien Victorian at 255 Mill Street in Scandinavia, Wisconsin Halloween weekend. We are asking for a modest donation of $2 per person--all going to The Humane Society of Waupaca County.
CRAFT SHOW on the first floor.
Everything handcrafted and home-grown!
Quilts
Loomed Rugs
Candies
Vintage and Antique Sewing Machines
Sterling Silver and Gem Stone Jewelry
Holiday Wreaths and Table Decorations
Handcrafted goat milk products: soaps, lotions, salves, and lip balms
Home Grown Canned Goodies: salsa, jams, jellies, pickles, pickled beets and onions.
Indian corn and popcorn too!
LUNCH
Enjoy chili and dessert by Scandinavia Library in the Red Garage on the property.
PLENTY OF PARKING
IN REAR OF PROPERTY, BEHIND THE RED GARAGE.
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Our Queen Anne Style Victorian was built in 1893 by John and Mathea Wrolstad--owners of a successful logging business.
Back row, left to right standing: sons and daughter Alfred, Sina, and James. Second row, seated: son Martin, parents John Olsen and wife Mathea, and son John. Littlest ones: Henry, Mabel, and Josephine.
I believe this photo of our house was taken about 1905
The girl second from the left is Mabel Wrolstad youngest daughter of John Olsen Wrolstad and his wife Mathea.
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The second owners, Thomas and Maren Quien family owned the house for 90 years.
Standing, left to right: Bessie, Gusta, Peter, Ragnhild,
with parents: Thomas and Maren (Gurholt) Quien.
photo c. 1910 - Second Owners
Thomas Quien with grand-daughters Mary Jane and Donna (children of Ruth and Peter Quien)
photo taken about 1926
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Jon and I purchased the house in 2007 beginning a 8 year restoration. We are delighted to show you all the ornate features of the house; faux bois woodwork, pocket doors, fret work (spandrels), 5-window bay, corbels, 3-window cut-aways, wrap around porch, summer kitchen, Juliet balcony, stained glass window, etched glass doors, wavy-glass windows, spoon carved woodwork, 1917 cook stove, 1916 parlor stove, and original hardware. Be sure to see turn-of-century display of photographs belonging to the Quien family.
Kitchen - March 2008
Black panty hutch built in 1893 by original owners has pass-through doors and drawers into the dining room. Check it out during your house tour!
Before: North Bedroom Upstairs
We drilled holes (right and left side) of the windows--to blow-in insulation.
After: North Bedroom Upstairs
Let me tell you a little bit more about our CRAFT SHOW ARTISTS— and more about our Victorian house restoration.
1. Jerry Johnson of Iola is a master rug weaver for more than 35 years. At the Halloween Victorian Tour and Craft Show Jerry will demonstrate the frugal Scandinavian method of turning old clothing into beautiful woven rugs for the home. Also--Jerry will demonstrate many antique and vintage sewing machines he restored.
Jerry sewing fabric strips using his 1932 Singer Hand Crank sewing machine, model 99
(newspaper photo by Stevens Point Journal, Art in the Park event)
Rugs for Sale at the Craft Show
Jerry's rugs--close up . . .
Attention to Details: look at the colors Jerry mixes from a variety fabrics to make each rug unique
He uses pops of colors to cleverly transform a bittersweet chocolate rug.
Dazzling Gray Rug with all the Trimmings
Blueberry color fabrics suddenly become an Indian Corn Rug with sparks of autumn colors.
As as a teenager Jerry was already helping his Mother and Aunt sort old clothing by weight, texture, and color in preparation for rug weaving. Jerry says, “cotton and wool make great rugs, but the real artistry of combining fabrics to create pattern, color, and texture—it all begins with my 1932 Singer hand crank sewing machine Model 99 . . . made of good old cast iron, and no plastic.”
Jerry studied with master weavers: Ken Colwell of Mineral Point, Joanna Ericksen of Boston, and Peter Collingwood of England. Jerry says he loves to weave rugs, because it keeps a connection to the past alive. He says, “people relate to the art of rug weaving—many people share stories of family members who made rag rugs, and that makes me smile.”
1910 Singer 3/4 size Mdl 128 - hand crank restored
Early 1950s Nelco with a pedigree
This is one of the 1st machines Nick Tacony founder of Babylock distributed under his early company Western Distributing, St. Louis MO (decades before he became the Babylock brand, Tacony Corporation).
Be sure to look over the selection of vintage and antique sewing machines, restored and offered for sale at the Victorian House Tour and Craft Show.
2. Jane Berkholtz and daughter Krissy Samson have good news to share about their business "Just Hangin' aRound" and will show you some wonderful ways to decorate your home during the Fall and Winter with beautiful holiday wreaths, and table centerpieces.
Born and raised in New London, Jane moved to the Shawano area in 2010. She's been doing arrangements and wedding flowers for more than 20 years now Jane tells me, her husband Keith helps with all the wood cutting and new display ideas, while her daughter Krissy Samson created the business logo and facebook page Just Hangin' aRound." Jane and Krissy look forward to meeting you at the Halloween Weekend Victorian House Tour. Come browse their collection of wreaths and table centerpieces--and see how they've decorated our old Victorian House.
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Red Dining Room at the Victorian House Tour and Craft Show
3. Patti Kirchner - "Nature's Treasures--All Things Beautiful from The Earth and Sea"
Patti is a designer of fine sterling silver jewelry. The materials she uses are natural items: Gemstones, Pearls, Shells, Polished Stones, Sea Urchin Spines, Seeds from Hawaii, Mother of Pearl, and even Wood Beads. Patty's expertise includes sterling silver wire-wrapping and hand-set stones to make each jewelry piece perfect and truly yours alone.
I am pleased Patti joins us again for this year's Halloween Weekend Victorian House Tour and Craft Show where you can see, touch, and enjoy her handcrafted Earrings, Necklaces, Bracelets and Rings.
She'll show you silver plated Scent Necklaces with sterling chains--you can wear your favorite scent on the puffball inside, or carry your favorite gem, pearl, or trinket. Chat with Patti about her beautiful stone pencil pendants. Great gift ideas for the holidays!
4. Sandy Konto of Garmon's Farm Market will greet you with a variety of eatable delights!
You may recognize the name Garmon's Farm Market who has been growing produce for the Waupaca area since 2000. Lots of tasty things: sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, summer and winter squash, potatoes, onions and more. Garmon's Farm Market has been operating daily on the corner of Main St. and Fulton 9a to 5p for the last 17 years.
At our Victorian House Tour and Craft Show you can visit with Sandy and buy a variety of fresh and canned good eats, like Mike's Famous Garden Fresh Salsa (his secret recipe for 25 years). If you haven't tried it--you really should--its fantastic. There are 11 different jams and jellies, along with picked beets, onions, and pickles. Indian corn and popcorn too! Yummy.
West Bedroom Upstairs 16 x 16'
This is typical of what we found after removing wallpaper in each room in the Victorian. We chased every single hairline crack with web tape and Durabond. Sanded smooth, and troweled two coat of drywall compound, and sanded again. New sheets of drywall for every ceiling in every room.
Next Step: West Bedroom Upstairs 16 x 16'
Ah, starting to look better? The bedroom room ready to prime paint with Zinzer 1-2-3, and finally two coats of "Mossy" eggshell by Valspar.
Room finished in 2008. Several years later I re-painted all the upstairs floors a Dark Expresso Brown and Jon added Crown Molding to each room.
Arched spandrel, east window bay, Living Room
(June 2007 - blowing insulation into walls, installing new ceiling)
Linda touching up faux bois finish on woodwork with artist brush and oil paints.
Living Room - Fall of 2007
Fall of 2007
Repairing Downstairs Bedroom (formerly the Parlor)
Downstairs Bedroom Finished
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5. Selene and Fatima Saeed - will be here at this year's Victorian House Tour and Craft Show. Their farm Glacial Acres is located in the northwest corner of Waupaca surrounded by ancient glacial formations. They raise a small herd of goats, a small flock of sheep, along with chickens, ducks, turkeys, and guineas.
Selene hand spins locally grown wool, and enjoys weaving, knitting, and crocheting. She delights in making colorful vintage-inspired embroidery on kitchen towels. Never a dull moment on their little homestead!
Each batch of goat milk soaps, lotions, salves, lip balms, and deodorants are hand-crafted using vegetable oils, pure essential oils and other natural ingredients including wild-harvested medicinals on their property.
Special Note From Victorian homeowner Linda:
I am using Selene's soothing eucalyptus and tea tree oil soap every day. I was suffering from heat rash this summer, and her fragrant antibacterial soap rescued my tender skin.
And most important, I want to tell you about Selene's gentle but effective Natural Insect Repellant repellent made of witch hazel, citronella, lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, bergamot and lemon grass essential oils. Now I am protected and smell good too!
Long Hallway Upstairs - 2011
Process of Saving the Walls throughout the House
Homeowner Jon re-installing picture rail (found in the attic storage)
Repairing walls - Long Hallway Upstairs - started in 2011. Finished in 2013.
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Wall Repair - Stairwell 2013
Jon working on bathroom
What restoration really looks like.
This small bedroom upstairs homeowners Jon and Linda transformed into a first class bathroom.
Installing 3/4" beadboard
Kohler Clawfoot Tub
born May 12, 1903, Plant Line #2 Kohler, WI, about 11:30 in the morning
according to tub serial number and Kohler mfgr. records |
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7. Linda Durrant - long arm quilter, Scandinavia WI. My husband and I are the restorers of this old Victorian. I will be displaying and selling my queen size bed quilts, baby quilts, table runners, over-sized fancy quilted potholders and dozens of my signature beaded zipper pull purses.
Long Arm Quilting of "Stars 'n Scraps" queen size quilt in Linda's studio (Victorian homeowner)
Long Arm Quilting "Navy Blue" queen size quilt. Linda experiments using freezer paper cutouts.
Quilting around the freezer paper leaf template.
