Artisans and farmers protecting and preserving the heritage
of the American West pass on their knowledge and experience through
shopping experiences, instructional classes, and weekend festivals
hosting thousands to their charming village in Central Texas.
Candlemaking and other craft seminars, agricultural exhibits,
and music activities are on display each day at Homestead Craft
Village and featured at Homestead Heritage's 37th Annual
Homestead Fair, open from November 29
through Dec. 1, followed by two weekends of the Homestead
Holiday Market, December 7 and
14.
WACO,
Texas, Oct. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In the
Homestead Fiber Crafts shop, weavers, spinners, and knitters of all
ages carry on the age-old tradition of creating yarn, cloth,
clothes, and household items for home and family. Watching
Kay Toombs' hands move in graceful
rhythm with the wheel and loom, one might assume she has spent her
entire life as a fiber artist. The retired professor says her life
prepared her well to enter this vocation at age 72.
"I love teaching others, and helping them learn and master new
skills," said Kay. "One of my older students told me that she was
unsure of herself at first, but seeing me spin and weave, she
thought, 'If she can do it, ANYONE can!'"
Kay – also known as Dr. Kay
Toombs, Associate Professor Emeritus, Baylor University and S. Kay Toombs, the name found on the many
award-winning books and research works she's published – finds
great purpose in her work. Working in a reconstructed 1830's barn
surrounded by colorful yarns, fabrics, and finished goods, Kay sees
more than beautiful merchandise. Creating physical fabric also
creates the social fabric of the community.
"Handcrafted fabrics, especially those spun and woven
traditionally, are not just about aesthetics but durability and
sustainability," said Kay. "This approach echoes back to times when
garments were made to last, reflecting a culture of utility and
conservation."
Kay's life and academic career gave her a deep understanding of
the human condition. Born in England in 1943, she spent the first year of
her life sleeping in an air raid shelter and grew up in the
aftermath of war. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 29 years
old, she delivered her university lectures from a power chair and
now crafts fabrics using spinning wheels and looms adapted so they
can be operated using only her hands. At Homestead Heritage, she
found a community built on the principles she cherishes:
nonviolence, simplicity, and wholeness.
"There is true community here, and true peace," said Kay. "I
grew up in England and had a
career in academia, which both have rigid class structures. Here,
everyone works together, young and old, sharing their gifts with
one another."
Kay and other artisans invite guests to participate in classes
available year-round, Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Homestead Craft Village
located north of Waco, a few
minutes off the interstate or to make plans to visit the 37th
Annual Homestead Fair Nov. 29 –
Dec. 1, Dec.
6-7 and Dec. 13-14, 2024.
About Homestead Heritage
Homestead Heritage at Brazos de Dios is a Christian church in
Central Texas that embraces
traditional ways of work and worship. The church community, which
hosts more than 200,000 visitors per year, operates a 510-acre farm
on the Brazos River and includes the Homestead Craft Village and
Café Homestead.
Dozens of artisans, small business owners, and farmers work
daily to protect and preserve the heritage of the American West and
pass on their knowledge and experience through shopping
experiences, instructional classes, and weekend festivals hosting
thousands to their charming village in Central Texas.
Visit https://www.homesteadheritage.com/the-shops/ to learn
more, shop or plan your trip, and https://www.homesteadfair.com/
for information about Homestead Heritage's 37th Annual Homestead
Fair, open from November 29 through Dec.
1, followed by two weekends of the Homestead Holiday Market,
December 7 and 14.
Watch Kay at work at Homestead Fiber Crafts at Homestead
Heritage.
Visit these social channels to learn more about Homestead
Heritage. FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, X/TWITTER,
INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK
Media Contact:
Homestead Heritage
info@homesteadheritage.com
(254) 716-1013
Links: (main page of all socials)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homesteadheritagewaco
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HomesteadHeritageWaco
X/Twitter: https://x.com/HomesteadWacoTX
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homesteadheritage/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@homesteadheritage
Direct Link to video of Kay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiXE9t6upM8
Homestead Craft Village:
https://www.homesteadheritage.com/the-shops/
Homestead Fair: https://www.homesteadfair.com/
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SOURCE Homestead Heritage