RED HOUSE OPEN WEEKDAYS STARTING MAY 19 AND WELCOMES AREA GUEST CRAFTERS IN MAY!

RED HOUSE OPEN WEEKDAYS STARTING MAY 19

RED HOUSE WELCOMES JACKSON ARTIST KELLEY HUGHES AND STUDENTS MAY 2, MARBLE HILL CRAFTER AND SPINNER BARB BAILEY ON MAY 9, AND AREA CRAFTER KARLA VANGILDER ON MAY 16!

The Cape Girardeau Red House Interpretive Center will offer expanded summer hours starting on May 19 and continuing until September 6. Summer hours will include: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 1-5pm. Saturdays will be open from 10a.m. -- 5p.m. The Red House will be closed on Mondays. The Red House will continue to be open from September 6 thru November 21 only on Saturdays.

In May the Red House invites the public to enjoy a variety of artists, crafters, musicians, storytellers and history buffs from around the area!

Jackson artist Kelley Hughes will bring her art students to the Red House on May 2 and will exhibit historic crafts! Kelley said, "The students of Deer Creek Christian Academy are completing a unit on historic pottery and crafts and will have pieces selected to display on the front porch of the Red House on May 2nd, 10 - 4. Our classroom discussion has revolved around the topics of form and function in art, and the importance of crafts in our personal lives. We have also been exploring the settlement of local towns and the history of our area. We would like to share some pottery made using the techniques of native people, as well as toys and objects that were made at the time our area was first settled." Kelley is the owner of The Open Window Studio, located in Jackson, Missouri.

Rose Mary Oxley will be at the Red House on the first and third Saturdays of every month in the 2009 season to offer free dulcimer lessons and to play dulcimer music on the porch of the Red House. Anyone interested in learning to play is invited to join Rose Mary at 10a.m. She will be able to order a book for each student for $8 and obtain a dulcimer if the student does not have one. For more information please call Rose Mary at 334-3689 or email her at strummingrose@charter.net.

Also on May 2 and on every first Saturday of each month during the 2009 season the Red House proudly welcomes Lucas Beine and his historical encampment. Lucas will have on display a tent, tools, tomahawks and other items which would be used in an encampment from the 1800's. Lucas will also be accompanied by Adam Koehler who will be crafting arrowheads. The public is invited to visit the Red House and learn about life in the 1800's.

Marble Hill crafter, soap maker and spinner Barb Bailey will be at the Red House on May 9 with her hand made goat milk soaps and she will be demonstrating how to spin wool. Barb and her husband Tony own a small farm near Marble Hill where they raise their own goats and produce many items from the goats' milk, such as yogurt and cheese. Barb's hand made soaps are being offered at area Farmers' Markets, craft fairs and from her website: "Patchwork Acres". The soap making process includes ingredients such as olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, avocado oil, palm oil, vegetable shortening, lard, clays, honey, pumice, oatmeal, even coffee and beer. There are both scented and unscented soaps. Bailey also spins wool on a handmade spinning wheel and knits socks and other items with the wool. She sews, knits and crochets. On May 9 she will be demonstrating the art of spinning wool on a handmade spinning wheel at the Red House.

On Saturday May 16 crafter Karla Vangilder will visit the Red House with her featured Primitive handcrafted items. Karla comments about her work, "I have loved sewing and making a variety of crafts since I was a young girl. When my parents asked what I wanted as a college graduation gift, I told them I wanted a sewing machine. I married and moved to Cape Girardeau in 1983. Soon after that, I learned how to do counted cross stitch and enjoyed counted cross stitch for many years. About seven or eight years ago I saw some small hand-stitched pillows. I knew it was a craft I wanted to try. I quickly became hooked and began selling on eBay, and eventually started participating in craft shows. I took my first quilting class several years ago, so I also quilt and sell small, primitive appliquéd quilts. I make a variety of primitive hand-stitched items including pillows, table runners, candle mats, towels and wall hangings. Each piece is hand-stitched on muslin and then tea-dyed and baked to add that primitive touch. On Saturday May 16 I will be bringing to the Red House: hand-stitched pillows, candle mats, and table runners. All are stitched on tea-dyed fabric. I will also bring a couple small quilts and/or quilted wall hangings. Special orders are always welcome."

On May 16 at 10a.m. Rose Mary Oxley will offer free dulcimer music lessons.

On Saturday May 23 Cape Girardeau Storyteller Dean Allison will have story hour at 1:30p.m.

Docents in period dress will always be welcoming visitors to the Interpretive Center and will be sharing stories of the Red House Interpretive Center, formerly the home of Cape Girardeau's founder, Louis Lorimier; the history of Cape Girardeau; and the visit of Lewis and Clark as they organized their expedition in 1803. Visitors to the Gift Shop may obtain, among other items, a copy of "Undaunted Courage" -- the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Also available in the Gift Shop are historical toys, maps, journals. Visitors will also enjoy the gardens surrounding the Red House. The 250' mural of the Mississippi River as it may have looked in 1803 was painted by area artist, Margaret Randol Dement. Visitors looking out of the windows from inside the Interpretive Center can see the river, an eagle soaring over the water, and the forests on the opposite side of the river -- truly a step back in history!

The public is invited to enjoy the Red House history this summer! For special tours please contact the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 573-335-1631.

The Red House is always seeking additional docents. If you are interested please call 573 334-6954 for more information, or come by the Red House and talk to a docent!

May Schedule at the Red House Interpretive Center at a glance:

Saturday May210a.m. -- 4p.m.

Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: history, building, gardens, 250' mural

Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps, and journals

Kelly Hughes "Open Window Studio" - Student art classes exhibit

Rose Mary Oxley dulcimer music and free dulcimer lessons 10a.m.

Lucas Beine Encampment

Adam Koehler arrowhead making

Saturday May 9 10a.m. -- 4p.m.

Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: history, building, gardens, 250' mural

Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps and journals

Barbara Bailey handmade soap making and spinning

Saturday May 1610a.m. -- 4p.m.

Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: history, building, gardens, 250' mural

Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps and journals

Karla Vangilder stitched pillows and crafts

Rose Mary Oxley dulcimer music and free dulcimer lessons 10a.m.

Tuesday May 191-5p.m.
Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: history, building, gardens, 250' mural
Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps and journals
Wednesday May 201-5p.m.
Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: history, building, gardens, 250' mural
Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps and journals
Thursday May 211-5p.m.
Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: history, building, gardens, 250' mural
Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps, and journals
Friday May 221-5p.m.
Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: history, building, gardens, 250' mural
Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps, and journals
Saturdays May 2310a.m. -- 5p.m.

Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: building, gardens, 250' mural

Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps, and journals

Storytelling with Dean Allison 1:30p.m.

Sunday May 241-5p.m.
Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: building, gardens, 250' mural
Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps, and journals
Monday May 25Closed on Mondays
Tuesday May 261-5p.m.
Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: building, gardens, 250' mural
Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps, and journals
Wednesday May 271-5p.m.
Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: building, gardens, 250' mural
Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps, and journals
Thursday May 281-5p.m.
Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: building, gardens, 250' mural
Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps, and journals
Friday May 291-5p.m.

Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: building, gardens, 250' mural

Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps, and journals
Saturday May 3010a.m. -- 5p.m.

Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: building, gardens, 250' mural

Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps, and journals

Sunday May 311-5p.m.
Tours of the Interpretive Center by docents in period dress: building, gardens, 250' mural
Gift Shop available featuring historic toys, books, maps, and journals

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