July 2026 Gazette
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Dear Friends and Members of the Museum,
School’s out, surf’s up, and Del’s trucks are roving like a flock of migrating birds. It’s summer in South County! Here at SCM, our season is in full swing. If you’re looking for something to fill these long, sunny days, take a peek at what we have planned …
4th of July Chick Hatch
Please join us on Saturday, July 4th for our 4th of July Chick Hatch from 11-2! Deck yourself out in red, white, and blue to meet the newest and most adorable members of our heritage flock of Rhode Island Reds. We’ll have concessions, music, games, and, at 12:30, a reading of the Declaration of Independence. Come enjoy the county-fair atmosphere on the USA’s 250th birthday! $10 general admission, $5 for kids aged 3-12.
(Please note that admission to this major fundraiser for our farm is not included with membership. We thank you for your support!)
Wednesday Lecture Series
Our museum was founded in 1933 to preserve the tools and craftsmanship traditionally used “in the home, in the shop, on the farm, and on the sea.” We may never be able to represent every form of skilled craft or labor in historic South County, but on July 8, at 6:00, we’ll get a little closer! SCM curators will unveil two new permanent displays: one dedicated to shoemaking and cobbling, and
one to mending and laundry. Join us to enjoy the new displays, short talks, and Q&As with curators about the process of bringing objects out of storage and into public view.
On July 29 at 6:00, director Rebecca will present “Blooming Beauty: Flowers and Fashion in South County and Beyond.” Have you ever considered dressing as a rose or a yew tree? People in the past have! Come learn about floral textiles and fashion worn in New England from the 18th century to today. Explore the allure of the garden party, learn about notable floral fêtes, and decode the “language of flowers” so you'll be in the know the next time you give or receive a bouquet.
Lectures are $10 for the general public and free to members.
Saturday Craft Classes
On July 11, join us for a Community Quilting Class, free with admission. Our September quilt show is fast approaching, so help bring our community quilt closer to the finish line! All skill levels welcome; work independently to complete our final blocks, or learn the basics of cutting and piecing with help from museum staff.
On July 18, our Historical Hand Sewing series continues. Learn how to stitch up a simple gathered work bag using a pattern from the 1910s. Beginners will learn basic construction stitches; more advanced sewers can embroider their creation using period patterns. $25 for general public, $20 for members.
On August 1st, celebrate summer blooms with an Eco-Printing Class. You'll learn how to use the flowers blooming in your own backyard to create a gorgeous, naturally-dyed silk scarf. $30 for general public, $25 for members.
Submit Your Quilt!
Our 40th Annual Folk Art Quilt Show is just around the corner, and we need your works of textile art to fill our exhibit hall! Visit our website homepage to download and print a copy of the application. The Quilt Show will run from Friday September 11 to Sunday September 13. All styles and skill levels welcome. We can't wait to show off your creations and make our 40th Quilt Show our best and biggest yet!
Little House Thrift Shop
Have you had the chance to shop our Little House Thrift Shop? Swing by on Saturdays from 10:00 - 2:00 - no admission necessary! Browse a curated selection of vintage treasures, craft supplies, and high-quality garments and accessories. When you bring something home, you're not just supporting the museum. You're participating in a long tradition of reusing and repurposing possessions, passed down from the days when every object was precious. It's just one more way that “The Past is Present” here at SCM!
A Midsummer Week's Rest
Please note that the Museum will be closed the week of July 20th. We will reopen for our Wednesday evening lecture on July 29th, and our regular hours will resume Thursday, July 30.
Summer Reading at SCM
We’ll have more information about August lectures and classes soon, but we wanted to give you an early heads-up that our first-ever SCM Book Club will meet on Wednesday, September 2 at 6:00! In keeping with our theme of “Celebrating American Craft,” we’ve selected Glenn Adamson’s Craft: An American History to read and discuss together. From the publisher’s website:
“Examine any phase of the nation's struggle to define itself, and artisans are there–from the silversmith Paul Revere and the revolutionary carpenters and blacksmiths who hurled tea into
Boston Harbor, to today's ‘maker movement.’ From Mother Jones to Rosie the Riveter. From Betsy Ross to Rosa Parks. From suffrage banners to the AIDS Quilt. … As Adamson argues, these artisans' stories speak to our collective striving toward a more perfect union. From the beginning, America had to be–and still remains to be–crafted.”
Intrigued? Grab a copy from your local library or bookseller, and mark your calendar to join us in September for a lively discussion! Admission will be $10 for the general public and free to members.
Join the Museum! As a member, you’ll enjoy benefits like free admission and discounted class prices. Join our community of history lovers and artisans today and help keep time-honored traditions alive!
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