It is spring...maybe a bit breezy now and then...and chilly some days still...but hanging laundry on the line is a sure sign that the days are getting longer, and warmer weather is on the way.














Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a video of Philip Howard telling the story of the 1861 wreck of the Black Squall. You can watch it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032113.htm.

That is how much it cost the US government to build the Ocracoke lighthouse (and the keeper's quarters, and the whale oil storage shed) in 1823.













Today the Ocracoke Light, which can be seen 14 miles offshore, still guides mariners.


















Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a video of Philip Howard telling the story of the 1861 wreck of the Black Squall. You can watch it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032113.htm.

For more than 40 years Village Craftsmen has featured only American made handcrafts...the work of local, regional, and national woodworkers, potters, jewelers, glass blowers, and much more.

Pottery by Hank Goodman













 Our springtime hours are 10-5, Tuesday - Saturday, 10-2, Sunday (closed on Monday). Take a leisurely stroll down Howard Street when you are on the island, and stop by to see what new items we've added for 2013.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a video of Philip Howard telling the story of the 1861 wreck of the Black Squall. You can watch it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032113.htm.

...bug's ear.

This is a common expression in the South. But why would anyone think a bug's ear is cute? Most "bugs" don't even have ears. However their ability to detect high-pitched sounds is "acute." In eighteenth century England "cute" was often used as a synonym for "acute"...and frequently acquired the expanded meaning of "quick witted" or "mentally sharp." By the mid to late nineteenth century in the United States cute came to mean pretty or charming, rather than acute.

So..."bug's ears" might be "acute" but they're hardly cute.

Maybe "cute as a baby's ear" would be a better phrase. Here is a photo of an Ocracoke Baby's Ear (Sinum perspectivum) that I found on the beach a few days ago.

Baby's Ear Seashell













 Whether you're talking about a baby's ear or a Baby's Ear, they're both cute!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a video of Philip Howard telling the story of the 1861 wreck of the Black Squall. You can watch it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032113.htm.

A number of week ago I promised that I would publish some information about the wreck of the 6-masted schooner, George W. Wells, on Ocracoke's beach in 1913. Some of our readers have seen parts of a wreck just north of the Pony Pen. Many believe these timbers are the remains of the Wells.

The George W. Wells














To read the story of this majestic ship click on this link: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news072110.htm.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a video of Philip Howard telling the story of the 1861 wreck of the Black Squall. You can watch it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032113.htm.

Every morning I sit at my desk for a few minutes, and look across my front yard. This is my view...a sandy lane bordered by cedars and pines, and a picket fence.


















It is a tranquil way to start my day.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a video of Philip Howard telling the story of the 1861 wreck of the Black Squall. You can watch it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032113.htm.

"After incredible labor we succeeded, at length, in getting the long-boat over the side without material accident, and into this we crowded the whole of the crew and most of the passengers. This party made off immediately, and, after undergoing much suffering, finally arrived, in safety, at Ocracoke Inlet, on the third day after the wreck."

"The Oblong Box" by E.A. Poe














The above passage is from "The Oblong Box," a short story by Edgar Allan Poe which was published in 1844. I am sure your local library can get you a copy of this story.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a video of Philip Howard telling the story of the 1861 wreck of the Black Squall. You can watch it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032113.htm.

Several days ago I published an incorrect web address for our latest Ocracoke Newsletter. The correct address is http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032113.htm.

One of the many benefits of living on Ocracoke Island is the opportunity for water-related adventures. Last Saturday Capt. Rob invited me to join him and Bill on a four day cruise aboard his schooner, Windfall II.














We left the dock in Silver Lake Harbor Sunday morning and sailed across the Sound. We arrived at North Creek before nightfall, and anchored in a protected cove. The next morning we sailed to Washington, NC where we visited good friends Frank & Patty. They treated us like dignitaries, with cocktails, a scrumptious dinner of ribs and Cole slaw...and hot showers.

Early the next day we made our way to Juniper Bay, a quiet, secluded body of water near Swan Quarter. The sunset was spectacular.














We were back home on Ocracoke in the early afternoon yesterday, after a pleasant sail across Pamlico Sound. For four days we had fair winds, moderate seas, and good weather. We even spotted a pod of dolphins when we got close to home, but I couldn't capture them with my camera.














Island living suits me just fine.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a video of Philip Howard telling the story of the 1861 wreck of the Black Squall. You can watch it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032113.htm.

Today is the Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring. Today, day and night are of equal length (Equinox = equal night). This phenomenon is the result of the tilt of the earth's axis (in the southern hemisphere today is the first day of autumn).

Ocracoke life often revolves around the seasons. For the last few days island businesses have been getting ready for another influx of visitors. Village Craftsmen opened for 2013 on Saturday. We have added a number of new items, and as always, everything is hand made in the United States. Stop in to see what's new whenever you are next walking down Howard Street. We would love to see you and we're sure you will enjoy your stroll down our sandy lane.

Happy Spring to all of our readers!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a video of Philip Howard telling the story of the fascinating wreck of the Black Squall in 1861. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032113.htm.

Quilting has a long tradition on Ocracoke. The Needle and Thread Club continues to meet on the island, often making quilts to raise funds for local non-profit organizations.

My Aunt Tressie Quilting in Her Home, ca. 1955










One of the most popular quilts on the island was (and still is) the Ocracoke Cracker Quilt. The Ocracoke Cracker Quilt is a variation of a traditional design -- three rectangles forming a square, surrounded by four triangles. By proper use of color the traditional (non-Ocracoke) pattern stands out, as you can see in the photo below:

Cracker Quilt Pattern









You can see another image of a traditional Cracker Quilt here:
http://quilting.about.com/od/quiltblocklotto/ss/cracker_block.htm.

Some have speculated that the name, Cracker Quilt, was adopted because the pattern resembled the popular British "Christmas Cracker," a cardboard tube wrapped in festive paper and containing a small prize. When pulled in opposite directions by two people, usually at the Christmas dinner table, the tube split open with a snap, or "crack."




























 Ocracokers, in their typically unconventional manner, adapted the Cracker Quilt in several ways. Instead of three rectangles, they used four, all of different colors. According to island tradition, one rectangle is always red. Also, the four triangles are often the same color. As a result, the design no longer looks like a Christmas Cracker, though the name persists.

The pattern is unique -- the Ocracoke Island Cracker Quilt:

Ocracoke Cracker Quilt by Amy Howard

















Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a seven minute video of Philip Howard relating the story of the April, 1861 wreck of the Black Squall on Ocracoke Island. You can listen to it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032113.htm. 

This month our Ocracoke Newsletter is a video. In February island resident and professional videographer, John Rogers, made a seven minute recording of me telling the story of the 1861 wreck of the two-masted sailing vessel Black Squall. The ship was sailing from Cuba to New York City with an exotic cargo when it was driven ashore on Ocracoke Island by gale force winds. To listen to this fascinating story click here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032113.htm. I hope you enjoy this piece of Ocracoke Island history.

Live oaks are considered by many to be the most impressive trees on Ocracoke Island. At least six of these majestic trees qualify for membership in the Live Oak Society. Three reside on Howard Street, two at Springer's Point, and one at Old Hammock.

Mary Ruth Live Oak on Howard St.

















You can read more about Ocracoke's live oaks, why they qualify to belong to the Live Oak Society, and how to find them, by going to our Ocracoke Newsletter: www.villagecraftsmen.com/news122908.htm.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the unique "Ocracoke Greeting." You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022113.htm.

About 200 years ago there lived on Ocracoke Island a fisherman of indeterminate provenance. He was a reclusive figure, preferring to live in a small hut made of driftwood and bullrushes about 5-6 miles from the village. No one remembers his given name, but folks called him "Old Quawk" because, they said, he "quawked" like an old night heron.

Old Quawk was a fisherman, often venturing out into Pamlico Sound in his sail skiff when cautious islanders stayed in port waiting for more propitious weather.

On this date, March 16, many years past, Old Quawk made his last voyage into Pamlico Sound. Storm clouds were piling up in the darkening sky. Legend has it that Old Quawk defiantly disregarded the warnings of other islanders, raised his clenched fist to the heavens and dared the gods to thwart him, then set out in his sail skiff. A frightful gale churned the Sound into a wild turbulence and swamped Old Quawk's tiny craft. Neither Old Quawk nor his boat were ever found.

For many years Ocracoke fishermen refused to go out in their boats on March 16. Even today it's best to be prudent on Old Quawk's Day. There's no telling what the weather gods will dish out on March 16.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the unique "Ocracoke Greeting." You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022113.htm. 

Not long ago I was walking along the beach when I spied something orange caught in the sea oats on the dunes. I was pretty sure it was a balloon, so I walked up to retrieve it. Balloons can be dangerous to sea life. Turtles, birds, and fish often mistake balloons for jellyfish, and die after ingesting them.

It turned out that the balloon was a promotional item, and it was still inflated. I made a photo of it:














Of course, I have no idea when, where, or how this balloon "escaped." But it originated in central Georgia.

Ocracoke is fortunate to not have much litter wash up on our beaches. I can usually walk miles along the shore without ever seeing any trash.

It is always a good idea to keep control of balloons near the ocean or sound. Once let loose they can travel for miles. And if you see balloons on the beach or in the water, we would appreciate it if you would pick them up and discard them where they won't endanger wild life. Many thanks!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the unique "Ocracoke Greeting." You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022113.htm. 

Today is Pi Day. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159 (hence March 14, or 3/14 being designated Pi Day).

According to the official Pi Day web site (http://www.piday.org/) "Pi has been calculated to over one trillion digits beyond its decimal point. As an irrational and transcendental number, it will continue infinitely without repetition or pattern."

There is something fascinating about a number (the ratio of a perfectly rational structure -- the simple circle) that goes on forever. I am no mathematician, but maybe one reason I find Pi so fascinating is that Ocracoke is in many ways as unusual and quirky as Pi...islanders are at times "irrational" and "transcendental" and it's sometimes difficult to see a pattern in their unconventional lifestyles and behaviors.

Happy Pi Day!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the unique "Ocracoke Greeting." You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022113.htm. 

Although Village Craftsmen joined Facebook more than a year ago, we hadn't been very regular about posting there. That all changed at the end of January this year. For the last month and a half we have been posting photos, links, and island observations nearly every day. Click on the link to the right to see what we've been up to lately.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the unique "Ocracoke Greeting." You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022113.htm. 

It's mid-March and another season is upon us. Beginning this Friday, March 15, we will be resuming our popular Ghost & History Walks.

Join us Tuesdays and Fridays at Village Craftsmen on Howard Street at 7:30 pm. You will have an opportunity to explore the village for an hour and a half while being entertained with stories of island ghosts, hurricanes & shipwrecks, and creepy local legends. You will visit the graves of some of Ocracoke's founding families and learn some of our unique island history.

Tours end after dark on Howard Street, surrounded by ancient live oaks, moss-covered wooden fences, and long-departed sea captains, preachers, and sailors.

Adults & Teenagers -- $12; Children -- $6; Under 6 years old -- Free. Tours are limited. Reservations are highly recommend (call 252-928-6300 during normal business hours).

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the unique "Ocracoke Greeting." You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022113.htm. 

Click on the photo below for information about a Heritage Crafts Class about commercial crabbing on Ocracoke, taught by island native Rex O'Neal. This is an opportunity that may never come again!


















Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the unique "Ocracoke Greeting." You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022113.htm. 

Several days ago a reader asked about United States Life Saving uniforms. Surfmen did not get uniforms until 1889. This is what Ralph Shanks & Wick York report in their excellent book The U.S. Life-Saving Service, Heroes, Rescues and Architecture of the Early Coast Guard:

"...[In the early days,] the good-hearted surfmen sometimes tried to create their own uniforms. Lacking an official uniform these surfmen decided to clothe themselves in a uniform of their own design. Unfortunately, fashion design was not their strong point and some bizarre uniforms resulted. To overcome such problems, the USLSS had a standardized uniform designed for its surfmen and keepers and required that they be worn....however 'no appropriation [was] available to defray the cost (of the uniform) and therefore the men [were] obliged to purchase their own outfits.'....

"Actually there were two sets of uniforms. For the keeper there was a formal dark blue uniform of woolen cloth or flannel with a double-breasted coat and two vertical rows of gilt buttons. There was a vest and pea-jacket type overcoat for heavy weather. The hat was also dark blue with a black leather bill. Some hats had the logo with a life-ring crossed by an oar and a boathook, while on other hats 'USLSS' appeared. The surfmen wore a similar coat, but it was single-breasted with plain buttons. On the surfmen's right sleeve just below the shoulder was the Service emblem and on the left sleeve just below the shoulder was the surfman's rank number. A turtleneck pullover sweater with the station name was sometimes worn by keeper and surfmen alike. The surfman's cap was the same as the keeper's except that the wording 'U.S. Life-Saving Service' appeared alone. Surfmen also had a work uniform consisting of a sailor-style jumper and overalls, sometimes called 'summer whites.' The work uniform appears most frequently in old photos of drills and was worn regularly. The work uniform included a white hat with a short, usually upturned brim encircling the hat (the hat was a standard Spanish-American War era U.S. Navy sailor's hat). In foul weather, both keepers and surfmen wore a 'storm suit.' The storm suit was of brown rubber cloth or duck cotton, with the station name on the breast. The southwester hat was black, typically with the station name and 'LSS' on it. Long black, southwester type foul weather coats were worn as part of the storm suit. Hip boots and life jackets were worn when appropriate."

Kitty Hawk USLSS Crew, 1900














Unidentified Keeper & Crew (in Summer Whites)











Standard Storm Suit













Follow this link for more photos and information from the United States Coast Guard:
http://www.uscg.mil/history/uscghist/USLSS_Uniform_Photos.asp.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the unique "Ocracoke Greeting." You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022113.htm.