Loose Ends
A very Happy New year to every one; let’s hope that we all
enjoy good health and success in 2018
Having just had a lovely family Christmas with my daughter
in France (freezing and cold outside but log fires and warming food in) I have
taken stock of projects, ideas and goals that have, for whatever reason not been
done in 2017. Not that I wasn’t
stitching when even possible but there was no telephone, doorbell or email essential
to respond to.
The Cite Internationale
de la Tapisserie Aubusson – The Nave of Tapestries – My daughter lives
quite close to Aubusson (closest airport Limoges and new destination Brives)
and I have been fortunate to visit this collection twice. First when she moved there about 10 years
ago and just this month. What a
transformation, interesting then but now a truly mind blowing experience. A new beautifully custom designed building,
a staggering collection of tapestries dating as early as the 15 century well
hung and on a complete floor, displays, explanations of the various techniques and materials, a small display of world tapestries
and a teaching facility that, unfortunately we did not have time to explore. Oh
to have the opportunity to visit that department – another time I hope. Finally
be sure to pick up the excellent guide (available too in English) that has
great explanations.
This is a Collection of artists’ drawings prepared for
tapestry designs that could be woven at an atelier such as those in Aubusson
and the towns close by. In the guide
already mentioned many of the tapestries list the original artist whose
drawings/paintings were the inspiration for that tapestry. Unfortunately, checking through few of the
artists of that period were known – it was in the later 19 and 20th
century that these records were kept. Wouldn’t it be wonderful linking this London exhibition to the museum in
Aubusson that some extra provenance could be discovered?
This exhibition runs 18 January to 15th April and
details can be found here.
Special Thanks to the Gilmour's for their Alice photographs.
www.anna-needlepoint-pearson.com
Having just had a lovely family Christmas with my daughter
in France (freezing and cold outside but log fires and warming food in) I have
taken stock of projects, ideas and goals that have, for whatever reason not been
done in 2017. Not that I wasn’t
stitching when even possible but there was no telephone, doorbell or email essential
to respond to.
A response we had from a recent article was from an American
now living in London whose step-grandmother worked the most amazing three fold
screen during the Second World War. The
theme was Alice in Wonderland and one can see from these illustrations the Mad
Hatters’ Tea Party, Alice and the Queen with the Jam Tarts. Fortunately the stitcher’s initials and the
date 1944 are visible. The lady was
obviously a proficient stitcher as among the photographs I was also sent a
French style Berger chair and a round cushion with flowers and a humming
bird. I believe that all these designs
were the stitcher’s own ideas, should any be recognised as commercially
available, please accept my apologies, with the distance of time it is
virtually impossible to check.
The other information I try to give is for museums,
up-coming exhibitions or events that may well be of interest to you my fellow
stitchers.
The V & A has an
exhibition ‘English Needlework, May Morris’ a two day class on 26 & 27
January; booking on line at their web site.
Wish I could go but sadly already busy.
The Cite Internationale
de la Tapisserie Aubusson – The Nave of Tapestries – My daughter lives
quite close to Aubusson (closest airport Limoges and new destination Brives)
and I have been fortunate to visit this collection twice. First when she moved there about 10 years
ago and just this month. What a
transformation, interesting then but now a truly mind blowing experience. A new beautifully custom designed building,
a staggering collection of tapestries dating as early as the 15 century well
hung and on a complete floor, displays, explanations of the various techniques and materials, a small display of world tapestries
and a teaching facility that, unfortunately we did not have time to explore. Oh
to have the opportunity to visit that department – another time I hope. Finally
be sure to pick up the excellent guide (available too in English) that has
great explanations.
This brings me on to an upcoming exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery that would augment
the Aubusson collection. ‘Drawings for Catherine de Medici.
This is a Collection of artists’ drawings prepared for
tapestry designs that could be woven at an atelier such as those in Aubusson
and the towns close by. In the guide
already mentioned many of the tapestries list the original artist whose
drawings/paintings were the inspiration for that tapestry. Unfortunately, checking through few of the
artists of that period were known – it was in the later 19 and 20th
century that these records were kept. Wouldn’t it be wonderful linking this London exhibition to the museum in
Aubusson that some extra provenance could be discovered?
This exhibition runs 18 January to 15th April and
details can be found here.
My next blog will be out shortly and concentrates on a ‘New
Look at Needlepoint’; recently I am just
so excited about ‘shadow stitching’ lacy stitches that allow painted designs
show through; I am delaying the final
words till I finish a project that is to offered in Tuscany (May 2018) that
employs the technique among others.
Did you have the opportunity of reading the Golden Rules of
Needlepoint I posted in November; many of you let me know they really did find
it helpful. Might I suggest you check it
out?Special Thanks to the Gilmour's for their Alice photographs.
www.anna-needlepoint-pearson.com
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