Sunday, October 23, 2011
This morning we left early, our sites set on New York once again. So off we went, this time driving into the city from the south. Oh what a view! Since it was Sunday, the traffic was light and we even found parking -- and not illegal parking like last week :) We went to the 9/11 Memorial first. We weren't able to get tickets ahead of time, and those for the day were already gone, so we didn't go on a tour. We had to be satisfied with what we could see. There is covered fencing up all around area, and you couldn't see in at all. This was much different than four years ago when I was visiting New York with Mozelle. At that time, you could look through the fence and see everything that was going on. A woman at the memorial office suggested we go to the Winter Garden at the World Financial Center. We did that and found quite a view. Some of the towers that are being rebuilt are well underway and that progress was good to see. The new Tower One, nicknamed The Freedom Tower will be 1776 feet tall when it's finished.
We then found our way to 8th and 66th street, just a block from Central Park. During lunch at a sidewalk cafe in Lincoln Square we had a great time people watching. Since it was Sunday late morning, many families were coming/going to church. In their fancy dresses, all the little girls were adorable; then there were the toddlers who wailed because they wanted to be carried, or the reverse, they wanted to walk; the most impressive of all was the woman in the five inch leopard-print heels had to take the cake. How could she walk anywhere in those? OUCH!
Right next door was the American Folk Art Museum. They had a great quilt exhibition up called Super Stars: Quilts from the American Folk Art Museum. Also, the 9/11 National Tribute Quilt was on display.
Tomorrow is Monday and the NEQM is closed. So, what's on the agenda for Pam and I? Well, since we have to go by Old Sturbridge Village we will stop there tonight and visit there in the morning!
This morning we left early, our sites set on New York once again. So off we went, this time driving into the city from the south. Oh what a view! Since it was Sunday, the traffic was light and we even found parking -- and not illegal parking like last week :) We went to the 9/11 Memorial first. We weren't able to get tickets ahead of time, and those for the day were already gone, so we didn't go on a tour. We had to be satisfied with what we could see. There is covered fencing up all around area, and you couldn't see in at all. This was much different than four years ago when I was visiting New York with Mozelle. At that time, you could look through the fence and see everything that was going on. A woman at the memorial office suggested we go to the Winter Garden at the World Financial Center. We did that and found quite a view. Some of the towers that are being rebuilt are well underway and that progress was good to see. The new Tower One, nicknamed The Freedom Tower will be 1776 feet tall when it's finished.
We then found our way to 8th and 66th street, just a block from Central Park. During lunch at a sidewalk cafe in Lincoln Square we had a great time people watching. Since it was Sunday late morning, many families were coming/going to church. In their fancy dresses, all the little girls were adorable; then there were the toddlers who wailed because they wanted to be carried, or the reverse, they wanted to walk; the most impressive of all was the woman in the five inch leopard-print heels had to take the cake. How could she walk anywhere in those? OUCH!
Right next door was the American Folk Art Museum. They had a great quilt exhibition up called Super Stars: Quilts from the American Folk Art Museum. Also, the 9/11 National Tribute Quilt was on display.
Tomorrow is Monday and the NEQM is closed. So, what's on the agenda for Pam and I? Well, since we have to go by Old Sturbridge Village we will stop there tonight and visit there in the morning!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
On the way to Winterthur yesterday and today we drove through a beautiful covered bridge. The days here have been sunshine and crisp, just perfect fall weather. Today's lectures were equally as interesting as those from yesterday, topped off by a fascinating presentation by Dr. Lynn Hulse former archivist at the Royal School of Needlework. In the afternoon we attended two workshops: The first was an opportunity to look at many of the rare books, patterns, scrapbooks, and other ephemera in the Winterthur libraries. I really enjoyed looking at these! We also went on a tour of the needlework in the Winterthur collection located on the fifth and sixth floors of the mansion. What lovely samplers and quilts we saw! Sadly, it was the end of this wonderful adventure.
On the way to Winterthur yesterday and today we drove through a beautiful covered bridge. The days here have been sunshine and crisp, just perfect fall weather. Today's lectures were equally as interesting as those from yesterday, topped off by a fascinating presentation by Dr. Lynn Hulse former archivist at the Royal School of Needlework. In the afternoon we attended two workshops: The first was an opportunity to look at many of the rare books, patterns, scrapbooks, and other ephemera in the Winterthur libraries. I really enjoyed looking at these! We also went on a tour of the needlework in the Winterthur collection located on the fifth and sixth floors of the mansion. What lovely samplers and quilts we saw! Sadly, it was the end of this wonderful adventure.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Today we arrived at Winterthur, the home Henry Du Pont lived in and later made into a museum. The conference was held at their visitor center and was everything I hoped it would be and more! The first lecture was given by Tricia Wilson who was a key person in the Plimoth Jacket Project. She explained how the project was conceived, planned, and carried out. The project resulted in a reproduction of a 17th Century embroidered jacket. All work was carried out by hand just as it was when the original was made. Jill Hall, co-manager of the project gave a fascinating talk about clothing in the 17th Century and the use of decorative gold thread and spangles. She said that at that time there was no currency and so clothing was often like a "bank" to the owner. These gold laden clothes could be pawned for their gold. When they were no longer wanted, there was an active resale market where clothes were often burned in order to recoup the gold. Other lectures focused on needlework samplers and the training young girls received in stitching.
Today we arrived at Winterthur, the home Henry Du Pont lived in and later made into a museum. The conference was held at their visitor center and was everything I hoped it would be and more! The first lecture was given by Tricia Wilson who was a key person in the Plimoth Jacket Project. She explained how the project was conceived, planned, and carried out. The project resulted in a reproduction of a 17th Century embroidered jacket. All work was carried out by hand just as it was when the original was made. Jill Hall, co-manager of the project gave a fascinating talk about clothing in the 17th Century and the use of decorative gold thread and spangles. She said that at that time there was no currency and so clothing was often like a "bank" to the owner. These gold laden clothes could be pawned for their gold. When they were no longer wanted, there was an active resale market where clothes were often burned in order to recoup the gold. Other lectures focused on needlework samplers and the training young girls received in stitching.
1787 Rachel Mackey Quilt embroidered medallion After eating a scrumptious lunch, Pam and I took a tour of the grounds which included a 60 acre garden planned by Mr. Du Pont as well as the Enchanted Woods, a garden for children. Afterward, we went to the house museum and took a tour of the third floor. We spent the remainder of the afternoon enjoying the exhibitions. The With Cunning Needle: Four Centuries of Embroidery exhibition of course related to the conference and is where the Plimoth Jacket was displayed. In one of the galleries we saw a beautiful 18th Century quilt with an embroidered center medallion. It is an extraordinary piece that is in very good condition. It was exciting to see this as one of my particular interests is quilts with embroidery. I wonder if some of the motifs seen in samplers and other embroidered pieces can be found in embroidered quilts of the same time?
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