Sunday 23 February 2014

Textile Jaunt



Seems a while since I posted about a Textile Jaunt then along come two in a row!

Last Monday I was privileged to make a visit to Gressenhall Museum of Rural Life and Workhouse,  www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/visit_us/gressenhall_farm_and_workhousewith members of Jane-Ann's textile group. Nadine had contacted the museum to ask whether we might view the collection of rag rugs which are not normally on display, and we were warmly welcomed and given 'every facility' as they say.

Megan, who curates the collection, took us up to the archives and there were two tables set out for us, with printed sheets for us to make notes for ourselves, and to add to the museum's data base.

First we were able to view and examine some rugs which are out on display. We didn't see those which are in the 'houses', these are rugs which,shall we say, can stand up to being walked on and man-handled by the public.


Yvonne and I get to look closely at some of the rugs out on general display. This is a prodded rag rug onto rug canvas. Below you can see a close up of the detail. We spotted wool, tweed and many man-made fibres in the rags used.



Then we donned gloves and proceeded to look in detail at a selection of rugs which were not on display, some of which were so delicate they were falling to pieces.  For someone such as myself, who is a complete rug-hooking novice, the knowledge and expertise of some of the group members - notably Jane-Ann and Nadine - was astonishing and I learned so much. We were able to estimate roughly the decades in which the rugs were made, the materials used, and sometimes where they might have been used in the home.I know Megan was very pleased to be able to tap into their extensive knowledge, and has invited the group back to see more, and to help catalogue the archive. One small disappointment was the fact that most of the rugs we saw were prodded wool rugs, there were not many actual rag rugs, but I believe there may be in the archive.


This is a hooked rug, made with recycled clothes. You can see the reverse, very neat, where it has been turned back.


This is a wool rug, probably an early Redicut kit, in a typical sunburst pattern. Hooked into rug warp.


 This is another wool rug, probably from a kit. To me it looks typically 1940's geometric but that is just a guess.


Another wool prodded rug, in a chequerboard pattern, a detailed close up of the header photograph. It is Jane-Ann's favourite and mine too. That colour-scheme wouldn't be at odds with a contemporary quilt.


And here is a shot of the sort of storage system used by the museum. There are many more rugs hidden away waiting to be catalogued!

These photographs were taken by Jane-Ann as I had  - astoundingly - left my camera at home, for goodness' sake! Many thanks for sending them to me so that I could produce this post, Jane-Ann!

And thanks to Megan for all her help and enthusiasm, I know there will be more collaboration between the Museum and the group.

All in all a splendid few hours, fascinating to examine and investigate the rugs; also I might add, the museum is a jolly interesting day out if you live in or are visiting mid-Norfolk. Children are well accommodated and will love the exhibits too. And of course there is a great little cafe serving snacks and meals - what more could you want! I was there last year with the Ouse Washes Molly Dancers for Apple Day, and as well as performing some dances, we played for the Wassailing which was great fun.

My second Jaunt was to the Fenland village of Cottenham, to the College which each year hosts a textile exhibition of the work of the City and Guilds students, Textiles in Focus. To further entice you along, there is the Traders' Hall. All I can say is I am very proud of the fact that I did NOT buy any more books! To be fair, Yvonne and I decided that between us we probably had most of them, and could probably have written a few of the rest!

We enjoyed the 'professional' exhibition by The Material Girls, and I do have permission to take these photographs, but obviously they preferred that I didn't take detailed shots. Some really lovely work and the standard was very high.









I am told the person to contact is Chris Spencer at www.chrissythreads.com

We did treat ourselves to a wander round the traders hall, chatting to some old friends as we went.

We LOVED this stand:





There were two lovely girls manning this stand and we had a chat and a chuckle with them. We both walked away with some threads but I was very strong and did NOT purchase any of this mouthwatering merino yarn. Isn't it gorgeous?

A small sum was parted with at 21st Century Yarns - as usual, then we moved on to see very old friend Magie from the African Fabric Shop.


Managed to sneak up and catch her unawares! I have SO MUCH African fabric in my collection. If you get chance to hear Magie giving one of her talks do go, she is incredibly knowledgeable about the cloth she imports, having started out collecting it when she was cook for a Safari Holiday company (years ago!) and came upon the cloth in the villages they passed through. Magie takes her stand to all the big quilt and Knitting and Stitching shows and to local guilds and Regional days too.


Some of the smaller quilts made by Magie using these wonderful fabrics.


And some of the beautiful baskets she imports. I resisted this time, but I do have a couple. I find there is always room for another basket in the home!

So there you have it. Two jolly interesting days full of textile wonderfulness. I hope you've enjoyed the photographs and the stories too. Catch you next time - I AM trying not to leave such big gaps between posts!

24 comments:

  1. What a couple of fabulous jaunts Lynne, lucky you! I love those African baskets, just beautifully crafted with such gorgeous colours. Well done in resisting the temptation to spend pennies, sometimes it's just good to look and absorb all those beautiful textiles and textures, eye candy for a fabric girl like you! Hope you have a good week ahead xox

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    1. Erm...Penny, I cannot tell a lie! I only said what I DIDN'T buy! But I was good, just a few threads and some pieces of wool felt. INCREDIBLY circumspect for me! Lxx

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  2. Hi Lynne just catching up with you, those rag rugs remind me so much of my mum, she made some lovely ones....I think they all went to the charity shop when she moved house, she wanted a change! And those textiles, they really are a work of art, I think I'd love to do a textile course. Thanks for visiting me and your kind words :) x

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    1. Hi Ada, it's amazing the number of people who remember rag rugs from their childhood; I post this blog on face book and people have said the same thing. If you find a textile course I'd say go for it, I did a basic City and Guild which was interesting, though I have done loads of workshops with really good tutors which have been even more inspiring and valuable. Lxx

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  3. Lovely blog, great jaunts, loads of lovely stuff!! Love the African fabric store- they are down our way in April , my daughter is taking some of her students. Wow, makes me want to come to Norfolk!!
    Hx

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    1. Hi Heather, oh the students will have a great time, Magie is brilliant. And her fabrics ...swoon! Yes, there is a fair bit of textile stuff around in Norfolk, but like everything else here, you have to hunt for it, then you have to get in a car and go and find it! The miles I put in for the sake of cloth and music! Lxx

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  4. Sounds like you had a lovely time and I would not have been able to resist buying one of those lovely baskets - I don't go out to places like this very often but when I do it is an expensive day out!!!! We'll done you for your composure!!!! Take care xx

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    1. Hi Lynne, I was tempted, believe me, but have enough for the moment! I do splurge when we go to the bigger events like the Knitting and Stitching Show or the big quilt shows. Well there has to be a few treats along the way, now, doesn't there! Lxx

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  5. We went to Cottenham many years ago and was impressed by the students work and the attached fair. Glad the museum is/will be open again as we plan to do one of our walks around there again. Love the cafe too. Had a very nice quiche and salad last time.

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    1. I was impressed with Gressenham too Dc, only saw the outside when we did Apple Day, and prior to that it must be....ten years since I was there and didn't see the museum as such, just the cottage where a friend of mine was demonstrating ....lace making was it? Quilting,..gosh I can't remember!

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  6. I got some lovely fabric from the African fabric shop in Ally Pally last year.
    Gillx

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    1. I could probably sell mine in competition with Magie! I must Use It Up!!!!

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  7. Two lovely trips Lynne and some beautiful displays. I remember we had a rug made by my grandmother in the 1950s. She used old nylon stockings which I think must have been dyed and it lasted years and years. Thanks for the memory!
    Patricia x

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    1. You are welcome, Patricia; it was jolly interesting and so many people - on facebook and other blog readers,have commented about the rag rugs they knew as children. Lxx

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  8. Lynne thank you for your comments on the material girls exhibition, it's always nice to know that our work is appreciated. It was our first time exhibiting at Cottenham and we all enjoyed it, I believe quite a few of the group parted with a tidy sum in the trade halls, very tempting isn't it.
    thematerialgirls.blogspot.com

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    1. Hi Miriam, lovely of you to pop in and comment. Yvonne and I were really impressed with the work you exhibited, all the kind of stuff we like to do ourselves, or enjoy looking at, such an interesting topic too. I'm really surprised it was your first time at Cottenham - I must have seen you elsewhere!

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    2. We have all visited Cottenham before Lynne but never exhibited as a group there. Chris has done a demonstration of needle felting there but that was a few years ago!

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    3. Well you have certainly been on my horizon, for I've certainly read about you. Maybe you were at Bury St Edmunds a few years ago? I'm sure I've seen your exhibition somewhere!

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  9. Gorgeous photos, lots of textile loveliness, wish I was there.......
    Sue xxx

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    1. You don't seem to do too badly yourself, Sue! I LOVE your textile work, and you do get around a bit don't you! Lx

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  10. I really enjoyed this post, but especially those hooked rugs ... what wonderful things, they have a kind of honesty, I feel sure you'll know what I mean Lynne :)

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    1. I know exactly what you mean, Annie, they tell us so much about honest, ordinary everyday life, and the lives of those who lived it. It was fascinating looking at the different fabrics used for this very reason. Lxx

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  11. What a fascinating post full of wonderful photos. A feast for the eyes. I love the rug in the third photo of this post.

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  12. Hi Andrea, yes, it is lovely isn't it? Some of them were rotting a little and one of them we found a couple of insects inso were able to have them separated from the whole rugs to be treated by the museum It was a jolly interesting expedition!

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