Sunday, March 30, 2008

Yesterday we went to the Fitzwilliam Museum, finally. The girls enjoyed seeing the samplers. They were amazed at the small stitches and the fact that a girl who was TEN stitched one of the samplers on display!
After the museum, we went to two stores looking for linen. That ended up being the challenge. One store had aida cloth only. While I was with the shopkeeper at the second store searching for any kind of linen, the girls started looking at the floss on the rack. The shopkeeper made it clear to me that she only had remnants of left over linen and no color selection. I did finally find some suitable linen although the count is smaller than I’d like for a first project. When I got back to the girls they showed me the bright pink, very loud green, neon blue, and purple they had found on the rack. Hummm.
It actually made me realize that style and color choices can say a lot about a piece of needlework. For example, the sampler pictured here screams to you that it is Scottish. Why? The colors and design reflect that fact (compare this with the sampler that I found in my “Sampler Mystery” just below). You can read more about this Scottish sampler on a wonderful website I discovered.
It is www.antiquesamplers.org/home.php

Posted by Mary at 01:25 PM CST

Friday, March 28, 2008

It is spring break in Cambridge and all of the children are out of school for NINETEEN days. I never remember my children having such a long spring vacation! Anyway, it is the ultimate challenge to any mother to keep her kids happy and occupied so she can maintain her sanity. My next door neighbor here in Cambridge has four precious children, three girls and a boy. The girls are 10, 8, and 6. Their son is four. Andrew, the four-year-old, will put on his superman suit and go save the world today with one of the other neighborhood boys. The three sisters will join me for a walk to the Fitzwilliam Museum to see the samplers on display. The one pictured here from the museum was done by Elizabeth Bates, aged 10, in 1801. Afterwards we'll make a stop at John Lewis (a department store) and purchase linen and floss, then I am going to teach them how to do counted cross stitch. If it rains though, I will be watching Miss Potter and the girls will be in the company of their Polly Pockets. I will let you know what happens.

Posted by Mary at 07:11 AM CST

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

While we're on the subject of rabbits, I wonder how many have seen Miss Potter, with Renée Zellwegger as Beatrix Potter? I have been dying to see it since I saw the trailer for it online. Apparently, it was filmed in the Lake District and London. From what I could tell from the previews I saw, it looks wonderful! I will tell you what I think once I watch it. She was passionate about the beautiful Lake District countryside where she lived and upon her death gave her farm to The National Trust. I would love to see her farm while we're here. I wonder if this is her farm house pictured in the background? I have always admired Beatrix Potter and have several books on her work and life. I will let you know about the movie.

Posted by Mary at 07:53 AM CST

Monday, March 24, 2008

I would like to invite you to come with me and travel back to Massachusetts. There is a website I think you will enjoy visiting. It is www.bittersweethouse.com

Artist, Kathy Campbell, of Bittersweet House Folk Art has revived an art that I thought could now only be found in antique shops. Pictured above is her wonderful chalkware mother rabbit. I have included a lamb chalkware figure on the right that is also in Kathy’s collection.

The Staffordshire figurines, made in the English county of the same name for over 200 years reminds me of this chalkware. From what I have read, the 19th century version of the Staffordshire pottery used mainly unskilled women and children to paint the Staffordshire figurines. That is hard to believe in this day and age. These figurines were painted quickly and freely so they have an almost folk-art feel that gives them a certain charm. The pottery used was of a lower quality, which is why it was more prone to chip. They are very easy to find over here, but they aren’t cheap…especially when you do the math from the dollar into English pound.

Chalkware, I discovered, also was used to create naive figures of animals, fruit, men, and women. These pieces were made and sold throughout the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries. More figurines have been found in the Pennsylvania Dutch country than anywhere else and for that reason for some years all chalkware was considered Pennsylvania Dutch. However, history shows that chalkware figures were made in several parts of the country as well as imported from England.

Go visit Bittersweet House Folk Art. You won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait to get back to the States and order one of her pieces!

Posted by Mary at 09:09 AM CST

Thursday, March 20, 2008

The wonderful thing about being in Cambridge during Easter week are all the concerts at the various Colleges. We went to Kings College to hear St. Matthew’s Passion a few days ago. It was truly amazing. To be in a 15th century chapel and to hear Bach’s work is hard to beat. Hope you have a special Easter weekend. This is a chorale from the passion. I wonder if it has been used on a sampler.

Chorale
Receive me, my Redeemer,
My Shepherd, make me Thine;
Of every good the fountain,
Thou art the spring of mine.
How oft Thy words have fed me
On earth with angel’s food,
How oft Thy grace hath led me
To highest, heavenly good.

The St. Matthew Passion
J.S. Bach

Posted by Mary at 08:47 PM CST

Monday, March 17, 2008

Every morning a little before six, there is a chorus of song welcoming the new day. I am sure this happens elsewhere, but I have never heard it anywhere else where it sounds so sweet. The songbirds in the garden at our house just belt out these amazing and complex songs. I knew nothing about birds, or their songs, but these melodies made me curious to know more about songbirds. What I discovered is fascinating!

Songbirds don’t instinctively just know their songs. There is an instinctual need to sing though. They are taught by their fathers to sing the “family” song (or the song of their species). The males learn it and practice it because their song is what will attract a mate and secure a good territory for them. It is mainly the males that sing. Songs of the same species also vary geographically. It becomes almost like a different dialect when you hear the same kind of songbird several miles down the road! Some songbirds learn the basic song then add various other bits and pieces to create their own song! To me, the more I learn about these amazing little birds that wake me up every morning, the more I want to know. Right now though that is the extent of my songbird knowledge!

Posted by Mary at 12:11 PM CST

Friday, March 14, 2008

This manuscript is from Trinity College Cambridge. I love everything about this. The writing is amazing. With all of the technological conveniences we have at our fingertips (which I do love!), we don’t take time to write much. The thought of making it beautiful would seem like a waste of time! I am grateful for all the beautiful manuscripts that have been preserved. Many wonderful examples are here in Cambridge. They are truly inspiring!

Posted by Mary at 09:19 AM CST

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

I usually walk in the mornings here. There is a footpath through beautiful pastures that goes from Cambridge out to the village of Grantchester. It’s a delightful walk. Not only do people who just enjoy walking in the country use the footpath, but also those who want to exercise their dogs. All sorts of dogs are happily running around in the field finding treasures, such as large sticks. It’s fun to watch the dog drama unfold as I walk back and forth on the footpath.

While I was in the States this winter, I visited my cousin who has the cutest dog! She is a cocker spaniel named Maudie. I made her a valentine card this year. I styled it after a design I did that is now in my Mary Beale School of Needlework. Maudie reminds me of the dogs I see. My cousin takes her to the dog park and she loves to just run around searching for her ball and playing with the other “nice” dogs!

Today though we had 70 to 80 mile an hour winds and rain going sideways so I didn’t walk…I am still not complaining! I think the storm that dumped all the snow in the States came over here and provided us with the rain and wind…I think I must have missed my calling as a meteorologist.

Posted by Mary at 07:16 AM CST

Friday, March 7, 2008

What I have always loved about samplers is the way they tell the observer their story. In one of my samplers from the late 18th century, there is a pair of rodents at the bottom of the sampler. I have often wondered why they were included...maybe I don’t want to know! Samplers aren’t the only things that tell stories.
The Fitzwilliam Museum has an amazing collection of cylinder seals that are thousands of years old! They are basically cylinders of stone engraved with a picture story. This type of seal was used for hundreds of years. Usually the image from the cylinder was rolled onto wet clay to reveal the story, similar to the one pictured here. While I have always loved seeing these, I had to really search in the museum to find the samplers this time. They are tucked away in the fan room. Personally, I think needlework should also be given a special place (it used to be!). Have you noticed that a lot of museums seem to be putting away, or minimizing the space they give their textile collection?
In light of that, I decided to highlight one of my customer’s pieces. Sue Bird did my tea cosy from Pocketbook Needlework 1998. You can find Sue's work on her page in my Gallery. She did the tea cosy in counted needlepoint and it is truly beautiful! Why not look at all those featured in the Gallery, which is not tucked away, or hidden out of sight.

Posted by Mary at 07:18 AM CST

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

I am getting ready to go the the Fitzwilliam Museum. If you visit Cambridge, it is a must see. I sort of hang out there and sketch when we're here. When my husband tags along, he always feels the need to reward himself with a florentine from Fitzbillies (near the museum). It is also definitely worth the stop...all of their sweets are amazing! I resisted the florentines when we stopped because my mind was on the museum. While we were home this winter though, the wife of my husband's teaching assistant made us some florentines because she knew how much Greg loved them. Oh my goodness!!! They were so good. I am going to have to put on blinders now when I walk past Fitzbillies to the museum. I asked Nikki if I could share her florentine recipe, so here it is:

10 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon honey
3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
2 cups chopped pecans
1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a heavy saucepan, bring butter, sugar, honey, and cream to a rolling boil. Stir in pecans and oats and cook over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, or until batter thickens slightly and smells of toasted pecans. Take mixture off heat and let cool. Line cookie sheet with parchment or aluminum foil. Spoon cooled batter into each ring mold (approximately 1 tablespoon sized balls). Gently press to slightly flatten. Cookies will flatten completely while baking. Bake for approximately 12 to 15 minutes or golden brown around the edges. Melt chocolate chips while allowing cookies to cool, and finish by spreading back of cookies with a thin layer of melted chocolate. Cool to allow chocolate to harden.

If you like to cook (and eat!), visit Nikki's food blog she has a lot of great recipes. The blog address is www.penniesonaplatter.blogspot.com

Posted by Mary at 01:05 PM CST

Sunday, March 2, 2008

This is the "skyline" of Cambridge as you walk up the backs of St. John's college toward town. Notice the spires of the King's College chapel. I have always loved this view.

We arrived here safely yesterday without any difficulty at all. Since I have made such a big deal about the weather at home, I almost feel guilty telling you what the weather is like here. It's sunny and the daffodils are blooming, the birds are singing. I feel as though I have died and gone to heaven! Our driver, who brought us back to Cambridge, said though that it is supposed to turn cold the first of the week. As promised though, I am not going to complain.

The book I read on the plane was a biography about Coco Chanel. I have always loved her classic designs. Have you ever noticed how good design never looks "wrong," or goes out of style, whether it is fashion, all forms of needework, architecture, or anything else really. Her life was extermely intersting. I must confess, I didn't get very far in the book. She fasinates me though. I am looking forward to reading more about her.

Posted by Mary at 07:43 AM CST