It has come to an end...

woven windbreak at Sam and Clive's

My last day in England, my last day in the Reading Room. But what a great day it was. I was greated with great cordiality by the CHL staff this Monday morning...I'd been gone a week. That made me feel wonderful! What a lovely bunch!

Then across the sheep grazing field to inquire at the JA Museum in Chawton about possibilities for future research there on their textile collection. This inquiry met with enthusiasm. I was thrilled about that. I was also delighted to notice additional textile pieces that I didn't see last visit there. Louise West, the Director, lent me her copy of Martha Lloyd's recipe book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading in the Reading Room. Such lovely volunteers who were keenly interested in what I have been researching....such a thrill for a researcher!

More of JA's embroidery (handkerchief made for Cassandra)

Then a quick lunch followed by the afternoon in the Reading Room. Most productive. Made email contact with a linen industry pre-Industrial Revolution researcher in Edmonton; she was most helpful....a U of Guelph grad same year as me! Instant connection!

Then time for some serious flower pounding. I have been collecting fallen petals and blossoms during my week of travels so I was curious to see if rehydrating then pounding worked. It seemed to although not the same as freshly picked. That is currently drying in preparation for my trip home tomorrow.

An iron weight about 10# in Austen's kitchen

Had a conversation with Steve, CHL CEO about the potential for textile and food education/research at Chawton House, and particularly the role of the estate in textile production historically. That was the second great conversation of the day!

A standard 1/2 gallon measure in Austen's bakehouse

...and then away to the pub for dinner with Elisabeth, a VF from Chicago and the third great conversation of the day.

This post finds me taking a break from packing. The taxi has been ordered for tomorrow morning and so this blog comes to an end.



Thanks to all who have followed along this remarkable experience, and thanks for all the emails and comments. Thanks especially to Chawton House Library for the privilege of a Visiting Fellowship. It has been interesting to check the stats counter to see how many viewers there have been and the many places readers are from. Thanks to JASNA members for sharing the link with their chapter members; I have felt honoured that so many people were interested enough to navigate through the postings.

Until next trip...

A lovely visit to Portishead; return to Chawton

Rose's studio that I visited with Lucy and Rachel

Since the last post, I saw the theatre production, a far darker play than I realized it would be (enjoyed its thought-provoking nature), travelled to Portishead near Bristol for a 3-day visit with cousins Rod and Ann, had a day trip to the Dartmoor Forest to visit their daughter and family, and have now 'come home' to Chawton. I was proud of my ability to navigate the English rail system on the way back this afternoon when the route I had intended to take wasn't running. I replanned the route on the spot, got on the right train, sorted out how to deal with replacement buses owing to construction, and got to Chawton mid-evening as planned.

It was wonderful to walk back into the Stable Block. A new group of Fellows is here; only one in tonight so we had some time to get acquainted. Tomorrow's plans are to spend as much time as possible in the library to finish working with two books I asked Morwenna to hold for me, and to spend at least a couple of hours back at the JA Museum in Chawton. I have ideas for future studies involving textiles so want to go back to re-examine pieces on display.

Tapestry Studio: horizonal loom at West Dean College

The tapestry studio tour at West Dean College was interesting although not what I expected. The Open Day only included entry to the studio where they do the commissioned pieces, no student work. The weavers were working on one of the Unicorn Tapestry reproductions for Sterling Castle. It was very interesting to see their huge looms, how they use cartoons horizontally, etc. but I had hoped to see original pieces in progress. The gift shop didn't have any WDC produced items so that was disappointing.... I could find giftware made in China anywhere. But then, I had a lovely ploughman's lunch (subbing in my own GF crackers) and a cuppa while overlooking the grounds. So lovely. Nothing like proper crockery to make a meal!

Ploughman's

Then I got caught in the thunderstorm of the century! I took refuge while waiting for the bus in a lean-to that is slowing being consumed by ivy growth. It was more than a little creepy but a welcome sight when the rain started pelting down and the thunder was cracking all around.

While near Bristol, Ann (another textiles enthusiast!) took me to The Spinning Weal is Cliveden that sells weaving, spinning, beading, sewing, and knitting supplies. Wow, what a treat. I even got the free special cotton shopping tote especially for visitors from at least 50 miles away.

In the afternoon we went to a painting/needlework show at the Bristol Cathedral by Sue Symons.  It was astounding! Sue had made 48 panels based on the Book of Genesis. Absolutely beautiful and a feast for the eyes.

Centre panel: gouache painting. Embroidered border (Symons)

Back panel: Embroidered

That evening I met another cousin, Bob Morley, Rod's brother, and partner, Carol over a terrific Chinese meal.

On Saturday we took a 2 hour drive to visit Rod and Ann's daughter, Sam, and her family. They live somewhere in the Dartmoor National Forest. What a crazy crazy place to drive in. Narrow lanes bordered by hedgerows, winding roads, intersections of at least 5 roads, poor signage, and holiday campers...oh, and horses, goats, sheep, cyclists, hikers, etc. We partook of a lunch at the Tavistock Inn (so I suspect we were at somewhere near Tavistock). Briony's lunch was quintessentially English as you'll see by the photo! Yes, I took a photo of egg and chips as I had never seen it before!

And now I am back at Chawton for 2 nights before heading home.

For community-building, how do you like this idea? There were free courgettes (zucchinis) and beets at the Alton train station courtesy of the Alton Community Garden. I love this idea!

To West Dean and Open Tour Wednesday

It is Open Tour Day (being a Wednesday) in the Tapestry Studio at West Dean College. One of our weaving instructors at Capilano University, Anthea Mallinson, studied Medieval Tapestry at West Dean in the 1970s; given Chawton and West Dean are only 40 miles apart, popping in here had to become part of my summer travel plans. I have just called WDC to confirm the event is still on and to reserve my place, and am about to head out to catch the bus for the 6 mile journey up the road. I've just checked the website to explore lunch and gift shop opportunities and am satisfied on both counts!

This evening I'll be attending Pygmalion at the Chichester Festival Theatre starring Rupert Everett at Henry Higgins. Well, my goodness, does it get better than that? The theatre, as I see from the website, is the projection type where actors work three sides of the theatre...my personal fave! I have a cheapo student type ticket on the left side audience for a mere 11 pounds. I got a kick out of the online booking system where options for one's title include Prince, Earl, Lady, Lord, etc.

Yesterday's train journey from Leamington Spa to Chichester was uneventful. I got to actually sit down the whole way here! Ah, bliss. A train journey and knitting...what more is there to ask for really? The B and B (Cherry End) is great. A GREAT BIG BED just for little ol' me, and sea air (the ocean being only 5 miles away). I walked around the town yesterday, got myself sorted out as to location of bus, etc., bought the world's most powerful can of premade gin and tonic at the Marks and Spencer shop, and a container of raspberries. The raspberries I ate while strolling along a bit of the east wall, Chichester being one of these lovely European walled towns. The G and T was for later in my room whilst checking out the West Dean website. My stroll took me to a fantastic!!!  tapas restaurant where I lolled over sangria (the cutest little pitcher thereof) and paella. Oh so very good...(I might go back again tonight).

Now to check the weather forecast...it was gorgeous and sunny at breakfast but now cloudy and gusty so a change of wardrobe might be in order.

I'll definitely have photos to post after the day's adventures.

From Kenilworth to Chichester

Saturday brought me to Kenilworth from Chawton; today I travel to Chichester to attend the open day at West Dean College tomorrow. I've spent a wonderful two days with Lucy and Rachel, Lucy who I met in Chicago in 2004 at the International Congress of Dietetics.

On Sunday we went to Rose Woodford's textile arts studio in a neighbouring village (http://www.rosewoodford.com/); what a joy it was to chat textiles over tea and to have a personalized tour of her gorgeous works.

My advice for anyone planning to travel by train in England, don't go on a Friday after work or on a Saturday. The train trips I did at these very busy times were quite simply terrible. Not enough cars, had to stand the entire journey crammed in with many others (who took the opportunity to chat on their cell phones the entire way....arrrghhhh!). NOT the pleasant train travel I had imagined. I'm trusting today's trip on a Tuesday mid morning will be much more the thing!

Next stop, Chichester...tomorrow, tapestry fans...West Dean!!!!!