Blog & News

It is written by Jane Atkinson - Europe 2012 - a lace odyssey.  She is such a delightful woman whom I met in England earlier this month.

Hope you enjoy........ feed the imagination, love the lace,

Patty

Yes those fantasy lace adventures have come to an end!  It was an amazing time.  So much lace. and not enough time.

On the last day we went to the Cowper and Newton museum in Olney.  It was a great place and beautiful lace.  It was also interesting to read about the upper class ladies that did knotting - very fashionable to bring it with you to show off your talents.

Here are a few more pieces.  A beautiful collar on the left, and Queen Victoria's wedding dress on the right.  Quite a tiny waist

Jill's camera did better at the long shots and mine was great for the closeups.     

This picture is part of the steel that holds up the London Eye.  We took a night ride and it was one wow after another.  Can you see the lace?

It was a lovely trip , I hadn't been called " hey love" so many times in a day, let alone a whole week.  Thanks Jill & Bob.  Maybe it was the break, or the cold, or just being in England - this trip has me seeing lace all around me.  

Patty

Check out the sky - blue as ever and very cold!

Glad we had various plans - we had planned to go to Warwick , instead we went over to Olney or "Oney" as the locals say it and visited the Cowper & Newton Museum.  A great museum on William Cowper and John Newton.  Lots to learn about them from 1740's through 1800.  Very interesting time.  

Okay - that was lovely - it was the lace collection that they have - now that was a collection!  here's a picture or two - enjoy

I'll post a few more pictures when I have better upload speed!  

Hmmm  the color of the sky and the color of the backing under the lace :)

Patty

It's been a great time so far.  Though the weather has almost been perfect, couple of

showers here and there, it's been truly cold.  The morning temps have been -2, 0, .6.  Yes, that's a decimal!  

We were off  to Olney, small town and found this building related to the Bucks Lace industry.  At the top of building was this lovely lady making or possibly redoing lace, hence her stern look at her pillow!

Yesterday, at Kensington Palace, we saw Queen Victoria's wedding dress.  Most pieces of lace we see are under glass and often times in dark rooms.

Must be off - more lace to do!  

Enjoy your Lace!

Patty

Here's the lace window dresigns from last night.  These leaves are about as wide as a half-dollar.  Made of nylon cording.  It is truly amazing.

It sits on this house that was build back in the 1600s and has been modified many times.  Right now it is vacant. It's a great location- center of town, hm....  such ideas ?

And here you can see a nice braid, picot and half stitch center.

Anyway it was great to see this in person.  The work and the size is remarkable.

It will be up through February 2013 - get to Bedford to see it yourself.

Once landed - I needed to find the Underground or Tube, get the correct line - Picadilly to Kings Crossing - backtrack to on the Victoria line to Euston.  There I had to juggle the train schedule to determine which train company (privatized into several companies) and get to Milton Keynes to meet Jill.  It is amazing - we are watching the board listing the trains waiting for the train to be assigned a track.  LOL  The train was already there but they didn't want the passengers to be around as the readied it for us.  The all of a sudden, the board changes and we are sent to Platform #1 - mind you we are at platform #8 - so a mob of folks go off running.  Most are pulling luggage - it seems everyone is going somewhere with luggage!  I pulled my two items and got to the train.  Now train luggage compartments are not the size of airline compartments.  It was fine as long as I stashed them in the back of the 'car' - I was fine - and some very cute men helped me out :).

The only thing I was in trouble with was the lack of WiFi for my phone to work.  So a little snafu to tell Jill I was on the train.  Anyway - it worked out and I am here with Jill.

First order of business to go see the building she spoke about in her article in our last newsletter.  I'll be loading the pictures in the next day or so.  It is truly inspiring - both Jill's newsletter and seeing the building first hand.  

It was a quite night at home - glad to get here and relax.  Though it is freezing - literally 32 degrees!  Burrrrrrrr

More tomorrow!

Patty

The countdown begins, about eight hours till lift off, in a big jet flying across the pond.  Then the various tube stations, to the train station, and then there will be Jill at the Milton Keyes stop!  It will be fun to hear 'english' once again, quaint towns, the oldest iron bridge, Big Ben and of course the Queen.  Oh did I mention pubs and great english ale!

What I find interesting is what local folks think Americans are?  Of course there are the ugly ones, the ones with big hair and live on a ranch like in Dallas, I just find it amazing.   

So time to shut down this laptop for now, yes, it's coming with me.  How else could I upload lots of pictures from this adventure.

Cheerio to all,

Remember to Love your Lace,

Patty

If you'd like a little more dessert? Non-fattening?  

Check out this needle lace blog .  It's in Italian - though it doesn't need much translation.

Lace and Art meet!  Absolutely lovely!

Patty