I visited the Whitchurch Silk Mill today. The mill is the last working silk weaving mill in the UK. Whilst quite small, it does show the various stages of silk weaving from taking the dyed hanks of silk and winding onto bobbins; then preparing the warp of the fabric from the various colours; before finally weaving the fabric weft on a traditional loom. The amazing range of vivid silk colours were on show together with examples of the various silk fabrics –
taffetas, twills, organzas, satins, etc.
An exhibition of work by Anna Nowicki was also on show when I visited. Seven fairy costumes inspired by a MidSummer Nights' Dream were displayed and you could see all the various fabric treatments and surface embellishments. This included recycled shirts, garden wire covered in stitches, rusted cotton and blue silk, torn t-shirts and hand-dyed cottons. Downstairs was a small display of Muse wall hangings, which had an appliqued quilt-style surface.
I also visited the American Museum in Bath. This museum houses a wide range of decorative and folk art including native beadwork and quilts. You can get quite close to most of the exhibits and see the way most of the pieces are constructed. I found the log cabin and Amish quilts particularly interesting. At various points throughout the house the different periods of American home interiors are displayed including the furniture and textiles. There are a large number of domestic pieces on display such as tablecloths, bed linen, bedspreads and samplers. The mill and museum are well worth a visit.
taffetas, twills, organzas, satins, etc.
An exhibition of work by Anna Nowicki was also on show when I visited. Seven fairy costumes inspired by a MidSummer Nights' Dream were displayed and you could see all the various fabric treatments and surface embellishments. This included recycled shirts, garden wire covered in stitches, rusted cotton and blue silk, torn t-shirts and hand-dyed cottons. Downstairs was a small display of Muse wall hangings, which had an appliqued quilt-style surface.
I also visited the American Museum in Bath. This museum houses a wide range of decorative and folk art including native beadwork and quilts. You can get quite close to most of the exhibits and see the way most of the pieces are constructed. I found the log cabin and Amish quilts particularly interesting. At various points throughout the house the different periods of American home interiors are displayed including the furniture and textiles. There are a large number of domestic pieces on display such as tablecloths, bed linen, bedspreads and samplers. The mill and museum are well worth a visit.
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