American Museum, Bath

[mlsdesigns]

When we go to Bath for the Bath Minuet Company ball, we like to organise a day trip the next day, in kit, to a local National Trust place or something. This year we decided to go to the American Museum, which is housed in a beautiful Georgian mansion just outside Bath. The main reason for the visit though, being the quilt exhibition! There were dozens and dozens of gorgeous quilts, all in hanging glass cases that moved the like pages of a book :)
I was sensible and decided not to try to make anything new, we both have plenty of clothes in our Regency wardrobes! But I was feeling a bit burnt out 2 weeks before the ball, it seemed like the hand sewing of sack backs would never end, so I decided to treat myself to a bit of millinery therapy :) So, if you want to see pics of my new bonnet and the most fantastically amazing quilt I've ever seen,

Mummy with some of our group.



I thought I'd go all out with my blue and white colour scheme, and wear my lace stole. It's the longest one I've seen, and blew about in the wind so prettily :)



When we were half way round the museum we found the most beautiful stair well, it seemed to have been made especially for my outfit :D





My hat is made from the brim of an old straw hat (I reshaped the crown at Christmas time, and trimmed it with white 'swans down' for our Russian dance demo) with a buckram crown covered in ribbed silk.



The crown is based on the same pattern as my crazy green and yellow hat, but has a triangular tip :) I've always loved the hat Kate Beckinsale wore in 'Emma', http://janeausten.info/moviegowns/Emma3/EmmaKate/emmaredhattriangle.jpg and now I have my own version!



Now the quilt. This one was called a fan quilt, from the 1880s I think. It's made of scraps of silk ribbons, and some silk brocade fabrics. Each fan is different, and each fan is made up of different ribbons and fabrics.



I didn't get a full shot of it, this is about a third of the whole quilt.

The seams between the strips of ribbon are all decorated with a different embroidery stitch. the fans are all outlined with a different stitch too!



Whoever made this quilt had a wonderful imagination and a VAST amount of patience :)





I took several more photos, but they're all rather fuzy, while my macro button was very useful, not being allowed to use flash (understandably!) made it rather difficult.


Since reviewing the quilt photos I'm itching to do some embroidery or piece some patchwork blocks!

Comments

[my-stitching.livejournal.com]

You look so beautiful! I love the new bonnet!

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

Aw! Thank you so much Teena! I felt rather pretty that day too :)

[bellamissella.livejournal.com]

What an adorable outfit! I think I recognize that staircase from the ITV movie "Northanger Abbey", no? You do go rather well together. :) The bonnet is adorable, I loved that one from Emma as well.

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I don't think it's the same staircase, but you've made me wonder now, I may have to watch it when I get home to find out ;)

[koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com]

Love the bonnet, spencer, setting, all of it...

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I couldn't believe how perfect the staircase was, I'm so glad I wore blue :D

[girliegirl32786.livejournal.com]

You look wonderful! I love, love, love the new bonnet!

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

Hee hee! Thank you! I think I'm going to make my Keddleston outfit from the rest of the fabric after all. I've been seeking inspiration and think I have a plan!

[jennylafleur.livejournal.com]

Your bonnet is so pretty! You are lucky I wasen't there, I would have been very tempted to snatch it off your head!

That quilt is amazing. Thanks for sharing!

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You would have had a fight on your hands! You're very welcome, I was so blown away by that quilt, I could have spent all day looking at it, and still not seen all the different stitches!

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

So pretty! I love blue and white, and your millinery is fantastic. :D

I've seen fan quilts like that before. Aren't they amazing? (Seriously, an American Museum? *boggles*)

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I do love playing with hats, always good for a pick me up ;)
It was a very nice museum actually, I was pleasantly surprised! It was a series of room sets, all from different periods in American history, with furniture and decorations from the era, quite interesting. The best bit was definitely the quilt exhibition though!

[wieselkind.livejournal.com]

wow that staircase is so perfect for your outfit.

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

Isn't it?!

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Love the new bonnet! The stripes are awesome. And the blue and white outfit in the blue and white setting is too cool! Beautiful quilt. I've been feeling quilty lately too.

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

Thank you! The sun shining through the big windows made it all the more perfect :)

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

Your hat is awesomely beautifully gorgeous. That picture on the staircase could be a antique painted portrait. I love how the whole blue outfit came out.
Val

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks so much Val :)