Victoria and Albert Textiles

In the textile area of the V & A, rows and rows of framed textiles, dating back to the 13th century and before, are housed in banks of shelves. They're made to take out and study, and desks run alongside the shelves, so that they can be removed and sketched. Here you can see Joan pulling out one of the samples. The remaining photos are some of the textiles I photographed, being careful to get the information as well as the inspiration, as seen on the last sample. I could have spent a week there. Sadly, we were told that on March 1st of this year, this department is being closed, and will be moved to another venue. It will be 2 to 3 years before it will be open to the public once more. So we count ourselves very fortunate indeed that we were able to spend time there again this year. You might just see a version of that tree of life in my own work before too long!

Sketching the Masters - A Time-Honoured Tradition

On our way home from Ghana and Uganda, Joan and I stopped in London for a couple of nights. As on past journeys, we made a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum our first priority. This marvellous museum was the first of its kind in the world - built to showcase and for the study of design. Students of design, both formal and informal, go to the museum to sketch the masters, in fields as diverse as architecture, sculpture, ironwork and textiles, to name just a few. Most come equipped with their own sketchpads, but more are available in the gift shop if you come without one. Many come with collapsible stools on which to sit while they sketch. Then there is their book store, with books on everything from fashion design to furniture design. For those of you who have never had the opportunity to visit the V & A, this will give you some idea why we like to return there so often. Sometimes in these days of concern over copyright, particularly in quilting circles, it is forgotten that this method of studying the work of the masters is time-honoured and incredibly valuable, in honing one's own sense of design. So
much can be learned this way, about one's preferences for line and shape, texture and colour. The art in it comes from putting all that learning together with skill and practice and experience in learning a variety of techniques, to create one's own work.

Victoria and Albert Museum

Joan and I have been home for 2 1/2 days now, and are gradually getting over jetlag. Thoughts of the women of Bitenge Designers are still never very far from our thoughts.

En route to Canada, we stopped in the UK for a few days. The highlight of that time was a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum textile collection. What a treasure trove! In vertically organized "files", samples of textile art from as far back as the 11th century and from around the world are housed. They are part of the textile study area, and are intended to be brought out and examined and sketched. Only we hadn't brought pencils or sketchbooks with us! What a wealth of history in housed in this amazing place.

This shot gives you a view of the carefully catalogued collection. The glare of the framing glass makes them a little difficult to photograph, but is a small price to pay for access to these remarkable pieces. I left wondering if I still have time in my short life to undertake a more in-depth study of textile design. Who knows?

This piece is hand worked in silk thread against a heavily quilted geometric background. It gives new meaning to the words "hand made". There were beaded pieces and embroidery, lacework - virtually anything that could be described as textile art.

If any of you are contemplating a visit to London at any time in the future, I would recommend a visit to the V & A, for sure.