Hello lacefriends, After doing all this stupid everyday things I will tell you about my London travel. The first day I went to Greenwich to the Fan- Museum founded from H�l�ne and Dicky Alexander in 1991 and which is located in this two wonderful townhouses origin from 1721. On the ground floor it starts with the permanent display for which one get a voice-guide. Really good explained from the beginning on. There you could see a wonderful lace-fan under lots of other beauties the materials and a lot more. On the second floor they have three times a year special exhibitions. At the moment till 4th of Jan 2004 they show us a part of the huge collection of Mrs Young an US-american lady, she collected in 30 years more then 450 fans of all sorts. This collection was gifted to the Fan-museum. there is everything to see from "real" lace-fans over machine-made lace-fans, feather-fans some with embroidery or spangles, painted ones and last but not least advertising-fans too. I spent more then three hours there. Then I had a look into the fan-shaped garden and the nice garden-tea-room where twice a week tea is seerved and of course of the things in the shop. With a not so small bag and lots of ideas in my head I went back to the station and to London. On Tursday I make my travel to Luton and Bedford. First I was fascinated from the nice and quick train. At Luton I looked for a sign to the museum and decided to take a cab. It is so nicely situated the museum and I must first look after the chestnut trees which seem to be sain and as children do collect some of the chestnuts. Then I run into the museum and got the feeling that they were attending me. I had the whole lace-room for me alone for more then an hour from time to time some of the children looked what I am doing there. And I took my time and learned about Mary Tucker of Branscombe and that gloves without fingers call mitten and a lot more. What attracted me most was the Duchesse de Brussel- Fan beside the wedding veil, those of you who have been there before do remember perhaps. And opening the first drawer, this one with the bobbins, I must hold on my breathe. My way back to the station was no problem and just in the same minute the train to Bedford arrived. There I took a cab too but the museum is in renovation. So it was like looking for easter-eggs to find an entrance. The lady explained me where to find the laces and I found the bobbins and the very good explanation about social-life but no laces. So I asked another lady and she send me to the Cecil Higgins Gallery. Everybody was so nice and told me all about and I went upstairs and looked. After a while a men asked me if I want a torch because the light was not so good, so we had a long chat on what place all this drawers would be better and he told me about the belge lady who started the exhibition and this and that. And I laughed a lot about the english ladys who want all a giraffe somewhere on their dresses so that Mr lester designed one for lace. But there are a few things which i never saw before, f. e. this double needle-lace rose in a Bedforshire lace also this russian-tape-lace with this typical decoration in connection with Beds and some more. Happy and full of impressions I went back to London. The next days I spend for my other passion - art/painting. The both Tate's long time for Turner. And english historie in the National Portrait Gallery. And of course Liberty, some of you told us some weeks ago.I didn't know it before but when I went in I thaught, oh dear the fabrics that you know very well. I must say I liked some of the dresses and some coats but I didn't like the prizes. Some strolling around St. Paul's and here and there was the end of the journey and know everydays life has me back. Greetings from cols but sunny Hamburg in Germany Ilske
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