Werner started it all. He found an article in the local paper about a woman, about my age, who'd just been awarded a PhD by the University of Bremen - in needlework! What? Well, it was of course a bit more complex than that. Her dissertation had to do with the role of needlework in the lives of women in north Germany in the 19th century. That in itself was interesting to me, but I also thought that - with her knowledge in the field - perhaps she'd know where I could take an embroidery course. Not any embroidery of course, but monogram embroidery.
Fine stitches. Fine detail. Fascinating design. I want to be able to do this!
Because I love old linens, I've collected a few examples and I so admire the work of these artists (yes, they are!) and my few attempts at monogram embroidery have been less than satisfactory.
But I hesitated to contact her directly - how gauche! - so I wrote to the curator of the Sampler Museum in Celle who we'd met several years ago. Wouldn't you know - she told me to contact Frau Doktor Bärbel Ehrmann-Köpke, the author of the dissertation!
OK, this is a sign, I thought. I will write her. And I did. And she wrote back. And before two mails had passed between us we found other things in common - she and her husband had spent half the year in Florida for the last forever; she'd done her masters' thesis on migrant workers with those in Florida playing a central role. Cool. Cooler still, she invited me (us) to visit and see her collection of linens. Well, OK. We made a date. That was today.
It's a gamble, a toss of the dice, whether or not an apparent connection will take or not. But it was so comfortable and so pleasant and so immediate. I think it has to do with needles!
Bärbel (or Barbara) and her husband live in a lovingly and lovely restored house formerly used by a forester - a man who managed the local woods, both the trees and the wildlife. The local wildlife have not abandoned the place and we saw a bevy of birds while there. After coffee and a chat, Bärbel showed me some of her treasures. It was so inspiring!
Patchwork of monograms.
Patchwork of crochet.
Flower petals painted and then pressed onto old linen.
Knitted Log Cabin - my favorite pattern!
And - new - a patchwork top of silk tie pieces! I can't wait to see this one finished - and it reminds me to tell Lee to save his old ties for me.
What a treat.
Next week, Bärbel and her husband leave for another Florida vacation, and for the 15th time, will return to Europe by ship. Wow. We found out that these twice-yearly crossings of cruise ships are a really inexpensive way to go - you just need time. Time we have. Now we have lots of info about the when and with whom and we will definitely look into it!
In the meantime, I have a new friend.
Afterwards we surprised Susanne, Werner's niece in Affinghausen, with a Birthday visit. That was lots of fun too. In the village, they just expect folks to drop by on birthdays, but not so much the uncles and aunts from Bremen. It was fun to catch up with all the goings on with the kids and eat some of her mom Sigrid's wonderful cakes. I suggested in fact that Hunter would love them too. Maybe we can plan that for a summer visit.
What a pleasant day! One for the memory books.
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