Tuesday, October 4, 2016

City Views, Country Dreams

Good evening from New York.

I've meant to write another post before now, but the brilliant late summer, early autumn weather has been encouraging me to spend lots of time outdoors.

When indoors, I've been reading lots of good books, starting and finishing many knitting projects, doing some sketching, and having lunch and tea with friends.  I have also spent way too many hours following news coverage of our very lengthy Presidential election campaign season.  In about an hour, I'll be switching on the television to watch the two parties' Vice Presidential candidates debate.  No doubt I will be shouting at the television within the first quarter hour of the debate.

However, there are other ways to occupy one's interest during autumn in New York.


Yesterday, I met a friend over at the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, It is a division of the Smithsonian Institute that is devoted to design.


The Museum was renovated a year or so ago, and now has a very different interior look in its gallery spaces.  Most of the windows of this grand old mansion that face on to Central Park are kept shuttered and blinded.  There is quite an emphasis on visitors being giving the opportunity to have inter-active electronic connections to the various exhibits, and even to the minimal area now devoted to the CH's own collection of beautifully designed items.

The newly opened exhibit that drew us is called Scraps and fills a few rooms with very interesting examples of how various textiles can be creatively recycled.  


As someone who herself enjoys reusing fabrics and yarns, and playing around with patching and even darning, I found this a lovely exhibit.


We were clever to time our arrival at the museum not long after its opening hour, so we were able to examine the treasures in Scraps in a tranquil atmosphere.


One of my favorite displays, shown in the above photo, was a collection of tiny (thumb nail sized) amulets made from tiny, tiny pockets of embroidered fabrics, that had been stuffed with some sort of stiff stuffing, to which in some cases odd little bits of metal had been hung.  My photo does not do them a favor.  They were indeed gems.

The "interactive" aspect of the New CH involves each visitor being given an electronic wand, about the size of a chunky Sharpie pen.  One end allowed us to connect with the label for any display that interested us, which then allowed us to find a record of our interest in that display to be retrieved when we got home.  (If we had a computer or smart phone as Everyone Seems to Have these days.)

I was intrigued by this process, but also wish that more information about many of the items displayed throughout the Museum might have been divulged.  My appetite was not really satisfied.

The exit doorway from the Scraps show lead to a lovely space under a skylight.  Can you see the row of velvet pillows arrayed along the expanse of the window seat?  The pillows reminded me of gumdrops.


It was a pleasure to pass by a window that was not covered up, and to have a glimpse of the green grounds around the Museum, as well as a below street level storage area.  I found pleasure in realizing that even the CH seems not always to have clever places to store everything.


Here is another view of that entrance/exit from the Scraps show.  Again, the presence of the electric fan amused me.  Very elegant.


We continued upstairs to have a look at other exhibits.


This is just a detail of a beautiful cabinet that was created during the era of tulip mania.


These old candle holders have clever and functional designs that pleased my eyes.


Many of the rooms at the CH have large fire places in which fires will never again burn.


I liked the look of this fabric in a show featuring 1950's design.


Spooky, eh?  One of the interactive rooms offered the willing participants the opportunity to play around with wall paper designs on a digital sketch book, and to have the results of your doodling projected on several walls of the room.


I was hoping to show you a link to what my interactive pen created but the link does not seem to work.  I can see it, but cannot share it with you.

Here is a very cute little pedal vehicle that was part of another CH exhibit.  I could not resist taking a photo.  Photography is allowed throughout the Museum, as long as there is no flash.


The Museum has a tiny cafe, that has good food, but clearly is not large enough to handle the demand of midday museum guests looking for lunch.  However, we persevered and enjoyed being able to have our lunch at one of the tables set up in garden. 

Afterwards, we walked over to Central Park, entering at the edge of the Jackie Onassis Reservoir, with its surrounding jogging path.


At some hours of the day, the jogging path is quite busy, filled with one-way traffic made of of dedicated joggers.  Around 2 p.m. in the afternoon, it is more tranquil, and looking across the reservoir provides a pretty view.


Even tiptoeing to have a look over the surrounded iron fencing provides some lovely views of natural plantings, created by talented Central Park gardeners.


Since the day's earlier clouds and fog had cleared, and the weather was mild, I decided to walk home across the Park, rather than taking the crosstown bus.


A few pretty autumn natural souvenirs caught my eye, and I stooped to pick them up and brought them home.  My plan was to draw them today.


Alas, later last evening I began to feel a sporadic, sharp pain in my lower back, that actually played havoc with my getting a good night's rest.  Ouch!

I think that I might have strained some sort of muscle during yesterday's long walk, and hope these pains soon goes away.  This morning I found some vintage Advil in my medicine cabinet and have taken a few of these pills during the day.  Perhaps it is only a placebo effect, but the pain has somewhat lessened.

I wish that each of you who are interested in textiles would be able to see the Scraps show before it closes mid-April.  It's a small show, but quite beautiful and thought provoking.

Thank you for all your visits and comments here.  I am getting closer to making my smart phone purchase, but definitely would still welcome any advice  Best wishes to you all.

56 comments:

  1. Oh Francis, Hemmingway should have called NYC a moveable feast. So much to do and see. I would love to see the show. I have always found old fabric and scraps, but never knew what to do with them. I finally sent them to the Balkans years ago. Rest is the only thing for back pain - I've been through that lately. Hope it is gone soon. What gorgeous leaves you found. Have fun. BTW - son and daughter-in-law just bought new (6 or 6s) iPhones for a dollar to sign a two year contract with Verizon.

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    1. Donna, I can imagine what fun we would have seeing the Scraps show together. It's a small show, but everything in it is grand.
      You were very kind to send your fabrics to the Balkans. I bet they were appreciated.
      Thanks for the kind words about the back pain. I am trying to get plenty of rest.
      Excellent iPhone info...thank you! xo

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  2. Fun visit to the CH museum; I miss museums. Sigh.
    Lots of great smart phones out there. Cheers!

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    1. Wilma, there are so many museums and galleries in this city, I miss seeing many shows but try to get to the exhibits that really "call" to me. xo

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  3. Oh My Goodness ! I am gobsmacked over your post today !
    I would be living in the CH just to be enveloped by the show.
    I love fabric almost as much a paper. I am amazed by circles and the tiny little fabric pockets. I adore them all. I used to sew tiny vellum paper stuffed objects. But not that tiny.
    This is so interesting but I just splurged on several fabrics from Japan. They are very simply designed with fabulous color. I can not wait till they get here.

    You live such a interesting life. Thank You for sharing.
    cheers, parsnip

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    1. Parsnip, thank you for those kind words!
      I like circles, too. Many of my favorite items in the Scraps show were made from recycled saris. (You can see some pictures from the show if you click on the link in the paragraph under the first picture.
      I'd love to see photographs of some of your tiny vellum creations. And that Japanese fabric, too! xo

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    2. I forgot to say . . . .
      what are the first leaves ?
      and I hope your back gets better.

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    3. Parsnip, I know I should remember the name of those pretty littly whirly gig leaves (as a child we thought they looked like helicopter blades.) But...I cannot remember the name. I had a look at the centralpark.org "trees in Central Park page hoping that my memory would be jogged...but the beautiful site's info didn't clear my mystery. I will get back to you, or perhaps some other commenter will know the name straightaway. xo

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    4. Dear Parsnip, I am back again with leaf info after seeing Hazel's helpful comment below. I think that the littly helicopter blade thingies are Schizocarpic Samara from Sycamore Maple trees.
      What a great name, don't you think? xo

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    5. Oh My Goodness what a great name.
      That will be my Band name ! If I had a band.

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  4. everything is so elegant and marvelous .
    glad you were able to spend time in you favorite museum

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    1. Thanks for your visit and kind comment. Cooper Hewitt is a great museum...but the Met is really my all time favorite.
      Best wishes.

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  5. I would love to see the Scraps exhibit. Tiny pieces of fabric fascinate me.
    We are having some nice sunny autumn days at the moment with that lovely little nip in the air that makes it more comfortable.
    Hope you back pain is gone soon.
    Hugs from The UK-x-

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    1. I appreciate your comments Sheila, and wish you could see the show. There is an exhibition catalogue that might be available over int he UK.
      Our weather is similar to yours. Yes, I also hope that back pain eases. xo

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  6. Do hope the back thing is just a passing twinge?
    Sending lots of love!

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    1. Thanks, Elizabeth. It's still twinging, but perhaps not quite so sharply. I'm making a quick trip downtown today for a much needed haircut, then it's back home to take it easy. Still...look forward to seeing you soon. xo

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  7. Another venue for my lengthening list thank you Frances.
    Oh but back twinges are so tiring. Hot water bottles are my remedy. Is it cool enough to indulge in one yet?

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    1. Lucille, I have no doubt that you would love seeing the Cooper Hewitt. I sort of preferred it "pre-renovation" atmosphere, but admit that some of the new aspects are also interesting or even fun. Glad there is still room, and funding, to mount a special show like Scraps.
      Just about cool enough for that hot water bottle. It is a pain to have this twinge pain keep me from doing all I want to. Good thing that I have several good books and about four weeks of back issues of The New Yorker to read, with tea on the side. xo

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  8. Dear Frances, although we live in a very beautiful part of the world, I do miss having a choice of museums, galleries and concert halls in easy reach. I very much enjoyed your pictures of the Scraps exhibition but at the same time I felt a pang of how lovely it would be to visit New York again. Thank you for sharing so many loverly photographs. I hope the muscle twinge is on the mend, Cx

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    1. Dear Chris, your comment really expresses to me why I began blogging all those years ago. I love being able to share my city joys with folks who live far from cities, and to have the pleasure of learning so much about what it is to live in the country. I feel enriched!
      xo to you and Tom.

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  9. You have given us an array of autumnal delights in this post Frances, I enjoyed reading about the design museum. We visited about 16 years ago, how time flies! I think I would have loved the amulets too, I wonder if you know the foundling Museum in London? They have an exhibition of tiny tokens that mothers left when they deposited their babies, some where lucky enough to retrieve them at a later date but many left their children for good. This gave the tokens an added poignancy, your post reminded me of them. The interactivity looks like fun, I like the patterns you made.

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    1. Good to hear from you, Val. The Scraps show had so many interesting features...I only photographed a few. The amulets were very intriguing. I do know about the Foundling Hospital, but have yet to visit there.
      It was fun playing around the electronic drawing board...I didn't want to yield my spot to the next person waiting to play!
      A mutual friend of ours tells me that congratulations are due you on your recent accomplishment and honor. xo

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  10. Sorry, I meant to enquire about your back, I do hope it is improving. x

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    1. Val, I'm following my sweet brother's advice to apply Tiger Balm, and I think the balm, combined with good rest, has begun to help. xo

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    2. Tiger Balm is a new one on me, rest is always good, glad to hear you are improving.

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    3. Val, I think I am completely okay now. Ready for some more long walks, but I'll be careful in bending down/over to pick up pretty leaves.

      Your new post is wonderful! And I also loved seeing the link to the Miniature society...lots of info and encouragement there. xo

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  11. Lovely leaves.Do show us your art work!

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    1. Thank you, Trish. I promise to show you all some of my drawings/paintings soonish. xo

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  12. How I loved to visit that scrap show, Frances! Thanks for taking us with you - it must have been so inspiring. I love the miniature fabric scraps, remembers me of the first workshop with Gentlework in the UK. And the picture with you doodling with wallpaper, great!! Me too, however not concerned, would shout at the TV with those 'guignols'...

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    1. Dear Bayou, Scraps is such a fun show to explore. My friend S and I were so lucky to see it before the Museum got crowded. It was a pleasure to linger there.
      Thank you for agreeing about the necessity of shouting at the television from time to time. xo

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  13. He's promised we visit New York next year!

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    1. That's grand...next year gets closer every day!
      xo

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  14. That exhibition looks intriguing - I now have a urge to sew! I especially love the tiny fabric amulets.
    Hope your back is easing, I find slowly walking around exhibitions more tiring than a brisk country walk.
    Take care
    C xx

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    1. Celia, it was a very intriguing show...a real tribute to making one of a kind items ... mostly by hand.
      Several days of tiger balm and keeping a lower than usual profile seem to slowly allowing my back to feel better. Not quite back to normal...but much closer. Thanks. xo

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  15. What an exciting tour I have just had reading your delightful post, I felt I was there. BTW the tree is a sycamore.

    Reading about your back pain has broken the dream I had last night about 6 o'clock I had a dreadful pain in my leg and it brought tears to my eyes but on waking I found no pain which was such a relief.
    Hope the latest hurricane does not affect you in anyway. My daughter returned from Florida yesterday a day earlier than planned for she was worried she would not get a flight home, she is BA staff and they woukd not take priority over paying full price passengers.
    Enjoy your week ahead.
    Hazel c uk

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    1. Hazel, thank you so much for the sycamore info. Of course it is! I just couldn't remember.

      I'm glad that your daughter got home before Matthew began playing games with the Florida coastline. After playing havoc in the Caribbean, the storm has so far let Florida off more easily, but the aftermath storm surge is still likely to cause problems.

      Up here, our weather is glorious, and as my sudden back pain lessens, I hope to be able to get outdoors again for some good walks. Your dream is interesting...glad it was but a dream. xo

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    2. So pleased your back pain is subsiding, it's so annoying when you want to do so much but relax with a nice book is a good alternative.
      Hazel c uk

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    3. Thank you for your kind wishes, Hazel. All that back pain seems to be now in the past.

      Perhaps it served me well to encourage some slowing down for a few days.

      xo

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  16. Dear Frances, Hope that you are much better by now. Often a little rest between strenuous exercise will do the trick. If not, please see your doctor.
    More knitting and more reading might be called for at this time. Take care.

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    1. Thank you Gina. I am little by little feeing better...less fragile. I have been reading a long novel called Surrender, New York. I have managed to get outdoors for a bit each day, but have generally been keeping a low profile. xo

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  17. A lovely post Frances! Thank´s for your sweet comment on my blog, of course flowers will be my future but in some other way, ingrid and I will carry on...
    Love from Titti

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    1. Excellent news, Titti. I am sure that whatever you all are planning is going be wonderful.

      Happy Weekend. xo

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  18. Oh such interesting places you visit dear Francis...I've so enjoyed reading your post (I love the idea of an electronic wand too x) In regards to iPhones I use mine for so many things including my business so have the plus size as I really like the larger screen.
    Rest well and fingers crossed that you will be feeling much better soon,
    Happy weekend,
    Susan x

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    1. Susan, I appreciate your comments very much. Perhaps you will be able to see a copy of the exhibit Catalogue book, but actually seeing the items in the particular setting was pretty special.
      Thanks for the iPhone info, too. I can understand why you'd want the larger model, and why some folks also have a tablet of some sort.
      I'm definitely feeing much better, and am about back to normal mobility. Tiger balm to the rescue! xo

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  19. You are certainly keeping very busy. I would loved to have seen that textile exhibition and got a closer look at those little amulets... Just so precious looking. I hope your back is feeling better xx

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    1. Gina, it would be so much fun to see this exhibit with you...I just just imagine all the ideas we would be bouncing around.

      Yes, I am now feeling much, much better. No more ouch, ouch, ouch. xo

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  20. Such an interesting post.....thank you for sharing the Scraps exhibition and especially those wonderful amulets made from fabric scraps. You have been so busy! I hope your back is feeling better after some rest dear Frances. Wishing you a happy Autumn.
    Helen xox

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    1. Helen, I hope that you also clicked on the link to the show that I included below the first photo. I think some of the photographs there are also good.
      That pain in my back does seem to be just about gone now. Thank you, Tiger Balm!
      Happy Autumn back to you...I love this season. xo

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  21. Interesting post from your city and I really like the old "clever" candles...
    Hope you are feeling better, take care and enjoy your day Frances!
    Titti

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    1. Thanks, Titti. Yes, lots of old designs are so beautiful! I am glad to report that all that pain has left my back. I thank Tiger Baum, and more rest than usual.
      xo

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  22. Frances, It always amazing me to see how much "Country" you have in the City! My son was just visiting us from NYC, and he had forgotten how boring it is here, in the sticks; especially for a young man who's used to having everything at his fingertips! Including the biketrails, parks and the best farmers markets in the world... that's what he tells me.

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    1. Jeri, when I have traveled back to Virginia, I always wonder where all the people are. I guess it's having the sidewalks and public transportation here that gets us New Yorkers into closer contact.
      However, it can be rather wonderful to get away from those crowds, too. xo

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  23. The scraps show looks so inspiring. I especially like the idea of the amulets.

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    1. Vicki, it really is a beautiful show that can capture and maybe enlarge one's imagination. The tiny amulets are gems. Each unique, yet related to the rest. xo

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  24. Hi Frances
    So glad I came across your blog. I loved to visit NYC from my home in the UK and it is wonderful hearing and seeing the city you clearly love
    Siobhan

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    1. Siobhan, You might not ever see this reply, since I am quite tardy in seeing your comment, but ... thank you so much. Please to visit here again.

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