Thursday, August 23, 2018

Gorcums Museum: Voor de Draad Ermee (For the Thread with It)


To be honest, Astrid says you really can't translate Voor de Draad Ermee, which is the title of the exhibition at our Gorinchem museum from April 7 - September 9.  The closest translation is "for the thread with it."  Suffice it to say that this is an exhibition about embroidery!

Look and be amazed.  These exhibitions never cease to amaze me:

Our Gorcums Museum is on the second floor of our city's old city hall in city center.
When you walk into the lobby, you get a taste of what you will see once you go up.
For those of you who know stitchery work, you'd be impressed.

The lobby always gives you a "free" taste of what you might see above, 
if you decide to pay the €4.50 or use your museum card, as we did.

Embroidery has meaning in such events as birth, marriage and death all over the world, 
so it makes sense that the exhibit starts you off with specimens from places other than "home."

Again, if you know stitchery work, you'd be impressed.

No, this is not Dutch, in case you were wondering.

The entire exhibit could have highlighted cultures from all over the world.
But the smattering was enough to get the picture.

And then it was everything Dutch.

 Can you imagine showcasing the backside of a stitchery?

I think this was my biggest surprise of the exhibit.

Who would have thought of that???

How about a tulip tree.

Can you see the stitches, even in the background?



I did a lot of counted-cross stitcheries in my day, so this ensemble was fun to see.

How about samplers.  Did you ever do one?

This is a kind of sampler, right?

I guess so.

But this one takes the cake and is what I think of when I hear "sampler."
More Dutch you cannot get!

It's one thing to sew clothes, of course...but another to also "embroider" them.

Have you ever sewn on sequins?

Or beads?


This is from the 17th century,
so fragile-looking and yet standing the test of time!

Have you ever seen a family tree...with photos...made into a stitchery?
Who thinks these things up!

This volcano was like a cross between a tapestry and a stitchery.

As was this one, with 10 boats embroidered into it.

There were several other entries in this exhibit that I could have added that didn't interest me...
like all the papal robes that made me sick to my stomach during this week of priest-abuse allegations.
I had to stop somewhere....

But look at this.  Free to anyone and everyone.
Do you want to learn new stitches?

You can!
Throughout this exhibition there have been workshops to teach you 
everything you ever wanted to know about hand stitching.

Don't you love it!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

As an FYI, Astrid and I fly to England tomorrow for a week-plus with friends
from our Shutterchance photoblog.  Back with you in September!


12 comments:

  1. Where to start...... this is again mind blowing with everything that is shown in this exhibition. Uncountable hours of dedication are in these masterpieces. This was one of the better exhibitions I saw. You made them all proud, what an amazing post showing the craft of what can be done with "needle and tread"...... IHVJ.

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    1. With each and every exhibition at our city's wee museum, I am super impressed by what is shown. We are so lucky to have this right at our fingertips!

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  2. Fantastic exhibit. The family tree is unique and beautiful. Thank you for sharing this gem of an exhibit Ginnie.

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    1. You're welcome, of course, Marie. I suppose most of us women nowadays can relate to some of the stitcheries shown here but it really is amazing, isn't it!

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  3. This is my kind of museum. I love anything colorful.

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    Replies
    1. I bet, Maria! It's just a hop, skip and a jump from where we live, which means if I ever need to go back to check on something for my posts, I can easily do it...on my museum card, of course.

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  4. amaaazing!! and i'm too lazy to do BORO lol

    i have a jacket that cost me $700 with a beautiful stitchery on the back!

    I'm hoping that you guys have arrived safely and are already having a fun time!!

    Happy bday, Astrid!!

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    Replies
    1. I hope you DO eventually tackle your BORO projects, Elaine. Just do it, Woman! I have seen beautiful, creative stitcheries in my lifetime and am always amazed what can be done with thread.

      As you now know, we are back safe-n-sound after a great time away!

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  5. How absolutely gorgeous and extraordinary! I love it all. I think my favorite is the backsides of the needlepoint!

    I had a wonderful book of sewing with loads of stitches, and I can't find it. :(

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    1. I loved the back-side stitcheries, too, Ruth, and was totally shocked to see them displayed that way. How clever! One day I should do a post just of your quilting projects. :)

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