Lisburn Linen Museum

NO

I got off the train in Lisburn, Northern Ireland with no idea where the museum was.  So I started walking to town and discovered that there were 2 roads out of the station,money takes you to the museum and the other to another part of town. I took the wrong road.

The museum at last.

First I learned all about the cotton workers who wove muslin and what happened to them and the famine that resulted.

They were wonderful display with linen garments.

And bolts of linen too.

And in the spinners room lots of wheels.

They all had flax on them.

This tall one was interesting.  The spinner told me she didn't like using it.  I thought that when she turned the wheel it just needed a good oiling.

Part of the spinners cottage display

All of these models had linen clothing on.

These were the seals to certify brown linen.

This was a silk gown that was lined with linen, it was really beautiful.

This case was full of miniature linen pieces.

This shows one of the designs for the jacquard dobby looms.

These are the punch cards used to make the damask patterns. 

Some of the looms follow.

I talked with the weaver for a long time.  She was very knowledgeable and wove a little so I could watch.  They alwatpys wove with singles yarn.  The looms have a flying shuttle that is set by pulling a cord and a flick of the wrist.  It looked effortless compared to the flying shuttle on my own rug loom. 

There were smaller looms too. It was a pretty fascinating place.  I am glad I made a special trip to see it all.

Here is the weaver working on one ofnthe massive dobby looms.  She told me sometimes families would have 2 looms and they would weave day and night to make their quotas. Everyone in the family worked.  It would take 6 people to get the loom warped. They wove fabric in 100 yard lengths.  Each warp would be several times that length.  They tied old warps on to new ones so there was little rethreading done.  These men and women were amazing craftsmen and craftwomen.

Lisburn, Northern Ireland and Other Observations

When traveling in another country you can't help but make comparisons. There are the quirky signs or crazy driving or how the showers are different every where you go.  It's sometimes a challenge to figure out how to get hot water.  Then there are those hand held showers that have a push button start. I have been staying in one or two star hotels, it's all I can afford and each one has it town uniqueness

In this current hotel I found something I have never seen before.

I realize its a little blurry, I don't feel like getting up to,retake it.  This is the toilet paper.  It has a metal plate over it so you can rip the paper. Now I have managed all my life without one of these, how about you.

Other things in the big city, the drivers are crazy and the pedestrians are even worse.  No one waits for the light to change, they play Russian roulette with all the speeding buses and cabs.  When I was in N. Ireland today I really noticed the difference between there and here in Dublin. I almost saw a street fight get truly out of hand.  2 blokes were shirtless and a crowd was developing and then the cops showed up, so not much of a story to tell. 

I went to Lisburn, Northern Ireland today to see the linen museum there. I just realized how late it was and I have a very early morning tomorrow.  I am taking the ferry to England early so that means showering and packing up tonight. So I will leave the museum post till later.  

I was surprised to see Betty Boop out on display at the restaurant where I had lunch.  They had pretty great sandwiches here.

I was on the train for a total of four hours today so I have some art to share.

I have been seeing so many castle like buildings I made some turrets for fun.

I am calling her my little deformed lady, instead of trying to fix her I decided to I've on.

So then I just played with the pastels a little.

I drew her on the train coming home.

But she looked a little too plain.  

That's it for tonight.