ben and i took an early weekend in DC. we jumped in the car and headed off with no real plan other than to make a stop at the textile museum. it's lovely, indeed, and its library is particularly impressive! i'd have spent a good deal more time in that library if i'd had a longer visit, but the museum's online research tool textile muse is pretty cool, too. in fact, very cool.
the big exhibit now at the museum is one of greek embroidery, which was lovely, but the thing i enjoyed most was these seemingly-crocheted hats from cameroon. the projecting bits in some cases have wooden bits bolstering them from the inside. they are 20th century hats but are made to emulate hairstyles worn in cameroon before that time (i think that's what the card said. i was busy fake-coughing to cover up the sound of my camera going off, as you're not supposed to take pictures there. and what IS it with these digital cameras that have this phony little "shutter-clicking" sound? it's DIGITAL. it could be utterly silent if it wanted to be.)
the textile museum is located on embassy row, and there,
ben
had a photo op outside of the chinese embassy. and yes, we saw cherry trees - everywhere - and at the height of prettiness and scentiness.
on connecticut ave., near dupont circle, we found a store specializing in asian textiles. for local philly folks, i will say: it was like ruka, but outlet-sized, and not quite as diverse or elegant as ruka can often be (i love ruka). or, like material culture, but not as overpriced and snotty.
there were a lot of rugs, runners, bedcovers and garments...
and other stuff...
this copper cut is very much like the kind used in letterpress printing, but this one was obviously used for fabric surface design.
we had a marvellous time!