American Textile History Museum and ATB8

It was a beautiful weekend, although as cold as any day in Janurary, for visiting Lowell, Massachusetts to see the American Textile History Museum and the ATB8 exhibition on display there.

ATB8 is as good as I’d imagined!  I had edited the catalog so I’d seen large digital files of all the pieces, but there really is nothing like the real thing!  What amazing work!  It felt wonderful to see the works of a number of my weaving friends, and to see close up some of the pieces from weavers I do not know at all.  I came away so inspired to think about design and technique in new ways!

Bob and I walked along the canal and the trolley rails, where many of the mills have been turned into residences. There is even residential space available above the textile museum! The canals come off of the Merrimack River and supplied the mills with power.  I wish there had been time to see some of the residential spaces offered.  I’ve always wanted to live in a loft!

Booton Cotton Mill now open as museum and residences

petting the sheep!

Trolley station, Lowell

garden dress with lace inserts

"S" silhouette garden dress, cotton with lace inserts

Lace blouse, Arts and Crafts embroidery, tatted initials

Lace blouse detail