Exhibitions

The embroidery circle Guxhagen
shows from 09 to 10 November 2019 a regional Schwalm whitework exhibition.

Detailed information can be found on the homepage.

From the beginning of June through the end of August, the exhibition noble & white attracted many kind visitors to Eschwege and engaged them. The exhibition started off slowly with only a few visitors, but the numbers steadily grew throughout the exhibition’s run. Interested visitors came from all parts of Germany, often having to travel a distance of many hundreds of kilometers; they also traveled from Italy, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Lithuania, the United States and Japan. Everyone was struck with the beauty of the presentation and were enthusiastic over the variety of the embroideries on display.

To everyone who made the trek to Eschwege this summer to see my exhibition, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the many good conversations, the productive shop-talks, the compliments and the approval.

Although I did not skimp on public relations and advertising, it has come to my attention that a great number of embroiderers learned about the exhibition too late. They long to see it!

Now I will give them the chance.

The pieces, which were on loan for the noble & white exhibition, have been returned to their owners. The resulting gaps have been filled with other exhibits very worth seeing. So, I now can present a slightly restructured, but still big and interesting, exhibition which I will open for visitors at pre-arranged times. To address the individual needs, I will open the exhibition through special request only. Please note: the exhibition’s summer 2014 hours are no longer valid.

Please send me an email to schedule your special and private viewing of this wonderful exhibition.

The entry price for such a private and special view of the exhibition with 100 % of my attention is:

Gradually, I will develop my museum into a center for Schwalm whitework. To some degree, it is already transpiring since nowhere in the world is there

• so many different Schwalm crowns shown in one place
• so many different filling patterns to be seen in one exhibition
• so many different pieces of contemporary Schwalm whitework gathered into a permanent exhibition
• such a large and marvelous whitework sampler, made by a single embroiderer

Some years ago a farmer cultivated opium poppy in the fields of the Meißner Germerode region. Because the fields in June/July are so spectacular with blooming poppies, the Naturpark-Meißner-Kaufunger Wald publicizes association this regional show of nature.
The bright flowerage, the filigree stamens, the gossamer petals, the plump buds and the striking seed pods present an impressive picture and are a joy to behold, bringing a true sense of awe to visitors.
The fields of our beautiful highland countryside, with pretty walking trails and delightful panoramic views, gleam with intense pink.
Especially made and well marked trails cross the sea of blooms, allowing close contact and complete immersion into this unique nature experience: bumblebees, bees and small insects hum and flit from flower to flower.
First, the attention is caught by the just opening flower,
then one can see into the opened bloom.
If the petals have dropped, one can see the massive seed pods and the whole plant unit.
To see the blooming poppy plants in all their stages is an awe-inspiring experience.
For years now, during the poppy-blooming season, I have visited the picturesque surroundings of Germerode, with the Meißner montain in the background, to enjoy the spectacle. Last year, the grand trip inspired me to take the shapes from the poppy field and to use them as outlines for whitework designs.
Wouldn’t it be pleasant to come back to a smartly laid table and to present the poppy cake on a well-ironed white linen cloth embroidered with poppy motifs – the treat would be double!

My ambition was aroused, but to transform poppy motifs into embroidery designs is not an easy task. There are some well-known coloured Cross stitch designs (I think especially of Thea Gouverneur’s, “Secret Garden of Cross Stitch”), but poppy designs in whitework, especially in the technique of Schwalm whitework, were not known to me. Henceforth, I kept my eyes open and found, in the technique of Hardanger embroidery, stitched motifs which looked to me to be poppy seed pods. And there are a few more whitework and other white needlework which could portray the poppy.

I submitted my ideas to different designers, and asked them for help. As a result, I got some beautiful motifs which I am embroidering now. One worked white, but not in the technique of Schwalm, is nevertheless very lovely. Another, worked in the Schwalm technique, is gorgeous.
You will be able to see the upscale artistic designs and the finished embroideries in the “summer resort” area of my exhibition “Noble and White“.
Of course the poppy-themed embroidered pieces are too few to fill an entire room in the exhibition, so one will also be able to find many more pieces with other motifs. To emphasize the theme, I coloured one wall of the room pink.

I hope you will enjoy it.

Now all is well prepared for the upcoming exhibition; on Tuesday, 03. June, visitors will be able to see for themselves.
Please, allow me to give you a little virtual tour.
In the three adjacent “crown-halls”, one will find many impressive pieces of contemporary whitework along with a unique variety of antique and reproduced embroideries featuring Schwalm crowns.
Along the walls of each room, rows of framed and meticulously hung embroidered crowns set the theme of the exhibition. The interested viewer will be able to see, draped on tables, window seats, and walls, many skillfully worked fine cloths, nice doilies, noble table runners and picturesque pillowcases.
An abundance of very elaborate embroideries (antique, vintage, and contemporary), as well as less elaborate versions, will be on display.
In every room you will find places to sit, rest, and be inspired. From very old, antique exhibits a lot can be learned and then applied to contemporary whitework. The “blue corner”, the “Christmas corner” and, of course, the “costume corner” offer individual specialities.
The “aviary” hosts all the gorgeous bird motifs. The “Schwalm Bird Tree”, the “Bird Wedding Sampler”, the “Bird Wedding Cloth” will make you marvel. An array of designs (borders, wreath, corner, and center motifs) featuring the charming Schwalm birds rounds off the amazing collection. Of course, crowns with integrated bird motifs should not be overlooked.
The round table has been placed so to offer the opportunity to rummage through books, design drawings and design prints, to chat, to discuss and to learn. On most days, Mrs. Mengel, an experienced teacher, will be present beside me.

Everything is ready for you … all except ONE picture which I am withholding from you for a little while. Please look forward to it!

Here you can download a flyer with all pertinent information regarding the exhibition “noble & WHITE”.

Noble & WHITE
Embroidery at its best
In this new exhibition, one will be able to marvel at a wide range of beautiful and impressive embroideries. Many talented hands have created true masterpieces of embroidery art – especially Schwalm whitework. Well-known designers have accomplished a small miracle by creating many new and expert designs.

Such a vast display of “Schwalm Crowns” has never been assembled before! Our ancestors have left us a treasure trove of the most beautiful and most interesting ornamentation. The Schwalm Crown designs that will be on display were reproduced, through diligence and hard work, from an extensive collection of traditional embroidery. More than 100 of these Schwalm-typical additions to gorgeous white embroidery are shown. Other elegant crowns – made suitable for the whitework in a modified form – find their way onto various exhibition pieces.

Also on display will be embroidery unique to the Schwalm costume of bygone eras. You will be able to see “cap-top” designs, “apron-square” designs, and garter designs!

The exhibition will also include a focus on the quaint variety of embroidered bird shapes. The “Schwalm Bird Tree” is only one example of the wide range of different designs. The surviving bird motifs, integrated into modern designs, keep alive an inimitable charm. The embroidered “Bird Wedding ” will surely appeal to you! Many samplers anticipate the almost unlimited design possibilities of this fascinating embroidery technique.

In addition to very old embroideries (some several hundreds of years old), there will be traditional embroidery with a new modern look without frills. Please look forward to a spring-fresh tulip wreath as well as an impressive leaves square, and much, much more. It will not be easy to find your “favorite”. I invite you to embark on the hunt!

This exhibition is shown on the second floor of the building “Boyneburger Tor 3” in 37269 Eschwege, Germany. It is an additional exhibition to my permanent exhibition on the third floor.

The exhibitions will be open from 03. June through 30. August; every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11-15
Entrance Fee: €4 (includes access to both exhibitions)
Special circumstances will be considered; if you are unable to visit on posted days, please email your request.