A Virtual Tour of Charleston Farmhouse in the UK

A heads-up that there is a great opportunity to support Charleston Farmhouse, the Sussex, England UK home of Bloomsbury Group Painters Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell. On Thursday, October 1st at 2 pm EASTERN TIME (7 pm BST), a Virtual Tour is being hosted by Artist/Decorative Painter Annie Sloan and Curator Dr. Darren Clarke. 

The Bloomsbury Group began in the early 1900's and encompassed a large number of artists, authors, and intellectuals including Grant, Bell, Virginia Woolf (Vanessa's sister), Lytton Strachey, Maynard Keynes, Roger Fry and more. Charleston Farmhouse became a mecca for their large group of friends (read about them here). Over the years, the rooms were hand painted with innovative treatments which have inspired textile and other artists for years. In the 1980's after the death of Duncan Grant, the home began to be restored. For years, it has inspired visitors with its beauty and quirkiness and has been featured in many, many books and publications. 

I had the good fortune to visit Charleston along with Virginia Woolf's home Monk's House which is now owned by the National Trust over 20 years ago. I look forward to seeing it again - if only virtually - on Thursday. 

The talk has a sliding scale of 20, 30 or 40 British pounds and a video of the talk will be available for a week after with your paid ticket. Purchase tickets here. Hope to see you at Charleston. 

A Visit to Boscobel + Make Do Collection of Andrew Baseman

Almost twenty years ago, I purchased this pitcher at an antique store. I fell in love with the blue and white color and the incised design. What really caught my eye though was the handle which had been repaired with metal staples painted white to match the ceramic color of the pitcher. 

Every year I have loved using this pitcher for summer flowers.

Fast forward a few years later or so, I read an article in Martha Stewart Living Magazine, where I was introduced to the "Make Do" world of Andrew Baseman. (Gee, I miss the old version of MS Living - do you?) You can see that article from 2001 here. Andrew had collected antiques that were repaired with clever treatments. Wood and metal turned bases that were attached to glass stemware, ceramic pitchers repaired with metal staples, teapots with metal handles and knobs and platters and plates repaired with metal staples. I was intrigued by the clever way that someone had taken the time to repair these pieces so that they could still be used. 

I have been following Andrew's blog Past Imperfect for many years and learned that his collection would be displayed at Boscobel in Garrison, NY. This past August, Julia, Mom and I hopped in the car and visited Bosobel, a historic house built in the late 18th/early 19th century in NY. Boscobel has a fascinating history. The beautiful antique home was actually moved to a site right on the Hudson River in the mid 20th century. You can learn more about Boscobel here. 

Today, I am going to share with you this beautiful home. We had a fantastic tour guide who was funny and smart and let us in on many of the secrets to the home. Throughout the home, Andrew's  Make Do collection was placed on tables, mantles and sideboards. 

I was so happy to get to see this home and collection. In the basement of the home (the former kitchen), there is a second exhibit of more of Andrew Baseman's Make Do collection. I'll share close-ups of many of these soon. 

If you live close to Boscobel or are looking for an adventure, I highly suggest a visit to both the house and the exhibit. It is on until October 1. On September 22, Andrew will be doing a special presentation. More info here.

The view from the entrance to the house of the Hudson

Entrance hall

Wallpaper detail

Parlor

Parlor fireplace detail

Dining Room

Make Dos in the pantry

Upstairs the bedrooms are a little less opulent but just as beautiful. There were many Make Dos scattered throughout.

This candlewicking bedspread was incredible.

Upstairs there was also a gorgeous library with a table loaded with pottery Make Dos.

I'll share more of the exhibit of Make Dos soon. 

End of Summer Visit to Cogswell's Grant

It is hard to believe it is September 1st and the Labor Day Holiday is this weekend. Last week, Julia and I headed off to Newburyport to sneak a couple days of vacation in before school began again. We had a great time visiting our friends Rose Ann, Kristin and Leslie. Newburyport is on the north shore of Boston. It is a very old town that is very beautiful. It is loaded with amazing big and small very old houses. The downtown area is vibrant and full of life. 

One day, Julia and I headed off to Cogswell's Grant. I had heard about this historic home years ago and have been meaning to visit it. It is owned by Historic New England (formerly SPNEA). The home was built in 1728 and is the former home of Nina and Bertram Little who were early collectors of Early American Folk Art. 

First off - you just have to love the color of the house - Pumpkin Orange! It is so distinctive, isn't it? 

The Littles collected Early American Antiques when there was a large supply available - not like now when it is really difficult to find and afford old things. The home is filled with pottery, furniture, primitive folk art paintings, textiles, and more. It is arranged as they lived with their things. The home is a bit crowded and dark but it is a great place full of visual delights. It was their summer home and is not winterized. There is no air conditioning (and it was hot). I do not know if it is handi-capped accessible - I tend to doubt it because the stairs are very steep and they have kept the place as it was in the 1800's. There is a big beautiful barn that houses the welcome center and tells the long story of the property and all the inhabitants before the Littles. The site can also be rented for weddings and special events.

I found this photo of Nina and Bertram on the Historic New England website. 

I asked if I could take photos inside the home when I arrived. The guide said that it would be okay without a flash. She also said that it took a winter's worth of conversation to decide that photographs would now be allowed inside the house. I told her that it was a good thing they have joined the 21st century as more people will be aware of their museum and Historic New England via the internet. Although these photos are less than stellar they will give you an idea of the home and the collection. I hope they might serve as inspiration for you all as they are for me. Here is a sideboard full of incredible old pottery pieces. 

I loved this old sideboard with painted decoration. 

Isn't this woman pretty? 

Here are a selection of the needlework pieces I found inspiring:

Embroidered pictures

Hooked bedcover!

Hooked spotted cat rug at Cogswell's Grant. The paws are huge. 

Part of the border of the hooked cat rug

These three photos are details of an embroidered bedcover that came from Italy, New York. I loved the motifs. 

A pinchusion

Needlepoint

A hooked rug serving as a mat on a chest. Love the different heights.

Another rug which we had to step gingerly around.

A needlepoint cushion featuring dogs and flora

The Littles had a huge collection of wooden boxes. Here is a pretty one. 

I loved these hat boxes covered with wallpaper. 

I am crazy over the painted decoration on this old blanket chest. 

These photos are from Nina's tiny study where she wrote her books on a typewriter. I loved the wallpaper. 

Nina Little wrote several books on antiques that are still available. Little by Little is her story about how they built their collection. This is a good article about both of them and their contributions to collecting Early American art antiques. 

If you ever get to the North Shore of Boston during the summer, I highly recommend a trip to Cogswell's Grant in Essex, Massachusetts. The town is also full of many good antique shops. 

Poor Julia -- getting dragged to another historic house on summer vacation. She was a good sport and after we continued on to Rockport to visit with our friend Leslie who some of you might know from sheep and knitting festivals. 

I hope you all enjoy the upcoming holiday weekend if you are in North America. So hard to believe summer is almost over.