A special mention of the American Guild of Some Recent Guests Embroiderers whose enthusiasm made us look again at what treasures our Chinese Mandarin Silks are. THE MUSEUM OF AYRSHIRE Thanks to Glasgow South cyclists who give COUNTRY LIFE AND COSTUME our scones a savaging every second Sunday This exhibition is one of the best we morning NEWSLETTER 28 have ever offered to visitors. It Spring/Summer 2012 contains not only some of the most Scottish Charity 022397 elegant pieces of Edwardian costume which we have had for The Third Biennial Current Costume some time, but also some out- standing purchases and gifts from the "Sew n’ Sews" Exhibition recent disposal of the contents of Quilt Exhibition neighbouring Blair House. The period from 1900 until 1920. Thanks too, to BBC Antiques Road Trip, for bringing all the local people who have lived saw some of the most transformative here all their lives, but didn’t know we were years ever for women’s clothing. here. The industry, which we now call fashion, drew it’s ideas from all over the world, and from huge changes in social and political life. On display are wonderful feathers and furs, beading and embroidery, and exqui- You have loved the first two, and site fabrics from silk, satin, organza, this promises to be even better, if tulle, peau-de-soie, tussah, and possible. nainsook, to name but a few. Begins 10th November, 2012 until To be honest it is heartening to see the end of January, 2013, with a the open mouthed reaction to the ex- If you take some fabulous automobiles, break for Christmas and New year. hibition, our sincere thanks to the great food, and a wonderful setting, who Fliers for it will be available here many donors whose generosity has could ask for anything more. made it possible. a recent visit by the Morgan Owners Club. soon.. Farewell to Blair House Museum Intern A Happy Anniversary Our New Building The new building is living up to it’s purpose, of being a store, workshop, education space and it’s presence has brought some donations which would not have been possible before. Included in these is the Cheese Press reputed to be the one with which the Many of our local visitors will first Dunlop Cheese was made. Our already be aware, that Blair Estate thanks to SAC for entrusting it to us. whose owners purchased the Mill You may see a new young face around the Museum, this will It has also allowed us to build the in 1622 and sold it to the Curator’s The Mill in about 1922, a working Meal and Saw Mill. large display cases we were gifted, to family in 1922, has been sold , perhaps be Sarah, our new Museum intern who we are sharing with the safely show both the Chinese and including the contents of the Japanese embroideries. mansion house. The Trust has Scottish Maritime Museum in received excellent donations from Irvine. Sarah is cataloguing our lace the family over many years, and are collection and will have the unique happy to acknowledge the gifts of opportunity of creating an exhibition costume pieces received recently of it in the Textile Gallery in August Our thanks to the supporter who and September. As always we are offered a gift of £1000 to secure an dependant on external experts for embroidered screen with close advice, and we are happy to record connections to the locality. Sadly it our thanks to Jean Leader for her Virtually the same elevation today. visit and her expertise .If you are a sold for four times the estimate. On the eight of May, 1987, The lace person, you might have been as newly restored and converted overwhelmed as we were originally, Dalgarven Mill opened to the public by the differences between bobbin as the new Museum of Ayrshire lace, machine lace, chemical lace, Country Life. Little did we know that embroidered net, and all the other twenty five years later we would still sub sets of tatting, crochet, drawn be here on a daily basis. Our Scissors Sister. thread work et al, above is a little Now would be a fitting time to thank taster of what we have in our mod- the family, friends, volunteers and We are happy to thank Rachel, our est collection. above all the donors who have helped new costume conservator, whose The internships, funded by the us to realise our dream. However skills with a needle and thread have Heritage Lottery Fund, have been we do still need volunteers in all to be seen to be believed. She has such a success that they are to be facets of he Museum’s life. If you are done outstanding work on the Prime Minister Asquith at Blair in 1910. repeated next year. Chinese Imperial gown above, and interested please speak to one of us. on many other garments and textiles. .