Dear London,
japra | Jul 17, 2008 | Comments 12
I had such a nice time with you yesterday. Wasn’t the weather wonderful? No rain and not too cool nor too hot (well, except in the underground).
I was going to send you photos of our day, but I can’t find my camera cable anywhere! I’ve been working in three different rooms lately, so I think it got lost in the shuffle… I’ll send pics to you later.
Anyway, don’t you love what they’ve done with the newly re-opened Jewelry exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum? The room is so cool looking–it was like walking into a huge vault. Come to think of it, that is probably what it is! Everything is so beautifully displayed and very well lit. I think my favorite pieces this time were the steel chatelaine, the coral tiara and the Berlin Iron Jewelry. Very unusual!
I also enjoyed:
- Collaborations: UK Design for Performance, open through August 31st
- Winnie-the-Pooh: Drawings by E.H. Shepard (1879–1976), open through September 8th
- Beatrix Potter: All the Little Side Shows, open through August 31st
- The Swarm Chandelier by the architect Zaha Hadid. Roxi and I saw an exhibit of her designs at the Guggenheim in New York City a couple of years back. Cool stuff.
- The Devonshire Tapestries
- and of course, the V&A Museum Store (I was good and only bought this one book.)
And one day when I have more time, I’d love to spend hours and hours in the National Art Library at the V&A.
BTW, Roxi and her friend went to the London Dungeon. I asked her to write a short review of the place, but it will be a while until she posts it. She is visiting her friend from Texas (they are at the grandmother’s home with the rest of the friend’s family, about an hour south of us) this week and then the friend will come to our house for a couple of days.
Until next time!
Just a Plane Ride Away
XOXO
Filed Under: Blog • Destinations • London • United Kingdom
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
Cool post! You make the jewelry exhibit sound deee-vine!
Now I want to go back to London!
I haven't been to the V&A in years. You make it sound so tempting!
I look forward to Roxi's Dungeon post. I went there for a Halloween party in 1987! Yikes.
Laurie–The museums are so amazing here. They are full to the brim with goodies. If I could, I’d try to get a job in one of them. Drool!!
Alyson–Come on over! Love your photos of your town today. It’s so beautiful and reminds me of… England.
Bee–How are things in the States? You can tell me, I can take it… I’m developing my “stiff upper lip”.
I love London!!!! It’s been way too long since I’ve been there.
AND you must read The HOliday!!! It’s really a sweet, sweet movie.
Joni
Joni–London awaits… BTW, I bought The Holiday :-) Can’t wait to see those houses!
What about the Supremes exhibit at the V&A? Any good? My daughter is going to London next week! Mimsy
Mimsy–The Supremes Exhibit is located in the center of the Fashion area of the V&A and seems rather small, but for a fan, I am sure there are treasures to be found. They had three identical dresses on display in front of the Exhibit. Boy were they skinny!
You are SO lucky!
Next time I am in London my plan is the V&A, after the Imperial War museum of course ;)
I am told you can spend days just in the fashion part of it. I can't wait!
Susan–That sounds like fun! The pull out panels of lace in the textile section are exquisite! It made me think, “No lace, Mrs. Bennet, NO lace.!” ;-)
For a few minutes, I enjoyed being a stranger in a different time zone and culture. I was a young woman alone and enjoying the pleasure like a dream.
Thank you japra for this experience of a lifetime. It was so long ago when I was 15 and can’t even remember what it was like or how I was feeling about life the.
So this was a real treat, like eating ice cream made of clouds and sweetened with rain.
AR
Hmmm. I think you have pockets I don’t know about, Amanda! Hopefully one day you’ll share that story with me. :-)