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150 YEARS OF ALICE IN WONDERLAND AT THE MORGAN LIBRARY

Victoria here. One of the highlights of my recent trip to New York City was the Morgan Library, the first time I had been there since the Renzo Piano addition. My photos, unless otherwise indicated.

The Morgan Library with the House at left and glass Piano addition in the middle and

the Library on the far right, above the traffic

Above and below: the Renzo Piano Pavilion that unites the house, the library and the annex into an integrated whole. Adding to the effect of the brilliant light is the colorful display by artist Spencer Finch entitled A Certain Slant of Light, through August 23.

John Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) was a banker, financier, and collector, and the descendant of several distinguished colonial and New England families. After his death, his son, J. P. Morgan Jr.(1867-1943), endowed a foundation to house and maintain his father’s collections of manuscripts, books, and artwork. Today the oft-expanded library presents lectures, exhibitions, concerts, research facilities, and other programs for the public.

I was eager to see the exhibition Alice: 150 Years of Wonderland. The Exhibition website is here.

On display at the Morgan Library through October 11, 2015

In the exhibit

As the text panels tell us, Alice in Wonderland was first published in 1865 by Lewis Carroll, pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, three years after he told the story to Alice Liddell on a summer boating trip from Oxford. Alice asked him to write out the story of Alice’s odd adventures, and after three years of writing and expanding the story, he had it self-published with illustrations by Sir John Tenniel. It was temporarily withdrawn because the pictures were poorly reproduced, but after re-publication, it has never been out of print.

John Tenniel (1820–1914) “Why is a raven like a writing-desk?”

Hand-colored proof, 1885 The Morgan Library and Museum, New York.

gift of Arthur A. Houghton, Jr., Photography by Steven H. Crossot, 2014.

John Tenniel (1820–1914), Nothing but a pack of cards! 1885,

Hand-colored proof. Gift of Arthur A. Houghton, Jr., The Morgan Library and Museum,

Photography by Steven H. Crossot, 2014.

Illustrations are reproduced on the walls; Alice and the Dodo

Charles Dodgson

Preparatory drawing and published version of the White Rabbit by Tenniel in the first edition

The White Rabbit

Alice Liddell in a photo and in Dodgson’s drawing at right

I couldn’t resist walking around in the historic library where Pierpont Morgan collected his manuscripts, books, and art.

Drawing of the front elevation of the Library

built by Charles McKim (1847-1909), completed in 1906

The magnificent library (East Room)

Rotunda

The Study, where children were getting a briefing on the library

part of the well-stocked gift and book shop (in the old house)

To shop on line, click here.

DUKE OF WELLINGTON TOUR REPORTS….BACK SOON.

We’ll return shortly with lots more posts re-living our Duke of Wellington Tour….just a short break at the tale end of another summer. Last year at this time we were preparing to start the tour…now it is memory- and picture-time,

“Mounting Guard, St. James’s Park” (Horse Guards Parade) 1809

from Microcosm of London

Thanks for your patience,,,Kristine and Victoria

MORE WATERLOO WEDNESDAYS….AFTER A BRIEF BREAK

JESS RUSSELL AND THE DRESSMAKER'S DUKE

Victoria here, bringing you the delightful story of Jess Russell, who opted for historical accuracy to the extent that she fashioned her own regency gown, sometimes working by candlelight, to know what a regency dressmaker would have experienced.

DRESSMAKER JESS RUSSELL

I met Jess at the Beau Monde’s 2015 Regency Writers Conference and Soiree, where she appeared (above) in her lovely creation. All of us were wowed in the best 21st century tradition!

Jess is the author of the best-selling novel The Dressmaker’s Duke. To Read more about Jess and her novel, click here.

Jess agreed to tell the story of her novel and her gown for this blog. She writes:

In The Dressmaker’s Duke, my Heroine, Olivia Weston, is (surprise) a dressmaker. To help launch the book I decided to create a Regency gown from scratch, just as Olivia would have done.

Imagine sewing everything by hand, in poor light, without even a dress form. And then, after working your fingers to the bone creating this stunning gown, you can’t even get your rich client to pay up. Well, my poor heroine goes through such a trial. The good news is her money troubles throw her smack up against my monkish, but oh-so-sexy Duke.

So, I thought it only fitting that as Olivia’s creator, I should have to step into her slippers.

Below is the finished gown~

And now me modeling~

Things I learned making this gown~

1. Hand sewing a simple straight seam takes about 7 x’s longer than using a machine.

2. Use a thimble if you can master it. Your fingertips will thank you. (I ended up using the finger
tip of an old leather glove.)

3. Approximately 29 hours spent sewing.

4. Approximately the same number of threaded needles used.

5. Back stitch! If you have to cut the fabric and have used a back stitch you won’t lose all your
stitches.

6. Run your thread through bees wax. This helps the thread from snarling.

7. It is EXTREMELY hard to rip out when sewing lace. All the threads look alike.

8. It is surprisingly hard to sew in a straight line.

9. My best running stitch was 14 stitches per inch.

10. I now have arthritis in my pinkie finger.

11. Good lighting is paramount! Not easy when you are trying to sew by candlelight. Seamstresses
must have had very tired eyes.

Things I learned wearing this gown at the Beau Monde Soiree~

1. It is surprisingly comfortable.

2. These light gowns must have been lovely in the summer, but brutal in winter in a chilly castle.

3. You have to be aware of the blasted train at all times! I would think it’s much like driving;
you have to watch out for not only you, but the other drivers as well. (I can’t imagine
negotiating a crowded ball room. No wonder there was always a maid installed in the “ladies
retiring room” to m
end ripped hems.)

4. Country dances are exhausting but great FUN!

5. You cannot do a darned thing when wearing gloves. And taking them on and off can be a
painstaking task.

At the Beau Monde Soiree, L to R: Ann, Sir Reggie, Jess

I made the over-dress out of an old bed canopy. Re-purposing this piece of lace inspired my blog called “Trash to Treasure.” Each month I transform a thrift store find into something new and exciting! You can find me at://jessrussellromance.com/

For a sneak peak here is my Mid-century evening coat re-made into a 19^th century Redingote!

The Dressmaker’s Duke was a double finalist in the National Readers Choice Awards for Best First Book and Best Historical and is available at Amazon, iTunes, and BandN.

Thanks so much for having me share my love of sewing! Jess Russell

Victoria again. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences, Jess. And just to remind readers of this blog and not incidentally myself (!) — all us us who thinks this might be easy — Jess adds:

I have been sewing since I was very young. So when I embarked on my first novel the phrase “write what you know” came to mind. Well, I know sewing. Here is my wedding gown. The pattern I made out of newspaper and the rest I made up as I went along.