Friday, May 8, 2015

Delectable Night at the Museum

The last couple of weeks, I went on a Crazy Road Trip that took me North to meet up with friends.

We had three days of wonder-filled fun which ended at my picking Jack up from school in Boston and driving home.  After 34 hours in a car in a period of one week, my back gave out.  

Right now I'm lying here on my belly with a herniated disk, finally able to arch my back enough to type out this long overdue post.  That'll teach me for turning 50 and thinking I'm still 22.

To take my mind off the pain, allow me to re-live my extra-special expedition with these two brilliantly beautiful women...



I had never met Lisa so when I heard she would be attending the Slow Stitching Getaway with Allie in New Jersey,  I proposed a road trip adventure and they accepted.

We drove from New Jersey to Brattleboro, making a bee line to Delectable Mountain Cloth.

Driving into town, we were greeted by one of Vermont's quaint covered bridges...


Jan was waiting for us, having just arranged this Spring-born bouquet for our arrival...


We spent the day together; laughing and sharing and shopping and oohing and aahing over all the exquisite cloth.

As the day waned, we headed out for a cup of joe and a trip down the hill...


To the local art museum where Jan's friend had a piece in the current textile exhibition there...


And we carried Jan's cloth with us as we went...


The day was pure bliss and we didn't think it could get much better...until the sun went down and then all bets were off.

It began with dinner at Brattleboro's T.J. Buckley's.  The magic, I mean.

Jim and I had been there for dinner last Fall after we dropped Jack off at school.  It's a super special place.

Tiny...there are only eight tables.  Enchanting...you're seated in a refurbished dining car.



Intimate...Chef Michael cooks in the same room with you and there are only two other staff members.



It's most definitely a place for special occasions...like celebrating with three women whom you admire and don't get to see very often.



The company, the food, the atmosphere...we savored it.  Every bite.  When we left, we were somewhere close to heaven I'm sure.

We floated all the way back to Delectable Mountain Cloth where Jan had to pick up a couple CDs of her music to give to Allie and Lisa.

So imagine it...you've had an amazing meal on top of a day filled with beauty and treasure...and then you walk down the streets of Brattleboro at night and you get to peek through these windows...










Your eyes get wide, your heart beats fast, your breathing quickens...and your insides squeal with delight.

And even though the store is closed, it's not for you!

Because you're with the owner and she opens the door and lets you inside...!



See what I mean?  I had to stop jumping up and down so I could take pictures.

The store was dark but for the window lights reflecting off the whites of the laces and linens, the radiance of the silks, and the luster of the buttons.

I found these quilt blocks made by Jan tucked away on a shelf.  When she pulled them down and spread them out, the three of us smiled aloud.  Each was about 4" square and the fabric combinations were masterful...




Jan pulled out her scrapbooks and began to share.  Her story.

   

The story of the store and how she came to be where she is now. The clippings, photographs, notes, and people...the memories that have all become Delectable Mountain Cloth.




It was magical; a secret passageway to the heart of the store.

It was after Jan had turned off the lights and re-locked the door and we were walking away when Allie captured it perfectly.

"Wow," she said.  "That was like Night at the Museum, wasn't it? Just like Night at the Museum..."

Something extraordinary had come to life after dark that wasn't visible in the light of day.  We had felt it.  I'm sure that the fairies re-appeared after we had gone to set the store to right again.  A magical night at the museum of cloth.

Stores like Jan's don't just happen...they're made.

They're tended and fed.  They're cultivated and curated.

They require bold and brave souls to devote their lives to preserving a trade, to following a call.  I'm sure it's not easy.  Stores like Delectable Mountain Cloth are rare and in constant danger of fading away.

If you haven't been there, you need to go.  And if you can't go...call Jan the next time you need some cloth.

Next post, I'll share what I brought home with me and I'll continue the Road Trip.

Writing this post has almost made me forget the shooting pain in my back and butt.  Almost.


P.S.  In case you missed it, I made a video of Jan and her store and posted it on Vimeo when Jim and I were there last September.  Here's the link.  Make sure you click on HD for high-definition if you're going to watch it full screen; otherwise it's fuzzy.  The music to the video is one of Jan's compositions and my favorite, Falling.

15 comments:

allie aller said...

Reliving and loving every moment with your excellent telling and beautiful imagery. Thank you, Susan, Lisa, and Jan, for an experience I will treasure for the rest of my days....xoxo

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Oh my gosh ~ how wonderful for you to have a road trip with these three ladies. I've been a follower of Lisa's for quite some time now and am always inspired by her creations. I have one of her pincushion creations in my little space here that I won in a give-away this past December.

I'm a recent follower of Allie's and am being inspired by her works also.

You have inspired me greatly to keep learning and stitching. Your works are awe inspiring.

What fun you all must have had and then going into Jan's shop. She's a curator of much beauty.

I enjoyed the video you made, it touched me so that it made me feel like crying.

Thanks for sharing this trip of yours.

I'm so sorry you are in such pain and pray that you'll have a speedy recovery.

Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady

P.S. I love that photo of the 4 of you at the end of your post. All lovely, creative ladies.

NickiLee said...

What a wonderful and fabulous time you all had! I had heard you, Lisa and Allie tell the story of your trip but not until I saw it in these pictures did I realize just how magical it truly was. Planning a trip up to Delectables soon - can't wait!!! Sending positive vibes and gentles hugs that your back is feeling better soon. Was so good to see you again!
Nicki Lee

Lorraine said...

OMG, don't know how I missed this post but I did! What a fabulous evening to remember, yup, night at the museum for sure! :)

Lisa Boni said...

How wonderful to relive our truly amazing and wonderful journey! Those three days together will long live in my memories as one of the treasured experiences of my life! I'm just sorry that your back had to pay the price of our journey - prayers for quick healing!

Createology said...

I am so sorry your back has you in serious pain. I have known this back pain for over 20 years now. Healing Energy Dear. Your "night at the Museum" with friends is a precious treasure indeed. Be Well Soon...

margaret said...

this is what I call a trip of a lifetime what fun you must have had and with such special people
Do hope the back recovers quickly and you are able to be up and about and more importantly stitching again!

Unknown said...

What a lovely post. You really captured Jan's beautiful soul and the magic of Delectable Mountain.

Lady Locust said...

Go ahead and take my picture and color it greeeen! I am so envious. What a special treat.

Shirlee Fassell said...

Hoping your back is on the mend soon! Every time I am at Delectable I tell Jan that it is my idea of Heaven! Your days in Vt look wonderful. Gotta go to TJ Buckleys!

Dane said...

Ça devait être trop bien cette visite et ce magasin !!! ça n'existe pas en France.
Merci pour le reportage

Rachel said...

A magical trip - but I do hope you get better soon!

Judy S. said...

Sounds like you had a fabulous trip except for the back issues. Hope your back gets better real soon! Have you ever tried Pilates? It sure helped my back.

stitchkat said...

Thank you for all your posts about Delectable Mountain. It's a shop I have longed to visit, but it's quite a road trip from Texas!

Suztats said...

Loved watching the video and reading about your road trip! Jan's store looks wonderful! I think I want to live there. I hope your back is all better real soon. (I forget I'm not 20 every spring when gardening season comes along......) Take care.

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