Hello Voyager (2024)

24/08/2024

Hampton Court Palace is the place to be on a rainy day, even in the gardens. Plus, it's a perfect excuse to warm up with tea and a cake in the afternoon.

23/08/2024

Cats, flowers, afternoon tea, and general beauty at today.

19/06/2024

I was swept away with the Livestream yesterday, where we shared the new Bridgerton collection. Erin and I made a special set - she brought in the most gorgeous flowers, and I brought in my grandmother's china and felt cakes that are actually hair fascinators (because who doesn't want to wear a blue swiss roll in their hair?). Now I want Bridgerton fabrics everywhere.

15/04/2024

Thanks to for putting on another fabulous Midwest Pottery Fest. My beautiful piece by .r.castaneda came with a free bouquet which is adding a pop of sunshine to my Monday morning.

29/03/2024

bought me the cutest pink and green vintage sewing box o' accessories to match my pink and green sewing room. Now, if I only had a matching pink and green machine.

09/03/2024

Starting the Marceau class at

29/02/2024

Flashback to September when I got to wear the most fabulous lilac taffeta vintage dress to a wedding. The cream satin collar and cuffs have tiny white daisies ♥️. I love the rustle of taffeta, it makes everything more fun.

13/02/2024

I'm with in Santa Fe for our Fractured Jacket Workshop! The ladies are making some gorgeous garments, and of course we are getting a lot of inspiration from the local artists.

10/02/2024

Did you know that we have a newsletter? It goes out twice a month (usually) and is full of textile inspiration. Last week, I sent out a recap of my visit to the exhibit.

I wanted to share some photos with you. Of course, I was thrilled to see a suit designed by Barbara Hulanicki on display - I had to get my photo with it!

I didn't catch the names of all the designers, but I will say that photo four is Diane Von Furstenburg, Barbara Hulanicki, and Betsey Johnson.

The Chevron dress in photo six was designed by Valentina (I've never seen one of her designs in person before!). And the last photo is a breathtaking dress by Jeanne Lanvin.

If you like to see things like this, there is a link to sign up to our newsletter in our profile.

18/01/2024

On a quick trip to NY for the fabric shows. On our freezing walk back to the hotel last night, I looked up to see the Empire State building peaking out to say hello!

15/01/2024

The 202 Grand British Textile Tour is here! Join us in London, the Lake District, and Edinburgh for a magical tour of textile arts immersion. There is too much on the itinerary to list here, so pop over to our (new) website to check it out. The link is in our profile.

11/01/2024

Oh hey, me too! Good thing I'm planning the Grand British Textile Tour 2024. Details coming sooooon!

09/01/2024

Get your passport ready.

07/01/2024

When Britain calls, you have to answer. It's been calling me for weeks now and I'm happy to report that the 2024 Grand British Textile Tour will be announced soon!

27/11/2023

I already miss the palm trees.

01/11/2023

Our second outing on the was to Style & Society: Dressing The Georgians exhibit, which was at Buckingham Palace. It was such a great exhibit that I didn't get that many photos! But, here are some of my favorites...

1 & 2. Princess Charlotte's wedding gown from 1816. It is the only royal wedding dress to survive from the Georgian period. Per the custom at the time, the wedding dress was silver. "The dazzling, reflective appearance of the dress is created through the extensive use of silver lama. This specialist type of embroidery was produced by binding strips of silver or gold ‘thread’ (lama) onto a net ground."

3. This isn't a great photo, but it might have been my favorite thing at the exhibit. It is a book of the different buttonhole facings used for each regiment in the military in 1768. If that doesn't give you some sewing inspiration, I don't know what will.

4. An embroidered mantua dress in cream silk This dress is from the 1760s and is in incredible condition. The detail was extraordinary.

5. A painting of (probably) Lady Mary Wortley Montague from 1717-1718. Lady Mary lived in Turkey while her husband was an ambassador there, and I thought it was interesting that she chose to have her portrait painted wearing Turkish garments.

6. Apologies for the bit of blur on this photo, but the painting is of Madame De Pompadour sitting at her tambour embroidery frame. They paired it with a roll of hand-painted silk from China, circa 1760.

7. And finally, the exhibit entrance banner.

01/11/2023

Our second outing on the was to Style & Society: Dressing The Georgians exhibit, which was at Buckingham Palace. It was such a great exhibit that I didn't get that many photos! But, here are some of my favorites...

1 & 2. Princess Charlotte's wedding gown from 1816. It is the only royal wedding dress to survive from the Georgian period. Per the custom at the time, the wedding dress was silver. "The dazzling, reflective appearance of the dress is created through the extensive use of silver lama. This specialist type of embroidery was produced by binding strips of silver or gold ‘thread’ (lama) onto a net ground."

3. This isn't a great photo, but it might have been my favorite thing at the exhibit. It is a book of the different buttonhole facings used for each regiment in the military in 1768. If that doesn't give you some sewing inspiration, I don't know what will.

4. An embroidered mantua dress in cream silk This dress is from the 1760s and is in incredible condition. The detail was extraordinary.

5. A painting of (probably) Lady Mary Wortley Montague from 1717-1718. Lady Mary lived in Turkey while her husband was an ambassador there, and I thought it was interesting that she chose to have her portrait painted wearing Turkish garments.

6. Apologies for the bit of blur on this photo, but the painting is of Madame De Pompadour sitting at her tambour embroidery frame. They paired it with a roll of hand-painted silk from China, circa 1760.

7. And finally, the exhibit entrance banner.

24/09/2023

and I took our first visit to yesterday where we looked at absolutely everything in the store. Per usual, everything was spectacular - from the textural Farm Rio windows, to the incredible central store display, which included a soft, bejeweled panther, bubbly mushrooms and a giant banana. It really is the best store ever.

22/09/2023

All gardens, all day. We had an incredible lunch at followed by a full afternoon at

We were happy to see purple aster, a Missouri native plant, well represented at Kew! Along with thousands of other incredible plants, of course.

We start the official on Sunday, but and I have another play day tomorrow.

10/09/2023

A sunny Sunday morning admiring my quilt - the focal point of the wood wall, and what became the basis for our living room colors.

When I was growing up my mom hung vintage quilts on the wall, which I never really thought about at the time but now I realize that it was a brilliant idea, particularly in the stairwell landing which had huge walls. She's a smart lady.

08/09/2023

One year ago, we were exploring Savile Row on the and reeling from the death of Queen Elizabeth the day before. This display was at Gieves and Hawkes (I think).

In almost two weeks we'll be back on the row!

31/08/2023

Simpatico from Cloud 9 fabrics is still one of my all-time favorite fabric collections. I have one small piece of On Point Minty that I bring out sometimes just to admire. If it was magically re-released, I would actually be inclined to make a quilt with it. Or a whole lot of curtains.

04/08/2023

I ran across these photos I took at the exhibition at the in 2017. I'm a big fan of the way Gudrun mixes colors and prints. I'm not saying I'm ready for fall, but after looking through these, I am getting excited for cardigan-and-tights season.

29/07/2023

Last week we went out to see the new butterfly flock of chickens from which are on display for butterfly festival. The chicken designs are all inspired from real butterfly wings, and they are gorgeous - as are the actual butterflies at the gardens.

Fun fact: you can buy a raffle ticket to enter to win the monarch - inspired chicken! Head over to for more info.

Festival of Butterflies runs through August 6th, so KC people, be sure to go see it.

12/07/2023

Belated Fourth of July weekend at home post. I wore my favorite pink gingham dress, pattern by Butterick . Which was perfect for fireworks, sunsets, becoming one with the corn and all other manner of festivities.

P.S. thanks to the for bringing a coffee shop to Petersburg - it's a whole new world.

23/02/2023

We are re-watching The Great Pottery Throwdown on HBO, filmed at Middleport Pottery. We visited Middleport on our last so at least once an episode I get to say, "I was there, and I totally saw that room!". I enjoy it, but it's getting on the husband's nerves. As a guest from last year's tour pointed out, this was also where Peaky Blinders was filmed!

17/02/2023

I am so excited to announce the 2023 Grand British Textile Tour, September 24 - October 3! Join us for all-new experiences in London, Bath, and the Cotswolds.

The Grand British Textile Tour is tailor-made for creative people who enjoy textile art as fashion, interior design, crafts, and more. While our focus is on fiber, we also know that inspiration can be found around every corner. This is why we also include sites that we think will inspire our guest's creativity.

Tour highlights include:
•Crown to Couture exhibit at Kensington Palace
•Private viewing of the American Museum textile collection
•Studio visits with local artists
•Private workshop at Barley Court Textile Studio
•Private tour of Savile Row with a fashion historian
•So much more!

As ever, England is a treasure trove of textile sites and we have a packed itinerary of new adventures. I hope you will join us this fall on The Grand British Textile Tour. Learn all about the tour here: https://www.hellovoyager.org/tour-item/grand-british-textile-tour-2023/

Cheers,
Betsy

18/12/2022

It's too cold to come out from under my blanket, so I'm pfaffing around the internet, looking at fun pocket details. As one does. This giant daisy pocket is fantastic.

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