knitting excursion

Once in a while, the 'Vrijstaat O' knitting club decides it is time for an excursion.  Chris, one of our faithful  knitters, works at the Bozar.  The Bozar (palais des Beaux Arts) is the Museum of Arts in our capital city, Brussels.  While we knit, she always talks about the beautiful exhibitions, and now it is something we are all interested in : Belgian Fashion.

It is something to be proud of.  Belgian Fashion Designers are worldwide acknowledged to be exeptional.  Surreal (that is typical Belgian - the painter Magritte was Belgian - ceci n'est pas une pipe - remember? ) Avant -Garde and Explicit are the 3 words that describe our fashion at its best.  Take a look at these 3 items.   

I bet this needed more than 1 blue biro

a sexy corset in national colours

look close, see the weirdness...

The Antwerp 6 have been very infuential, Raf Simons is currently leading the house of Dior.
Edward Vermeulen (Nathan) whose dresses are worn by Queens.  - to name just 2-

So we decided to get together and travel by train to the Bozar, and spend a nice day in Brussels.
We enjoyed the exhibition a lot, Chris was so kind to explain and tell us the 'little history' behind the objects.  She actually travelled to her work on her day off....  just for us !

 

crochet by Ann Salens, a 70-ies designer

 Ann Salens was a girl from Oostende (my home town) with a talent for crochet. During the 70ies she dressed international stars in her handmade dresses.  I was still a young girl in the 70ies, but she inspired me to copy her designs for my barbie dolls.  Still love her work !

now that's a pleated skirt...

Alexa is admiring some dresses. 

Young talent had designed this wall with all their pictures

a new talent from Oostende ! Katrien Van Hecke dyes her own silks

I really liked this outfit !  felted wool and plastic.

The replica of Mary's dress

The St Andries church in Antwerp has a very modern priest.  He wanted a dress for his statue of Mary, and he contacted Ann De Meulemeester.  She designed something very frail, and exquisite.  This one in the museum is just a replica.  Once a year Ann takes the gown to clean it, and then Mary is wearing the replica. You find this hard to believe ?  Well, this is Belgium.

St Andries kerk in Antwerp : the best dressed Mary ever.

really liked this one !

nice one too !

close inspection.  How did they make this ?

the back can be removed... 

in need of some coffee...

In the afternoon we sat outside in the adjoining park.  We knitted and chatted and enjoyed the company.  Knitters from Oostende met knitters from Ghent and Hasselt. The sun was shining and time sure flies by when you're having fun.

thank you Chris (at the right) for a lovely day !

one day to remember...

Whereto next time ladies (and gentleman) ?  Paul Smith is on at the fashion museum in Hasselt...

modemuseum antwerpen

Yesterday, we visited the Momu (Fashion museum) in Antwerp.  It had a special edition about knitted fashion through the centuries, and I really wanted to see it.
A good start : with my teacher's card I got in for free !

we weren't allowed to take pictures with flash lights, and that made it a bit difficult...  Sorry for the bad quality, but just to give you an impression...

what a good idea for wall decoration...

a huge carpet....  knit by one of Flanders' last knitting companies

From the 1920ies & I'd wear this one immediately !

Hilde Frunt and SIGI (mother and son) designed and knitted these

crazy stuff, but sooo original !

beautiful socks with knittted flowers

When we left the Momu, we saw the special exhibit of the Lena & Zasa shop. They sold a knit kit for a Kushu Kushu scarf, knitted and felted with steel, silk and merino incl. bamboo knitting needles.  Who can resist that ?  Certainly not me !  I  bought the knit , in red and black (very dramatic....)

So by then we were ready for a lunch 'al freso' & enjoyed the sunny day at one of Antwerp's many bistro's. 

Here Winnie is a little envious of my gigantic sandwich.....   You don't want to see a picture of me with my mouth full of this....

We had some time left over for shopping and Antwerp is a great town for this.  All shops are just a XXL size compared to the little dwarf-like shops we seem to have in Oostende....  
Inhabitants of Antwerp have this 'air' about them, sometime when you hear them talk it's like they live in New York.  People of Antwerp say they live in THE city, and all the rest of Flanders is their parking space....
To be honest, I'd like to live there for a while, just to enjoy the hustle and the bustle of a big town.

We also paid a visit to the 'Lombardia', a very well known bio-food restaurant/shop  that is very proud to have Sting and Moby as customers (when they are in Belgium)  Check out the website lombardia
There we bought the Ginger Love Tea - invented by a Belgian, a really divine drink !

After another cup of coffee and a piece of low-fat, calorie burning no sugar added double chocolate cake, we were ready for home.

waiting for the intercity train....   with a bag full of goodies....

I'm starting on my kushu kushu scarf right now, will keep you informed about progress....