Mulhouse - December 10th

We got to sleep in till 8 today as we didn't leave for the museum till 9:40.  Breakfast was provided downstairs and included a fancy coffee maker and this thing that you could cook your own hard boiled egg in.  This was especially nice since it was snowing like crazy outside.

You can see the snow a little better here, thank to Jackie.

Here's me.  Not my best look but it was warm we all wrapped up like that.

The walk to the museum was about 20 minutes.  This was a museum dedicated to the history of fabric in this town.  It was the center of printing on cotton for many years. The museums first floor was dedicated to how the fabric was made through the years, first painstakingly hand printed with carved wood blocks, then with etched copper tubes that allowed the printing to happen more quickly.

We had a lovely French woman give us a tour.  Her English was pretty good, but there were some words that didn't come easily and since none of us spoke French, we had some confused conversations to get to her meaning.  Here are a few photos of the process.  First the printing block where they used mordant to stamp the design

Which was then washed out 

Then finally dyed and rinsed again

This is there collection of wood stamps.  A particular design could have 2 to 10 stamps to create the design with all the colors.

Then we went into a room where they had a white dress displayed, then they started a slide show and the dress transformed.  Here are a few photos

There was also this hangin in the stairwell

Then we went upstairs where they had a display of later versions of the printing process and a special exhibit with fabric patterns through the years.  There is this original design from India (where this type of printing originated - if I got the story straight) 

Then this is a piece created in Mulhouse

We also saw some fabrics from the 60's through now

After our tour we headed out with a couple we've really enjoyed hanging out with and had lunch with them at an English themed cafe.  

Croque Monsieur and frites for me, fish and chips for Jackie, and we shared a To Leone Mousse for dessert which was delightful.  

After that I took a trip back to the Christmas market to get a piece of their 2017 fabric and while I was there I picked up a meter of the 2016 for good measure.  I have plans for gifts with one piece, not sure about the other.

I was back at the hotel by 3:30 and we've spent the rest of the day reading and relaxing.  Off to Zurich tomorrow.