Great news, and still a few weeks left to see the Bad Bridget exhibition at Ulster American Folk Park!

So glad I married a man who can cook! Lovely to come home to home made butternut squash soup - hearty autumn fare!

Had a wonderful four days in Paris last week (a surprise present from my ever thoughtful husband, to mark a recent birthday and the end of my six months of treatment for breast cancer). A feast of fashion, food, art and music! More images and info on my Insta @valeriewilsontextiles #fashionhistory

A late brunch with some home grown tomatoes and weather good enough to make eating outside enjoyable. Sunshine, peace and quiet and a few days off work - sheer bliss!

Castle Espie near Comber yesterday and Portrush on the North Antrim coast today. Both looking their best in the glorious sunshine. Blessed to have such beautiful scenery around Northern Ireland.

Husband is a huge fan of Liverpool football club, so naturally he is delighted tonight! Happy memories of October 2023 when I went with him to watch the derby match at Anfield. My first ever big football match - and I loved it. A great result today and a well deserved title. YNWA @lfcr.bsky.social

What greater monument could there be for the 1,138 people who died at Rana Plaza, than for the Bangladeshi garment industry to become a light in the darkness, a beacon to the world rebuilt with safe factories, trade unionism and full workers rights. #RanaPlazaNeverAgain

Very grateful to a kind friend Trish who gave me this cute Easter bunny as a gift a few days ago. Here he is doing a grand job of holding some of the last tulips from the garden. Happy Easter everyone!

Transatlantic Threads is now available for preorder! edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-transat... Use code NEW30 for 30% discount. @edinburghup.bsky.social Image: David Allan (1744-1796) thought to be one of earliest known portraits of a black woman by a Scottish artist. Nationalgalleries.org

If you’ve ever wondered what a working week entails for a textiles curator in a museum please feel free to check out my latest post on my Instagram @valeriewilsontextiles

When you’ve reached week 10 of a 12 week programme of chemo for breast cancer and your thoughtful husband brings you some Saturday treats of fresh flowers and a yummy sweet treat - it all helps! Getting there - bit by bit, with lots of support, including from our amazing #NHS

Today marks the Spring Equinox and hopefully the start of longer days filled with sunshine and flowers. To mark this, sharing a beautiful little floral beaded velvet dress cuff (one of a pair) from the late 1800s , in the #textiles collection of @ulsterfolkmuseum

Managed to catch the fabulous ‘Stitched’ exhibition yesterday @dovecotstudios Edinburgh, on its last day! Well worth the trip to see a sumptuous collection of embroidered domestic textiles. Curated in collaboration with National Trust Scotland. #embroidery #needlework #textiles #sewing

Was lucky enough to see lots of great #fashion exhibitions in 2024, from couture designers, rebel fashion, Biba and folklife collections. Looking forward to whatever 2025 has in store with fashion and #textiles #newyear

On #BoxingDay - a small selection of objects in the textiles collection at the Ulster Folk Museum, in their original boxes from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Including hats, threads, garters, and a handkerchief sachet.

The sewing fairy on top of the Christmas tree in the window of R.J. Sloane draper and outfitter at the Ulster Folk Museum is here to remind everyone that the festive edition of The Great British Sewing Bee is on BBC1 tonight at 9.00pm. Looking forward to it!

For the day that’s in it, this is how the beautiful Notre Dame de Paris looked just over a week ago in the late afternoon. A magnificent restoration by talented craft workers, completed in just five years - an incredible accomplishment.

Finished last week on a high by presenting at a conference in Paris celebrating the craft of fashion. It was a privilege to showcase some of the history of white work #embroidery in Ulster, from the amazing #textiles collection at the Ulster Folk Museum. #needlework #fashion #stitching

Watching a recording of last night’s @bbcstrictly.bsky.social A high energy opening from the Pet Shop Boys and professional dancers - what a show! Shout out to Vicky Gill and her team for the amazing costumes every week! #dance #fashion #costume

On a butterfly hunt! - to celebrate joining the lovely supportive community at 🦋. This is a child’s ‘gardening’ apron in the textiles collection at the Ulster Folk Museum. Hand embroidered in wool on linen, made in the 1890s. #fashionhistory #embroidery #needlework #sewing #linen

My job at Ulster Folk Museum means that I have curatorial responsibility for a large collection of dress and textiles dating from 1730 to present day. This includes fabulous archives of #lace #embroidery #fashion #dressmakingpatterns Here are a few of the lovely objects in the #museum collection.

Make that 1,000,000 plus one! Happy to have joined now.

First post on this site! In the spirit of positivity and creativity, sharing some details of one of the beautiful patchwork bedcovers in the textiles collection of the Ulster Folk Museum. Been working on this collection recently with colleagues .. I love my job! #patchwork #quilts #needlework