The Lacis Museum Newsletter

July 29th, 2010
Dear Friends of LMLT,

This Week

Special Event

 A comment necessary on the success of Maire Trainor’s 4-day workshop on Clones Irish Crochet...the accolades unanimous:
“4 days was just right! We learned a lot and she left us wanting more...I would attend an annual workshop....”
“Please bring Maire back”
“There is a lot more to learn from Maire and she is an excellent teacher.”
“I have now joined museum newsletter - hope to attend more workshops”
“Maire is an incredible resource.”
On the few times I came by, you could not help but notice the intensity...you would hear a pin drop...
Maire shared stories at an evening talk and on another evening, all went “dutch” at a nearby Thai restaurant letting loose all the chatter that there had been no time for during the preceding days.




Before her departure, Maire gifted to LMLT her recent work, Mask inspired by her recent visit to Venice where the mask is the ubiquitous theme.of the annual festival.


The LMLT Facebook  is is gathering friends
Please pass on any comments to facebook@LacisMuseum.org,
http://www.facebook.com/LacisMuseum
 
Events

A visit from Kathie Earle, from Ireland was another treat this week as she shared some of her exquisite Irish Crochet with us.  Working with “00” silk and #80 cotton using a #16 (.40”) crochet hook, the results are magical. Also involved in miniature projects, currently 2” fans, she opens up other worlds in needlework.





SEPTEMBER 25: Museum Day

Saturday, September 25 is not only the official opening of our exhibit EMBROIDERY, but it is national MUSEUM DAY, sponsored by Smithsonian Magazine LMLT, along with several hundred other Museums were invited to participate  by offering special events and free admission. If you can’t make it to LMLT, which is always free, check out the site www.smithsonian.com/museumday  for all the venues.

Also on this date, as organized by Inez Brooks Meyers,, LMLT will be hosting a group from The Costume Society of America, Western Region who will be in  town to visit the reopening of the Oakland Museum. A special exhibit of works from the LMLT collection will be exhibitied on this day only.


NIGHT AND DAY - THE WORLD OF THE TWENTIES This exhibit explores the spirit of this period through the garments and accessories, some touched by the ribbon embroidered flowers and beadwork from Paris, others from the day dress pages of the Sears and Roebuck catalog,
Witness the memories as you step through the looking glass of near 100 years ago. For a taste of the exhibit visit a slide show at PUT IN LINK.
Incorporated into the exhibit are Ellen Thompson’s contemporary wax-headed articulated dolls which she again generously lent to LMLT for this exhibit. These lovingly restored pieces impart an air of life-like movement  along with a bit of glamour from the age itself.



EMBROIDERY: The Extraordinary of Needle and Spirit. September 25, 2010 - February 1, 2011
The Fall textile exhibit will depart from the previous Lace themes and present an overview of Needlework from the Museum’s Embroidery collection. Encompassing virtually every culture and age, the needle would secure the symbols of tradition as well as the freedom and spirituality of the individual, the needle garnering  an emotional appeal unique to embroidery.



Many of the larger embroideries were embellished with elaborate tassels, often of metallic threads. As an adjunct to this exhibit a collection of early metal thread tassels will be presented. To connect with the hands of the embroiderer, a display of the embroiderer’s tools will be included as part of the exhibit.



In preparation for this exhibit, restoration of some of these extraordinary pieces will be an on going task at LMLT. Visit as see this work in progress and if the needle is your passion, volunteering to work on these pieces will be welcomed. 


 
Classes

(Note: Class schedules subjects to change. Confirm prior to registering)

August 14, Saturday 10:00 - 4:00 PM

THE CLASSIC 1920’s CLOCHE with Janyce Engan.
This is the wonderful hat that represents perhaps the most classic styles of the 1920s, as stylish today as it was 90 years ago. Depending on fabrics and trims, it can look elegantly tailored or fashionably sporty. We will discuss trimmings and as time allows, construct ideas for the finished hat.
Janyce Engan has been teaching various forms of sewing and needlework in the Bay Area for over 20 years, blending a deep grounding in vintage fashion and an extensive knowledge of a wide range of techniques together with a liberal dash of good humor and patience.
Janice is the owner of the “Vintage Pattern Lending Library” established for the purpose of preserving, archiving,, and replicating historic fashion patterns from 1840 through 1950, vintage sewing publications, and fashion prints of the past.



September 4 and 11, Saturdays 9:00 - 11:30 AM

INTRODUCTION TO LACE KNITTING with Amy Keefer.
A 2 session Saturday morning class Geared to beginner knitters who know how to cast-on, knit and purl, this class will take them to the next and most fascinating step, that of creating openwork. The class will cover lacy increases and decreases, a variety of openwork patterns and then advance into tackling charted patterns as used to convey traditional lace shawls, blankets, table pieces and scarves.
Amy is a member of the LMLT Staff and hosts the LMLT Knitting Group.

September 18, Saturday, 10:00 - 4:00 PM

CRAZY QUILT SACHET with Janyce Engan.
Learn the magic of decorative stitching as you construct and complete a sachet in the “crazy quilt” style where a variety of stitches and embellishments, including beads, ribbon, images and more are incorporated in a free style design. The class will offer something for every student from beginner to experienced stitcher.


November 6th, and 20th, Saturdays, 10:00 to 5:00

VICTORIAN CORSETRY with Carol Wood.
Carol will again offer this popular workshop. In this three-part class you will learn the art and engineering of the Victorian corset, and make one of your own. Using the pattern for “Ladies’ Victorian Underwear” (#100) by Laughing Moon Mercantile, you’ll alter the pattern to make a muslin mock-up fitted to your exact measurements, and then you’ll use your muslin to make a double-layer corset in coutil, with the option of covering it in your choice of fashion fabric. The two class session is designed to allow adequate time between classes to do work on your project on your own time. Depending on your sewing ability and choice of fabrics, the object will be to complete your corset by class end. You can see an example of the corset on display at the museum shop.

Details on all classes are available on our web site at http://lacismuseum.org/classes

In the planning stages:

A SPANISH SAMPLER WORKSHOP with Eilene Cross.
A three day workshop based on Eilene’s discoveries from examination of a Spanish Sampler from 1819 in the LMLT collection. Workshop will be scheduled to coincide with the Embroidery Exhibit where the sampler will be displayed.


A SEWING TUTORIAL with Janyce Engan
A continuation program for students of all skill levels, to work on projects of specific interest to them. Session will be held Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 9:00 PM, with sign ups for 1 or more sessions. Each session will open with a lecture on some aspect of sewing such as darts, seam finishes, zippers, etc, as well as specific techniques such as drafting, sewing a custom fitted skirt, tailoring, a 1930’s woman’s jacket, quilting, glove making, hand embroidery and vintage inspired gifts. Students will be encouraged to work on their own projects.
As this is a new concept for LMLT, you interest and/or comments would be welcomed.
 
Lace Groups at LMLT

Participation is free and if attending, do bring some of your accomplishments, complete or incomplete, and find a community of friends.

BOBBIN LACE GROUP
This steadily growing group meets on the third Saturday of each month from 1 - 3. Hosted by Maria Jose Munoz and Beth Lysten, all are welcome to learn, share and encourage.  If curiosity persists, we would encourage participation in the more formal bobbin lace classes offered by LMLT.  The group will next meet on Saturday, August 21st from 1 - 3.



KNITTING GROUP
Welcoming knitters of all persuasions to gather, learn, share and explore all the facets of this 1-thread-2-needle textile technique, this group will meet at the Museum on the second Saturday of each month from 1:00-3:00 PM. All are invited, to knit or just meet Amy.   Amy, a creative knitter and natural instructor, can make any garment fit and find a way to restore the intended glory of discards. She helped put an all men’s knitting club in the spotlight in lower Manhattan while instructing children, adults, seniors and celebrities how to tame yarn with a pair of pointed sticks. The group will next meet Saturday, August  14



Details are available on our web site at http://lacismuseum.org/classes

New in the Shop

TRANSFER-EZE (MY04). To transfer designs. Photocopy any design onto this film, remove paper backing and stick film directly onto fabric. Stitch through film and fabric to complete project. When done cut excess film away. Soak project in cold water 5-10 minutes to dissolve remaining film.

FANTASIA 3, Iris Niebach (IN08). The newest collection of magical tatting designs from Iris all sure to become classics. Includes 18 original edgings and insertions.

THE FELT DOG BOOK, Satomi Takamura (JK84). A delightful collection of little felted pups with pictures of their real models . Includes accessory items, dog pictures, bags, etc. Detailed instructions by step-by-step pictures. Japanese text.

EUROPEAN FOLK, Pepin (NB48). A glorious presentation of the indigenous fabrics and costumes of Central and South-Eastern Europe by text, contemporary fashion photos, historical photos, fabrics, embroidery details, drawings, pattern charts and more.  Includes a CD with most images.

50s FASHION, Pepin (NB47). Fabrics and costume of an era of dramatic change by historical images, fashion plates drawings. Includes CD of most images.

Closing Thoughts

Here in the Bay Area, we put up with one of the coldest Summers on record while hearing about another world  which swelters in extraordinary high temperatures, all somehow conditioning us to unpredictable tumultuous days ahead. Make time to find the truths that made this country great by looking into the past and the works of humanity that our museums preserve, protect and share.


Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles
2982 Adeline Street
Berkeley, CA  94703

http://lacismuseum.org/

at Ashby & Adeline St., adjacent to the "Ashby" BART Station
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 12:00 - 6:00 pm
tel: 510-843-7290