The Lacis Museum Newsletter
August 27th, 2009
Dear Friends of LMLT,

August is turning out to be the month of brides with the continuous flow of ladies looking for the touch of self that only Erin can instill. They generally arrive confused (knowing exactly what they want) and leave with the confidence of being themselves.

Word does get around...visitors this week included a young man who came in with his mom to pay a visit based on a write up in a AAA guide. Just fascinated with the concept of lace it was a thoroughly enjoyable visit as mom found some wonderful vintage linens.

Exhibits

The Bobbin Lace Exhibit is quickly coming together with the objective of relating the passion of  500 years of lace making, the cultures with this commonality, and the multitude of lace makers whose lives were embodied in this livelihood.  A gallery of over one hundred images of these lace makers will help define the humanity which is an integral part of all these works, that is too often ignored in trying to comprehend this facet of textile achievement.

From the extraordinary to the ordinary, from the marble floors of palaces to the dirt floors of the hovels of the poorest,  bobbin lace did and continues to capture the souls if not the imagination of all caught in its web. A skill that always warranted greater achievement, a worker could never rest on her laurels as perfection and speed of execution were a constant challenge to the life cycle of the worker. The finest work required the young who could survive the damp rooms and dim light while the old survived by the tactile feel of the bobbins and the tiny pin holes of the prickings as they worked over the parchment patterns from generations now gone.

But it was a well deserved pride that supported this craft which could turn the finest invisible threads into works of wonder far more precious than gold and turn a coarser thread into works of adornment for home and costume expressing a wealth measured only in pride.

We are continuing to request lacemakers of any skill level to participate in this exhibit by demonstrating on scheduled Saturdays. Names will be posted in the newsletter. Contact Erin at 510-843-7290
 
Events

Museum Day
Saturday, September 26 is not only the official opening of our exhibit BOBBIN LACE, but it is national MUSEUM DAY, sponsored by Smithsonian. 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 http://www.smithsonian.com/museumday  for all the venues.

Theresa Pulido gave an inspiring demonstration of locker hooking on  Saturday (Aug 22). with many curious visitors attracted by the wealth of projects Theresa brought with her. Locker hooking is an unusual rug making technique which narrow strips of fabric are looped into a canvas netting then locked in place with a continuous cord. Theresa takes it  well beyond rug making with her imaginative  projects for home and office. Her book “Hook, Loop & Lock” is available at the LMLT shop.

The SILK RIBBON EMBROIDERY  class by Mike Swan, also on  Saturday was enthusiastically received by her students who, after class ended, searched out all the books and supplies that LMLT offers supporting the craft.,


 
Classes

VICTORIAN CORSETRY by Carol Wood. Carol is again offering this popular class as a two-part workshop on Saturdays November 14 and 21. By working on this during the week you should be able to complete the project by class end. This will be a double-layer corset in coutil with the option of covering it in your choice fashion fabric. A finished corset is on display at the Museum.

CLASSES BEING PLANNED

KNITTING
“Learn to knit for life” is the theme of this class by Amy Keefer, a long time teacher, supporter of an all men’s knitting club in lower Manhattan, and knitting designer. This will be a 5 session (week) class covering beginning 

BOBBIN LACE by Lieve Jerger. From a family dedicated to lace making and known for her innovative approaches, she will share her enthusiasm in a program, early October. She incorporated her wire lace into the illustrations for a delightful tale “The Winged Tiger and The Lace Princess,” which will be available in its second edition. She writes of a bobbin lace class  “with wire for kids, mothers and kids age 7 and up, (boys accepted too).”   For some further information on this innovative lace maker and the proposed class project “Caresse” visit her blog. http://web.mac.com/lievejerger/copper/Blog/Blog.html

Class is tentatively scheduled for the end of September. Class will be open to all with no prior experience necessary.
 
Lace Groups at LMLT

BOBBIN LACE GROUP
Meeting on the third Saturday of each month from 1 - 3, all are welcome to learn, share and encourage. If curiosity persists, we would encourage participation in the more formal bobbin lace classes by Maria Maria Jose Munoz. The group will meet  again this Saturday, September 12.  A sneak preview of the Bobbin Lace Exhibit should bring a precious perspective of this extraordinary craft.
 
Details on all groups are available on our website at http://lacismuseum.org/classes.html.

New in the Shop

PIECEWORK MAGAZINE,  Just arrived, the latest Issue (Sept-Oct) with a focus on miniature needlework. For all our lace knitting friends, don’t miss the lace doily by Mary Frances Wogec on pg 34.

4000 ALPHABET & LETTER MOTIFS, Graham McCallum (TD74).
One of the most extraordinary alphabet books with over 4000 motifs in hard copy on 399 pages  plus a CD with these and hundreds mire. Includes whole alphabets and elaborate initials.  An embroiderers  and engravers delight.  A surprise introductory discusses the fascinating genealogy of lettering from Egyptian, Sumerian and Hebrew origins to Western Roman.



STUMPWORK MEDIEVAL FLORA, Jane Nicholas (TD68)
Fans of Jane Nicholas will delight in her latest venture in the precision and detail of stumpwork through eight floral designs inspired by illuminated medieval manuscripts (Book of Hours) and further embellished with gold thread and beads and accompanied  by Medieval insects, all by detailed instructions and diagrams.



‘HIYAHIYA” INTERCHANGEABLE KNITTING SET (HH63)
A set of 7 steel needle pairs, sizes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 together with cables to make  16”, 24”, 32” and 40”  circular needles, all in a beautiful brocade fabric pouch.



WOOD LATHE. (PT03) Bobbin Lace has a direct affinity to the wood worker as evidenced at the recent IOLI Convention where an extraordinary collection of hand turned wood bobbins were on view. This certainly  is part of the  English lace making tradition where bobbins were not only used to make lace but to used to celebrate such occasions as births, weddings and of course love. This precision micro lace will facilitate the making of bobbins as well as small containers and needlework tools. The LMLT shop also has a fine collection of books on making small boxes which are not encouraged for the timid. With 9-3/4” between centers; variable speeds from 1000 - 5000 rpm, multispur driver, and live tailstock center. It also Includes faceplate, and 6 collets from 5/64” to 13/32” . This is a fully functional miniature version of a wood lathe, sturdy yet only 5.5 lbs for portability, apartment and class use. Overall length 19”, A separate wood turning set is also available.
Closing Thoughts

At a time when society verges on failing its mission, threatening every aspect of what we for too long took for granted, we might reflect on the spirit of the lacemakers, who held on to their spirit of human effort and survivedby their hands alone.

Jules

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