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The
Lacis
Museum Newsletter
September 10th, 2009
Dear
Friends of LMLT,
Here, the lazy days of Summer, which never did arrive, have morphed
into the hectic days of fall and Costco shopping into holiday malls.
Our own schedule now focuses on our Bobbin Lace exhibit with thoughts
of fantasy as we begin to conceptualize the Spring costume
exhibit with the tentitive title The Roaring Twenties: Light and Dark.
looking at the everyday life and the life at the speakeasy. With
Erin’s touch, it is sure to another extraordinary experience
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Exhibits |
Bobbin
Lace
The
wealth of material available for the Bobbin Lace exhibit has certainly
presented a challenge in presenting this story within the constraints
of LMLT. Beyond the lace and the social orders that demanded
it, are the technical aspects of this craft that belie comprehension.
The lacemaker, with dexterity of hand could manipulate the multitudes
of threads, much like the conductor of an orchestra. But it is the
design and the translation of the design on a paper pattern, laying out
the coursing of threads and finally creating the pricking that the
lacemaker will use to place the thousands of pins about which each
stitch is made, that require other levels of skills and human aptitude
that rarely is recognized.
As magnifiers, alone, can not judge the quality of much of this work, a
microscope will be incorporated into the exhibit to take the eye into
these most challenging areas. This vision, together with the images of
the lacemakers, will be a constant reminder of the true performers.
The latter part of the Eighteenth century must have been a predictable
moment in human history. A time when civilizations met their destiny.
It was a time when constraint could no longer be controlled and the
bubble would burst. Extravagance reigned with demand for ever greater
perfection, continually challenging the limits of the human hand. It is
the magnificent laces of this period that retain the legacy of these
lace makers who have taken human skills to heights beyond
imagination.
These lappets, of Brussels and Mechlin lace preserve the souls of these
lacemakers and a time when the extraordinary was reached.
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Events
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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 www.smithsonian.com/museumday for all the venues.
Meet
Amy Keefer
Amy Keefer, has supported herself by knitting for her entire adult
life. She helped put an all men’s knitting club in
the spotlight in lower Manhattan while instructing children, adults,
seniors, celebrities and her own mother the art of knitting.
She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fibers from Arizona State
University and her Master of Fine Arts from California College of the
Arts. If you have seen Amy, you have seen her knitting!
Amy will be teaching her first classes at LMLT in October (see.
“Classes” section).
Amy will be demonstrating knitting, introducing her October classes and
answering any question this coming Satuirday, September 12th from 1 -
3:00.
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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.
LEARN
TO KNIT FOR LIFE by Amy
Keefer.
This will be a 2 session class on
consecutive Saturdays, October 10 and October 17 from 10-5 PM
at
LMLT. In this two day workshop, beginning students will learn
the time
honored art and craft of knitting. Skills covered will
include:
Cast-on, knit stitch, purl stitch, simple stitch patterns, shaping and
bind-off, pattern reading and design.
Students will be well on their way to creating their first scarf,
shawl, hat, blanket or poncho by the second class
DESIGN
YOUR OWN SWEATER By Amy Keefer.
This will be a 2 session class
on consecutive Saturdays, October 24 and October 31 from 10-5
PM at
LMLT. Learn to design and knit your first custom raglan
sweater from
an experienced instructor. Students must be at an intermediate level,
meaning that they know how to knit and purl. Skills shared will include
gauge swatching, shaping, pattern drafting and knitting in the round.
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 teaching program at
LMLT.. 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).” Her class projects will include
“Leafke” an interpretation of any leaf the student
might bring, “Snowflake” a simple project worked
with 8 bobbins, and “Caresse” a 3-D project. For
some further information on this innovative lace maker visit her blog.
http://web.mac.com/lievejerger/copper/Blog/Blog.html.
Lieve will be offering (2) 3 hour classes on September 26, the opening
day of the exhibit. The early class will be from 10:00 to 1:00 and an
afternoon class from 2:00 to 5:00. Both classes will be open to all,
with no prior experience necessary. Those taking both classes will be
able to advance to “The Glove of the Invisible
Woman” a 3-D project.
 
 
Details on all classes are available on our website at
http://lacismuseum.org/classes.html
IRISH
CROCHET
We are currently working with Maire Treanor, residing in Ireland,
author of Clones Lace, for another workshop at Lacis, early in 2010.
Her magical skills with an ordinary crochet hook cannot be conveyed by
picture alone. If interested in a workshop please contact Erin at
erin@lacis.com
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Lace
Groups at LMLT |
Bobbin
Lace Group
Meeting on the third Saturday of each month from 1 - 3, hosted by Maria
Jose Munoz, all are welcome to learn, share and encourage. Maria has
recently been experimenting with copper wire for bobbin lace and will
have some samples in at this meeting. If curiosity persists, we would
encourage participation in the more formal bobbin lace classes by
Maria. The group will meet 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.
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New in the Shop |
 HAPPY
KNITTING: Socks, Scarf, Gloves (Japanese). [JK57] A colorful collection
including knitted sock earrings.
 TATTING
LACE, T. Fujito (Japanese). [JK56]. Tatting and precious beads join in
over 35 projects for body elegance.
 BRODERIE
AU RUBAN COTE MAISON, Bourel, Poinsot & Husser
(French) [LI93]. The freshness and fibrance of ribbonwork to create, a
rooster, dragon, parrot, snowman and lots of florals.
 MONOGRAMMES,
L’ART DES LETTRES BRODES, Susan O’Connor (French)
[LI94] . The styles and techniques, step-by-step photos for rendering
this classic art form.
 GEKLOPPELTER
WEIHNACHTSSCHMUCK, Brigitte Bellon (German) [BH35]. Holiday themes with
angels, stars, snowmen and hearts in cluny and guipure bobbin lace.
 KLOPPELN-HIN
UND HER, Claire Burkhard (German) [BH33]. Over 40 easily worked
innovative bobbin lace designs in Torchon and guipure, requiring 12-18
pairs.
 The
NEEDLE TOOL. [MO12]. Designed specifically for sewing machine needles,
this amazing tool will automatically align and hold needle in correct
position for insertion into a sewing machine and will permit threading
the needle by touch alone, without even looking for the eye. Works
equally well with hand sewing needles.
 THREAD
SNIP [MO58]. A 4” sharp pointed snip with enameled handle,
ground blades and retainer pin to control opening.
 LACIS
SAFETY SCISSORS [MO57]. A quality stainless steel safety 3.7”
(in open position} scissors. with sharp precision ground blades which
slide into handle for protection. For pocket, purse or chatelaine.
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| Employment
Opportunity |
LMLT is taking applications for a Staff position. Interest,
if not a passion, for the textile arts which involves needlework and
costume, is sure to make this a great job. This would be a part time
position with minimum commitmemnt of 3 days, one of which would be
Saturday. Please direct inquiries to Erin at 510-843-7290 or erin@lacis.com.
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| Closing
Thoughts |
I want to thank those who personally responded to my last Newsletter.
It is not always easy to separate our passions for the brilliance of
what we love and the dark clouds that too easily threaten to
banish this energy for a deniable greater good.
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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 |
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