The Lacis Museum Newsletter
November 5th, 2009
Dear Friends of LMLT,

This Week

The Museum is witness to a flurry of activities first inspired by Halloween and now the great Dickens Faire where we take the transport through time quite seriously. Feathers seemed to be the element of choice for Halloween together with our new DP21  Mad Hatter Hat which has also become a favorite for the Dickens folk. The stifling garments which we loved to cast off for a new freedom are now resurrected as we wonder why did we ever give them up. Corsets, full blown skirts and serious thought of the silhouette are the challenge as we shed the jeans for a new kind of comfort. A comfort that I suspect is far more spiritual than physical




The spirit of the Dickens fair can only reinforce the spirit of the lace makers who understood the livelihood they were intrusted to uphold. It was the gift of their fingers that supported so many lives, finding joy in some of the harshest of times.

Bobbin Lace, the Exhibit, continues to draw in the innocent. The story of humanity is inspiring and no one leaves without an uplifting indelible mark on their spirit .

Scheduled groups who have made the voyage included a group of young students from a local Montessori School, all wanting to pursue this craft as they worked threads with thieir fingers in a hands-on demo. A group from SCA came with eyes open, fascinated by by the physical reality of what they understand, The following early Italian laces of specific interest

   

A most personal moment was a visit by three gentlemen, buddies since childhood, all with involvememnt in costume. On leaving, they left with me some touching memories of their encounters with Kaethe whose support, assistance and advise brought success to their many projects.

And many leave comments:
    “Fabulous tour Jules and your knowledge & passion for lacework is amazing and infevctious. Thank you.” Debra Lockwood, CA
    “Thank you for opening my eyes in the world of lace” Michella, Fresno
    “Wonderful exhibit, .Inspiring” Ceri, Sacramento
    “Awsome. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.” Collette, Lampoc
    “Hummayumms, good stuff, Yowzer” Petrus

For a personal perspective of bobbin lace and the hands that create the music of the bobbins, come with me on the daily tour I give each day between 2:30 and 3:00. Offering a long 5 minute minimum tour, it has gripped most visitors who take this trip through the looking glass and find that, for this moment, time stops.

FROM MARGUERITE
Marguerite Shimmons, who we honored last year as a California treasure, for her support of Lace Knitting  has forwarded the following pictures of her latest works, two shawl masterpieces. The white one made from tancel lyocel, and the purple one from buffalo, silk and cashmere. With these pictures she writes “Knitting getting to be a problem; my fingertips are “numm” [sic].” Surviving countless other threats to her existence if not her knitting, I suspect this will be temporary and certainly not interfere with her insatiable drive to create. 


 
Classes

COPPER WIRE 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.   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 November 14, 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 anyone with basic bobbin lace knowledge.  Those taking both classes will be able to advance to “The Glove of the Invisible Woman” a 3-D project.



BOBBIN LACE by Maria Jose Munoz.
Class will be this Saturday, November 7, 2009 from 2 - 5 PM.  This class is for those who have taken Maria’s first class or have a working knowledge of bobbin lace technique. Come explore the richness of this beautiful art that developed in the 16th century, discover all the possibilities that it offers, and open your hands to a new textile adventure.



FELT HAT BLOCKING by Jacqueline Palacios.
A two session Friday evening class, November 6 and 13 from 6 - 9 PM. Learn to create your own handcrafted hat. You will block a felt hood into the style of your choice, exactly sized to fit your head and features. This is a hands-on class where you learn the techniques, using the materials, and tools you need to create a finished hat from a pre-made felt hood. Hat blocks and steamer will be provided.
 
 

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.

Details on all classes are available on our website at http://lacismuseum.org/classes.html.
 
Lace Groups at LMLT

BOBBIN LACE GROUP
This steadily growing group meets on the third Saturday of each month from 1 - 3. Hosted by Maria Jose Munoz, all are welcome to learn, share and encourage.  If curiosity persists, we would encourage participation in the more formal bobbin lace classes by Maria.  The group will next meet  on Saturday, November 21. from 1 - 3.
 
Details on all groups are available on our website at http://lacismuseum.org/classes.html.

New in the Shop

STYLISH HATS:
A new line of quality hats, just in time for the holiday season, are now in stock.
 
Wool Felt Derby (DP20)                 Wool Felt Topper (DP22)                    Wool Felt English Topper (DP23)


LOUDER THAN WORDS, Geraldine Sheridan. [TX58]. A most timely book as LMLT focuses on the irrepressible lace makers. Sub titled “Ways of Seeing Women Workers in Eighteenth-Century France” the author uses Diderot’s Encyclopedia as a guide to the trades of their involvement with many references to the lace maker.


KUNSTSTRICK-DECKEN ENTWORFEN VON  HERBERT NIEBLING. Beyer-Band 454.[BV47]  A glorious portfolio is this newest release from Buch Verlag for die Frau. Not for the timid, these are some of Herbert Niebling’s most spectacular designs, most being full size all lace table covers. All named, the set includes Fruhlingspracht, Veronika, Tulpenkranz, Maiglockchen, Pamela, Ottilie, Aida, Nachtschatten, Sabine, Ruth, Isabella, Adelaide, Enzian, Gabriele and Dagmar. 


KNITTING LACE, Susanna E. Lewis. [NO25] A lace knitting classic , first published in 1992. The author disects a 19th c. lace sampler and creates the charts and line instructions for 91 patterns. She details her techniques through a “workshop” and further presents full instructions for four projects.



CALENDARS. The popular calendars SHOES and HANDBAGS, 2010 Editions are now available:
HANDBAGS - PAGE-A-DAY 2010, Boxed [WH78]
SHOES - PAGE-A-DAY 2010, Boxed [WH77]
HANDBAGS - WALL CALENDAR [WH80]

   


Closing Thoughts

A time to remember joy as we enter the holiday season with a new kind of wonder...understanding that memories might not be enough...so a time not just to reflect but to remember who we were. 


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