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The
Lacis
Museum Newsletter
December 17th, 2009
Dear
Friends of LMLT,
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Events |
With Hanukkah well under way and Christmas not far behind, we can focus
on the Winter Solstice, an event and celebration that no society or age
has ever denied. Our bodies tune to a rebirth as the shortest day will
soon overcome the long impending night and assert its power to bring
awareness of life and birth in a Spring that can only follow. While the
soil remains barren, the long nights offer the time to ply our hands
with needles, threads and bobbins, and the time to contemplate a season
of celebrations.
Snowflakes now become lace and the ubiquitous doilies take on new
meanings. So decorate the trees and sit by the fire and make some
wonder that is part of you for each and every friend These
are
the real gifts, the giving of self.
Many visitors arrive at LMLT this season, many searching for
inspiration and the tools and materials to discover
themselves,
some to create the costumes for the celebrations and one to have a
wedding veil restored for a new bride following the tradition of
thirteen previous brides married in the same veil. While most are in a
hurry, decisions so important, most dare take time to visit the Bobbin
Lace exhibit and discover a reality beyond comprehension in this world
of instant accomplishment.
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.
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Coming
Soon
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`Suddenly we are immersed in our next major exhibit “NIGHT AND
DAY
- THE WORLD OF THE TWENTIES”
as Erin, again, works
her
magic, transforming elements of the collection from buried memories to
a new birth in an era filled with fun, opulence, hope and freedom.
Fragments of bead work from the dance hall floor to the extraordinary
bead work of an era that had little restraint, to the detailed
exquisite ribbon embroidered flowers from Paris, to the Sears and
Roebuck day dress..all to take you again through the looking glass of
near a hundred years ago as the 20th century finally takes hold.
Opening April 3, 2010....mark your calendar.
  
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Classes |
We
now look forward
to ongoing classes in 2010. Ayala will return in February,
enthusiastically sharing her skills in felting, Maire Treanor will be
hosting a workshop in Irish Crochet this Summer, Jackie
Palacios is working on new continuing programs in Millinery
which
will start with a class on cocktail hats and Beth Lysten is working on
a project oriented class in bobbin lace where students will make a
small gift box, Maria Munoz who, with Beth, hosts
our
bobbin lace group will be offering continuing classes in bobbin lace.
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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 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 by
Maria. The group will next meet this coming
Saturday,
December 19. from 1 - 3.
KNITTING
GROUP
The New Year will welcome knitters of all persuasions to gather, learn,
share and explore all the facets of this 1 thread-2 needle textile
technique. The group will meet at the Museum on the second Saturday of
each month from 1:00-3:00 PM. The first meeting will be on Saturday
January 9th. Hosted by Amy Keefer, of our staff, 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
Participation is free and if attending, do bring some of
your accomplishments, complete or incomplete, and find a find a
community of
friends.
Details on all groups are available on our website at http://lacismuseum.org/classes.html.
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New in the Shop |
 COMPLETE
PHOTO GUIDE TO CROCHET, Margaret Hubert. A marvelous guide like no
other this is also an accolade from the author, who was brought into
our world when LMLT was conceiving its first exhibit. Irish Crochet was
the subject as it had such a basic human connection. Margaret was
exploring Free Form Crochet, at the time and sensing a
connection between these two disciplines, I invited her to be part of
our Exhibit, an invitation she kindly accepted. In this book, she
devotes a full two page spread to our Museum, reflecting on this moment
in time.. [CR57]
 CORNWELL’S
COLUMBIAN SELF-FITTING LADIES’ TAILOR SYSTEM, by
Willet Cornwell and COLUMBIAN SEWING BOOK [1892] by Mrs. Willett
Cornwell.[LH50]. Two fascinating books offering wonderful insight into
the workings of the late 19th c. sewer. From creating the flat pattern
from basic measurement to detailed stitching techniques for
the
buttonhole, the reader will again acknowledge the power of the hand.
 PATTERN
AND COSTUME DESIGNING, The Women’s Institute of Domestic
Arts and Sciences. [LH49] A reproduction of the books
“Designing
with Foundation Patterns” and “Designing and
Planning
Clothes” 1940 edition, this work offers the foundation of
modern
costume studies in an academic form while covering both contemporry and
historical fashion.
JAPANESE
LANGUAGE BOOKS
A rich collection of books from Japan will make you forget any language
barrier as their fresh approaches to the needlearts in terms of ideas,
designs, presentation and graphic instructions offer new
inspiration
.
IRISH
CROCHET LACE. Mayumi Kawai
[JK50}
EMBROIDERY
OF GARDEN FLOWERS, Kazue Sakurai [JK54]
TATTING
LACE [4718] [JK56]
HAPPY KNITTING! SOCKS, SCARVES AND GLOVES [JK57]
BEAUTIFUL
CROCHET
[4736], Nihon Vogue
[JK61]
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| Closing
Thoughts |
We need to understand that tomorrow will not be like today and to trust
any one or any social system with the responsibility to make it so is
to deny the power of self. So it was the lace maker who found security
with her hands alone, in her ability to secure a life for herself and
family, creating this security from the fibers she alone
spun.
This was never work, it was joy...pride from within.
Accept this Holiday season as being different from all others past and
find joy just in being.
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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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