The Lacis Museum Newsletter

May 19th, 2011
Dear Friends of LMLT,

This Week

Sunshine and bright days illicit thoughts of flowers and decorating ourselves. From our classes, we do like to make flowers. KANZASHI is the traditional Japanese art form of making decorative flowers  for hair or just ornament by folding and stitching small pieces of fabric to make a variety of petals. The Museum shop now has Kanzashi Flower Makers, a simple template device to assure perfect results. On Saturday, May 28, the Museum Shop will have a free demonstration/workshop on this fun technique hosted by staff member Erin Mannion, between 2:00 and 4:00. If you want to participate and leave with fabulous keepsakes. Bring some scrap, colorful fabrics, at least 4” in width, sewing thread, needle, scissors and a favorite button.



Also see our irresistible, charming and colorful  “Angel” embroidery scissors.


 
Events

2011 EXHIBITS

The Spring Costume exhibit FOUNDATIONS: THE MAKING OF THE SILHOUETTE runs through July 30, 2011, focusing on undergarments and how they shaped us. Complimented by the wax life-like mannequins on loan from Ellen Thomsen, the exhibit is a vividly transports the visitor into a world of unreal fantasy.  
The Exhibit is open during all museum hours, Monday through Saturday, from Noon to 6:00. Tours of the Gallery are available on request. If planning a visit, a call ahead would be appreciated.  Group tours are likewise welcomed and custom tours and exhibits can be arranged.  







September, 17, 2011 to February 4, 2012.

THE KNITTED LACE OF ESTONIA .
Our Fall textile exhibit will focus on lace knitting and its manifestations in relation to the alternate Estonian knitting disciplines, as well as the knitted lace in the cultures of Russia, Shetland, Germany and other geographic enclaves where lace knitting became the spirit of the soul.
Nancy Bush, sharing her love of Estonia, will be taking a curatorial role and will develop educational programs coordinated with the exhibit.  September 17, 2011 to February 4, 2012, with a Friday evening opening party on September 16.
An invitation is extended to lace knitters, who have ventured into the cultural knitted laces of the exhibit and who would like to share their accomplishments, to submit photos of their work for consideration as to inclusion in this exhibit.



 
Classes


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


May 21, 2011, Saturday

PATRICE’S FLOWERS: THE PANSY with Patrice Krems
Making both a pleated pansy and the traditional hand gathered vintage style from French wired ombre ribbon



July 20-23, 2011 (Wednesday thru Saturday)

CLONES IRISH CROCHET LACE with Maire Treanor.
Maire will return for another workshop following the overwhelming success of the one she hosted last  year.  A world recognized expert in Crochet and its relation to the Irish culture, this workshop will be a continuation of her earlier offering and will be suited to new as well as prior students. In addition to introducing new motifs of her own designs she will cover edging techniques and jewelry.

LECTURE: Friday, July 22nd, 7:00 PM. Appealing to lace makers and non-lacemakers with a cultural interest in Ireland, a Power Point presentation by Maire of her world of Clones and Clones Lace its impact on the economic survival of Ireland in the 19th c. and its impact today on restoring the cultural traditions of Ireland.

Maire resides in Ireland and is dedicated to keeping alive Ireland’s rich textile traditions. She is author of  “CLONES LACE, The Story and Patterns of an Irish Crochet” The class schedule is confirmed thanks to the early registrants..
Note: Those coming from out-of-town might want to consider staying at the “Rose Garden Inn” where prior attendees to Maire’s class have reserved a block of rooms. Charm, friendly and a great gratis buffet breakfast. The Inn is a short walk to LMLT which will take you through the Berkeley Bowl, world renown marketplace.
http://www.rosegardeninn.com




July 29-30 (Friday & Saturday)

FRENCH FLOWER MAKING with Jan Wutkowski.
Using the hot iron flower tools Jan will teach the age old secrets and techniques for making flowers in the French tradition. Two sessions will focus on roses and orchids but the skills learned  will enable you to make other custom realistic and imaginary flowers that are marketed for hundreds of dollars. To assure the class schedule, registration should be made no later than July 1.



August -5-6 (Friday & Saturday)

INTRODUCTION TO TAMBOUR BEADING with Robert Haven. A workshop on French Couture Embroidery. Robert Haven, a professor at the University of Kentucky, studied at the house of Lesage in Paris and recently produced the definitive DVD on Tambour Beading, divulging the subtle embroidery techniques used for the world’s famous couture houses   Winning several awards for his work he been a major force in the revival of this almost forgotten technique.. Some of his work can be seen at http://web.me.com/rwhaven/Professional_/Welcome.html


Just crossing my desk, I want all to know that the CROCHET GUILD OF AMERICA (CGOA) has a South Bay Chapter which assembles on the last Saturday of the month from (:)) am to 1:00 pm in San Jose. For current information please contact Mary Cahill by phone at (408) 266-1877 or e-mail at sbaycrochet@webtv.net


Details on all classes and workshops are available on our web site at http://lacismuseum.org/classes.
 
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 Maria at LMLT.  The group will nest meet on Saturday, April 16th from 1 - 3.



TEXTILE CLINIC.
LMLT offers a free clinic on the third Monday of each month from 2 - 4:00,  offering guidance as to identification, restoration, conservation, repair, storage and value as related to lace, costume, rugs, quilts and virtually any other textile. Our own “Road Show,” bring and share what may or may not be those treasures. Next clinic will be April 18th.
 
Details are available on our web site at http://lacismuseum.org/classes

New in the Shop

SEVENTTEENTH-CENTURY WOMEN’S DRESS PATTERNS: Book 1, Jenny Tiramani and Susan North (AD70). An amazing book, a treasure from the V&A Museum. Dress patterns, construction details, embroidery, and instructions (including a knitting pattern and lacemaking patterns) for 15 garments and accessories from a 17th-century British woman’s wardrobe. Scale diagrams for making linen and metal thread laces, silk braids, and embroidery designs. Multiple photographs, close-up construction details, and X-ray photography reveal the hidden elements of the clothes. For lace makers, patterns and prickings for a variety of trims.

EMBELLISHING WITH EDGINGS: NEEDLE AND SHUTTLE TATTING, Barbara Foster (BF67). Fifteen decorative edgings by photo, graphic diagram and line instructions with emphasis on attachment and corners.

TATTING LACE LESSON BOOK, Sumi Fujishige (JL34). From basics to elegant projects with one and two shuttle techniques. Novel uses of edgings, jewelry, containers, and more.

KNIT NORO, Wendy Williams, Ed (TE39). Thirty living color designs with the Noro colorways by top knitwear designers. Sweaters, shawls, scarves, socks and more.

SCISSORS, EMBROIDERY “ANGELS”, (GE16). Charming, enameled, 4” fine embroidery scissors in the design of lady angels. Available in 4 assorted design.

WONDER CLIPS (CN45). An alternative to pins, these amazing mini clips will find their way into virtually all needlework, craft and sewing venues. As velcro replaced most buttons, these will surely replace a draw full of pins.

“KANZASHA” FLOWER MAKERS by CLOVER (CN47). The traditional Japanese art form of folding and stitching fabric to create petals for flowers as might be used in hair ornaments. The templates simplify the cutting, folding and sewing, so a simple pull of the thread creates a instantaneous perfect leaf. The are three basic shapes,  Gathered, Pointed and Round, each available in 2” or 3” sizes.  There will be a free workshop/demonstration on Saturday May 28 at the Museum shop. See “This Week” section.

Closing Thoughts

In appreciation of the work of our hands, to share a note from Marie S. M. Rivera:
“Hello. More than six years ago I had one of the worset strokes a person came have. I could of lost everything. But I didn’t. I tatted with a shuttle, needle and just tatting with my hand. Before the stroke. I can’t tat with a shuttle anymore . I probably never will, if I an honest with myself.

But don’t cry yet. I can knit on a loom, weave, lucet, kumihimi, crochet, crotat, tat with a needle all with just my left hand.
I love You stuff. I even ordered more. I have a life time to learn even more crafts one handed. Thanks!!! Riza” (sic)

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