Hello spiders, I had a good time in Belgium, doing both lace and other things. However, I discovered that two museums are closed and another exhibit has been taken down: There was a lace museum in Marche-en-Famenne, but it has closed. The best I can figure out is that the lace itself may have gone to a local organization, L'Academie des Dentelles de Marche-en-Famenne, but their website doesn't 'work'--I can't get anything to come up when I click on their links. Maybe it'll work under someone else's browser: http://dentelle.marche.be/. The address associated with the Academie appears to be a private home. No one answered either of the two numbers listed for the old museum nor did they return my calls when I left messages. The small museum in Binche is closed, and the laces back in private hands and not available for study, according to the head of the lace group in the area. Finally, in Bruges, the lace exhibit in the Volkskundemuseum has been closed--not clear if/when it might be put up again. Diane Claeys, of Claeys Antiques and Lace in Bruges, has moved to Japan permanently. If I've understood correctly, however, the shop in Bruges will stay open under her daughter Nathalie. Her selection of antique lace is fantastic. Not surprisingly I second Chris Parsons' recommendations of the other 'real lace' shops, especially Rococo and their sister shop (I don't remember the name of their other shop, but ask at Rococo) for antique lace, Schaerlacken for lace supplies, and Kantcentrum of course for both their museum and the shop for supplies. His painted bobbins with scenes from Bruges are exquisite, and are carried by all three of these shops. Nancy, Connecticut, USA
- To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
