Re: [lace] Lace from Alsace
Exactly where your ancestors came from might prove important in this one. I was in Mirecourt, which, btw, has a book. That's Lorraine, and Lorraine was surrounded by France at one time, with heavy tariffs. Since Lorraine grows flax, the Duc de Lorraine began a lacemaking industry. Which one, I'm not sure, but I suspect in the 1600's when lace was all the rage. I'm not sure they actually developed a style of lace themselves, but produced what the market demanded, borrowing perhaps from other areas. At least I think that's what they said. The lace exhibit in Mirecourt in the summer is wonderful, as they move to the upper floor of the medieval market, have large displays, and patterns for sale, as well as a group making lace right there. I spoke to them in French, so I've no idea if they speak English, but it was an amazing visit. As for Alsace, my grandfather came from a tiny German village about 8 miles east of Baden Baden, so I am somewhat familiar with the area. I've ! visited my cousins there several times and am not aware of any lacemaking tradition, certainly with my relatives, and they were so poor, the land being rather bad in their village which is nestled in the Schwartzwald, and anywhere they grow pine trees is bad farming land. If there had been a lacemaking tradition they would have grabbed at is so the children didn't starve. Alsace and an area east of the Rhine, possibly Wurtemburg or Baden, were once one duchy, which might explain why Alsatian French is not known for its purity, and neither is Schwabisch German. I suspect they sound more like each other than standard French or Germans. Some Alsatians migrated to Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, and I believe there was lacemaking there, but since the French were the ones who lost the war in 1753? or thereabouts, they got the short end of the stick economically and needed money, and so they make hooked rugs for sale to tourists now, as well as finer products. Hope this helps. Lyn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, where I've just come in for a moment from making lace among the roses with a pot of tea. Doesn't get much better than that. -Original Message- >From: Tatman >Sent: May 11, 2012 1:04 PM >To: Lace list , "bobbinl...@yahoogroups.com" >, "bobbin-l...@googlegroups.com" >, Bobbinlacemaking > >Subject: [lace] Lace from Alsace > >I just found out that my GGG Gma was from Alsace-Lorraine, France back in >1830s. I like to make and research laces that come from the places my >ancestors grew up. Not that they were lacemakers themselves. I don¹t >recall my family coming from a line of lacemakers. I feel isolated HAH. I >have brushmakers and farmers in my family. >Anyhoo..wonder if any of you knowledgeable lacemakers know what kind of >lace that was being made in the Alsace-Lorraine area in 1830s or before. >Would like to know the kind of pillows, bobbins, lace type so that I can >maybe replicate something for future display. And just out of my own >satisfaction of knowing how to make it. ;) > >Thanks in advance! > >-- >Mark, aka Tatman >website: http://www.tat-man.net >blog: http://tat-man.net/blog >Magic Thread Shop: http://www.tat-man.net/tatterville/tatshop/tatshop.html >Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TatmanBobbin > >- >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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent "My email sends out an automatic message. Arachne members, please ignore it. I read your emails." - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
RE: [lace] Lace from Alsace
You might check which part of Alsace or Lorraine your GGG Gma was from. That district went between France and Germany several times since the district was so rich in national resources. My Grandmother was from Alsace and immigrated in 1900 at 13 years old. She was German - sorry I don't know which town. I would assume the heritage of the laces would be different since Alsace was agricultural and Lorriane is higher elevation and currently has manufacturing. I would like to find out also. Diane Z Lubec, Maine - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] Lacemaking in Spain
Hi Laurie and all, I fondly remember your trip to Barcelona and our visit to the Mares Museum in Arenys. Glad that you enjoyed it. You have described very well our "encuentros" -lace events- in Spain, and not only take place in March and April, but from March to November all week ends, Saturday or Sunday. All over the country. usually from 10.00h to 13.00 or sometimes up to 16.00h. In Argentina there are several lace guilds all over the country and we have an special relationship with the Catalonian House in Rosario, which develops a great lace activity, organizing a demonstration every year. The Catalonian lace Guild -ACP-, was the organizer of the XXV Diada in Arenys this year. If you like to take a look to the page hung by the ACP, there are some pictures and videos of the event. http://www.puntaires.com/en/diada.html http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=9GwpB8MUQN4&vq=mediumt=219 And...I can confirm that next year the Diada will take place in Barcelona, perhaps you would like to come and see us. if so, note in your calendar the date: the 26nth May 2013. Kind regards. Carolina. Barcelona. Spain. -- Carolina de la Guardia http://www.carolgallego.com Witch Stitch Lace - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
[lace] Lace from Alsace
I just found out that my GGG Gma was from Alsace-Lorraine, France back in 1830s. I like to make and research laces that come from the places my ancestors grew up. Not that they were lacemakers themselves. I don¹t recall my family coming from a line of lacemakers. I feel isolated HAH. I have brushmakers and farmers in my family. Anyhoo..wonder if any of you knowledgeable lacemakers know what kind of lace that was being made in the Alsace-Lorraine area in 1830s or before. Would like to know the kind of pillows, bobbins, lace type so that I can maybe replicate something for future display. And just out of my own satisfaction of knowing how to make it. ;) Thanks in advance! -- Mark, aka Tatman website: http://www.tat-man.net blog: http://tat-man.net/blog Magic Thread Shop: http://www.tat-man.net/tatterville/tatshop/tatshop.html Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TatmanBobbin - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] Silk from India
Hello David and everyone Here is a degumming recipe from Celia Quinn: For one pound of raw silk, use 4 oz. washing soda (sodium carbonate) and 4 oz. pure soap, e.g. a bar of Ivory (or your Lux) chipped, or grated. In a pot with a few inches of water, simmer the washing soda and soap until dissolved. Add lukewarm water so that the silk will have enough to float, add the silk and simmer an hour or so to soften it. Rinse while hot to remove most of the gum, soap and soda. In a new bowl or pot of water add about 1/3 cup of white vinegar, soak for 10 min. to neutralize the alkalinity. Rinse a few more times in clear water. David you might want to try a bit with just some soap and a simmer bath in case that will be enough with the water where you are, without having to fuss with washing soda, then vinegar. On Fri, May 11, 2012 at 6:59 AM, David C COLLYER wrote: > > I bought a large skene of it and it's about the thickness of hair, but he > explained to me that this is in the raw state, and that if I boiled it with > pure soap it would become really white, soft and glossy. I'm fairly sure he > was saying pure soap (like Lux or Velvet). But does anyone here know the > actual method/recipe. > > -- Bev in Shirley BC, near Sooke on beautiful Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] Silk from India
Wow, David, what a score! In the US the expert on growing and reeling silk is Michael Cook. Here's his web site: wormspit.com http://www.wormspit.com/ For degumming silk go to Silk Work and then to degumming raw silk. I see Michael uses Orvus Paste. That's mostly Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. It's pretty much a fad here in the US. I've used it to scour raw fleece, but I'm just as happy with Dawn (a dishwashing detergent noted for getting out grease). If you're going to use true soap be sure to have very soft water so it'll rinse out and not form curds. Hope this helps and have fun reading Michael's web site and blog. Cynthia On May 11, 2012, at 8:59 AM, David C COLLYER wrote: > Dear Friends, > when I was at Varanasi last month I got to see the people weaving the magnificent silk fabrics - all by the old pre-computer method - and managed to get the elderly Muslim man who ran their outlet to find me some of the fine silk thread. > > I bought a large skene of it and it's about the thickness of hair, but he explained to me that this is in the raw state, and that if I boiled it with pure soap it would become really white, soft and glossy. I'm fairly sure he was saying pure soap (like Lux or Velvet). But does anyone here know the actual method/recipe. - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
[lace] Silk from India
Dear Friends, when I was at Varanasi last month I got to see the people weaving the magnificent silk fabrics - all by the old pre-computer method - and managed to get the elderly Muslim man who ran their outlet to find me some of the fine silk thread. I bought a large skene of it and it's about the thickness of hair, but he explained to me that this is in the raw state, and that if I boiled it with pure soap it would become really white, soft and glossy. I'm fairly sure he was saying pure soap (like Lux or Velvet). But does anyone here know the actual method/recipe. Many thanks David in Ballarat, AUS - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
