Re: [lace] The Jourdes of Le Puy
I read through this and then took a sharp intake of breath. Oh what a mess. Another lesson for us all, never transport pillows and bobbins without putting them in good bobbin holders. I have tried a variety of these over the years and my current favourite is shoelaces. I can look one of those through a number of pairs of my spangles (an important feature of course) so I can remove and use bobbins immediately from either end for the next piece of work and hold them all in place when the pillow is moved or just to stack the bobbins over out of my working area when I using a fair number of bobbins. Also if you were ever transporting/shipping a pillow with working lace on then include instructions about how to leave it display etc . I would have been heartbroken if it had been my lace. We know we can add new threads and bobbins but normally staggered as they get close so not all in one area and of course with this piece it would have had to be taken back a bit to be able to begin working new threads in. Forgive any errors in my typing as I am currently attempting to type with having just put my eye drops in. Sue Dorset UK Dear Lacemakers, We are too quiet. Today has been spent searching through old lace/embroidery paper files for confirmation of something I want to write about. In the process, I came across an announcement in a newsletter: "Lacemaking in Le Puy" - at a Lace Guild of New York meeting, Jefferson Market Library, 10th Street and 6th Avenue, Manhattan. Sat. Oct. 8, 1983 at 12:30 p.m. Michel & Helene Jourde will lecture, answer questions and demonstrate. Admission free." I remember, and have written about this before, but it seems timely to repeat. This program was arranged to be held while the Jourdes were in New York in connection with a store-wide lace-themed promotion at Bloomingdale's Department Store. The Jourdes shipped a large lace pillow to the store, upon which a complex lace was in the process of being made, with lots of bobbins attached. It arrived at the store with the bobbins in a tangled mess, and the store employee who unpacked it thought she would be helpful by cutting off all the bobbins! Well! It is a lace story to remember, isn't it? Michel Jourde and many of the leaders of the Lace Guild of New York are no longer alive. (Are any other past members reading this?) Many were associated with the large New York City area museums; truly lace experts like Devon's colleague, Gunnel. This lace guild disbanded when it became impossible to get people to fill leadership positions. (A lesson for all to learn.) ...The library building has been converted into a women's prison ...Sixth Avenue usually goes by the name Avenue of the Americas ...Significant changes in 31 years. But ...Le Puy and its centuries old lace making tradition lives on! Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - 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/ - 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/
[lace] 1. Ann Bernard's Blog (Former Royal School of Needlework Student)
Dear Lace Friends, This information about Ann Bernard's Blog came to me from my dear friend, Marion Scoular, who graduated from the Royal School of Needlework (RSN) with a 3-year diploma back in the late 1950's. Among Scoular's associates back then were the late Erica Wilson (Wilson's obituary is in our Arachne archives), whom I believe had graduated and was teaching at RSN when Scoular entered the school. Another student was Ann Bernard, who was "killing time" between when she finished regular schooling until she was old enough to be accepted as a college student. She left RSN just as Scoular was entering. These 3 women and their experiences at the RSN cover about a decade of time in the mid-20th century.It is nice to reflect on the impact of the RSN on their respective careers Wilson was brought to America to teach a small group of high society women, who later founded The Embroiderers' Guild of America. Scoular settled in the U.S. and has been teaching Embroiderers' Guild members here for many decades. Because Scholar sponsors special embroidery tours of the U.K., I have traveled with her, and have shared much learned during these travels, with Arachne members. Bernard's training in college was as an Occupational Therapist. She eventually moved to Canada, and it was some years before she resumed stitching (much like many of you, her life was interrupted by other priorities). You will see in her Blog what she has been sharing with her students. Don't let the word embroidery steer you away. There is lace content that will be of interest! I liked this Blog so much that I printed it all and put it in a binder to sit on my library shelf next to Royal School of Needlework books. http://stitchingidyllic.blogspot.ca Follow the leads to more information. This is an ideal way to learn, while sitting at home in your lounging pajamas. The short video she recommends, about Nottingham, is interesting. A second memo, of my memories that relate to some entries in Bernard's Blog, will come to your inbox next. She has just told me her next blog entry is ready to go. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - 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/
[lace] 2. Ann Bernard's Blog (Jeri's Comments) Long
We all need to network more, please! Here are my (Jeri's) comments about some subjects discussed on this Blog site: I really enjoyed the Nottingham Blog. (I independently went to see the lace factories after one of Marion Scoular's tours of Scotland). I bought every little book that was sold there about lace plus the 1994 381-pg. hardbound book by Sheila A. Mason called "Nottingham Lace 1760s-1950". When our friend who works with laces at The Metropolitan Museum expressed interest in 2003, I mailed my copy of Mason's book to her, and later put her in touch with Mason. Mason was able to get a private lace appointment at The Metropolitan shortly after, when she was in NYC. Her family company, Cluny Lace Company Limited, is the last of the Leavers lace makers in the UK, per a memo Mason sent to me in 2010. Her company's history stretches back to 1739. Word came in 2003 via Arachne, that Bill Rowe (b. 1921), a member of the RAF Association Croydon Branch, became interested in the lace panels and then wrote a 72-pg. spiral-bound book "The Battle of Britain in Lace", in which he accounted for the present location of panels and gave many photographic images. I have this book, thanks to Nicky Townsend. Lace guild bulletins and personal letters have come to me from time-to-time, telling of additional locations, as the lace community tries to recapture history. One letter from Devon Thein to the New England Lace Group suggested there is a copy in the U.S. - in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, donated in 2007. She received this information from Brian Lemin in Australia. However, the http address provided failed for me today. There is at least one member of the New England Lace Group who could confirm this location, if she would come out of lurking. I was very happy to read Ann Bernard's review of the Ruhland (Lace) Collection Exhibition in Canada, closing Nov. 2, 2014. More needs to appear on Arachne about it. Ann tells me it was fascinating and overwhelming - too much to take in on one or even two or three visits. Canadian Lacemaker Gazette published lovely photos in the Fall 2014 edition. This Gazette is like a national lace guild, and links Canadian lace lovers together. A Canadian lace groups page with contact info is always inserted in it, and all Provinces are represented. I personally know several members - all of whom network about lace and represent Canadians very well. Malvary Cole and Bev Walker, are particularly active participants on Arachne. The next thing I was caught up by was Bernard's memories of being a student at the RSN in the early 1950s. I can relate to the Prince's Gate building, as I once went there to take an embroidery class. I also shopped there for books whenever in London. Scoular took me to the newer headquarters at Hampton Court, which should be a destination for all who pursue any form of needlework. Arachne members may learn more about silk and metal threads from information in Bernard's Blog. I was reminded the 1st edition of the 442-pg. 1886 scholarly book, "Needlework as Art" by Lady Marian M Alford, is always fun to delve into. It has 14 pages exclusively devoted to lace, and from Ovid's Metamorphoses the Story of Arachne (Appendix III). Somewhere else in my readings I learned that Alford lived at Prince's Gate. Ever after, I have wondered if she lived in the very building that later housed the RSN?! In a completely unrelated book, on Royal fans (the kind you hold), is a fan that Alford painted. Apparently, she studied art in Italy at a young age. A very nice background for an early leader in the development of the RSN. Her knowledge would certainly elevate the perception that some embroideries are sufficiently well designed and executed that they must be considered to be art. About Beryl Dean (1911-2001), whose name will always be the one most associated with ecclesiastical embroidery of the 20th century: I, too, saw all the chairs piled up perilously close to the embroidered panels in Windsor Castle's St. George's Chapel that Bernard describes. This was on one of Scoular's tours. I have written publicly about this several times - on Arachne. It is a conservation issue, because restorations are extremely expensive, and the item is never "original" when other people have worked on it. It was shocking that castle authorities permitted TV crews to do this. We must all "speak up" when we observe such things, and it is encouraging that Bernard reports the matter has been properly addressed by placing the panels in a glass case. However, there is no lighting! Remember what I always recommend - carry a small purse-size torch (British term) or flashlight (American term) when traveling and visiting museums and historic buildings. I've used mine often in museums and castles. Guards will
RE: [lace] 2. Ann Bernard's Blog (Jeri's Comments) Long
The Australian War Memorial in Canberra own one of the Nottingham Lace Panels.It is not on public display at the moment, but their database reference to it contains a good deal of interesting information. http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RELAWM32146/ My favourite picture of a lacemaker at work is also held by the AWM in Canberra: http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/ART02909/. They hold a number of lace related items, including a "French style lace pillow" http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL35910/ ...Noelene noel...@lafferty.com.au Lace guild bulletins and personal letters have come to me from time-to-time, telling of additional locations, as the lace community tries to recapture history. One letter from Devon Thein to the New England Lace Group suggested there is a copy in the U.S. - in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, donated in 2007. She received this information from Brian Lemin in Australia. However, the http address provided failed for me today. There is at least one member of the New England Lace Group who could confirm this location, if she would come out of lurking. - 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/
[lace] Ruhland lace collection
As a sidenote to Jeri's report on the Ann Bernard blog: Margaret Ruhland was a member of needlelacetalk on ning, and posted many, many photos of needlelace from her collection. Most of the photos are very close up, and you can see every thread. Usually, each piece is represented in a dozen or so photos, which focus on various parts of the lace. Prepare to spend a few hours -- there is that much. http://needlelacetalk.ning.com/photo/album/listForOwner?screenName=10ruuhbhzd yhd Each album contains the photos for 1 piece of lace. Lorelei Halley - 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/
[lace] Ann Bernard's Blog (Jeri's Comments
Jeri, many thanks for your postings. You are a Mine of Information, and it is so interesting to read about the history of the craft, and its 'fellow travellers' like embroideries, etc. That Blog is wonderful, and I have bookmarked it so I can go back and re-read it. Regards from Liz in Melbourne - 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/
Re: [lace] Ruhland lace collection
Evening All, Currently there is an exhibit of selected pieces from the Margaret Ruhland's lace collection (The Art of the Lacemaker) on at the Guelph Civic Museum in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It runs until Nov. 2 and is one of the few times that this collection has been available to the public. Cheers, Cindy Rusak, Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada On Sat, Oct 18, 2014 at 7:47 PM, Lorelei Halley wrote: > As a sidenote to Jeri's report on the Ann Bernard blog: > > Margaret Ruhland was a member of needlelacetalk on ning, and posted many, > many > photos of needlelace from her collection. Most of the photos are very close > up, and you can see every thread. Usually, each piece is represented in a > dozen or so photos, which focus on various parts of the lace. Prepare to > spend > a few hours -- there is that much. > > http://needlelacetalk.ning.com/photo/album/listForOwner?screenName=10ruuhbhzd > yhd > > Each album contains the photos for 1 piece of lace. > > Lorelei Halley > > - > 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/ > - 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/
[lace] re: Winterthur Needlework Conference Oct 24-25
Dear Jeri and all, I am unfortunately unable to attend the Winterthur conference this coming week, but I refer back to the note I posted to Arachne on Sept 1 after my visit there when the current needlework exhibit opened. I am GREATLY interested to know whether the bookstore still has the (somewhat random) Beds lace book or whether it has been purchased by someone. Again, as I reference by copying my original write-up below, it is a lace instruction and pattern book and just seemed so out of place at that bookstore. But, perhaps a lace enthusiast picked in up in the last bit of time! arlene in NJ written on Sept 1: "Hello, all - Yesterday, I drove down to Winterthur, a duPont family estate turned museum and gardens for the public to enjoy. Henry Francis du Pont collected many things, but with a focus on American Decorative Arts, it is a place that I imagine many on this list would enjoy visiting. Devon wrote about Winterthur in the most recent IOLI Bulletin, specifically about the special Downton Abby costume exhibit that is there. I had wanted to get to see this exhibit, although felt no need to join the rush of crowds when it first opened. In fact, I specifically waited until now so that I could see a new exhibit, The Diligent Needle, on needlework. Winterthur seems to be on a three year cycle of needlework exhibits and connects them with a needlework symposium they have. I went to the one in 2008 (couldn't go in 2011 nor will be able to go this October). But, I knew I wished to see this exhibit, if nothing else for the appreciation of pieces made by hand. I was able to purchase a booklet ($7.95) in the gift shop that is basically the entire exhibit, signage and all. Love when a place produces something like this. Given that the exhibit just opened a week ago and that there is SO much focus on the Downton Abby exhibit, there isn't much on the website about this exhibit and perhaps not likely to be more than what is there. But, I thought some folks on this list would be interested to know more. The introduction covers it well: "For centuries, instruction in needlework was an important part of the a young woman's education. Both plain sewing and fancy embroidery required considerable time and effort to learn. As a result, women took great pride in their work. Needlework skills might be used to earn a living, to embellish clothing and household furnishings, or to simply create objects of beauty." The exhibit is divided into four categories: Diligence, Profit, Pleasure, and Ornament. No lace, but lovely things to look at. HOWEVER, here is the bobbin lace part of my day: Winterthur has two gift shops, one of them really more bookstore. Its area of needlework/quilting/rugs/textiles is always worth looking through. There were two books about collecting antique laces (Heather Toomer's big Antiques Laces book and another titled Graced By Lace) - from Devon's article, I know that there are at least a few pieces of lace in the Winterthur collections. However, sitting next to these two books was a copy of "Traditional Bedfordshire Lace" by Barbara Underwood, the one with the picture of a woman's head with a lace covering. Bobbin lace instruction, patterns, everything and totally out of place for the type of books they have there. I just laughed to myself and assumed that someone had ordered it by title alone and didn't realize how specific it was to instruction in bobbin lace, which is quite different than some of the other embroidery instruction books they had on the shelf. I wonder how long it will sit there. Anyway, if you are able to get to Winterthur, it really is a great place to visit - wandering the grounds and gardens, seeing the collections in the museum/house, and taking in the special exhibits. Oh, and even in the exhibit space on the first floor, that doesn't change much, they seem to rotate objects. In that space, duPont's collections are divided into things like Furniture, Metalwork, Ceramics, Paintings, and, of course, Textiles. In the textile area was a lovely whitework shawl that I don't think I had seen in my previous visits there. Off to work on my lace on this rainy and overcast day, arlene in NJ" - 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/
