[lace] Embroidered flour sacks - history
It's important when reading about the history of anything to get information from the different countries/people involved because publications from each will tell it from their own perspective. So for the embroidered flour sacks, there are accounts both from Belgium and from the USA. Similarly when learning about the different laces we make. Jean Nathan in Poole, Dorest, UK - 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] Embroidered flour sacks - history
In a message dated 1/13/2014, kazama...@gmail.com writes .I guess it didn't happen on this side of the Atlantic. I must ask my parents about it. Karen in Malta -- Dear Karen, We have been writing about two 20th Century World Wars. And the writing has been about how grains were packaged for shipment, and what was done with the sacks used for this purpose. As I said before, you can read Charlotte Kellogg's book Bobbins of Belgium (WW 1) on the Professor's site. http://www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/lace.html An earlier Kellogg book not specifically about lace is Women of Belgium - Turning Tragedy to Triumph. This second book tells about feeding the young and elderly civilians, and clothing them, when Belgium was occupied by Germans in WW 1. Kellogg was the only woman member of the Commission for Relief in Belgium, headed by Herbert Hoover (later a U.S. President). You'd have to order this book from a library. You can also learn by reading the Herbert Hoover Museum's Gallery 2 (WW 1) the time of the embroidered flour sacks (sent back to America from Belgian women as Thank You messages) and Gallery 9 (WW 2) for information about the huge efforts to meet needs of starving people during your parents' youth. WW 2 aid had to be provided around the world because people in Asian countries also were starving, due to the war with Japan all around the Pacific. America entered WW 2 on 2 fronts after Hawaii was bombed by Japan. http://www.hoover.archives.gov/exhibits/ During and after WW 2 retired farmers in the U.S., like my grandfather, went back to farming to take the places of young farmers who went into the armed forces to fight in Europe and the Pacific (many of whom lost their lives). My grandfather raised chickens in huge barns - eggs and meat being in short supply. Chicken feed was picked up by truck (using rationed gasoline) at a grain store near the railroad. This grain came in printed fabric sacks in the U.S., and from this fabric farming families were able to clothe women and children. Farmers were given scraps of fabric by wives to match at the grain store! I remember the patterns on the sacks, 70 years later. During and after WW 2, people in Europe and in the Pacific were starving. You have an opportunity to read about humanitarian relief efforts at the Hoover site above, Gallery 9. A high price was paid for the freedoms and comforts most people enjoy today. Unfortunately, history is usually taught about battles and dates to memorize. It turns students, especially girls, away from learning about history. I like to write about the women who came before us, because it is their history that has usually been ignored and lost. History is relevant to our study of lace and embroidery. 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] Embroidered flour sacks - history
Thanks for all the info Jeri. I really should get down to reading Bobbins of Belgium - I have it on my Kindle and can also read it on my phone or my iPad, so I really have no excuse. I have always found history fascinating (except when I was forced to learn whole chapters of European history by heart when in form 3). I've also read lots about the second world war and listened to countless stories from relatives as well. Since Malta was very hard hit as it was a British base, many Maltese aged around 75 and over have lots to tell. But, funnily enough, I had never heard about the flour sacks and will now have to ask. Karen in Malta - 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] Embroidered flour sacks - history
Hi Karen! I found this book quite a few years ago (used, of course!) for a very reasonable amount. I read it, cover-to cover, and it was a thoroughly engrossing account! You will certainly find it more enjoyable than some of the books on the top ten list these days! Clay Lynchburg, VA, USA Sent from my iPad On Jan 14, 2014, at 4:38 PM, Karen M. Zammit Manduca kazama...@gmail.com wrote: Thanks for all the info Jeri. I really should get down to reading Bobbins of Belgium - I have it on my Kindle and can also read it on my phone or my iPad, so I really have no excuse. Karen in Malta - 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] Embroidered flour sacks
What are those? I am intrigued. Maybe some posts have not come through if you have been discussing them. Karen in Malta - 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] Embroidered flour sacks - history
I am not an expert in history but did read up on this a few years back. I'll try to summarize. For more detail, look at: http://www.hoover.archives.gov/exhibits/collections/floursacks/index.html During and after the war, food was in short supply. The Commission for Relief imported huge amounts of food with the flour packaged in cotton sacks. To prevent the cotton from being used for ammunition, the sacks were tracked and controlled to be used for clothing, teaching sewing, etc. Many ladies embroidered sacks which were returned as thank you gifts or sold to raise funds for food. The embroidery could be embellishment on the picture/lettering already on the sack, or personal creations. A large collection of these sacks are at the Herbert Hoover Museum. I saw a small part of the collection in a traveling exhibit at Hoover's childhood home a few summers back. They are most interesting. I think a few of them may have had a bit of lace incorporated into the design. If you are in a museum that has a few of these sacks, take a good look. Alice in Oregon -- where the storms are going away for several days. It will be dry but cool this week. From: Karen M. Zammit Manduca kazama...@gmail.com What are those? I am intrigued. Maybe some posts have not come through if you have been discussing them. Karen in Malta - 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] Embroidered flour sacks - history
This is really interesting. I had never heard of it. I guess it didn't happen on this side of the Atlantic. I must ask my parents about it. Karen in Malta - 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] Embroidered flour sacks - history
I tried the url provided and it didn't like it. so I went to http://www.hoover.archives.gov, then to exhibits, then scroll down to virtual exhibits. My father grew up in southwest Minnesota, and my aunts told me they wore flour sack dresses. The sacks came with pretty prints, and thus could be used to make dresses between the wars. My Aunt Anna said they looked nice, too. But no lace on them, even if we were of Flemish/Frisian extraction. This, postwar WWI was Depression time in rural America, fabric was fabric, and there were 8 children on the farm, 4 girls. Lyn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, where we had a lovely sunny day for a change. Rain tomorrow. lacelady wrote: I am not an expert in history but did read up on this a few years back. I'll try to summarize. For more detail, look at: http://www.hoover.archives.gov/exhibits/collections/floursacks/index.html During and after the war, food was in short supply. The Commission for Relief imported huge amounts of food with the flour packaged in cotton sacks. To prevent the cotton from being used for ammunition, the sacks were tracked and controlled to be used for clothing, teaching sewing, etc. Many ladies embroidered sacks which were returned as thank you gifts or sold to raise funds for food. The embroidery could be embellishment on the picture/lettering already on the sack, or personal creations. - 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] Embroidered flour sacks - history
My mom (now deceased) told me when she was young the girls in her family had underwear made from flower sacks. She didn't say if they were embroidered or not. There were 9 kids in the family and feeding and clothing them all was not cheap. I gathered flour sack underwear was not stylish and she was embarrassed when the other girls in school discovered this. Liz in Missouri USA where we are having mild temperatures with strong winds. Almost Spring like. I'll take it over the nasty cold stuff we had last week this time! - 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] Embroidered flour sacks - history
The provision of the aid and the food did happen on your side of the Atlantic, since it happened in Belgium. What is interesting is that I have never heard of any Belgians that were aware of the effort prior to hearing about it from us :-) This is really interesting. I had never heard of it. I guess it didn't happen on this side of the Atlantic. I must ask my parents about it. Karen in Malta - 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/
