In a message dated 12/27/2013 5:17:59 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
kazama...@gmail.com writes:
I am curious - how large is your book collection Jeri?
I believe I own one of the largest collections here in Malta, probably
around 150 books mostly about lace, but also some tatting and embroidery.
Karen in Malta.
---
Oh! :My! I guess you have not read my regular postings on Arachne.
When I retired, I had to build a home, designed by me. This is because
all the houses shown to me had too many windows and doors in rooms that would
interrupt book shelves, or the floors would not support the very heavy
weight of a concentrated collection of books.
My library consists of over 4,000 volumes from around the world. Mostly,
it is about Lace and Embroidery. However, I think we need to study these
in context with how they were/are used in order to properly honor the
women/men who came before us or are now practicing these arts. Therefore,
there
are also many books on Textiles and Costumes (to which Lace and Embroidery
are applied), Quilts, Beading, Ribbons, Antiques, Decorating (with), Tools
for making, Machine Embroidery, Sewing, many related crafts, How-to-Teach,
Color Theory, Design, Conservation Restoration, History, Art --
everything that one would want to have if they were doing research, including
a 19th
C. encyclopedia (before World Wars rearranged nations).
In the Lace category of my inventory, there are over 1,000 titles. These
include carefully-selected books on Crochet and Knitting.
In a separate storage room there are periodicals on these subjects,
including Guild bulletins of the 20th and 21st C. from the U.S. and U.K.
There a
re also Victorian era publications of needlework and many booklets that
needlework shops used to sell. These have not been inventoried.
There is also a studio (largest room in house) with ample storage. It was
used for teaching, and now it is used for storage of paper files,
supplies, lace, embroidery, etc.
Since the beginning of Arachne in 1995, I have been writing about the need
in America for a International Lace and Embroidery Museum. Guilds do a
lot, but just do not do the subjects justice when it comes to pressing for a
all-encompassing collection, exhibitions and study opportunities.
Lace and embroidery have traveled together through history, sharing the
same clothing, household linens and ecclesiastical works of thread art.
Guilds focus too narrowly for a comprehensive understanding of the glory of
lace and embroidery. Museums have failed us in the U.S. We are a nation
composed of all nationalities in the world. Women (mostly) have brought their
skills here, own wonderful things, and have no permanently-protected
organized place to donate them for future generations to study.
I think this is a job for The Smithsonian, which is paid for by the taxes
paid by everyone (about 1/2 of us being female). They think nothing of
spending billions on a Space museum. Most other museums under them are
focused on a male-dominated society. An exception might be the American
Textile
Museum in Lowell MA which was rescued recently by The Smithsonian.
However, men owned/operated the textile businesses; women worked for the men.
Textiles have been a major force in our economic history and they have been
neglected terribly in museums - from the Colonial period until we now permit
(blame Washington) cheap imports to dominate. Here we sit. Stalled.
Out on the internet somewhere is my proposal for a museum and library. It
is as relevant today as it was when written over 15 years ago.
Inspiration came from places like Gawthorpe Hall, England.
Jeri Ames in Maine USA
Lace and Embroidery Resource Center
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