Holiday Exhibit 2015 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Holiday Exhibit Bridal Exhibit 2016 Book Review Lace of the Quarter Changes at the Museum Gold Country Lace Lace Reception: Second Friday Sunnyvale Lace Museum Workshops Bridal Exhibit 2016 On exhibit January 15 through June 25, 2016, at The Lace Museum, 552 S. Murphy Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA From This Day Forward features wedding gowns and accessories from 1905 to 1985. Handmade bobbin lace, needle lace and modern machine laces are used for lingerie, fans, gloves, bags, gowns and veils. Open 10-4, Tues-Sat. and 7-9 on Second Fridays. For details visit: www.thelacemuseum.org or call (408) 730-4695 From This Day Forward: A look at 20 th Century Brides Some twentieth century brides selected spectacular gowns for a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Others, like their practical Victorian grandmothers, chose a best dress: a day suit or cocktail dress that could be worn again and again. Examples of both are featured at a new exhibit at The Lace Museum in Sunnyvale through May, 2016. Exquisite hand made and machine made lace is featured on the gowns, veils, gloves, shoes, handkerchiefs and other accessories that made up a proper wedding trousseau. A special case features lace accessories made as gifts for modern brides by members of the Lace Museum Guild. Visitors are encouraged to bring or send a photo of their own wedding gown (or of other family members gowns) for inclusion in a book of gowns to be on display throughout the exhibit. Photocopies or printouts are OK. Do not bring originals as the photos will not be returned. Include the date and place of the wedding. Our gift shop features many lace-related items and books. For information on classes and other events, visit www.thelacemuseum.org.
Book Review Chrysanthemum Lace by Cathleen Belleville Copyright 1999 Book review by; Joyce Ann Martin Chrysanthemum lace was developed in the early to mid 1900s. It is made up of curved, petal-like shapes, with many pattern designs inspired by the flower of the same name. Chrysanthemum Lace by Cathleen Belleville teaches you the skills that you need to start exploring this style of lace. While the book is not for beginners, if you have already mastered bobbin lace basics, this book is very accessible. The heart of the book is its focus on technique. It has very clear and detailed step-by-step instructions with illustrations for essential bits of knowledge like adding and removing pairs, sewings from different angles, plaits, picots, and more. After reviewing and explaining the basic techniques (many of which can be carried over into other fields of bobbin lace), Belleville moves on to the elements integral to chrysanthemum lace: the petals and rings that combine to make up a finished pattern, along with the pair management and pivot procedures you need while creating them. In addition to nine very clear patterns -- some traditional, some new -- Belleville includes twelve pages of guidance, sample elements, and ground templates to help you design your own chrysanthemum lace patterns. She also provides some ideas for using different colors while working. This is a thorough overview of chrysanthemum lace and highly recommended! The most recent printing of the book is available in the museum gift shop in an easy-to-use spiral binding. Please join us April 2-3, 2016 Chrysanthemum Lace workshop with Sylvia Fellows! More information can be found on our website. Lace of the Quarter A 21-inch vintage doll is wearing this winter s Lace of the Quarter. She is getting ready for her day in her pantaloons, petticoat and peignoir. Her pantaloons and petticoat are trimmed in 1 1/4 inch 19th century vintage bobbin lace edging. It appears that the lace and hemstitching are taken from a vintage handkerchief and stitched onto her lovely undergarments. The garments are machine sewn, so probably 20th century. Her Peignoir is trimmed in pulled thread work and machine lace and was made recently by museum volunteer Marta Rico. She is on display during the current exhibit alongside her 4 poster bed and small desk - trimmed for the holidays.
Lace Museum Reception Thread Around Holes 2015 Photos from the Lace Museum open house on second Friday evenings from 7pm-9pm as part of Second Friday Sunnyvale series. Gold Country Lacemakers Display Thirteen members of Gold Country Lacemakers brought together forty-two pieces of lace. It ranges from fine English Bedforshire and Bucks Point laces to fine pieces of wire lace. Russian Tape, Idrija, Hungarian, Schneeberger and s Gravenmoerse laces were also among the laces displayed. A Battenburg angel is also present in the case. Filet crochet edging is present along with a crocheted doily. We have enjoyed making the different pieces of lace and hope you get to come to The Lace Museum to see them. The laces range from a handkerchief, collars, ornaments, framed Bedfordshire and Idrija motifs, Milanese and Torchon crosses doilys, a rectangular mat, a vest, a shawl, scarves of which one is knitted, edgings and a little fish.
Changes at the Museum The last few years have seen some nice upgrades at the museum - and we thought you might like to hear about them. First, we reduced the size of our window display area by about 3 feet. This added a lot of room in our main display room and simplified the window display process. We had three wonderful photos of lace in our collection blown up to poster size and they now hang semi-permanently in the window - proclaiming that we enjoy lace to the passersby. We also took the lovely hand-knit tablecloth by Cherie Helm off of display - it had been up since the museum opened in 1994! We simplified the display of types of lace onto smaller display boards - and now have a gallery of lace where docents can talk about each of the major categories of lace as they give a tour. We have also made behind the scenes changes. When Teresa Mize remodeled her kitchen she generously donated her old cabinets and now our 1st store room has beautiful cabinets instead of stacks of boxes! And Karen Alger found and donated real, matching file cabinets!! These two changes have really helped us organize all the things that we do to keep the museum running. We are still working on getting all the files moved in and labeled - this is a big task taken on by volunteer Carol Warner. New carpeting was installed 2 years ago. Lighting throughout the museum has just been upgraded with the cost partially covered by a grant from PG&E. Museum director emeritus, Ruth Roller, moved back east to be near her daughters. When she did that the museum lost the storage space she had offered at her home. We now rent a secure and environmentally controlled self-storage space. All of this is lovely, but it does cost the museum money - especially to rent the storage unit and cover the balance of the lighting upgrade. The Board of Directors of the museum is always grateful for monetary donations to help us keep the museum up to date. Donations can be made online at our website via Paypal or by mailing a check directly to the museum. Do stop by to see all our changes, especially if you haven t been in recently. Workshops at the Museum Sat; Feb 21& Sun, Feb 22, 2016 Bucks Point & Torchon in Color - taught by Jean Leader Sat; April 2 & Sun, April 3, 2016 Chrysanthemum Lace taught by Sylvia Fellows Friday evening, May 13, 2016; May 14 & 15, 2016 Princess & Reticella Lace Workshops taught by Roberta Chase Sun, May 22, 2016-9:30am- 5:00pm Threads & Pins taught by Louise Colgan
New Opportunity Drawing - $1 each chance or 6 for $5 This year's drawing item is a collar handmade in Bruges style bobbin lace. Semi-Annual Vintage Sale of lace and linens! March 18-19 9:30-4:00 Reproduction Dolls Vintage tablecloths all sizes Placemats, napkins, linen towels, & hankies Lace for crafting, card making, & art projects Accessories, aprons, adult & baby clothes Fine lace edgings & insertions, fabrics Pillow cases, bedspreads Craft tools & supplies Find it all and more at the sale! No tours during the sale Cash and checks accepted. All sales final. Check out our discount corner for great bargains