New England
Lace Group
 

Blog & News

NELG loves to hear about what is going on in your life.  We hope that everyone will take a try at letting us know what new activities are going on. 

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  • December 20, 2021 7:05 PM | Mary Mangan (Administrator)

    A friend on Twitter just found this utterly hilarious clip, with everything. Antique lace, a nuisance cat, and every line is a gem. 

    https://youtu.be/uRyK8j8Dss0

    And those are very good caps. 

    Have a good laugh, and stay safe everyone.







  • December 10, 2021 8:33 AM | Mary Mangan (Administrator)

    I was listening to a podcast today, called "Dressed: History of Fashion". They interview people on a range of topics, some are current designers, some are film costumers, some are historians, etc. 

    This particular interview was with Mimi Prober, who is apparently using some antique lace in her designs. I can't link to that specific episode, but there are 2 parts. What I heard so far was part 1, in the middle they talk about the lace part.

    I went to her site to see what her stuff looks like: Mimi Prober Campaign.

    I don't know how deep she is on it, but it's nice to see appreciation for the old textiles and see them get new life. And she did appreciate the hand-work of them. 

    Mimi Prober on Instagram

    Dressed Podcast on Instagram


  • November 09, 2021 12:13 PM | Mary Mangan (Administrator)

    What an interesting and lovely idea. This woman on the islands takes antique and vintage pieces and dips them in metal plating. I love the idea of preserving some special items like wedding dress lace this way. 

    Gilded lace

    Monika Knutsson creates jewelry — and heirlooms — from vintage lace.

    https://www.mvtimes.com/2021/11/08/gilded-lace/

    Her website: https://monikaknutsson.com/

  • October 18, 2021 10:24 AM | Mary Mangan (Administrator)

    Just spotted this announcement on twitter:

    Ruth Mather says:

    Really excited to launch this new online seminar series next week - Lace End-to-End, covering the global history of lace from raw materials to heritage. Please come along! Last Tues of most months, 12 -1pm GMT.

    Here is the link to the list of upcoming talks. 

    https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/events/upcoming-events?&query=end-to-end

  • October 17, 2021 7:17 PM | Mary Mangan (Administrator)

    I was trying to find something else in the Connecticut Historical Society archives, and came across this image of the workmen (and that woman photobombing in the back corner) of the Deep River Lace Company. 

    http://emuseum.chs.org/emuseum/objects/15588/workers-at-deep-river-lace-company

    To see what else was out there about Deep River Lace, I just quickly searched and found this article in the NYT archives: 

    Lace Factory And Artistry Of Old World Quietly Fade

    Talks about a lot of old Leavers equipment and a style called "Rachel lace". Interesting tidbit about the Leaver's machines:

    "But it is not entirely dying out. Each of the six huge machines from the Deep River shop weighs 16 tons and stands 9 feet 6 inches tall--a design essentially unchanged from the prototype built by John Leavers, an English lace worker, in 1813. But they are not being decommissioned. Instead the machines will be shipped to Calais, France, where the old ways of lace-making still hold sway and eager apprentices can be found."

    The NYT article also references a bit about a similar mill in Rhode Island, "Rhode Island Lace Works in West Barrington" also to close soon, in August of 1990. 

    Has anyone ever researched any of this? Are there some old newsletter pieces or any local scholars of this around? 

  • October 08, 2021 3:00 PM | Mary Mangan (Administrator)

    A dress historian that I follow on twitter spotted this large and unusual sampler that I thought might interest some of the folks in our group.

    Tweet:  https://twitter.com/AldenBrien/status/1446533325368217604

    @AldenBrien The Deerfield (MA) antiques show is online and I love this enormous long "sampler" of crochet, lace, and tatting designs. What a wall hanging it would make! #crochettwt #textiles

    And the link to the actual item if you want to check it out: 1880s Crochet Lace Tatting Textile Sample Boards

    https://adadealers.com/antiques/index.php?page=out&id=13097&cid=333

  • October 05, 2021 10:09 PM | Mary Mangan (Administrator)

    A nice story about the MoMu exhibition: P.LACE.S

    Across five locations in Antwerp, the ModeMuseum shows how the delicate, weblike fabric became a staple of art, craft, fashion, and commerce.

  • October 01, 2021 2:35 PM | Mary Mangan (Administrator)

    I just got a copy of "Travels with George" by Nathaniel Philbrick. He did a sort of travelogue to revisit the route that George Washington took around the early US. This included Ipswich, of course, and I was wondering if he would talk about the lace. 

    We got a paragraph about it, mentioning that George did purchase some and that Martha wore it on her shawl. So more people will at least hear about the lace! I feel some momentum on this topic these days....

    And then I realized not everyone might know about the video of Martha's shawl by the Mount Vernon folks. But they also have a couple of other samples in their archives. 

    Mount Vernon blog post: Lavish Lace.

    Shawl video: RARE LOOK: Martha Washington's Shawl

    Review of the Philbrick book in the NYT recently: George Washington Slept Here? Then So Will Nathaniel Philbrick.


  • September 19, 2021 6:22 PM | Gail MacLean (Administrator)

     As of now in this CoVid Delta variant surge, Holly and Gerry are not coming down to vend.  Gerry is immunocompromised.  If the CoVid numbers improve, they will be down. But in the meantime, Holly is willing to do one large shipment to Pat’s address in time for the lace weekend.  (Class specific needs are listed at the end of this message.) Holly is willing to take orders over the phone, 607-277-0498, or do a Zoom meeting with you and show you supplies.  Of course, her website, http://www.vansciverbobbinlace.com, is quite complete. You arrange payment with Holly,  excluding shipping, and Pat will divide the shipping costs among you when you pick up your things. A deadline of 10/12 should insure delivery well in time for  Lace Day.

    We’re  sorry that Kenn will not be with us this time.

    MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED. Anyone without a mask will not gain entrance.

    Food – for Saturday, please bring a bag lunch.  We will provide water, coffee, and tea, and individually packaged snacks.  For Sunday and Monday classes, we will have individually packaged catered food.

    Supply lists:

    Carolyn  - Taste of Needle lace

     Required Materials

    Threads: Lizbeth size 40 tatting cotton or equivalent. 1-3 (light – _medium) colors. Sewing thread, any color (this will be removed from the finished lace)

    Needles: Tapestry #24 (large eye, blunt tip). Sharp sewing needle #8 or 9.

    Miscellaneous Supplies

    1. small sharp scissors for thread

    2. scissors for cutting paper

    3. pricker or needle vice+needle

    4. portable light

    5. magnifier if needed

    6. thimble

    7. tweezers or forceps

    Carolyn – Armenian Knotted Lace

     Required Materials

    Students should bring these items to class:

    1. Size 40 or 50 cotton cordonnet thread, e.g., Lizbeth 40, in a light or medium color

    2. Several embroidery needles size 5 or close to 5. Embroidery needles have a sharp point and an elongated eye, and are also called crewel needles. I like to get the mixed size packages, e.g., sizes 3-9 or 5-10 so I can test for the best size for the thread.

    3. Optional but really helpful are a few size 24 tapestry needles

    4. Small sharp scissors

    5. Magnifier and light if you need them for handwork

    Optional if you want to start on a larger project in class:

    1. Handkerchief blank or other item on which you want to add a lace edging

    2. Smooth cotton thread in a size appropriate for your item. You should get comfortable with cotton before you try silk or polyester threads.

    3. An embroidery needle of a good size for the thread you are using

    I use DMC or Lizbeth size 80 thread with a size 8 embroidery needle and size 26 tapestry needle for the Irish linen handkerchief blanks that are commonly available from vendors.

    Allie – Idrija

    Thread available from  Designs by Marguccio,  who is vending.

    For necklace, 3 small  pearls or beads with holes through center.

    Pat – Flanders

    Egyptian Cotton thread size 70, a DMC gimp size 25

    Karey -  Tatting

    Has supplies as vendor


  • September 12, 2021 9:37 AM | Mary Mangan (Administrator)

    Found via Instagram. 

    Direct link: https://youtu.be/E4VskZNToWY

    Attempted embedding: [alas, looked right in preview and then didn't display for me]



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