The ruminations of an artist on art & life...art quilts, beading, knitting, drawing, painting, printmaking, bookmaking are all my passions, I love to explore creating....

Friday, March 16, 2007

Lace & Needlework Heaven and Bead Crochet Class


Imagine 500 bolts of lace, buttons, ribbons, trims, hard-to-find threads, lace yarns, and 3,000 books on textiles and you have conjured up the extra-ordinary store LACIS, located in Berkeley, California. Oh, and did I say beads? and beaded clothing--like the Tambour beaded embroidery on the dress here.

Mixed in with all the lovely needlework supplies and tools for sale are thousands of vintage textiles, laces, and trims---a feast for the eyes and an inspiration for any craftsperson. In one room, there is drawer after drawer of vintage lace trims, and vintage embroidered textiles; numerous glass cases hold antique needlework tools, antique needlework, beaded purses, and vintage beads.

And then there is the room of books! Books on every kind of needlework and textiles you can dream of...plus and big rack of textile & needlework magazines. Sometimes I just go there to spend a few hours in the afternoon browsing the books.

"Lacis was founded by Kaethe and Jules Kliot in 1965, was operated by Kaethe Kliot until her untimely passing in 2002, as a haven for the textile community and all involved in virtually every aspect of the textile arts…a place where she provided support, encouragement and knowledge to all. The collection of the Kliot laces and textiles represents 40 years of dedication to the preservation of the finest of human handiwork. The collection includes thousands of specimens from pre-Columbian Peru, the finest from the 17th c. European courts and examples of the machine laces exemplifying the 19th c. industrial revolution. An extensive library, focusing on lace, textiles and costume includes over 10,000 items of books, patterns, articles and other ephemera. Related tools of the textile craft include those for all varieties of lace-making as well as an extensive collection of sewing machines.
Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles was established in October of 2004, an outgrowth and merging of the Lacis Retail store and the extensive collection of Kaethe and Jules Kliot of laces and textiles, a related library and tools of the textile arts." --(from the Lacis Newsletter)

Recently, I wandered around inside the store with my camera--and snapped these pictures.












An upcoming exhibit at the Museum is : MEMORIES IN BEADS (just click on this link to see the extraordinary online slide show of this bead exhibit)

Memories In Beads
Forever, Borne by the Frailty of Threads
March 30th to April 30th 2007
Beaded garments, handbags, and decorative pieces from the LMLT collection as well as an extraordinary early 19th c. table cover. Ironically, some of the most beautiful beaded garments were fashioned from silk chiffon. What better reflection of the desperate exuberance of the twenties than a fragile network of glass and steel beads, held together by shreds of shattered silk? Pounds of beads stitched into deco swirls and fringes doomed these dresses to an early demise, but what fun to wear them and dance the night away! Accompanied by a fascinating collection of historical beaded bags, these pieces are sure to challenge and inspire beaders of the present with exquisite work from times past.




In April, I will be teaching a Beginning Bead Crochet Class at Lacis--taught in two Saturday sessions, April 7th and 14th.
General Workshop Description:
Bead crochet necklaces, often embellished with beaded tassels, were popular in the nineteen twenties, and in this class you will learn the techniques and tips that will allow you to create your own fun accessories. I will begin by teaching the basic technique with larger beads. After you have crocheted a few inches in the basic beaded slip stitch with the materials provided by the instructor, you will string and crochet a bracelet in your own choice of beads and colors in a spiral pattern. Finally, I will demonstrate joining techniques and various closures for bracelets and necklaces. Skill Level: You must be able to crochet at the intermediate level.

So, if you live in the Bay Area--and are a crocheter, now is your chance to learn to crochet lovely bracelets and necklaces with seed beads! just click on the link above to register!



2 comments:

The Lone Beader® said...

This is an excellent post! I wish I could go to that museum. It looks fabulous!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Boston=:)

Mary Timme said...

Oh, the views, the pictures all are mind blowing. I enjoy doing bead crochet once someone puts the beads on for me. Well, no, I can make that enjoyable too, if it isn't too complicated. But the pictures are just beyond beautiful. I had to gasp at a couple of those laces and threads. Siiiigggghhh!