The Lace Thing

               

Lace, that starts your hands to itch because you long to pick it up, and at the same time starts your heart a pumping to be creative. The sirens go off in your head, "I could add it to a sheet, or at the end of a towel, maybe add it to a tee-shirt..."

It is the type of lace that screams, "Create!" When I see lace I hear that message and instantly I want to scoop it up and take it home.

               

Though there is a twofold dilemma... I don't need anymore lace, and I rarely have the heart to cut it up! Most the time you need to cut it to for a project. Therefore it sits screaming at me and I stand starring at it. A love-hate relationship you might say. I just want to admire it, and it wants to be used.

               

Ah the lucky day when I find lace that is already put to use. Dyed and sewn. The creation complete.

               

The French antique markets are full of bits and pieces of hand made lace. It adds texture and tenderness to the objects it surrounds.

               

French hand made lace.

The nimble hands, the creative dancing hands! The needles that formed the heart song into reality. How could I dare cut into a piece? Like I said, lace and I we stand and stare at one another. I want to create something with it...but I cannot.

               

A box of lace temptation. How can I resist? Layers, depth, yards upon yards of someone's creation waiting to be put to use. To adorn, to add, to give texture, to unfold... how cruel it is to tempt me.

               

The lace thing, the pretty thing, the soft and sexy, the baby's gown, the young bride's veil, the pillowcase trim... the added flare to a package, the extraordinary ruffle, the collar, the bodice, the table runner...endless ideas haunt me.

               

The lace thing. It is hard to resist, don't you agree?

               

Doesn't it speak softly? Doesn't it remind you of a gentle moment lost in time? How can I cut into that tenderness? In the end I pass it on and am happier to know that someday someone will use it in a creation and it will be made complete because of it.

Photos: French lace awaiting creative endeavor!

Comments

[Pate Lover]

Loved your post about the lovely lace
i need to have smoke after I read it

[Marva]

Oh how funny! You sound like me! I hoard lace and occassionally get the guts to cut it up for an art project. Marva

[Kartik]

Very nice fine lace work! The lace bug gets to us some time or the other! good observations

Regards

Kartik
Fashion Evangelist
www.fashion-networks.com
We Blog at http://fashionnetworking.blogspot.com

[Lori Witzel]

Wowee!!!

This post leaves me breathless. I want to see the shadows cast on a faded wall by some of these...

[Sandy]

Oh, how I love vintage laces. Yours are wonderful!

[Nora]

There is nothing more beautiful than French hand-made lace. I have some in my stash that I can't bring myself to cut, and so it will remain there, beckoning...

[susanna]

That's a lovely collection of lace, Corey. It's really something to think that someone made each piece of vintage lace by hand. The time and patience, not to forget focus, it would have taken to make each piece...

[Terri B in Oregon]

Oooohhhhh! I just found your blog today, and what a treat it was! The lace! And then all the other pictures and words! I must say I have been able to find a little old lace at a few estate sales, but never have I seen such lace as you have! What a wonderful place it must be, France that is, to have these items at the Flea Markets!! Ah, someday! Happy New Year!

[Colette]

I can never resist lace, beautiful old lace. I got a boxful once, and I use it sparingly. In my collages it is sometimes the focal point. It helps that it's already frayed and cut... but my precious 18th-century Irish jabots and collars will just serve to fill my eyes and thrill my fingertips...

[tut-tut]

Ah, therein lies the dilemma; sometimes you have to make a mess to create!

[Dana Smith]

In the mid 90's I lived on Governor's Island...a Coast Guard owned island in the middle of New York Harbor. It was an amazing place.....we shared the ferry terminal with the Statin Island ferry service....our Island was self contained including a Burger King and a 9 hole golf course. We didn't even lock our doors at night. I worked on Saturdays at a needlepoint shop on the upper East Side. Needlepoint is a very expensive needle art both for the canvas and finishing. We had an Upper East Side lady come in every Saturday and spend well over $500 each Saturday purchasing canvases and fibers. She never ever brought a canvas back for finishing. After a couple years I asked her one Saturday if she had finished the canvas we had pulled fibers for from a year ago and she said.......Oh My Dear......NO! I never intend to finish them and some never to stitch them. I just want to own them.
Perhaps that's the same way many Flea Market lace/vintage linen purchasers feel. They just want to own the piece. I know I've adopted that very opinion over the years. It's a way to justify the endless yards and yards of vintage lace and stacks of vintage marked linens I've come to own.
Dana in Virginia

[TR]

How were your holidays? I hate missing Christmas at home - but two years ago I was stuck working in Torino for the Olympics and treated myself to Christmas at a posh hotel in St.Paul de Vence and it was magical and worth every penny. It will be a holiday memory to remember for a lifetime.

[Miss Sandy]

Your French laces are beautiful! I only cut, snip, and clip old tatty pieces of lace, I cannot bear to cut a perfectly good piece, I understand your aversion.

[Elizabeth]

I have ALWAYS loved lace!! Your photos are gorgeous!! It is so hard to know what to do with it however...most of mine is in containers...waiting...and I often THINK about what to do, but mostly just look at it from time to time!! I really should put some of it to use!

[Suzanne]

Oh dear Corey - or should I write "Orey"!?! :) - how I understand you!...

[Casey]

Oh my goodness!!!! I am seriously drooling... over the gorgeous laces you pictured and the fact that you said the French flea markets are *full* of it!! :D Egads! I'm such a "lace addict"--I'm constantly scrounging for new. I have used some in my recent creations, but like you, I feel so awful cutting it. ;) hehe.

[Marge]

Corey! You've got some gorgeous lace there! I love anything to do with lace and I too am loathe to cut up old pieces. I have a very old piece from my great Aunt that was not that big and oddly shaped. I ended up using it as a curtain for an odd window in my studio.My oldest daughter is named Lacey...I'm hopelessly enamored of lace, what more can I say? :)

[Miss Maddie's]

Ahhhh lace. It has quite a history.Adorned by Kings and Queens alike, some created by tiny fingers of children not even old enough to read.
The Honiton lace that was Queen Victoria's bridal veil took months to make.When she was laid to rest that very lace was draped across her face to follow her into the ever after.
Perhaps that is why we have such a passion for it.It is timeless.
Susan

[amydeanne]

ahhhh i know that itch! when my grandmother died, i was given a suitcase of her odds and ends of lace, tatting, beading & crochetting. it was glorious and painful to look at the case full as I wanted to use it all, but had a hard time deciding which piece first and the "not wanting to wreck something my grandmother " had created either... what an interesting post!

[Cousin Chris]

Corey,Remeber your Dad and Doug did Lace Paint jobs on some of the Choppers and Helmets!!!!!

[Beth Leintz]

Oh yes, you are so right about the magic of lace, I could feel my heart beating just a little faster as I scrolled through the pictures on your post!

[Dorian Fletcher]

Good glory, Corey! These photos made my fingers itch, too! I have quite a collection myself (from my grandmother) that I have often thought to use - but also am loathe to cut it up. Victorian baby dresses, chemises, collars and yards of lace...so lovely and feminine and such a lost art! Thank you for the wonderful photos!

[Cre8Tiva]

i have been looking for a box of this here...wish i were there...hugs, r

[Elaine L.]

I know just how you feel. I love lace and can just sit and look at it's details. My friend uses lace and makes the most amazing lampshades. I like to just admire it!

~elaine~

[Toni Mason]

Hi Corey, are you using your new lens on the lace? Lovely...

[Pinkie Denise]

Oh, Corey,
I am drooling through the computer............
How beautiful, I could find something to do with these, the wheels are turning, I just want to touch hold and feel them, they are truly works of art in themselves, thanks for
sharing the beauty and making my day! On this
cold wet rainy day.....love to you Pinkie

[stljoie]

My Grandmothers tatted lace and I decided I needed to learn how so it wouldn't be a lost art. I did learn. When my Grandmother died I was given a large box full of spools of finished tatted lace edgings. Every now and then I pick up the shuttle to prove to myself that I haven't forgotten how. I need to find someone who wants to learn how and pass it on.

[Massilianana]

Oh Corey , I have loads of these , that I got from my grand-mothers . I too am looking for an idea to use these trims without having to cut in them and I think I might have found what to do : a giant frame where I would unfold each piece on a beautiful colored paper, protected by glass and then hang to admire everytime I would pass by . And , once in a while , change the composition , switch trims...But one day , maybe I'll have the guts to actually use them , they are too beautiful to be kept in the dark ! ;-)

[Jeanne]

I love lace and pretty and feminine things too...........
I have the Victoria Magazine with your home featured........
Divine!~
Page 62 and onward.
I love everything.............
I find you enchanting and so amazing
I am so proud to be your friend!
I love you
Congratulations.
Love Jeanne ^j^

[Merisi's Vienna for Beginners]

Beautiful images accompanied by beautiful prose! Thank you. :-)
This past spring I went to the island of Burano in the lagune of Venice to see their famous lace makers at work. Indescribable magic. Should you ever go to Venice, I am sure you'd love to see them and their creations. Some stores have laces that are up to 200 years old! And the ride out on the lagoon and back to Venice is also of breath taking beauty.

P.S.:
Corey, I tried to find out which camera you are using, but failed. Would you be willing to share this information, please?

[Merisi's Vienna for Beginners]

Beautiful images accompanied by beautiful prose! Thank you. :-)
This past spring I went to the island of Burano in the lagune of Venice to see their famous lace makers at work. Indescribable magic. Should you ever go to Venice, I am sure you'd love to see them and their creations. Some stores have laces that are up to 200 years old! And the ride out on the lagoon and back to Venice is also of breath taking beauty.

P.S.:
Corey, I tried to find out which camera you are using, but failed. Would you be willing to share this information, please?

[martina]

Lace can be so inspiring to the creative impulses. Grandma hand-crocheted a large lacy tablecloth just for me (her namesake). She made it when I was a baby and it was given to me when I turned 21. It is used every Christmas and every family birthday so it still feels like Grandma is with us.

[Steph W]

Gorgeous! And a joyful new year to you!

[Jill]

I rather wish I was following you so I could be the one to pick up the lace you passed on!

[beachy]

Oh Corey! You've sung to my heart! Old lace is my most favorite object to collect. Touching someone's handiwork, wondering where, when and for what reason such a beautiful thing was made. I could daydream all day with my face pressed against the folds and flowers of lace! Oh JOY!

[Melissa]

Reminds me of Rose's dress in the movie; Titanic. The one with layers of lace that moved as she walked on deck. Gorgeous!

[Lorraine]

What lovely lace and photographs! I love old lace and am on the side that has a really hard time cutting and using it. It's the same with old buttons - I like to just look at them and run my fingers through them.

[rochambeau]

Beautiful bits. Especially love the dyed slips!! Happy New Year Corey!!

xox
Constance

[Candy]

I love to look at lace. I'm not so fond of wearing it. I have memories of it itching so badly while my 3 brothers got to wear boy clothes that looked so comfortable. Lovely photos though.

[phyllis]

Yes! I speak "lace" as well! I have a cookie jar devoid of cookies...but it is stuffed with lace and sometimes I spill it...just so I can clean it up :)

[Dee/reddirtramblings]

Corey,

Do the French still have time to make handmade lace, or is all of the lace you see antique?

[delphine]

what a really lovely post. i want to buy some lace now... :)
delphine

[Dee]

Beautiful...beautiful!! I want to touch it! I love old lace!

[Beverly]

Oh the lace! It's beautiful! I can't wait to see the imaginative way that you use it!

[bramble]

I too was bitten by the lace bug now for many years and have acquired many amazing pieces. I can't imagine altering whole intact items but have used bits and pieces to make crazy quilt style tree skirt and Christmas stockings. Nice to bring them out and marvel at the intricate patterns and designs that I am lucky enough to have found. Maybe lace is somewhat like childrem?
We want to protect and keep them safe but the real adventure can only begin when we allow them to stretch their wings and find their own path whether it be sunlight or shadow.I have enjoyed your blog for quite some time and just wanted to let you know.
Bon Annee!

[Darla]

Fondle it. Imagine its story. Pick up a piece and daydream. All good uses for lace. It is so beautiful it can just "be" it doesn't have to "be something".

Just looking at your photos of lace is a feast.

Darla

[Shannon]

My hands!! :D

You inspire me to use lace on something.

There's got to be a way to use it without cutting it up. I'm sure you'll invent a way.

[Edi]

At an estate sale a few years ago I came upon a box of old lace...a lot of it was still "new" - had old cardboard price tags pinned on.

It was so much fun to go through it all...a lot of the pieces were lace collars or fancy cuffs.

One of my favorite pieces, which I still have - was a cotton collar that had fixed many times. The collar itself was paper thin - and yet throughout were these tiny stitches to repair it.

Now-a-days no one would think of wearing something that was visibly repaired many times - but obviously the time was different back then.

I enjoyed looking at your photos of lace.

[Karin]

I absolutely understand your dilema, as it is mine as well. It's the same with fabric. I buy it, fold it, put it on the shelf and then cry when I think I have to cut into it. Silly? Yes.

[Hasmin]

Such a wonderful collection...I too love lace! I especially love the off-white (ecru?) ones with the old worn look to them.