Lost in Venice, Part 3: Burano

I went to the island of Burano on my last day in Venice. It took nearly two hours to get there (two boats and a wait in between them), but I loved the chance to be on the water for such a long time. Then once I arrived the time felt totally worth it. The island is lovely: rows of colorful houses, fresh laundry on clothesline after clothesline, a relaxed feel and relative quiet considering the number of people that piled out of that ferry with me. I enjoyed a picnic lunch sitting next to the water and then made my way to the Museo del Merletto, the lace museum. The museum is a small but filled with incredible examples of Venetian antique lace and traces the history of lace from its origins. (I have posted examples from the 17th century.) There are also a number of cute, white-haired ladies working away on lace in the last room of the museum. Afterward, I wandered around as per usual and took lots of pictures and easily managed a visit to a church, of course.

More images on Facebook and Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

The Ruffs

The Artist and His Wife by Peter Paul Rubens, 1609

I am a big fan of Peter Paul Rubens and the entire Flemish school of painters. I have been able to see many masterpieces during my stay in Belgium which, given my love for the Baroque, has been truly remarkable. I was also taken by the ruffs and lace collars depicted in so many of these paintings and decided to make a few of my own for the show, also indulging my interest in lace. Here's a little glimpse...they are constructed in a similar way with the material gathered on satin ribbon and use lace in four different formats: paper, plastic, cotton, and metal. I wanted the pieces to echo the original style and look luxurious.

 paper

 plastic lace

metal

cotton

Thanks for reading.

A Tiny and Huge Lace Museum

Last week I left the studio early just so I could go to the Lace Museum at Carolus Borromeus. It is only open on Wednesday for two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. I'm glad I didn't miss it! When I arrived I had about an hour and didn't want to loose a minute so I asked where I could find it. I was escorted by a very nice woman named Maria who led me through several doors, down hallways, and up a few flights of stairs. When I told her of my interest in lace and embroidery she got very excited and said I was going to "love" the museum. And I did. It's very small, just two rooms, literally tucked away in this giant church. The first room includes various liturgical items and tapestries. The next room and the larger of the two has all the lace, several cases of examples from the 16th-19th century. My favorite pieces were definitely the oldest ones from the 15 and 1600's, pictured here. There were also two women making bobbin lace which is fascinating to watch. Their hands move so fast as they move around scores of bobbins and set pins to create the pattern. This is definitely something I would like to learn how to do someday. 

More pictures from the museum and of Carolus Boromeus Cathedral on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

And More Progress

paper lace

I have cited lace as an inspiration for some time now and I can't help but be drawn to it here in Belgium where there is a tradition of lace making. Beautiful lace is everywhere here! I'm also looking at a lot of Flemish paintings in which ruffs and lace collars are prevalent. Now I'm working on a series of ruff studies in different materials including paper, plastic, and metal. There will be Belgian lace, too. I just haven't gotten any yet.

 plastic lace

 metal lace (to be)

More on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

new blog feature - item of the week

in an effort to think and write about my work a little more, i decided to start a new weekly blog feature, "item of the week." each week i will highlight something from my shop and write about how i make it, what inspired it, and so on. this is just another little exercise for myself to better understand what i do and to then pass it on to all of you. this week's "item of the week" is my new layered necklace style D in sterling silver. this necklace is composed of 7 wire circles in different sizes that i have hammered flat and soldered together into 2 separate pieces, one with 3 circles, the other with 4. i then connect these pieces one on top of the other with jump rings to create a layered pattern of lines and shapes. the design of this necklace, like all the pieces in the layered collection, is not only about the many lines, but the spaces in between them, too. i started making the layered series a few years ago in response to my interest in lace and to challenge myself to push my use of the circle.

p.s. i also just decided to put this necklace on sale for a week to mark my new item of the week blog feature. please enjoy 10% off the layered necklace style D at my website from april 8-april 15.

thanks for reading.

this is why i heart lace.

yesterday i read and studied two different books on lace. they were mesmerizing. i made a list of why i am interested in and how i relate to lace, including phrases and key words:

1. repetition of shapes and patterns - both positive and negative space
2. patterns within patterns
3. repetition of line
4. "system" of patterns and shapes that coexist and rely on each other to simultaneously create the over-all look as well as the individual elements
5. certain patterns and lines create/suggest movement and/or rhythm - can be subtle
6. combination/interplay of organic and geometric imagery
7. lace is an exercise in contrasts
8. words that come to mind when i look at lace:
grid-like
structural
organized
rigid and flowing
order
highly detailed
intricate
complicated
delicate

when i look at lace i am attracted to all the things i listed above but i also see these things everywhere i look. they are often the most noticeable or appealing aspects of objects and scenery to me. i even strive to create them in my work. (and i strive for them - order, structure, organization - in my home, office, and studio.) my sculpture teacher, bob booth, at SUNY fredonia, often talked about how the eye moves or travels along a sculpture. i haven't forgotten this concept and think about it when i make my jewelry and when i am observing things. i refer to it as "visual movement." i think this applies to looking at 2D images as well, including lace.

thanks for reading.

all images from: pictorial archive of lace designs ed. carol belanger grafton

much needed day off

i finished my new collection pieces (all 35 of 'em!) and sent them off to my photographer, hank drew, in seattle. i am very pleased with the finished jewelry and had a great time making it, but i am (temporarily) spent. it takes a lot to make new work and it can be an intense process. plus, my fingers and my right wrist hurt. time to recharge. day off. (and maybe tomorrow, too.) so here i am, it's monday, i'm in bed with my laptop, a stack of books and magazines, a cup of tea, and my purring cat. the stack of books has been sitting here for a few weeks, neglected due to busy-ness. here's the break-down... martin puryear (the book from his recent moma show), pictorial archive of lace deisgns, antique lace patterns, the new vogue, the new metalsmith magazine, and 500 necklaces. good stuff. now i am going to stop this entry so i can get to it.


thanks for reading.