Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

The Thing about Lace

                                                     lace

 

 

It is that lace thing again, every now and then I must show it. The funny thing about this lace attraction of mine is- I do not use it. I do not sew it on my sheets, or pillow cases. I don't create with lace or attach it to my clothing. Nor do I doll-up a doll with lace. Nope, none of it. So why am I attracted to it?

 

 

lace 

 

 

 

It never fails, I spot it at each and every flea market. I tell myself, "Walk on by…keep going…don't stop…" But it is pointless, the directives I give to myself are not followed. How many times do I find myself stooped over a box, digging through lace, ribbons and linens? It is an obsession.

 

 

 

                                                                     Aaa 

 

 

Obsession yes… but not to this point. This Chick-a-Dee likes her lace.

 

 

                                       Baby-boy 

 

 

I was happy with my lace obsession when I found this full lace, 1880 baptismal gown and cape for my baby nephew's baptism. Happy because he looks like a doll baby in it, and because I had seen enough lace to pick out the old stuff verses the newer stuff.

 

 

 

                                      lace 

 

 

Lace has such a feminine, bohemian, sweet summer feel to it. Lace invites the desire to touch, to feel… I guess that is why it adorns undergarments… it is sensual. Sweet sexy? How silly of me not to have some  antique lacy undergarments to show you…. or do I?

 

 

            Antique-lace.lll

 

 

Antique lacy nightgowns, but not very sexy. I gotta do better than this…. let me look in my files.

 

 

                                                                                             French

 

 

I knew I could find a photo of lacy undergarments. Sorry, they are not antique. Can you image paying 37 euro for a string? French Husband I bet would rather I spent 37 euro on a string instead of old lace that sits in a box under my bed.

 

 

                                                  Ribbons-and-bows-corey-amar

 

 

Boy, how did I go from talking about my obsession with lace, to talking about what French Husband thinks? My mind is like that… it wanders. Okay, I gotta get back on track…. French antique lace and why I collect it and don't use it.

 

 

                                         Pink 

 

 

Maybe tonight…. I'll fore-go my oversized nightgown that looks like a parachute and dream up

 

something with lace.

 

I gotta stop now 'cause my obsession with lace seems like a hidden desire (!) I always knew my blog was my therapist… but hey Corey there are others sitting around this couch listening!

                                                                              Therapy in Lace.

 

Comments

20 responses to “The Thing about Lace”

  1. Leigh NZ

    Corey, I totally understand where you’re coming from with regard to your lace obsession! I like to look, find, obtain, ponder, drool over a piece of antique embroidered lace and then I like to imagine the stories it could tell of the people who it adorned in the past and the events it attended. I also think of the women who stitched and their lives and what things they thought of while stitching such beautiful work; sadly a lost art today.

    Reply
  2. Marilyn

    I understand also. Love lace and ribbons. I have some hanging on my bulletin board just to look at, but mustn’t use it. It is too beautiful.

    Reply
  3. Kathie

    I remember the antimacassars that my Azorean-American great-aunt had crocheted before arthritis crippled her hands. The lacy pieces still graced her chair backs and arms when I was a child.
    Bonus points for T-I-C followers who know what Macassar was, without looking it up ;-)))

    Reply
  4. g

    I don’t have the lace bug but man do I love that whole pink lace ensemble 37 euro MONEY WELL SPENT- I do like lace on my under garments as long as it isn’t itchy-unless it is something that will not be on long-OH NO I HAVE SAID TO MUCH…..

    Reply
  5. nancy w

    I have the obsession even worse than you Corey! I have been collecting lace, household linens, ribbons, and such for 45 years. Have quite collection. It soothes me just look through it although I use the linens and enjoy hand washing and carefully ironing them. They smell so lovely during and after the ironing process. In reply to Kathie Macassar was a hair “dressing” used by men years ago.

    Reply
  6. Kipper

    Early version of VO5. Anyone else remember what VO5 smelled like? It always meant mom and dad were ge tying dressed up for date night in my family. Like. Nancy, I enjoy and use handmade linen, lace and crochet work. Much of it made by Grandma, including antimacassars.

    Reply
  7. Taste of France

    I have a bunch of lace-trimmed bedding, made by my grandma. It’s wonderful. I also have doilies that I want to frame.

    Reply
  8. lanmangina@me.com

    One day the reason for collecting it will be revealed. If not someone will have a great time sorting through it one day. I know Chinese seamstresses might be able to pull something together for you. Lace and ruffles are so in fashion now.

    Reply
  9. Our French Oasis

    I don’t have lace anywhere at home and yet when I visit Brocantes I am always drawn to tables of antique lace, I love to touch and feel, it fires the imagination and allows me to daydream a little!

    Reply
  10. Jenine

    I to am a lover of lace and have quite a lovely collection, but I use it daily. Our home is “earthy” with lots of wood but with much lace to soften the edges. Today I am hosting a wedding shower for a young woman who has a love of horses and the outdoors. Lace over burlap on the tables softens and soothes. I love the feel of very old lace and this is the draw for me when sorting through boxes at flea markets in the US and Brocantes in France. My absolute favorite piece was found at a street market Fontainebleau. After pulling numerous pieces from the box (50 cents-euros each!) I found at the very bottom a beautiful antique lace tablecloth. The young woman looked up and said, now that one will be 2 euro! She later told me that her Grand-Mere had died and that she found all of the lace in her attic. I hope Grand-Mere see’s and knows how much I cherish her things!

    Reply
  11. Kristin

    Lace is like a magical link to history; for over 50 years I have gathered pieces and instructions for crocheting and knitting my own pieces, including curtains and tablecloths. There is a softening of a table setting with bright colors, china dishes, sterling and lace. Sometimes I incorporate bits of lace from my boxes into something I am making, but just to hold each piece, wash and iron them is a soul filling exercise. I am finishing up a crocheted lace top for a nightgown for my granddaughter’s hope chest. I believe I am part of an international gathering of folks who love the historical, beautiful handmade laces….and look for ways to use them in our homes.

    Reply
  12. Linda V

    I agree with everyone, lace is mystical and quite magical as a crafted item. It is threads handled with such skill that such beauty appears with a few movement of the hands as if waving a magic spell over the threads. Most makers are gone or aged enough that they can no longer create this amazing beauty. Little is being passed down. Machines now create a similar look but without the really gorgeous look of handmade.
    I sew and use lace as I can find it. Using such handmade lace is such a treasure. I can only use it for a special pillow, it is fragile and could not hold up to much washing. The cost of such lace prohibits its use on most projects as well.
    We love it exactly as you stated, Corey, it is sensual, tremendously feminine, stirs our emotions as soon as we see it. Knowing the many hours it took to make give a special feeling of worthiness. We are elevated to royalty as it surround us.

    Reply
  13. Brenda Locklear

    I understand your obsession with lace…I used to watch my grandmother tat and saw the work she put into it. My mother used to knit,sew,do crewel work,needlepoint,even make earrings out of rick-rack! etc.etc.They both put so much work and pride into it all. So when I see lace or hand sewn items I have such fond memories and that’s why I love old things like this too.

    Reply
  14. Mit

    I love lace, too. The older, the better! A very dear friend years ago showed me her museum quality lace collection from the 1600s to the 1800s – I was smitten! SO much work by hands in such a SMALL space – mind boggling and wondrous to behold! I liken it to a view of the cosmos – in miniature form…all those thoughts, feelings encased in slender threads…

    Reply
  15. Carolyn from Pittsburgh

    Ah lace. It is more than the warm fuzzies. It is a love affair. Wearable works of art. Innocent or sexy it inspires dreams.

    Reply
  16. Ali

    I have all of my mothers old linen and hand embroidered pieces. Towels with her initials. Most are in a box. The only things. That I have ever used are the old linen napkins which I have dyed. I keep it all and when ever I see old linen, lace or embroidery….I pick it up and marvel at the hand work that these women did.
    Ali

    Reply
  17. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    g, good thing you’re only listed as an initial here! hahaha

    Reply
  18. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    I love handmade, crocheted lace (likewise quilts and other handmade items) because of its connection with the hands that made it. Contemporary, machine-made lace? Nah.
    I too can’t ever figure out anything to do with the lace I have because I’m not really a lacy sort of foo-foo girl. And I don’t want to commit a piece to a particular project because then what if it’s not right? Moreover, I’m pretty much never doing anything project-y with textiles anymore so never mind.
    Tell Mat and Franca Bolla that I miss seeing their entertaining ascerbic comments.

    Reply
  19. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    I just remembered! It wasn’t lace exactly, although it did have a little on it and lots of handworked embroidery. My dad brought my mom the gift of a large, delicate, beautiful fine linen tablecloth from the Philippines when he came back from his service in WWII. She of course never used it because it was too nice, and eventually she gave it to me “because you’re the only one of the girls who might ever iron it.” I kept it safely stashed until one day I decided “who exactly am I saving this for”. I got it out, hung it over a long curtain rod in the 5 foot wide window/door too a deck off my bedroom. It’s so sheer that it lets the light in but gives sufficient privacy. I worried about light deteriorating it, but again though “who exactly am I saving this for” (since you’re not here to drool for it), and I enjoyed the heck out of it for about 15 full years. That’s 15×365 days of enjoyment. Eventually it did deteriorate from the sunlight, and I tucked it away someplace for my heirs to toss into goodwill or whatever (or for me to use in one of my mythical textile projects). I had already purchased a similar fine embroidered linen tablecloth at an antique/junk shop, so I got it out and plan to enjoy it for the next 15 or more years, pretending it’s the selfsame one that Frank picked out for his beloved Louise lo those 60+ years ago…

    Reply
  20. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    Long story. Sorry.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions