To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 01, 2005 4:48 PM
Subject: Re: [lace] Tissue Paper Questions - Resending Advice & replying to Jeri.
Dear Jeri.and Arachne Friends,
Acid testing pencils can be obtained from Scrapbooking shops every where.
Ann Blunden Dorrigo Australia
----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 01, 2005 10:54 AM
Subject: [lace] Tissue Paper Questions - Resending Advice
Dear Lacemakers,
Our Webmaster, Avital, has informed me that this message may never have been
received by many members on the list. So, this is a Resend of a message
mailed to Arachne originally on April 26th. Must do - because I have no idea which
Australian sent the questions! Jeri
---------------------------------
April 26, 2005
Dear Lacemakers,
This morning, I received the following questions from Australia:
"Jeri, Is all white tissue paper acid free?
"If not, how can you tell the difference?"
The answer to the first question is no. People who have reused dress shop
paper have learned this - the hard way -- with damaged garments lovingly packed
away in them. It can be devastating if an heirloom christening gown, wedding
garments, etc.
The answer to the second question: The pH pen has been recommended
repeatedly on Arachne. It is the quickest way I know to test even the prettiest papers
and gift or storage boxes. A small dot of the ink from this pen will be blue
when first applied to a paper product, and will stay blue if acid-free. If
it contains any acid, the color will change to green. If a lot of acid, it
will change to yellow. Print the description on the site given yesterday, so you
can show the suppliers in your country what you want. Here it is - again.
One archival supplier is Light Impressions of Rochester, NY, USA. I have
frequently recommended their pH Testing Pen #2396 for testing acid content in
wrapping papers and boxes for lace storage. You can do your own research at:
http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/
You can also read about tissue and storage boxes at Light Impressions, then
buy locallly.
Good acid-free tissue and boxes can absorb acids from the atmosphere in which
they are stored. Test them at least every 10 years, and replace the
paper/boxes if the pen indicates acid content. Those of you working in museums and
historic houses -- this is important. Volunteers do not always know this.
If supplies are purchased in large quanties, the price per unit is lower. Some groups pool their financial resources, and divide a large supply of paper/boxes to get a better price break per user.
Teach your children about your collections and how to care for them. They
study pollution in school, and will remember.
Newbies: The acid from wood pulp causes textiles to yellow or turn brown
(even colored textiles suffer, though you may not see it as quickly). The next
step? The fibers in the textiles begin to break down. It is the most common
type of damage to textiles. In time, these fabrics begin to weaken and
disintegrate. Climate conditions can make this happen at different rates of speed.
Every museum conservator warns against this type of damage. Do not trust what
shops and dry cleaners use!
Lacking the money for proper tissue or boxes? Store your collection in
thoroughly washed and rinsed (to remove detergents, starches and bleaches) white
cotton/linen pillow cases. Watch the pillow case fabric for any yellowing or
browning. If you see any, rewash/rinse the pillow cases and store in a
different piece of furniture.
--------------------------------
Save this message in your conservation binder, please. The information is
not that easy to find, and old books give advice that has proven to be damaging
-- one being to use blue tissue paper. Fact is, blue tissue paper can be made
from wood pulp. A second problem is that if colored tissue gets damp or wet
it can transfer the dyes to your lace and may be impossible to remove.
Jeri Ames in Maine USA
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