<<I have been reading up about Bethesda, Maryland, - learning a bit before next years IOLI convention. Lots of information, - but Nothing at all about any Handcrafts!
Please tell me what the main crafts are, if anyone knows. ->> They practice the art (or craft) of diplomacy....Do a search on Washington, DC. for whatever you are looking for. _http://americanart.si.edu/renwick/index.cfm_ (http://americanart.si.edu/renwick/index.cfm) The Renwick Gallery, a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, features one of the finest collections of American craft in the United States. Its collections, exhibitions program and publications highlight the best craft objects and decorative arts from the 19th century to the present. One-of a kind pieces created from clay, fiber glass, metal and wood from American Art's permanent collection of contemporary craft are displayed on a rotating basis. (Description taken from the website, although I visited it and enjoyed it a few years ago. The Textile Museum _http://www.textilemuseum.org_ (http://www.textilemuseum.org) which is known for its Oriental rugs, but has other exhibitions. I saw one on the Wiener Werkstatte's printed fabrics when I was there a couple of years ago. The National Museum of American History has a wide variety of things on display. Go to _http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections_ (http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections) and click on textiles. There are many interesting items, samplers, quilts, a model of the cotton gin. I don't know how many will be on display. They also have a collection of lace which is not on display. The local group gives a really wonderful tour of the lace collection, once a month, in the storage area. The local group also demonstrates Ipswich lace. There is an Ipswich lace pillow at the museum, although likely not on display. I personally enjoyed seeing the dresses of the First Ladies on display there a few years ago (think it was permanent display, not special exhibition) since many of the earlier ones had lace on them. Unfortunately, it would appear that the Bead Museum, which we enjoyed at the last Washington Convention, and the Doll Museum (which I have never seen, although I recall a wild taxi ride with my mother in search of it, and a generation later, a wild taxi ride with my daughter, also yielding nothing) are closed. Washington is actually a city that might have a few very exotic yarn stores, the way New York does. A search for Yarn shop Washington, DC brings up Knit Happens, Nirvana for Knitters, but unfortunately it seems to be in the process of closing down, also Stitch, DC _http://www.stitchdc.com_ (http://www.stitchdc.com) which does not appear to be closing down. Also _http://loopedyarnworks.com_ (http://loopedyarnworks.com) looks interesting, also, _http://www.fibrespace.com_ (http://www.fibrespace.com) I am sure that someone with greater internet ingenuity could find more. Devon - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]
