Dear Lacemakers, We are too quiet. Today has been spent searching through old lace/embroidery paper files for confirmation of something I want to write about. In the process, I came across an announcement in a newsletter: "Lacemaking in Le Puy" - at a Lace Guild of New York meeting, Jefferson Market Library, 10th Street and 6th Avenue, Manhattan. Sat. Oct. 8, 1983 at 12:30 p.m. Michel & Helene Jourde will lecture, answer questions and demonstrate. Admission free." I remember, and have written about this before, but it seems timely to repeat. This program was arranged to be held while the Jourdes were in New York in connection with a store-wide lace-themed promotion at Bloomingdale's Department Store. The Jourdes shipped a large lace pillow to the store, upon which a complex lace was in the process of being made, with lots of bobbins attached. It arrived at the store with the bobbins in a tangled mess, and the store employee who unpacked it thought she would be helpful by cutting off all the bobbins! Well! It is a lace story to remember, isn't it? Michel Jourde and many of the leaders of the Lace Guild of New York are no longer alive. (Are any other past members reading this?) Many were associated with the large New York City area museums; truly lace experts like Devon's colleague, Gunnel. This lace guild disbanded when it became impossible to get people to fill leadership positions. (A lesson for all to learn.) ...The library building has been converted into a women's prison ...Sixth Avenue usually goes by the name Avenue of the Americas ...Significant changes in 31 years. But ...Le Puy and its centuries old lace making tradition lives on! Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center
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