Lacis

Whew, it’s been too long since I’ve posted!  But I’ve been traveling and taking advantage of my slow time of year and I found something amazing to share with y’all when I visited my friend Rachel in San Francisco.  It’s called Lacis.  What is it?  Only the BEST STORE EVER.

It’s located in Berkeley and it’s both a museum (of lace and antique dresses) and the most comprehensive textile arts supply store I’ve ever been to.  It’s not a fabric store, but it has everything you could ever want in the knitting, crochet, lace-making, millinery, embroidery, tatting, needlepoint, corsetry, bridal veil, and craft book departments.  They also carry vintage patterns (uncut for $2-$20), a gorgeous selection of silk tulle, antique textiles and garments, and gift items.  I can’t even list everything they carry!  Their website does have an online catalog you can order from (and free shipping).  Bask in the fabulousness…(antique dresses hanging from ceiling)…

I got some vintage Irish lace with which to trim my veil!

Rachel, my cousin Christiana, and I stayed there for about three hours and I probably could have stayed there for days.  It’s so inspiring and beautiful–looking around Lacis just makes you want to try every craft there is.  In that way it’s similar to Purl Soho; it’s not as meticulously organized and presented as Purl, but it’s about ten times as large and has antique stuff.  I leave it up to you to judge which is better.  I always thought moving to Berkeley and living in a little craftsman bungalow would be great, but now I’m actually scheming ways to move there so I can go to Lacis every day.  Check out Christiana’s house.  How dreamy is this?

If that combined with Lacis doesn’t make everyone want to move there, I don’t know what will.  OH–I also found a perfect picnic basket, complete with green gingham lining and wine bottle compartments, sitting out for free (slash trash) outside her neighbors’ house.  Obviously I took it.

Travel always inspires me, but this was way above and beyond what I expected.

Have you ever visited a craft-supply or fabric store that completely inspired you?  Please share!

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