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Keeping centuries-old art alive
Denmark native to demonstrate how to make lace at CLU Scandinavian Festival
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Photos by Juan Carlo / Star staff Vibs Clausen teaches classes on lace-making. "It's not dead, far from it," she said, "but the general public doesn't know it." Above, Clausen uses a tatting shuttle to create an ornament design.
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More from Education: CollegeVibs Clausen fell in love with lace-making by accident.
Years ago, she was flying home to the United States from her native Denmark when her flight was delayed, so her sister-in-law took her to a lace museum to fill the time.
Clausen, who grew up knitting her own stockings, was smitten.
Now, at 73, Clausen is working to keep the centuries-old art alive. This weekend, she will teach lace-making at the annual Scandinavian Festival at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.
She also teaches classes at CLU's Scandinavian Center on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon.
"I just love to pass this on," said Clausen, a Camarillo resident, "but I also enjoy being together with all these beautiful people."
The festival, to be held Saturday and Sunday, will feature a trivia game, Scandinavian movies, a vintage Volvo car show, maypole dancing, and Kubb, a Viking game that's similar to horseshoes but does not have horseshoes or a stake. Food booths will offer Swedish meatballs, Danish pastries and other Scandinavian specialties.
Children can visit booths to learn Scandinavian crafts, including Danish paper-cutting and Finnish friendship bracelets.
Clausen will be demonstrating the art of lace. "It's not dead, far from it," she said, "but the general public doesn't know it."
Several of the women in Clausen's classes at CLU grew up with mothers, grandmothers or aunts who crocheted and knitted. They learned those crafts from them and then found themselves drawn to lace-making.
"I like the artistry and the beauty of it," said Ann Gaudig, 65, of Camarillo. "The twists make it beautiful and give it a sheen. You really can tell the difference between handmade and machine-made lace."
Halie Hanley, 63, on the other hand, finds peace in the concentration required to create lace's complicated patterns.
"It's a very relaxing thing to do," said Hanley, of Westlake Village. "It's almost a Zen-like feeling. It takes your mind off daily stresses."
Posted by jkboller on April 15, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vibs,
What a surprise to see you in the newspaper...and how delightful that you're passing along this wonderful art form!
You do the most beautiful work!! I would love to take a class from you...always wanted to when you taught at Weaver's, so hope to have a second chance at CLU!
Jackie
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