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memsomerville.bsky.social
@memsomerville.bsky.social
1.1K followers 1.1K following 1.2K posts
Scientist. Lacemaker.

lacecouvige.com for Wikipedia project
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memsomerville.bsky.social
That seems excessive. What's going on, this average Sunday without weather nastiness??

www.iso-ne.com/isoexpress/w...
The LMP map of real time electricity prices is all in the bright red and all are around $2700.
November 23, 2025 at 10:56 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
That same day another painting nearby had about the best lace detail I've ever seen. This is the one that got me yelled at.

I couldn't believe how detailed this lace was painted. I can see that it is likely a needle lace, probably Italian. Those Catherine wheels are good stuff.
The lace at the cuff of the Archibald Menzies portrait. It's gathered and full, but you can see the details of the stitches really clearly. It's an amazing representation, almost good enough to replicate from the painting. White linen, likely. Lace at the cuff, another section. Again you can see the floral details, the swirly bits, and the Catherine wheels in details.
November 17, 2025 at 2:20 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
Here's John's jabot and his cuff close up. Before I got yelled at by the museum guard.

#JohnAdams
The sleeve edge of the John Adams portrait close up to show the lace. It looks like one of the good quality French laces of the period to me. This is probably a 1.5 inch or 2 inch wide trim with a fancy headside, but the ground isn't well detailed so I can't ID the region. A focus on the jabot lace he's got up where a necktie would be. I can see some picots on the edge here and the fancy headside. But again the ground isn't painted well enough to see the details.
November 17, 2025 at 2:14 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
Some exquisite nerd had quilted 100 digits of pi.

At the @morseinstitute.bsky.social event today.

I demo'ed #BobbinLace in the lobby at their ongoing fiber art installation. My lace pal somehow got bobbin lace drone footage....

My embroidered boots were noticed.

#quilting
A wall hanging quilt that consists of a gray background and small squares of vibrant colors that appear to be a code of some kind. A sign on the wall adjacent to it says: 100 digits of pi. Can you see the pattern? The top row has 3 blocks. The next row has 1 block, space, 4 blocks, space, 1 block, space, 5 blocks, space, 9 blocks, space And each row continues with the appropriate digit represented as a set of blocks. A zero is a cut out hole block. It's wonderfully nerdy. And pretty. A shot of me talking with two people about bobbin lace from above the atrium where I'm standing. My lace pillow is there with about 80 bobbins splayed out and a piece of black silk Ipswich lace being made in the center. A front view of my table while I'm talking to a visitor about how to make lace. I also brought a piece of tatting and a piece of needle lace to show other kinds of lace that are more portable than this big lace pillow and all the bobbins.
November 16, 2025 at 11:35 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
Oh, my. I was watching the preview for #KenBurns documentary on the #AmericanRevolution (starts tonight). I know it's not about the #lace.

But I saw Mercy Otis Warren's shoulder and gasped at the lace. There will be lace....

This dress was worn by 3 women in paintings. You'll see it tonight.
A photo of a book on my green gridded work mat. Needles and thread and scissors nearby. The book is called "Art in a Season of Revolution". Subtitle: Painters, Artisans, and Patrons in Early America. Mary Turner Sargent wears a blue silk gown with ornate passimenterie trim and a gauzy lace shawl and large lace engagents.
November 16, 2025 at 3:26 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
I have to do a lace demonstration today, and now I've decided that I must wear them for this event.

I hadn't thought about it before, but what are they for if not of special textile events.
November 16, 2025 at 2:04 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
I'm staying grounded these days with my hobby, lace.

This week's new skill = #Carrickmacross lace. I didn't expect to like it. But I did.

Mistakes were made. But I liked the structure and challenge of it.

Design by Theresa Kelly, the teacher. Her other stuff: thelacemuseum.org/theresa-kell...
A diamond-shaped structure of gauzy organdy fabric with cut outs that show netting or embroidery bits like Catherine wheels. Around the outside edges are adjacent loops that are one of the characteristics of Carrickmacross. White organdy, white netting, white outline thread. Monochrome, but textured. Beginner piece. Mistakes were made.
November 16, 2025 at 12:45 AM
memsomerville.bsky.social
By August of 2019, Ito was apologizing for the #Epstein money.

In March he was begging for it. #MIT

www.media.mit.edu/posts/my-apo...
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_029609 From: Joi Ito Sent: 3/4/2019 4:08:40 PM To: Jeffrey Epstein [jeeyacation@gmail.com] Subject: Re: $25K from ASU Importance: High I'm good. Good luck! - Joi On Mar 4, 2019, at 7:45 AM, J wrote: brutal press. . sorry . it seems im a symbol for all ills. :). if you hate the rich, the men , the trump types . im your boy . at least for the moment. . hope you are well On Thu, Feb 28, 2019 at 1:24 PM Joi Ito wrote: Thanks! On Feb 28, 2019, at 1:18 PM, J wrote: No problem- Trying to get more black for you On Thu, Feb 28, 2019 at 1:10 PM Joi Ito > wrote: Hey Jeffrey. How are things? Just to let you know. We were able to keep the Leon Black money, but the $25K from your foundation is getting bounced by MIT back to ASU. Sorry... - Joi please note The information contained in this communication is confidential, may be attorney-client privileged, may
November 13, 2025 at 4:08 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
Maybe you know, but you are in the files in one of LK's letters.
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_030895 📁 001 📄 Page 1 From: Lawrence Krauss Sent: 4/6/2011 9:31:19 PM To: Jeffrey Epstein [jeeyacation@gmail.com] Subject: Fwd: Statement in the Daily Beast? Importance: High just so you know.. you can read from bottom up.. you may be mad that I was blunt... haven't heard from you.. hope all is well.. Begin forwarded message: From: Rebecca Watson Date: April 6, 2011 10:28:36 AM MST To: Lawrence Krauss Subject: Re: Statement in the Daily Beast?
November 13, 2025 at 3:42 AM
memsomerville.bsky.social
"Men of the World" Conference.

In response to

"From: Tina Brown
The Women in the World Summit opens April 12 and runs through April 14 with a power packed agenda of remarkable female newsmakers sharing
their stories of male misbehaviors."

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_011904

Kraus. Ew.
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_011904 📁 001 📄 Page 1 From: Lawrence Krauss Sent: 4/5/2018 10:16:55 PM To: jeffrey E. [jeeyacation@gmail.com] Subject: Re: Importance: High Let's do a men of the world conference. Kevin spacey Bill Clinton Al franken Woody Allen Lawrence M. Krauss Director, The Origins Project at ASU Foundation Professor School of Earth & Space Exploration and Physics Department Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871404. Tempe. AZ 85287-1404 origins.asu.edu I twitter.comilkraussl I krauss.faculty.asu.edu
November 13, 2025 at 3:29 AM
memsomerville.bsky.social
Right????

I took one from the back to understand the structure better later. Yah.
October 18, 2025 at 11:25 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
#Boston #NoKings frogs!
A pair of charming frogs stands in the center of the crowd on hill at Boston Common. Big still mostly green trees are behind them, and the soldier's monument is in the way back.
October 18, 2025 at 10:38 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
I have no idea how this guy could stand up. But I was trying to imagine that little pipsqueak Mike Johnson attempting to hold this many flags.

#Boston #NoKings
A man is wearing some kind of harness that allows him to have about 7 poles coming out from his body, each with a big American flag in the upside-down distress signal fashion. Off to the right a little bit a sign also says Fuck Ice. A very funny large milk carton in 3D, with two sides visible. One says MISSING Supreme Court's Credibility [it has a lot of smaller text below that] at the bottom it says: IF FOUND, PLEASE CALL 1-800-U-HAVE-AN-OBLIGATION REWARD: PUBLIC TRUST --IF ANY REMAINS Another panel says MISSING DEMOCRACY [small text again] A pink shark is off to the left among all the other protestors. A sign in the center of a crowd has a Smokey the Bear face in the center. It says Only you can RESIST Fascist Liars A sign above the crowd heads says: GRANTIFA Grandmas Against Fascism
October 18, 2025 at 9:03 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
But how do you really feel, neighbors?

#Boston #NoKings
A sign adjacent to a tall lamppost on the common says: Fuck this Fucking Fucker's Fuckton of Fucked up Fuckery Sign held above the crowd says: Time to start Dunkin' [in the Dunkin donuts colors] ICE in the Harbor It has what looks like ice cubes down at the bottom. Nearby is one of the helium ballons of baby Trump. A bright red board has a black and white sign held above the crowd. It is an image of Ben Franklin with a flag in the background. It says: A Republic. If you can keep it Benjamin Franklin Born and raised in Boston A black sign with what looks like chalk writing on it. A small upside down flag protrudes from the top. Text says: Never too late to choose the RIGHT size of history. The letters of RIGHT are each unique. R looks like a Palestinian flag. I looks like an American flag. G looks like a Pride flag. H looks like a Trans flag and T looks like a Black power fist.
October 18, 2025 at 8:55 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
A multi-species event.

#Boston #NoKings
The floppy guy tube man inflatable dances on the Common. Crowd in the background and the Boston buildings. Two dancing frogs on the grass of Boston Common. Amid the reset of the crowd and passers-by. A cheery unicorn stands on the walking path on a gorgeous day. A large tyrannosaurus stands majestically in the middle of the crowd with the tall building of downtown Boston in the background. Many people with signs and flags around on all sides.
October 18, 2025 at 8:49 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
Some of my favorites from #Boston #NoKings massive event. I only saw a fraction of the people, really.

A gorgeous day to be surrounded by neighbors who are wicked pissed.
A hand written large sign held up by a woman says: Deport Stephen Miller back to HADES Creative 3D sign says "Bondi Shark" with Pam Bondi's face on the front of a shark whose tail you can see. The head is on a spring and bounces off from the back of the sign like a bobble head. Text says: Genus/species: horribilia bondi Kingdom: animalia Megalo-Don Phylum: invertabrata (spineless) Nat. habitat: swamps of Florida Range: US DOJ (invasive in DC) ERA: ahistoric AG, magascene First-hand reports: Quint, 1975 She's got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll's....she come at ya, she doesn't even seem to be [covered by hands holding the sign] she bites ya, and those black eyes roll over.... Person stands in the center of the green common against a backdrop of protestors. Someone is taking his photo. Large sign says "Hands off Cancer Research" Large section of the heads of the crowd, with a large black sign towards the back that says "We can be heroes just for one day" --David Bowie
October 18, 2025 at 8:43 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
I saw this one and loved it.

mastodon.art/@JoBlakelyAr...
A poster that has the same look as Rosie the Riverter with the flexed bicep, but it's a frog with a bandanna and denim shirt on instead. It says "We can do it!" in the speech balloon above the frog.
October 18, 2025 at 1:53 AM
memsomerville.bsky.social
LOL. "Wicked pissed" is right.

See you at #NoKings #Boston.
Pumpkin colored text on a black background for the No Kings event sign. It says in text form: No thrones. No crowns. NO KINGS IN BOSTON Saturday Oct 18, Boston Common Parade Grounds Wicked pissed. Wicked loud. Wicked united. On the right is a hand holding a sign on a wooden stick that says: Rejecting kings sins 1776. And it has the circle with the slash that means "no" and a hand drawn crown in it.
October 17, 2025 at 2:26 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
People have finally talked me into doing a beginner #BobbinLace workshop in the #Boston area. Will be in #SomervilleMA at Joy St Studios-- #MBTA accessible.

Full details: www.thebostoncalendar.com/events/begin...
A photo collage of 4 images related to bobbin lace class at The Chest Collective studio space. Upper left: a wide shot of the studio in a warm red tone with big windows showing our lace meeting we held there. People are making lace at two different tables. Upper right: the small beginner fish pattern made in lace in the palm of someone's hand. It's pink and purple shades. Lower left: a beginner pillow with a fish in progress. A few bobbins in blue and yellow threads are working on the fish pattern. Lower right: the table of pillows I brought to show the different styles, and I'm demonstrating some stitches for someone watching. The center graphic says: Beginner Bobbin Lace Workshop, 10am-4:30pm. Dates are Oct 26 and Nov 2, two consecutive Sundays.
October 15, 2025 at 3:22 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
Heh. #MIT
A sidewalk painted text that says "OLD DYKES AGAINST TECH BROS"
October 15, 2025 at 1:16 AM
memsomerville.bsky.social
@jsundman.bsky.social enjoying your reminisce about the Jim Kent coding drama on the #HGP. #MIT @longnowboston.org #Rev250
John speaking at the Long Now Boston event about Boston's next 250 years.
October 14, 2025 at 10:59 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
A friend texted me this from his "memories" yesterday.

Doesn't it sound just like "We’re doing the studies to make the proof."...Think about where you just heard that. #RFKjr
Screenshot of an email from Chuck Benbrook to two other people who hate glyphosate. Bruce, Michael-- The funding I have in hand that could support some glyphosate testing is from a foundation that will expect to see some results published in the foreseeable future. Given the difficulty my program has had raising $$, I have to sow a return on investment as soon as possible. Can this testing be done in a way that would produce a publishable paper, perhaps just presenting preliminary data in support of a hypothesis? Chuck [Benbrook]
October 11, 2025 at 7:38 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
#IronLung view from a letter to the Boston Globe today.

#Polio #vaccinessavelives
Marin Wolf ’s front-page story about the 1950s polio epidemic hit close to home (“Vestige of the past, cautionary tale for today: ‘Iron lung,’ a medical relic, still stirs memories of life without vaccines,” oct. 6). The girl in the photo below is my mother, Judy, as a teen in 1954. For about a year, she lived inside an iron lung at Children’s hospital in Boston and almost died. she recovered, but she sustained permanent muscle weakness. In 1955 the first polio vaccine was developed, followed by a second type of vaccine that was approved in 1961. As recently as 1988, before global efforts around vaccination took hold, polio was paralyzing about 1,000 children daily. since then, billions of people worldwide have received the vaccine, and cases of wild poliovirus have decreased by more than 99 percent. But the virus can reappear if we stop vaccinating widely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, communities where polio has been eradicated are at risk from low vaccination rates, from polio in infected travelers, or from outbreaks of poliovirus that can emerge over time. so when I read about parents refusing to vaccinate their children and health and human services secretary Robert F. kennedy Jr.’s ongoing lies about risks and benefits of vaccines, I want to show them the photograph of my mother and tell them to multiply it thousands of times, each with a different face reflected in that mirror. JANE Hirschhorn Newton "The author’s mother, Judy Braverman, then a teenager, inside an iron lung in 1954." A black and white photo of the part of the iron lung tube where the patient's head rests on a pillow. You can see her straight dark hair hanging over the edge fo the pillow. A rectangular mirror is set up over the device so you can see her face and presumably she can see the viewer.
October 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
memsomerville.bsky.social
Much #SomervilleMA. Yes, neighbors.

Seen on the walk home from the community media center. It's so on point.

#ResistTrump
A large community message board with all kinds of messages pinned up. Most are letter sized papers, in pretty even rows and columns (which is unusual). The center top message printed on bright yellow paper says "RESIST TRUMP". Other items on the board, which consists of 3 rows and about 8 columns. Top row: "Now Kiss" lips and a Boston Comedy showcase, a scientific paper about climate change, job and resource fair in 3 languages, Resist Trump, Square dancing, bed for sale, I think some English tutoring. Middle row: Language tutoring, SEE ICE? Call LUCE HOTLINE 617-370-5023, some kind of water and air filtering thing, Polyamory support group, How are you really doing?, youth ultimate frisbee, silent film cinema something. Lowest row: Talk to real humans, musicians at Nave art gallery, Somerville Cine-club, washed out something I can't read, Nave musicians again--Kalliope Jonesw with Lou, Isabella, and Wes, Somerville SEPAC special education parents advisory council.
October 9, 2025 at 12:31 AM
memsomerville.bsky.social
I went to see the "Fashion Police" installation at #Harvard the other day. These pamphlets from 1620 are...something.

But I also was enchanted by the books in the library room. I may have looped more than once just enjoying the spines.

library.harvard.edu/exhibits/fas...
October 3, 2025 at 11:20 PM