Sally Lorensen Conant, Ph.D. will give a talk on "How to Conserve your Heirloom Costumes and Quilts" on Tuesday, September 16th at 1:30 pm at the Darien Historical Society.
Dr. Conant will discuss how to display your treasured textiles in your home, basic and advanced methods to care for stains, some quick fixes to stains (water, club soda, baking soda, cornstarch, salt, baby powder, baby wipes, lighter fluid, white-out, shoe polish) and the best available wet cleaning aids for deep cleanings. She will present the proper storage options for clothing and the best long-term storage choices for linens, lace, and quilts including proper acid-free storage materials and whether to store flat or rolled.
Sally Conant is a former museum professional who founded and operates Orange Restoration Labs, the largest gown preservation service in New England. Dr. Conant frequently serves as a consultant to museums and historical societies. She is also Executive Director of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists, a not-for-profit trade association of cleaners in seven countries who specialize in cleaning heirloom textiles of all types. Featured in wedding books and magazines, Sally is a member of the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Objects and the Textile Society of America. She is recognized by the Association of Bridal Consultants as a Master Wedding VendorTM and in 2005, received the International Drycleaners Congress' Makoto Igarashi Award for Restoration.