Tamara wrote: <And the current entry is not likely to be much shorter, what with 3 diagrams and 10 *different* braids <g>). Alternatively, a limit can be set on how long the instructions *can* be...>
I agree with Tamara that if you are entering the "original" category you are expected to provide a pricking and working notes but how much constitutes "working notes"? We all know how wordy Tamara can be <g>, I prefer to write as little as possible. Most of my entries constitute maximum number of bobbins, type of thread, order of work and if necessary, anything unusual I may have done for that particular design. I hope I will not be penalised because I only mention the type of braid used and do not diagram it as well. There was an article in the Bulletin on what a judge is looking for, can't remember the issue as I don't have them close by. I had asked in the past that we designers have some sort of guideline as to what is expected, but I would also like some feedback after the competition on why a particular piece did not win. Was it technique difficulties? I know in my first competition piece, which did not even place, I had done a fairy and to make the wings look like uneven scales I had made up my own stitches. I was happy with the effect but maybe the judges looked at it and said "what was she thinking?" I would have liked to know if that was why it did not place and it would deter me from doing something different in the future and keep those oddball ideas for publishing in a magazine. I know I was unsure of subscribing to Lace magazine in my early days of lace making as I saw that many of the patterns only included a pricking and maybe a finished picture of the lace and I felt that was unfair for new lacemakers. Since then I have learnt more techniques and I am happier with bare bones instructions even if it might take me a while to figure out how the threads work together, and I am so thankful I joined Lace as I love the articles and patterns that appear in it. It has opened my eyes to different ideas. The current bucks piece on my pillow has each corner worked with a different approach as I can't remember what I did last time. This is after blowing up the diagram to huge proportions but it still does not show every time where a bobbins is added or dropped. Regards airline luggage, it is 40 lbs for one bag, 70 lbs for one overseas bag and you are allowed two checked bags and one carryone. You cannot put 80 lbs in one bag and argue that that is the same as two 40 lbs. They want to deter you from packing bags too heavy for the handlers to manage. But they still have to handle the heavy bag if you pay the excess charge. DH just got back from Germany and said that one family had a bag weighing over 100 lbs and the checking in clerk sent them away with a plastic bag to put some items into to bring the suitcase down to 70 lbs. Wonder if the plastic bag made the journey on the carousel, our new suitcase didn't even though it was a hardshell. They managed to bend the frame one one trip and this time wore a wheel down so now it clonks along!! Plus you are not supposed to lock your cases now because of security but that does not deter items from disappearing from the cases along the route!! Janice -- Janice Blair Crystal Lake, 50 miles northwest of Chicago, Illinois, USA A mistake is simply another way of doing things. Katherine Graham - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED]
