There should be someone with public relations experience telling us on a regular basis what is happening in the U.K. that has a lace connection. This is a recommendation that needs attention by people in official positions at The Lace Guild, England. We know and appreciate you are unpaid volunteers. This is an easy-to-understand request. There is still very little information about the Lace in Fashion exhibit - outside the U.K. You will remember I wrote an article for Arachne and The New England Lace Group just before the exhibit opened. Work on the lace collection in Bath began 3 years ago. The exhibit was officially announced in England last year, but no British lace expert Arachne subscriber had sent the news to our approximately 1,000 members! This reminds of the wonderful In Fine Style 2013 exhibit of portraits owned by Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by objects in the portraits (including lace). That became very popular on Arachne once everyone with an interest in lace history learned about it on June 21st. I came across this exhibit's information through an antiques publication. It had not been shared with Arachne. No one in England had thought it of interest to lace makers? Information about 2017's Lace in Fashion exhibit came from a friend in Pennsylvania. It was necessary to write to the government in Bath, contact for information about The Fashion Museum. I have only now received a letter, some weeks later, asking ME for information! When the exhibit announcement was written for you, only old stock photos were available. A g**gl* search provided little of special educational interest. The photo of the 1660 silver tissue gown I chose to write about - with parchment lace attached - was found in a Museum of Costume/Assembly Rooms Guide (old name for museum) on my shelves of costume books.
With thanks to Jill Hawkins, who serves as Webmaster for The New England Lace Group, you may now see that dress in 2 photos. By special arrangement, Jill has put them in the Articles section of the Home Page at _www.nelg.us_ (http://www.nelg.us) You will find Articles in the LEFT column of options. (Just below Articles is Book Reviews. You may see these, with photos of the book jackets, by selecting that option. Perhaps you will wish to put printed copies of the reviews in books you own - including In Fine Style.) This is an example of free international cooperation between people who love lace. Jill lived in New England for a while. She has returned to England, and is still a most treasured volunteer - sharing with us. I have been searching weekly to see what is being said about Lace in Fashion, Bath, and came across a Blog to share. Though I'm not a member of Facebook, it was possible to click on Not Now and watch it. Good preparation for any group of lace people planning a trip to Bath to see this exhibit: https://www.facebook.com/FashionMuseum/videos/vb.178268647365/10154546762367 366/?type=2&theater Following is an exhibit review that may be of interest. http://ursulawrites.blogspot.com/2017/02/review-lace-in-fashion-bath-fashion .html **This Blog's author wished she could have had more information about lace!** Perhaps it would be a good service to write a one-page guide to lace, for The Fashion Museum's visitors? I wrote one for a lace exhibit in New Jersey over 25 years ago. It was handed to every person who entered the gallery, a bobbin lace maker was always present, and I was always available and explaining laces during the hours the museum was open. AT&T encouraged me to do this, even during business hours, because it was a community service. You will remember I was told there would be no exhibit catalogue in Bath. This is symptomatic of the failure to find sponsors for important needlework and fashion exhibits. Fifty-two percent of adults in the U.S. are women. I suspect similar statistics in other nations. We need to be asking large employers to sponsor such things - the way they support educational activities of interest to men and children. Silicon Valley comes to mind. In the sidebar of the above Blog is a write-up about little-known Ada Lovelace that may be of interest to today's women of science and technology. In the mid-1800s, she wrote an algorithm intended to be processed by machine. She is considered by some to be the world's first computer programmer. You'll have to wade through some sensationalism, but this is a fascinating story. Seven ladies in Maine, where little known about lace, have a one-page 2-sides (folded like a book) handout that provides lace information, and an opportunity for people to read where they can find more lace contacts. Our group pays no dues, and we have shared in a variety of ways, including the preparation and printing of this little demonstration aid. Sharing is how you got the free University of Arizona site of out-of-copyright books. Sharing is why Lace Fairy was created 20 years ago (though now obsolete) before other lace experts had learned the necessary computer skills. Sharing is why free access to 1,000+ lace books is available to lace people who visit, or submit questions to me. Please share more. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
