Dear Arachnes, I've remained silent, because I am committed to projects and reading, and want to finish before Prague. Also, if one makes a recommendation that is adopted, they could get tapped to carry through, and I am not able to do so. However, it occurs to me that Arachne is a new 20th-21st century concept that could be reflected in a finished product, and if that product could be put to future use, it could have greater value to us all.
My thoughts went to the possibility of a banner or flag (depending on final design). Banners are something embroidery groups often create, and they can be hung at meetings. I stitched on the Embroiderers' Guild's Manhattan banner - and there is no mistaking it is about embroidery. Yet, all it says is Manhattan Chapter Founded in 1968. (Well...there are gold embroidered stork scissors and a gold embroidered EGA logo, but you'd have to know what they represent.) There is no mistaking is is about Manhattan and it is about embroidery. Pictures have been published twice on EGA's national magazine cover. The second time was right after 9/11 - the December 2001 issue. The banner shows many of the landmarks one thinks of i/c/w Manhattan. The real antique silver and gold needlelace letters spelling Manhattan Chapter are shaped to convey the idea of a bridge span. Manhattan is an island, and that is appropriate. Sections are devoted to the World Trade Center Towers, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the United Nations, Lincoln Center. They are stitched in a variety of embroidery techniques. Silks and wools were chosen carefully, to bring the whole into harmony. All is mounted on a lovely blue wool fabric shaped like a banner, with tabs across the top that feed into a wooden pole. The whole can be hung by a strong golden upholstery cord. This became such a valuable embroidery (materials costs and time) that noone in Manhattan dared to keep it in their homes. It is now in the permanent collection of EGA at their headquarters, and it is displayed at annual seminars. Would Arachne consider a design idea like the embroidered silk map samplers that became so popular in the late 1700's? They seem to have been particularly popular in tracing the voyage of Captain Cook (1728-1779). At one time I found 6 different ones in my embroidery history books. Don't have time to comb through them now, but will reference the one pictured on page 86 in the 1999 "Samplers from The Victoria and Albert Museum" book by Clare Browne & Jennifer Wearden (same author as the new lace book from the V&A). What I'm thinking of is lace of the continents, set in globe shapes, surrounded by (perhaps) a variety of lace flowers indigenous to the countries around the world where our lacemakers live. (The sizes would have to be determined by ONE designer.) Making the letters for "Arachne" (to be appliqued in place after competition). And, a circular overlay of each hemisphere in gold thread (not wire - too fragile for shipping) of a spider web, with a strategically placed small gold spider over each of the 7 continents. The spiders could be made of needlelace, instructions for which can be found in Jane Nicholas' books - she is from Australia and a stumpwork expert. I've seen her insects, including spiders. They are small, and stunning. Like jewels. The hemispheres are usually connected at the Equator - sort of like round eyeglasses without a bridge, or as separate embroideries, framed in two frames. For a banner, they would probably have to be stacked one above the other, instead of side-to-side. For a flag shape they could be side-by-side. Or, one hemisphere on each side (many more flowers to make). I was schooled that Antarctica is a continent, which would make the 7th one. The beauty of a banner or flag is that if it is constructed properly it can be gently rolled and carried to any international lace event where Arachnes will congregate in the future. So, Arachne would have a contest entry, and have a use for it in the years to come. If this sounds too far-fetched, sorry to waste your reading time. The womens' lace history aspect came to mind, and the fact that the Arachne concept is significant and would be of historical interest in the future - when e-mail becomes obsolete and lacemakers move on to a new technology for communication. It almost seems too late for the group to consider now, but could be an idea for someone who might like to take the idea and run with it! Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
