Sylvie, I have just turned 60 (please whisper that, as I don't really feel that age - I *may* look it, but certainly don't feel it...) and have been making lace for 25 years now, so from being one of a gang of youngsters, we are now fast approaching being part of the elderly brigade of lace-makers.
However, I teach a class of children on a monthly basis, aged from about seven/eight years, to 13/14 - when they reach that venerable age, a couple of them have joined the adult class. But - nearly all of them attend the lace days, and most have *persuaded* their parents to take them to the Suppliers Fairs, such as the Essex Lace Makers last Sunday - pocket money is supplemented by parents, to a very great extent, I think! I don't think we have many of the week-long conventions here in the UK. We do have week-long courses, and long weekends at residential centres where we learn laces of all and every description, but these are usually put on by the Lace Guild, or the more local *county* associations, or in the case of Suffolk UK, at the nearest residential place to me, the Local Authority puts on the courses which are requested by those who would like a course to attend. I suppose we are lucky in that we have Lace Days somewhere in the UK practically every weekend - so we can see lots of different suppliers, at the Lace Days we attend, with the result that the week-long conventions aren't that necessary to us, to stock up on supplies, or to get the teaching we crave. There are lots of us teachers milling around the country, and most people don't have to travel more than about thirty minutes to a class - not half-way across continents like you intrepid Americans and Australians! Believe me, we know just how lucky we are - but I personally do wish that the finances would stretch to a week long lace convention in America. I shall be thinking of you all, and wondering how someone who never buys lottery tickets could possibly win the lottery, and come to join you. Carol - in Suffolk UK, where I have just spent a great and most enjoyable day making lace with the rest of the Wymondham Lace Makers in Norfolk UK. Subject: [lace] ages of lace makers - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
