During my months of being confined to hospital, home just being able to get into town I would read through all the information that I had, then keep lists like where exhibitions would be and when. Sadly very few lace exhibitions, for instance I know that going to the V & A you will be lucky to see more than a couple of items changed over the last 12 months. Many items would have been on display for many years. So last Thursday I was asked where do you want to go, one place was Hall Place in Bexley, This building is quite old, it is very large, full of oak beams, wooden panels you could just imagine Henry V111 walking around. What I could not believe was that it is free to go and see this lovely building and grounds, rose garden, topiary, a whole row of teddy bears all in different poses.
They were holding a display of City & Guilds Embroidery, Machine Embroidery, designing with the computer, sadly when we arrived on the last day of the exhibition all the exhibits for designing for the computer had been taken home a day early. We had a marvellous time looking at this exhibition, it was nice to be able to ask students about their work etc. Then upstairs where there was a display of work from people who had passed their C & G years ago, or not so long ago, many of the pieces were for sale. Then when I got to one corridor I found a glass cabinet full of lace, so down on my hands and knees I was looking at the lace, tell DH hey this piece is a lovely piece of Milanese, reminds me of Pat Read, next thing I know I have people standing around asking me questions about the lace, where was it made in this country, how long ago, suddenly DH says hey Jean this exhibition is all Pat Reads doing, he had found a leaflet about classes that Pat gives. Then two days later I was taken to East Berkshire College Windsor. I had wanted to go to this exhibition as quite a few of my friends had told me that is was one of the best to go to, they were right the work, it was hard to discribe, all their working notes were on display, I felt I needed a couple of days there to take it all in. Windsor, they had exhibitions of City & Guilds work, Embroidery, Quilting, Pottery, Silver Jewellery, flower arranging. Plus there were suppliers there as well, Oliver Twists had a large display which was rather nice to see. No if you are going to ask they don't do C & G Lace. But I was asked questions when I went into the college what was I interested in, did mention that I did needlelace, stumpwork, oh we have Ros whose sitting over there she makes lace, so being me, I go over and make myself known by saying oh you are a lace maker, no I make needlelace, I am Ros, the penny dropped, it was Ros Hills who has been teaching at East Berkshire College for one year. What a lovely person she is, did mention I had a friend who found one of her books in Perth, WA for me. Ros is the only person who has a piece of needlelace on exhibition at the V & A. which has been on display for many years. Today is the last day of the exhibition. Windsor, I am so glad that I have been able to get to both of these exhibitions. Hope I have not bored you. Jean in Newbury UK To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED]
