Last weekend was our annual "Top of the South" lace weekend, organised by the Marlborough lacemakers, and it was just as good as ever!
Everyone 'living in' in the Lodge arrives on Friday evening, so there was lace being made when we (my husband accompanied me, this year) were unpacking. I asked Ian to come, partly because we expected a bobbinmaker to be there � he was, but hadn't brought his lathe, this time! � and partly to help with the display of Sasha dolls that I had been asked to do. More lacemakers and embroiderers came for the day on Saturday, and we were all busy with workshops (painting bobbins, marbling, dyeing threads, and doing 'Chicken scratch' embroidery), as well as making lace. There were interruptions for a buy-sell-exchange session and raffles. Both of these were well-supported, and included items from former lacemakers which were keenly sought after. Proceeds from the raffle go to the local volunteer fire brigade, and our 'camp mother' caused much merriment when she had to stand on a chair to present the money to a very tall fireman! A 'show-and-tell' session brought out some wonderful embroideries and lace, some quite recently finished, and some historical. Two items of special note were a recently-completed tablecloth made by an 80-year-old lacemaker, comprising 49 Torchon squares, every one of which is different! and an old box which contained a breathtaking selection of old heirloom laces, including a set of Limerick lace dating from the 1880s, with a contemporary letter giving the provenance! My doll display themes were 'outdoors', with dolls skating, cycling, fishing, and waiting for the (inevitable, in spring!) rain; and 'crafts' including sewing, knitting, spinning and making lace (of course!). I think that the quarter-scale lace pillow, set up with beautifully proportioned bobbins made by Brian Lemin, was the most popular item. [I can tell you that the dolls learned a lot about making miniature lace, before the weekend, even how to tie a weaver's knot when a thread � Egyptian 120 cotton � broke!] Each Lake Rotoiti weekend seems better than the last, and this one will be remembered for laughter as well as lacemaking... Erica McLeod, in Hokitika, New Zealand, where fine days are following heavy overnight spring rain... Westland District Library Hokitika, New Zealand mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit our website at http://www.minidata.co.nz/westlib --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.516 / Virus Database: 313 - Release Date: 01/09/03 To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
