So where were Annette and Liz at 3 pm on Sunday when a group of Arachnians (those not manning stalls - Jean Barrett, Pat Hallam, Vivienne of Biggins) met up in the seating area - announced over the public address system?
It was great to put names to faces. Of course, I spent too much. Could have spent a lot more, but, for me, I was quite restrained - only two pillows, and two sets of fan sticks, plus bobbins, silk threads ............ So many suppliers. Walked round and round the stalls, seeing more each time. At one point I had to sit down and take off my shoes for half an hour to revive my feet for more shopping. SMP are now doing kits of fan sticks with a pattern to fit, and Matthew Hester is also making fan sticks with pyrography and sparklers on the leading guard stick - had to have a set with spiders on. Really drooled over those made by Malcolm Cox - absolutely gorgeous cutwork, mother-of-pearl, etc - but the pocket snake stopped me this time. I'm not taking him with me again. It was a bit of a surprise to find 'Star Wars' warriors in the entrance concourse to the group of exhibition halls where the lace fair was - there was a Memorabilia fair in one hall (that's where the Star Wars characters were from), antiques in another. Never having been there before, I didn't realise just how huge the NEC complex is - to such an extent that shuttle buses run from the car parks to the exhibition halls. Fortunately our coach dropped us and picked us up again right outside the Lace Fair hall. When we got back on the coach to come home, Liz Pass gave me and Beryl Millard a souvenir each of the visit - a square Midland bobbin with a pyrographed spider hanging from its web. Today I spangled that and a pair of ebony and silver bobbins, and I've eaten the whole bucket of candy floss (cotton candy) that I bought at Chievely Services when we had our comfort stop. Jean in Poole To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
