This is to fill the void of few messages, and will be helpful to beginners.
One of the most fabulous developments of the late 20th Century for beginners was the issuance of Videos for beginners learning many types of laces. The best series is by the Springetts, and I've noticed in Holly Van Sciver's web site that she is the exclusive distributor in the US and other *NTSC* countries - of 18 Springett Videos. (NTSC, I think, refers to your video equipment. You must use the type compatible with equipment in your country.) It was a beginner video and book that I chose to send to India to Sulochona when she was just starting to make bobbin lace. She had engaged a local man to make bobbins, which were overly large. She had no examples to show him! Her correspondence to Arachne at the time was desperate -- the information she needed was not available in her location. She "needed" to see someone making lace! In her case, the suppler had to be Linda Fountain in the U.K., so the video would work on *VHS* format video equipment in India. So, to those of you just starting to make lace, or starting to make a new type of lace -- check what is available in the Springett line. Incidentally, there are Springett books. Absolute beginners need to order the book that goes with the absolute beginner videos. The books contain photos, English text explaining what to do step-by-step, a diagram, and a pricking that can be Xeroxed. The famous Springett snake that so many of us use for teaching children is in one of these books. "Lace for Children of all Ages" (contains the basic snake bookmark) "The Torchon Lace Book" Look at the web sites for the other Springett vidoes, books/booklets. Incidentally, I once had an embroidery friend who purchased a video by a well-known lace teacher (another name) and friend could not learn from it. It is possible other people like that video, which I have seen marketed by various mail order businesses, but when I sat down to look at what discouraged the embroiderer, I saw that the camera person did not stay focused on what the teacher was illustrating. The Springett videos are costly, but less than the price of travel, baby sitter, lace class tuition or fees. An advantage is you can keep backing up the tape until you understand the concept being taught. You can stop lacing for a few months, and go back and review the beginning. The International Old Lacers has the tapes and (separately) the books that go with them - available for borrowing - by members. You should know that a $50 deposit is required for tapes -- $50 refunded when you return the tape to the librarian. You must pay for the postage (not refunded). Also, you should know some of the lace groups throughout the U.S. maintain lending libraries, including the Videos. You must belong. If you belong to a lace group that does not have Videos, it is is nice way to invest some money that has been raised for educational purposes. Web sites: http://www.vansciverbobbinlace.com http://www.fountainslace.biz http://internationaloldlacers.org Happy lacing, Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED]
