The problem with the word 'craft' is that to most people this means going into somewhere like 'Hobbycraft' (who call themselves the 'craft superstore' and you all apready know my opinion of what they sell) picking up a kit, or loose materials if you really know what you're doing, and completing even the most complex of their projects within a week. It's something you do to fill in the odd free hour. Then you go and try something else.
They tried selling bobbin lacemaking equipment at inflated prices with no indication of where to learn, no books or other instructions available so no-one knew what to do with it, and ended up selling it off at half price to clear the shelves. The other problem is that people look at the number of bobbins on a pillow and say "I could never do that" and dismiss it from their minds completely. I don't know the best way of publicising, because 'lacemaking' doesn't only cover bobbin lace. People need to know that (bobbin lace at least - I'll never master tatting) is accessible to all at different levels from a simple braid to complex work like "that mat", it's not as difficult as it looks, it's soothing, it exercises the brain, is gives a sense of achievement, you can work from pre-prepared patterns or be original and artistically creative, you meet a whole load of nice helpful people, you make friends all over the world, it gets you out of doing the housework ............ The slogan that stuck in my mind most was "Lacemakers do it on pillows", but that doesn't lift it out of the 'Hobbycraft' level. Jean in Poole - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
